Stacey_E

1. Read the putt as best you can 2. Pick a spot about 1 foot in front of your ball on that line and burn that spot into your brain 3. Address the ball with the putter face square to that spot and align your body accordingly 4. While over the ball focus on nothing but speed, speed and speed. IF you are a pendulum style putter, keep the right wrist angle intact through the swing.

I would have picked it with my 64*. But that's easy to say, becasue it wasn't my score on the line. Hindsight is 20/20.

Thanks to all for viewing, and more so for anyone willing to post advice. I started this thread in hopes that those from pros to 36 handicaps might find that one nugget of information that could turn their swing and scores for the better. I have recently found MY magic move. It’s not one that would work for every golfer. It may not help any golfer. And most importantly, I admit it may not be sound advice. But it works for me, and I have the scorecards to prove it. But most importantly, let me say I do not believe there is one magic move - that one little action that would help all golfers regardless of swing type, ability, swing plane, etc. But my hope in this post, and for the following replies, is to let everyone of all skill levels post a short and succinct swing thought (not extensive lessons or theories) that might help any number of people in their search for lower scores. Many will post ideas conflicting with others. Hopefully this will not turn into a battle of theories or egos. But YOUR magic move may be just the thing to help that newbie get the ball in the air, or the scratch golfer remember a fundamental he or she has long forgotten. Thanks in advance for any participation on your part. It is my firm belief that the golfing community could benefit from your advice. MY MAGIC MOVE: On the driving range I would often notice myself spinning out of a shot with a hosel rocket shank. As a feel player who loathes multiple swing thoughts, I was looking for one focal point to help me stay in the shot and stay focused enough to consistently hit the golf shots I knew I was capable of. Although keeping the head down is not bad advice, I think keeping the spine angle is truly the crux of this maxim. I was immediately able to stay in the shot, stay on the ball and strike with authority and confidence once I began to….. TURN THE SHOULDERS UNDER, NOT AROUND YOUR CHIN, AND FEEL LIKE YOU'RE STRIKING THE BALL WITH YOUR RIGHT SHOULDER. Simple enough, but it has improved my average score 4 strokes in a month. I honestly feel like I can place the ball wherever I want now.

Thanks for the advice Magnus. I picked up the 64 and hit a few range balls. Your advice on the club itself was spot on in every aspect. And you were right about de-lofting too much. I always had a tendency to put the 64 way far back in my stance. In the middle of my stance it looked like the ball would hit me in the nose! I also found myself making the rookie mistake of not lining my grip on the leading edge (which seems a little more curved than my Spin Mill 60) and found myself fore-lefting it with a super-strong grip. I guess this problem is exacerbated by the extreme loft on the club. I found if I concentrated on the lowest scoring groove when setting my grip, everything came out alright. I did get the chrome, and it does glare, but not more than I can manage. I'll get back after the round today. In the yard I'm going 55-65 with a good tempo full swing, so the is a nice gap for me (about 15 yards) from my LW, and this was my main concern. Thanks again. I'll hit this back after I hole a few chips today.

I'm a weirdo. I'm going to 5 wedges, but not because Phil has. I carry: PW 46 AW 50 SW 55 LW 60 and since I can't ease up on my 80 yard LW wedge for the life of me, I'm pulling my 4 iron for a 64. Plus I deloft everything at impact. I think I'm the only one who has built my set from the green back to the tee. Don't be like me...a self confessed closed face digger.

Well I hate swing thoughts and would consider myself a feel player. But I noticed some time ago I was outperforming, relative to our handicaps, most of my playing partners in windy conditions. I thought it was because I hit the ball a little low. But then I remembered how when it's windy I'm always repeating in my head the maxim "when it's breazy swing easy". I've always been slow back, you can spot my swing 2 fairways away. I think it depends on your style, and I'm glad it works for you too. I once heard Nick Price say something to the effect that he has to keep his tempo up to make sure things don't fall apart. I think it's all just how you're wired. Congrats on you coaching yourself so well.

Iacas was spot on at defining putts. When it comes to stats there will always be those anomollies like a GIR missed by 6" or a three put on a hilly green that is 100 feet deep. One thing I've noticed as I've begun to get more GIRs is a rise in 3 putts and a decrease in 1 putts, many of which came after a putter or hybrid off the fringe. Long term you still get a fairly accurate picture. As an older friend of mine is fond of saying, "It all comes out in the wash".

In a match, I personally play it out and adjust later. My partner doesn't care about my ESC. He's salivating at my possible double OB and 10 on one hole. Regardless I always post my ESC for handicap. Funny thing, I see far more vanity handicaps on the course than sandbaggers. Just my experience though.

I’m dropping my 4 iron, which I only use on longish par 3s, for a 64*wedge. I’m a slightly closed face digger, and I never open the face on my 60 for shorter shots. Choking down the shaft results in a thin shot and a ¾ swing brings in the shank. Plus I like a 64 for short sided chips since I quit trying flop shots. I’m strongly considering the Callaway X Forged 64 and would like some input on this club. First, has anyone tried any of the X Forged wedges who could compare them with my Vokey spin-mills in terms of feel, trajectory, look, spin etc? And second, has anyone tried the 64 model, and did it show a real distance difference from their 60? All of the 64s I’ve hit in the past carried about as far as a 60. My current distances are : 46 PW-120 50 AW-105 55 SW-90 60 LW-75 Thanks in advance for any input.

Yeah my bad, I don't have kids so I don't keep up with that....lol. And I'm right with you with the tongue in cheek. I cuss like a sailor on the course. And love it when the old codgers at my course do too. I think it's cause their wives won't let them cuss at home.

The Yips: a condition of varrying causes that can always be diagnosed visually as such...if you see a long putter, the person holding it has had or currently has the yips. Usually accompanied by a low confidence in the flat stick and the ability to take a longer club length drop when so allowed.

I see you are a 11.2 which is pretty specific. I'm guessing you are on a card so tell them this....you can't share clubs during a round under USGA rules unless the total number of clubs in the bag between the two of you are 14 or less and you are partners. You wouldn't want to waste you greens fees carding a DQ. And if they don't take that for an excuse/hint, tell them to FO and earn their own money. I'm sure you worked hard for that $500, they could do the same. I let my best friends hit my clubs on the range, but on the course, even they have to "run what they brung".

This is indicative of everything great about golf.

Three words.....SAVE THAT BALL!!! You'll be so glad you did later, especially when it's in your trophy case next to the 89 ball, and the 79 ball and maybe the 69 ball.

So today is Thursday, weren't the kids in school. And if they weren't, they must have been hardcore young golfers to have been watching. If that's the case I'm sure they have heard much worse on the course. I KNOW they hear and say worse in school. I love when Tiger drops the GD bomb on TV! But only because it shows a passion for the game.

What ever you decide to do, don't try to rush the fitting or do too much in one day, or you might as well give your money to me. I'm sure the sales associate or if your really, really, really lucky - golf pro - will be glad to keep working with you as the cash register rings. That being said, I wouldn't imagine there would be a lot of fitting involved in a fairway wood or hybrid selection after your general swing characteristic are evaluted in a driver fitting. Mainly you'll be looking at your yardage gaps, preferably on a range. Buy American on the 4th and play all day on the 5th!

Offset drivers are a bandaid. But they do work. If you want a larger more forgiving head under $60 you'll probably have to go the Walmart route. If you could spring for $100 I'd strongly consider a used Ping G2 in that price range. You can check the specs on Ping's website under the vintage club specs, and grab one off of Callaway Preowned. If you want to kill the slice without killing your swing, try a higher loft version, 12 degrees or more. More backspin means less sidespin. Just sit in the fairway while your 8.5 degree buds are punching out of the rough.

I recently had some problems with back spasms which put me out a couple weeks. When I returned I found I was swinging more smoothly so as not to blow a gasket. To my suprise (not really) I picked up about 10-15 yards off the tee on average. This was because a smooth swing hit on the screws smashes the ball at a higher ball speed than a violent whip off the toe or heel. Try it on a launch monitor sometime. Also the shaft on your driver should be the right length so you hit the center of the face as much as possible, and try some different loft drivers to get your best launch angle. PING: G5 12deg. UST proforce V2 CALLAWAY: 2004 BB 5 wood COBRA: DWS Baffler 23 CLEVELAND: CG2 4-PW TITLEIST: 250-08, spin-milled 56-14, 60-04 PING: Craze-E putter

I take pride in keeping my equiptment in good shape. That being said, my solid black Knight brand cart bag ($70 @ K-Mart so it wasn't dirt cheap)matches all my clubs. I carry 5 brands of clubs and black goes with everything. Nothing says "make me look like a golfer" more than a big leather matching staff bag on a public course. But if it makes you feel you've got your mojo workin', I say go for it. PING: G5 12deg. UST proforce V2 CALLAWAY: 2004 BB 5 wood COBRA: DWS Baffler 23 CLEVELAND: CG2 4-PW TITLEIST: 250-08, spin-milled 56-14, 60-04 PING: Craze-E putter

Great idea replacing 2 woods with one! Most amateurs have multiple clubs at the top of the set that hit the same distance. I only carry one wood but it is a 5 wood. That is the lowest loft and longest shaft I can consistently hit high off the deck. The 4 will give you almost the distance as a 3 off the tee, and almost the same control as a 5 off the deck. The best of both worlds, or the worst as it may be. As for the F60, i've never hit one but I think they are rather neutral, meaning you will be grooving a good swing and not relying on technology to hide a slice. PING G5 12deg. UST proforce V2 CALLAWAY 2004 BB 5 wood COBRA DWS Baffler 23 CLEVELAND CG2 4-PW TITLELIST 250-08, spin-milled 56-14, 60-04 PING Craze-E putter

I think you should ask yourself this...How many times have I hit my 3 iron so close to the hole that I made the next put? That is the only way to save a stroke anyway. Personally I would pull the 3 for the LW and maybe get your other wedge lofts checked to even those gaps. You could always bend the 4 a little strong if you see a large gap in the top of the set. G5 12deg. UST proforce V2 2004 BB 5 wood DWS Baffler 23 CG2 4-PW 250-08 gw, spin-milled 56-14, 60-04 Craze-E putter

I like a new dime. They are small but easy to find. I look all over the green if I use a dull penny. You can't hide that lost look on your face either! I went with an exotic coin one round, until I lost it. Dimes only cost 10 cents. G5 12deg. UST proforce V2 2004 BB 5 wood DWS Baffler 23 CG2 4-PW 250-08 gw, spin-milled 56-14, 60-04 Craze-E putter

I thought the same thing when looking for a Titleist gap wedge. I went with the 250-08 and love it as well. Plenty of stopping power for me. You can bend a 54 2 degrees strong, but note the swingweight on the 54 sandwedge is D5 and not D3 if that is an issue to you. Most people wouldn't notice. G5 12deg. UST proforce V2 2004 BB 5 wood DWS Baffler 23 CG2 4-PW 250-08 gw, spin-milled 56-14, 60-04 Craze-E putter