Shane Cummins

Hi All, Thanks once again for all the advise. It really has helped. Just wondering if anyone has a view on my post above regarding a driving iron. Thanks, Shane.

Thanks, I'll try that. That might make me feel more in control and understand what pure contact feels like again.

Thanks, that's exactly how I feel. As per my above post and upon reflection I used the woods because I felt I was expected to even though I knew I wasn't ready which completely destroyed my round, However, that was up to me not anyone else. I went out last Saturday and did my own thing, played well and scored reasonably well. A lot of the time I was on the green in the same amount of shots with 2 long irons and had plenty of opportunity to score. I have access to a range where I can hit off the deck and tee up on a proper tee box so I think I will work on things there until I'm ready. Thanks Again, Shane.

Hi Guys, Just want to throw an idea out there in relation to my issue with the woods. I had a really enjoyable round on Saturday using my 3 iron off the tee and I scored reasonably well. I was playing with a really nice guy and he casually enquired as to why I didn't use a driver. I explained my situation and he just repied to keep doing what I'm doing, play to my strengths and enjoy the game. Which I did. At the end he mentioned, due to me hitting my 3 iron quite well and fairly consistently, had I ever considered a driving iron? I hadn't to be honest. My impression of a driving iron seems to be quite outdated as I understood them to be almost impossible clubs to hit that guys used 30 years.... so I did a bit of research on Google and two clubs stand out. The Ping Raptor and the Taylormade UDI. I'm not running out this afternoon and buying one but is it something I should at least consider. I really like hitting my long irons but I'm not a big fan of hybrids so could this be a viable option for some more distance off the tee? Any thoughts are much appreciated, Thanks, Shane.

Hi Mike, I a 40yr old male. Playing just over 2 years. As stated , I hit my irons reasonably well, short game is pretty good shape. I've just lost all ability with my woods. You're not the first prson I've heard say that about the LPGA. Thanks, Shane.

Wow, I didn't expect so many replies so soon. Thanks one and all. I believe it probably is too much aggression during the swing. I swing my woods with a really smooth reassuring swing on my practice swing and seem to attack the ball during my shot even though I tell myself not to. I seem to have a load of swing thoughts with my woods that I don’t have with my irons so there is probably something in that. With my irons I have learned to take a couple of practice swings which reaffirms the correct tempo and speed, maintaining posture and balance and I just swing the club and not try to hit the ball. I usually make good contact. Just as a side note, I used to have a major issue with lateral sway which with practice I have managed to keep in check. I feel this is creeping back in with the woods. When I used to attack with my irons I usually stayed on my back foot at impact. As my Pro says "A technically good swing with no rhythm and balance and you're a 24 H/C, a swing with some flaws but perfect rhythm and balance you're a scratch golfer" Anyway, I'm going to stick with my 3iron which I hit well and keeps the ball in play for the most part and work on my woods on my own and build my confidence. I know what to do. I just need to find a way to not over think things. I'm becoming fairly consistent with my irons and my short game is in reasonably good shape. I'll just ignore the all the Amateur Pro's and try to enjoy my round Thanks a million for all the replies and advice. They have all been very reassuring. I’ll let you know how things progress. Shane.

Hi All, I have lost all ability to hit the driver or any woods either off a tee or off the deck. 90% of them are 50 yard tops or at best a low hook. This has occured more or less within the last 3-4 months. I was never competent with woods off the fairway but was ok with my driver and my 3 wood off the tee box. I used to usually get a slice of varying severity which while frustrating, never hurts or causes embarrassment like top shot after top shot. Which then completely ruins the remainder of the round. As a result of this I intentionally left the driver and woods at home and hit my 3 iron off the tee and the fairway to a reasonable degree of success. I have gotten a few lessons recently with a Pro who I have become friendly with and he ocasionally plays with my group on a Staurday. With him I have finally found good rythm and timing with irons and I enjoy these rounds and score reasonably well considering the compromise of not using my driver or woods. My last score was 32 points playing off a h/c of 19. I play on average to a 22-24 h/c but my club starts everyone on 18 based on 3 cards submitted when first joining. just for the record, I am playing just over 2 years and joined a club this time last year. To briefly describe my approach, I take 2 practice swings and concentrate on feeling a nice rhythm with a full balanced finished and most of the time I make a good swing with good contact with my shots. I might pull or push the ball a bit but it's usually in play. It might take me three shots to get on a par4 or 4 to get on a par5 but I don't mind playing bogie golf. I will often be on greens in regulation during a round so all and all I'm happy with my play using the irons, but........ I felt recently that I was saying to the guys and to myself I'll try the driver/3 wood the next day, just a little more practice on the range and will try to start back with it next week, but next week never comes, well it did last Wednesday evening playing a practice round. To call it a disaster would be an understatement. I attempted to use the 3 wood off the tee and I scratched 7 of the first 9 holes. My whole game was effected and I lost all heart and couldn't even swing my irons. It just set the tone for the whole round and I nearly walked off after nine. This is something I have said I will never ever do. If I do it will be the last time I play golf. That’s all that kept me on the course. I just can’t feel and rhythm, timing or balance like I do with the irons. But strangely, I can easily feel a nice swing during my practice swings with the driver/woods but put me over a ball and well........disaster. I also play with a society and the last couple of outing were very awkward and uncomfortable. People constantly make comments which they think are helpful but in fact have the opposite effect. "Why not try the woods" "You'll really struggle with a 3 iron on the back nine" "Change your driver" ........and my favorite "Keep your head down" My frustration was added to recently when I was asked to play in a scramble which I understood to be better ball all the way through but turned out that 3 of everyone's drives had to used. The guys I was playing with tried to hide their frustrations with my 200 yard tee shot but I could sense it and I felt like crap for the round. I feel there is nothing more my Pro can do for me. I know how a nice swing feels and I use my practice swing to identify this then apply it to the shot, which work with the irons but not the woods. I lack confidence in application and I just don't know what to do about it. The easiest thing to do would be to give up but that's just not me. I love this game after only 2+ years of playing but really seem to have lost my way. I try to stay positive buy I feel I’m running out of perseverance even though I feel that all I can do is stick with it. I don’t expect any solutions as I know this is my own confidence that is holding me back and I would question my abilities if I had not been able to do it before but someone may have had a similar issue and covercome it. Thanks you in advance. Shane, Co. Clare, Ireland.

Hi All, I have been playing Golf for just over 2 years now and I have been using a compete beginner set. One of those bag/club combos in sports stores. I have added to the set in recent times with driver, wedges, putter and rescue's but the irons from 5 through to 9 are absolute beginner. I am just trying to understand when would the correct time be to get a proper set of new clubs. I fully intent to get correctly fitted Before I go any further I just want to describe roughly where my game is at. I have a handicap of 18 which everyone in my club gets after handing in three cards unless you have a very high score. My cards would have averaged to around a 24 h/c but I still got 18. If I play well I'm usually around 20 over but I can as just as well come in close to 100 on a bad day but would average out around 94/95. The questions/concerns I have are, will better clubs help my game or is it a case of getting the most out of what I have first or could my clubs be adding to some of my inconsistency. Also is there any point in getting fitted if I have an inconsistent swing. I'm pretty happy with my distances on good shots. I am around 150 Yrds for a 7 iron but could struggle to get it 130 on some shots. I play without fail twice a week and practice at least 2 other day's and I get a lot of consistency on the range so I know I can do it even if I struggle on course some days. So I suppose ultimately my question is should I stick with what I have or upgrade? Will new clubs help me improve? Is it possible that the way the clubs are designed could be causing me difficulty? I know it's purely subjective but I would really like to know what peoples thoughts are? I don't expect new clubs to suddenly give me a good consistent swing but could they help proceedings? Thank you in advance for any and all help. Shane, County Clare, Ireland

Thanks one and all for the help, It happens with all the irons but more so with the long irons than the mid to short. I played last night and I made a conscious efford to stay over the ball, pause at the top of the backswing, re-focus on the ball and it still hit them fat, thin and the ocasional top. It also has to be said that I did hit some clean shots also. I think I may be casting the club bucause I don't feel that I'm moving that much but that may be just my perception. I have been practicing a drill where I assume the address position, put my arms across my chest and rotate in front of a mirror or focusing on a spot on the ground, saying that, under pressure on the course I may not be doing it correctly even though I think I am. I will work on getting a video uploaded. I'm calling to a pro this evening just to see if I can get a handle on things. Thanks once again for all the help, Shane.

Hi All, I am a 38 year old, 24hc playing just over 1 year. I am playing in the high 90's to the low 100's at the moment. I hit my irons very inconsistently and been to a few Pro's but I can't seem to get an understanding of how my swing should feel so as a result it feels strange at address and a lot of doubt creeps in even though I try to stay positive which seems quite difficult when I don't feel in control of my swing. I have become a little more consistent with my driver in recent months but my irons are very hit and miss (excuse the pun) A local Pro gave me a drill of 3/4 swing with my feet together, which in a practice environment I get a much better strike rate. I would go so far as to say that I hit the ball cleaner and straighter than with a regular setup. It has to be said that when I hit the ball with the regular setup I do have a slightly better success rate on the practice range than on the course. I practice a lot, I try to hit around 300 balls a week over a few days at the range and I play once a week with maybe 9 holes on a midweek evening if work allows. As an example, last Saturday, drove 225 yards on a pa r5, hit the next 2 shots fat and then topper the 4th one. Then on the next par 4 I was on the green in 2 and putted for par. I suppose the worry is not knowing what to expect from each shot. Just to add in case it may be significant, When I do strike the ball cleanly (or reasonably so), I get enormous height. I'd be lucky get 170 with my three iron (assuming I didn't top it ) personally, I would accept accuracy over distance every shot at the moment. Despite my tale of woe, I enjoy my golf and try to remain positive but I can't accept to just plod along and not see improvement. Thanks in advance for any help, Shane.

Apologies for the delayed response, I had internet issues which kept me off line. Thanks for the help. I'm not sure how much golf I'll get to play as the schedule is pretty busy. Mostly looking to buy apparel as the cost is a lot higher here and not to mention the favourable exchange rate. Unfortunately there will have to be a big emphasis on wet weather gear as we play a lot in wet conditions. We can have quite wet summers sometimes.....but the show must go on I suppose.......Will be looking for both warm winter gear and light waterproof stuff for slightly warmer wet periods. Anyway thanks again for the help, I'll let you know how I get on. Shane.

Hi All, I hope some members may be able to advise me. I travelling to the US from Ireland for holidays in July. I hoping to do a bit of shopping for some golf stuff while I'm there as things are so much more expensive here at home. I specifically looking at clothing, shoes, etc. I won't be buying clubs this trip. Are there any discount shopping outlets that are specifically Golf or have golf departments at least. Or failing that can you recommend and good shops in the areas I'm visiting. I will be visiting, New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Memphis and Nashville. Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks you in advance, Shane. Co Clare, Ireland.