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About LeftRightLeft
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Personal Information
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Your Location
Sacramento
Your Golf Game
- Index: 14.7
- Plays: Righty
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LeftRightLeft's Achievements
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I find I have the most fun when playing courses that are 6,000 to 6,200. I think I average about 220 off the tee, which is about 10-30 yards less than my golf buddies. The formula of 28 times average drive fits what I like. A for golf with my buddies, where I see the larger difference is from the fairway. I'm up to two clubs shorter (at 150, I'm more comfortable with an easy 6-iron, where most of my friends are hitting 8-iron). That's OK, because I feel I can still compete from that distance. It's worse at 180, where I'm hitting a 3-hybrid and they hit 5-iron. So even though I know my preference, my friends always play the longer tees. Their handicaps are a bit lower, so I'm thinking I can offer to play scratch, but move up a tee. How do others handle this?
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Are you a Better Golfer than a Year Ago?
LeftRightLeft replied to iacas's topic in Instruction and Playing Tips
Better for sure. My index is down 2.3 strokes from the beginning of the year to 14.6. I only played 16 rounds (so far), and practice time was sporadic at best. However, making practice swings in the backyard with a specific plan in mind has made a big difference. I also have a much better idea of how to make corrections mid-round. Putting is still not great. If I have less than 35 putts, I'm usually in the 80s. Considering I was a 23 index three years ago, not entirely bad. -
Found a Gem of a 9-Hole Course in Sacto Region
LeftRightLeft replied to HitAndGiggle's topic in Golf Courses and Architecture
Good to know. Wild Wings was part of a housing development. The developers allowed it to go into bankruptcy. That's why the locals had to save it. My son played it in a high school match, but I never have. I've played the country club next door, though (Yolo Fliers GC). Northwood is a gem! Alister MacKenzie designed! -
Lexi Thompson's 4 Stroke Penalty at the ANA
LeftRightLeft replied to dennyjones's topic in Tour Talk
All in all, it was disappointing. The rule is what the rule is presently. Not what I "wish" it to be. I can't know her intention, but at the very least it was careless. Marking the ball from the side is dangerous. If you don't have the reference point of the ball and the hole in a line, there's a potential for a mistake (unless you have some type of reference point on your marker). What bugged me most is after they told her, she again marked her ball from the side, even though she would not be in the line or through-line of her playing partner. I actually yelled at my TV "what are you doing?". Very careless in my mind. -
How Many Courses Have You Played?
LeftRightLeft replied to gortyl's topic in Golf Courses and Architecture
I just counted the NorCal courses I've played. 138. A few are no longer with us. Favorite: Pasatiempo 2nd Favorite: San Francisco Golf Club. Pebble Beach is on the bucket list. -
Bay area view from Mira Vista
LeftRightLeft replied to nevets88's topic in Golf Courses and Architecture
Tower of Power songs would be appropriate. I really enjoyed the two rounds I've played there. -
Courses I Loved But Lost
LeftRightLeft replied to HitAndGiggle's topic in Golf Courses and Architecture
Nor-Cal lost Roddy Ranch this year. A fun layout in the foothills east of Mt. Diablo. It still shows up on GolfAdvisor commercials. Another loss was Bethel Island GC which wasn't much to look at, but it holds fond memories for me. As a youngster, I drew each hole keeping the same routing but new green complexes. I just built in more strategy where pin location changed the best position to play from. It was in our Delta region, so it was windy in the summer, and foggy in the winter. It would have been a really great links course as it was built on peat, had Bermuda fairways, and drained very well. I always thought it was an unpolished jewel! -
Some posts just catch your eye. Over the last 20 years, I only played around 12-15 rounds a year. Some years far less. I was getting worse and worse from lack of play, but more from lack of intention. Essentially, I "lost" my game, but I would go to the range and stripe it. Over the last couple of years, I've tried to be more thoughtful in my approach, even if I don't get to play as often as I would like. The problem with the range is I can easily get into a groove, but it does not necessarily translate. All us mid to high 'caps seem to have this in common. I've added a pretty common range game. If I don't have time to play, but feel I'm on the right track with my swing/practice, I play "mind golf" on a course I'm familiar with. I go through my normal 10-12 ball warm-up (yes, that's my usual). Then I tee it up "for real". It takes about 45 minutes to play 18. It's also great for instilling a solid pre-shot routine. Mine is imagine the shot, one rehearsal swing based on what I'm trying to do, pick the line, step in, waggle, go, then accept. I call my waggle "goldilocks", but that's another post. For example, my home course starts with a shorter dogleg right par-4 that begs a slight fade. I need the driver to get past the big tree guarding the right side, but if I hit it left I will go through the fairway. I pull the driver and make a practice swing that I think will deliver the baby fade. I try to be true to my pre-shot routine. If it goes on my intended line, I pull an 8-iron. If not, say I hit it left, I pull a 6-iron, or even a 5-iron. I can't duplicate rough, but I do my best to "play golf". The key is to be honest with yourself. I even play punch outs. For me, accepting unintended outcomes is really important. Thoughts like "I didn't used to do that" are not productive. Then when I get to play, I at least have some feel for hitting shots on demand, and don't get down if a shot doesn't come off. I think this is helping me get over the range to course thing and my handicap has dropped 7 points over the last two years.
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Golfing With Strangers-The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly
LeftRightLeft replied to Gator Hazard's topic in Golf Talk
I really enjoy playing golf with strangers. Kind of like a box of chocolates. Funny story from last summer: after a work appointment I was playing alone at a semi-private course that's one of those hidden gems well away from any larger towns. Members are mostly farmers. The area has a very high unemployment rate, and considered a bit "backward". I joined up with this guy who was wearing a t-shirt and jeans, but wearing golf shoes so I figured it would not be too bad. He turned out to be a really nice dude and a decent enough player. Unfortunately for him, he may have had the worst teeth I ever seen (let's just say the singular "tooth" was a better descriptor). He was playing with a brand new set of top of the line clubs (the irons were Callaway Apex). After a few holes I commented on how nice a set of clubs they were. He said a "Yea, my wife gave me the option to fix my teeth or buy a new set of clubs". I bit awkwardly I said "Good choice". He laughed, so at least he wasn't offended. I can't say I would have made the same choice, but to each his own. It was a fun round of golf. -
PING is going to help me be fast and forgiving with the new G Driver and Crossover! 1) Dustin Johnson -15 2) Brooks Koepka -14 3) Charlie Hoffman -13
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I was doing this a bit a couple of years ago. I was freezing due to wanting to start the backswing perfectly, especially with the driver, and occasionally 6 irons or longer. Then my swing was out rhythm so I was spraying it all over the place. I was playing golf swing instead of playing golf, which is why my moniker is "leftrightleft". Sounds like you are in a similar boat. I came up with my "Goldilocks" routine. At the end of practice session, I would try to move into reaction mode. I would do a one-piece takeaway purposely outside the line, then I would do a one-piece takeaway inside the line. The third was the go and "just right". In my mind I would say "NO" after the first, "NO" after the second, and "YES" on the third. It didn't matter if it was perfect, it is just a mind trick to get over the technical crap. It allowed me to transfer a free swing to the course. I still do it on the course with the driver when I'm not feeling confident. It seems to free me up. I now try to do the technical stuff on the range, or when making practice swings in a mirror. When I get to the golf course, I'm trying to visualize the shot, make a practice swing to simulate the shot, and go. Then accept the result no matter what. Golf is fun again. Good luck.
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Claim Your Achievements Here!
LeftRightLeft replied to iacas's topic in Announcements & Tech Support
I would like to add the Eagle award. I've had a number of them, including the almost albatross a couple of years ago. Longest eagle was a 2-iron on a par 4 (a long time ago when I played such a club). Thanks! -
Disadvantage of too stiff a flex?
LeftRightLeft replied to sebsmash's topic in Clubs, Grips, Shafts, Fitting
Stiff versus regular is something I've struggled with. My swing speed has not been checked in at least six years. My driver swing speed was 96-97 mph, which is between R and S, but probably closer to an R. However, I found I could not find a regular shafted driver that I liked. I've settled on ball flight to make my decisions regarding set makeup, so I have a somewhat inconsistent set. I realize I'm just a mid-'cap, but here's my experience. My driver has a Project X Velocity 6.0 (stiff?). I like this because my "safety" drive is a fade. I simply choke down, reduce the reverse "k" and I get a slight left-to-right. Otherwise it flies pretty straight on decent swings. My mistake move is "shoulders first" which normally results in a wicked pull-hook. I feel this bad swing contributes to at least 4-5 handicap points. I could probably score better if I hit choke-down fades all day, but ego won't allow that. My 4 wood is listed as stiff (Grafalloy ProLaunch Blue 65), but to me feels more flexible. The typical ball flight is a high soft draw. It does not fade well. I'm confident with it, so it is the go-to fairway wood. Only time I hesitate to pull it is if the ball is above my feet. If that's the lie, I go to the 3 hybrid. My 3 hybrid is a stiff (Mitsubishi Fubuki). Ball flight is neutral to a very slight fade. I like that I can turn it over and get 10 extra yards, but it does not get away from me. My 4 hybrid is a regular (also Fubuki). I hit a high, soft draw with this club. BTW, the 3 and 4 hybrid are the same brand, model, just with different flex shafts. I recently switched to irons that have DG R300. I love them. My tempo smoothed out. Subconsciously, I may have been rushing down from the top to compensate for the stiff feeling of the old irons (S300). So the slightly softer shaft has actually improved accuracy. I know lots of folks get better dispersion with a stiffer shaft, but my results have been better with the regular. I was just hoping to get back some distance lost, but I'm getting better accuracy, too! Based on my new found experience with the irons (better tempo), I'm wondering if the stiff-shafted driver has something to do with my mistake move (rushing from the top). I just find it really difficult to hit a fade with a regular shafted driver, and if the nerves are going, I want to hit a fade. It's comfortable to me. I recently purchased a new closeout Adams Super LS XTD 3 wood with the Kuro Kage stiff for $50. I don't often get a chance to go for par 5s in two, but I thought I could put it in the bag in the summer when fairways are hard. So far, I'm finding this particular S shaft too much for me. The ball flight is very low and left-to-right. A $50 experiment. I'll probably see if a player on one of the local HS teams needs a new 3 wood. Too stiff a shaft can mess with tempo and ball flight. That's my two-cents. Anybody have a similar experience?