Pancho Lefty

I wouldn't be opposed to getting a net for my yard, but I wouldn't stop hitting the plastic balls. I like hitting those because it gives me an actual sight of ball flight.

This is a great question because like yourself, I have the same problems - both with a slice (at times), and with limited space at home. The replies I've read were solid too. I've incorporated several of them lately. I love the mirror, and it's not because I like to look at myself. It shows me the difference between feel and reality. If you, or anyone else, come across anything else, please share.

Is there a reason why you're choosing to stack & tilt with irons? I ask because I utilize the stack & tilt with my driver & 3-wood, but no other club. Even with those 2 clubs, there's still a weight shift.

I appreciate you guys understanding my intentions. Furthermore, I have utilized a lot on here throughout my short time as a registered user. Once I play with a friend again (instead of complete strangers I'm paired up with), I'll work on getting videos of my swing. Thanks again.

I definitely agree that trial and error alone is not what made Bubba great. He's a gifted athlete. Without sounding "prideful," I believe I am as well, though.

I am in no way encouraging people to not take lessons. Like I said before, I won't disagree that they help. For me, my current financial situation (with a newborn baby) doesn't allow for that (and still actually play golf). I do the best I can with what's at my disposal. The last thing I wanna do is piss a bunch of people off. I just wanted to help others who were like me, since I did cut 12 strokes off of my average round. When I get some video uploaded, I'll certainly post it since I believe and trust the members on this board. If there was any confusion about my intent, I apologize. But again, I was only trying to help.

I wanted to use the things that have helped me, and share them with other high handicappers. If that's prideful, so be it. I'm not illiterate to what a golf swing should look like. When you add "feel" into it, that's how I go about it. I'm a high handicapper myself, and am not where I want to be yet. But I feel the lesson thing is a bit overdone. And no, I'm not saying it's a crock. I'm not disputing that it can and often does help. But I disagree that it's a prerequisite for getting better. If that were the case, someone should let Bubba Watson in on that secret. And no, I'm not saying I'm Bubba Watson. Just in case that's the route one was thinking about going with that.

I'm not opposed to lessons for reasons of pride. It's the money issue. And before you point to the rounds of golf I play as "money," it's either spend the money to play, or on lessons. I enjoy the game as is now, and while I'd like to get better, I rely on my student mentality and honest assessment of myself.

For the few I've conversed with throughout my short time on here, you know I'm a high handicapper - 23 to be exact. I've never taken a lesson, nor do I plan on doing so in the future. I pride myself on making the adjustments necessary through studying anything I can get my hands on, watching the Tour pro's, and playing a lot. I started the year averaging 103 through my 1st 10 rounds. Recently, however, I have tweaked my game, which leaves my new goal to break 90 every time out. Here are just a few things that helped me: 1. Keeping the Head Down Yes, I know it's a cliche, but sometimes the most simple fix can save a round. Keeping the head down incorporates other factors that are part of this "tip." For instance, it does no good to "keep your head down" if your posture does not stay consistent. You can keep your head down on every shot, but if you're lunging at the ball, you might as well join the grounds crew. But without flooding your mind before (or during) your swing, a simple reminder of "Keep your head down" will allow you drive through the ball, instead of trying to help it up. 2. An 80-90% Swing Every now and again, I have to remind myself that less is more. I'm an aggressive swinger, and watching a ball fly majestically into the air feeds my ego. But I've come to learn that I've been duped into putting all my eggs in this basket. After all, how can I truly manage a course if I don't know where the ball is going. Furthermore, when I take a little off my swing, I've noticed that my distance really isn't effected. I can still blast it. Only difference is that it's going straighter. A little reminder I say to myself as I'm approaching my set up is, "Let the equipment do what it's made to do." 3. A (More) Neutral Grip As a self-taught player, I'm the King of trial and error. I've tried many different grips, starting from a "baseball grip," to an overlapping strong grip with my bottom thumb still wrapped around like I'm gripping a baseball bat. I went from a slicer to a hooker (the legal kind), and after a lot of research and mirror time, I knew that a more neutral grip would help me fix my steep plane and closed club face at impact. I have smaller than average hands, though, so I'm going to play with the interlocked grip, but you can bet I'll keep the grip itself neutral. 4. When to Hinge The Wrists Hinging my wrists is a big part of why I can hit the ball as far as I can. The downfall for me, though, if WHEN I hinge my wrists. After a few holes, and good play, I was losing it, but never knew why. Looking back on those times, I can now see that I was getting lazy with my form, including when I hinged my wrists. I get the best accuracy, distance, and ball flight when I hinge my wrists near the end of my backswing. When I was going everywhere else but where I wanted, I was hinging them too soon. This goes hand-in-hand with #1, but you probably already knew that. 5. Ignorant Confidence On The Green My putting went from horrendous to bad when I would use so much concentration on the green. This isn't to say that concentration isn't important, because it certainly is. But when my putting went from bad to decent, it was because I mentally convinced myself that I SHOULD be making "these putts." Call it luck, but I've been consistently better on the green, so there's much to be said about this. This can be applicable on any part of the course too. If you truly believe you're better than you are, it'll show. I'm proof of that.

While there's no doubt in my mind that you'll beat me every day and twice on Sunday in strokes, this pertains to the mental aspect of the game, which I feel I hold my weight at. You've heard of the definition of insanity, right? Doing the same thing over and and over again, expecting a different result. Quite simply, if you're not getting the results you desire, or know you're capable of, it ain't the equipment. That's why the best players (in any sport for that matter) are the ones who make the most adequate adjustments. Since you're clearly a good golfer, I'm confident that the solution to your plaguing snowball effect is 100% mental. It sounds like you're getting in your own way. I've always viewed positive thinking as mumbo jumbo nonsense.... until I started golfing. It's the difference between getting that train back on the tracks, or being better off swinging a tree branch at the ball. Remember what got you to where you are and go back to the basics. If it means talking to yourself, so be it. You know what you have to do. So do it. Sounds easy, right? I know it's not. But not everyone is a college golfer and you are. Confidence!

I've had this problem lately, myself. I may not be the best to be giving advice, but I did make a mental adjustment, which worked for me. I was hooking everything really really bad on a few holes until my buddy told my my front shoulder was flying out, like I was swinging a baseball bat. From there on out, I focused on staying down on the ball and driving through it. I visualized hitting the ball into an imaginary left-centerfield gap on a baseball field (because I'm left handed). It resulted in some beautiful draws.

Thanks guys. I remember seeing someone mention "striking a match" above. I understand the concept, but actually do it is another. Any advice on that?

Although I'm not sure what my swing speed is, I have a good idea it's above 100 mph. I'm also confident that most would say I swing too hard. But to be honest, that's comfortable for me. I've tried slowin' it down a bit, and the accuracy was worse. That's just me, though, since I've seen what you're saying in other outlets as well.

Choking down is a concept that I always "knew about," but one that I'm just now starting to implement. I feel very confident with my irons, though. I don't carry anything under a 5, but with the distance I get out of all of my clubs, I don't need to carry anything under a 5. If I have to reach for a 7, I'm either playing a par 5, or had a garbage tee shot. I use my 6-iron as my "go to" shot off the tee box when I'm struggling with a hybrid.

That was certainly helpful and I'll implement this into my pre-round routine around the practice green tomorrow when I play. Surprisingly, I'm decent most of the time when the ball is around the green. My hangup is which wedge to use when I'm about 100 yards out in the fairway. Should I be punching with a 7, or using a wedge? If a wedge, which one?