Rugger

Usually just tees that I lay down sideways. Makes for a nice 1-3 inch target.

Lets get a thread going that explains/illustrates your favorite putting drills. Personally I like setting up targets across a line alternating in distance. Far then short then medium etc. Ready, go

Thanks for taking the time to write something up for me. Very insightful and extra helpful seeing the pictures. What you mentioned with the pictures is exactly what I worked on this morning, and it worked GREAT! I mean GREAT! The whole time I focused on 3 things: fluidity, club toe straight up and head steady. These three made for a great, great practice session. I haven't hit this solid and strong up and down the bag in a long time; maybe ever. I found out about the toe thing last night as I was cruising youtube. Here's the video I watched and it totally improved my game in just one practice session: http://www . youtube. com/watch?v=xgqIcJMYieE

I would but I've got people in my video thread telling me to loosen my grip. Not sure what to do :S

Thanks for the tips guys. I'm about to go to the range and try some things out. I'll report back!

But how does the distance effect your swing?

My local range forced everyone to use mats for about the last week or so. It took me a while to get used to them, but I eventually did. Then when i went to play, on grass obviously, I was topping the ball also, which is something I NEVER do. I don't know what it is about going from mats to grass.

At the point of that net isn't it already pretty obvious if your ball is fading or drawing? I guess I'm confused how a less than maximum distance would effect you practicing your drive so long as you can see draw/fade.

Okay but I still can't hit the ball straight :S

So my biggest problem seems to be a weird angle on my downswing which causes the ball to fly/take off to the right instead of straight. This picture might explain Are there any good drills that would help me correct this problem? thanks

Looking to expand my bag and get a wedge or two. Probably just start with one for now. I do have a pitching wedge already, so I don't need another one. Would 56 degree be the best value for me for now until I can get another or two? And if so, who makes the best or best valued?

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOT!!!! Best bucket of the year this morning. Made great contact and put the ball where ever I wanted! Maybe only 5-10 shanks out of 80-90 balls! Man it felt great to get back in my car happy instead of upset! HAHA. Only bad news is that with stack and tilt method, my drive has lost about 25 yards carry. I'm not sure I'll stick with that method for drives. Maybe as I keep using stack and tilt I'll get it back, though; as this is only my second day at the range with S&T;

Let me see if I'm understand this right. I need to keep my right arm/wrist rigid instead of letting it collapse back? I'm a little confused.

Thanks a lot for the tips and taking the time to help me out. I'll definitely write all that stuff down. I created another thread with some short videos of my swing if you would like to look.

I've been trying out the stack and tilt method, that's why it looks goofy. I don't think I am doing it right, though.

Here's what I mean by take off being screwed up. Light blue is obviously what the flight path should be, dark blue is angle my club head seemed to be taking today. Any tips/drills for fixing this? Do you guys think it's my backswing that causes this problem? Orange are obviously my feet and black dot is obviously the ball.

Sorry for the crappy video, lighting and basically everthing else. I was striking the ball solid today with my irons, but fade was often there and the take off of the ball would usually too far right (not straight according to my feet). http://s11.photobucket.com/albums/a1...VEExport-1.flv http://s11.photobucket.com/albums/a1...=NVEExport.flv

That is good advice. Very good, in fact. For hitting fairways with a driver, it depends how wide it is, but I usually get them going straight. But, as I said, I don't play many long courses. How does an 18+ hit 300+? Fast twitch, explosive power with the coordination and basic golf skill to hit the ball square. It's a lot easier for me to hit flush/square when I just wind up and let it rip. It's when I have to finesse and place a shot with a full swing that I get in trouble; such as with irons.

I haven't really tried anything yet. I was hitting them GREAT last week and then this week I've been hitting the worst that I ever have. I'm gonna go to the range tomorrow and try some things out. Might see if I can stack and tilt.

If I don't shank my irons they are usually very straight. If I don't get a good strike with my driver it will slice a little bit.

Believe what you want, it makes no difference to me. But about your other comment, I usually play city courses, and usually executive courses at that. The two 9 hole courses I frequent the most only have 2 holes where a driver is needed. a 305 and a 290-something. There are also plenty 150-250 yard holes on the courses I play. Even if I didn't need them, which I do, why wouldn't I want to get better?

I haven't had my swing speed checked but I'm certain of distance. I no-hopped a green at 305 whole last night with the green being probably 35-50 vertical feet higher than the tee box. I've also used my clubhouses range finder to double check some distances at the range as sometimes their posted measurements are suspicious. When I strike them well they do what they're supposed to. It's just that my head screws with me and I'm not really sure about the proper swing. This leads to inconsistencies and shanks. With the driver I don't really think about anything, I just let'er rip. I'm thinking about just ponying up and paying for a brief lesson or three.

I'm not sure on the swing speed. I know I swing way faster with my driver. I've been trying to just make a nice smooth iron swing to help with accuracy. The shaft on my driver is the stock "S" shaft for the R5, I'm assuming that means stiff. For my irons I'm forced to used crappy graphite until I can afford some nicer clubs. I'll be getting steel when I do get something new. So, by your advice the only thing different is ball placement, is that front and back only or also how far away I am from the ball? When I use a driver I stand much farther away from the ball. I think part of my problem is I just don't know where to stand for iron shots.

I've recently because quite proficient at hitting my driver. Usually carrying about 310-320 and sometimes beyond. Before this improvement, irons were my best, and basically any of them. Not so anymore. While I know the general things that cause me problems (dropping shoulder, popping up hips) I still don't really know what a good iron swing looks like or is made up of. If anyone has a great step by step video or website about hitting say a 4 or 5 iron, I'd really appreciate some help. Thanks

Today I tried some forged cavity back mizunos, nike cci and x20. The mizunos were by far my favorite, such a sweet and feel good strike. I am really terrible at hitting off of those indoor mats though. I actually snapped a head off of an X20. Supposedly the cavity back forgeds are easier to control because they aren't blades. Do you guys think that I might be able to get away with forged because of this?