imtomtomim

I am thinking like spudmonkey. Hit a club that gets you between 125-150 from the center of green, (right before the fw bunker). I would most likely hit a 5i. Since you sound a bit worried about the right side, start on the right side of the tee box. Now for the last bit of reliability, punch that ball low. It's not like you need to stop it immediately and keeping it low gives it the least chance of curving far off line or losing the fight with the wind. I do want to be on the left side of the fairway so I can have that strip of apron to run up, but really it wouldn't matter too much. From that kind of range, I know my shots will stop pretty close to the ball mark. Another reason I wouldn't use driver is the fact that I don't want to be hitting a 'tweener pitch shot on the first hole. I want to get an idea of how my short irons are flying that day. I can say, hey, my 9i went 135 instead of 132, maybe I'm a touch longer today. Full swing short irons, for me, are where my game is strongest and most reliable. Setting those shots up, sets me up for more scoring opportunities.

I've got a nickent 4dx 4 wood, 17*. While I love my set, that is the only club that will really have me missing it when it wears out/breaks. It gives me the most beautiful ball flight out of any club. My stock shot goes about 245. It takes off low and then half way there, it spins up to the sky and drops down real sharp and stops dead. Any roll out is from the slope. I can hit a green with no worries of the ball bounding away at all or playing break. You just figure out where you want the ball to stop, and hit it straight to it. 6i is about the longest club that I can sit the ball next to it's ball mark, until the 4w. It is also extremely forgiving. The only gripe I have is the lack of precise distance control, or rather the ability to shave off some yardage. However, it is a wood with a graphite shaft, and I'm aiming for a target 245 away. I can deal with it. Having it stop on that number every time isn't so bad.

Right now, I think the only reason I'm not scratch is because I don't get to play enough. This past year, I only got to play a few streaks, but despite the lack of practice, the evolution of my mental game, approach to the course, and understanding of my tendencies got me scoring most of my rounds better than +3, going under par a handful of times. The game has really seemed easier since I've gotten comfortable with the process of golf (still kind of new, 4th season) and understanding what leads to good scores. When I first picked up the game, I practiced 2 hours a day, 5 days a week. While it helped me build a dependable swing, I found I hit a wall on scoring quite quickly. To shoot lower numbers, I had to be more efficient in getting the ball in the hole. A big part of it was learning how to read the movement on the greens, not only for putting, but on approach and recovery. Additionally, it was learning the best angles to set up from. I'm very technical in my thought process, especially when it comes to sports. While the technique in my movements is quite important, getting away from that focus and re-applying that technicality towards my approach to the course has revamped my game for the better. If I can get out there more next season and sharpen my physical control a bit, I think I can do it. I'll also be done with grad school by then and I know exactly where I'm going to spend some of that time. Experience pays off, and I'm ready to reap the benefits of that soon!

Well, I actually have had the same issue nagging at me for the past 2 years, with close to the same distance as you. On some holes that I've paid attention to my partners, I have noticed that I can out drive the group by 20-30 yards and still be hitting the same club into the green as the next guy behind me. Although this is a bit disconcerting, remember, irons are for control and precision. Shorter distances are a good thing. Especially later in the rounds when I find a few holes to let the driver fly (290+ carry), it's nice to have lots of options for a full swing under 150 to the green. I also think that shafts may have something to do with it. My hybrid, wood, and driver all have graphite shafts in it so I might swing them faster than I would my steel shafted irons. My 4i goes 195 in the air, but my 3h (24*) goes 220. That's probably my biggest weakness in my setup and where my distance gap jumps up quite a lot, but it transitions into a 245 yard 4w (17*) and into a 270 yard driver. All while my 8i is 155, like you. I'm also not sure how much you practice, but I'm still using the set I started playing with. When I started golf, I hit the range 5 days a week for about 2 hours a day. I may have worn out the irons a bit. Maybe I'll see new numbers once I update my set (in a few years once I'm done being a grad student), but really it's not that important because with these distances, I'm still on a continuing upslope of improvement in my game and my scoring.

First one I played, 4 putted the first hole, lipping out every attempt. Crap scared out. Now, when I do light lifts at home, I hit putts during my rest interval to acclimate to the adrenaline and twitchiness. I also noticed that my scores were better on harder courses, until I played a few short easy ones in a row. I realized that the longer distances only put me in more favorable approach spots because I would use the driver whenever I could, and if I could find the same spots on shorter courses, I'd have an easier game. The tee-shot layup has changed my game.

That guy sounds exactly like me, even the asian part. Too many 3 putt par's to show for it. However, that was closer to how I started the game up to 2 years ago, my short game is pretty decent now after all the refocused practice. However, where it really turned around was the course strategy. I now play by the thought, if I can't get within 10 yards of the green, lay up the tee shot to a full short iron/wedge. I can depend on those full swing numbers much more than a shot where I need to shave off distance and get artsy. If you're distance control is a bit shaky that day, your whole scoring that day is shaky. Once I figured this out, I just started bleeding strokes off my scores, birdies falling like mana from the heavens, all that good stuff. That, and making sure that 2nd putt falls.

ever watch Tin Cup where he chips a 7i down the driveway?

miami vice style huh?

it's just a punch shot off of a tee with a cool name

I know this is an old thread, but whoever was saying they could get 2 bags in a smart car, it's because it's designed like a golf cart! It looks like it was meant for it. You should be able to drive that right around the loop.

First one was a straight out par 4, 300 yards. Went for it and landed pin high in the rough to the right. Was a firm day so I got out the lob wedge and flopped it, one hop and sunk straight down the stick. Actually, most of the eagles I've had were on par 4's, either holed out or I hit the green in 1. Most of the par 5's I get a chance, I usually miss the putt. I think it's because I get antsy when I see I got it there, but still need to wait for everyone else to get on and it kills the rhythm and focus. I'm working on it.

I was amazed at what Tiger did. I really didn't consider him in contention and all of a sudden, he makes this huge rush. I did want Rory to finish it up on top, but on a day where most weren't scoring very low, seeing a guy come from nowhere to second place is pretty exciting. It would have been one of the biggest deficit comeback wins ever. Very fun to watch.

JHW is right, with all these heavy hitters coming back, he's trying to adjust his game for them. He's always been pretty generous with the ball, but when he didn't have those guys out there, he wouldn't hesitate as much to take it all the way in. Once those players were back in the game, it seems he has really been trying to transform his play to support them. I heard a bunch of analysts saying when Carmelo came back, it would be Lin that needs to adjust to support him. Maybe the coaching should have tried to keep the play of a guy avg. 27 points a game consistent, instead of making him cater to a strategy and game that never really did that well. Let's see how it goes

Tonight wasn't his night. The heat were all over him, they let him run in and then smother him. His speed is such an advantage though, but it gets him in trouble. Most of the turnovers I see are him rushing in and then having no option and getting shut down. It's such a great story, the kid finally gets a chance on the big stage and rises to the opportunity. I hope he keeps it up and finds his place in the game.

I approach illness just like you do Ben. I kind of just tough it out and let it be a workout for my immune system. Back in college, I got strep 3 separate times my first year (went a little crazy on the courting game). Anyways, I discovered my remedy was ibuprofen for the fever and candy bars. I'd scarf 2 milky ways from the vending machine and I'd feel like new. Sometimes I'd just slurp down a spoon full of honey, the thickness does offer a little relief as it helps coat my throat so my breathing doesn't irritate it as much, but that doesn't last too long. I mainly go for the ibu as it will bring the swelling down and help relieve some pain. A little humidity may also help. Hot steam from the shower or a cup of tea does help ease the pains of breathing.

What shafts do you play now? Do you know what kind of ball flight you're looking for? I know you said low penetrating, which is what most say with a swing speed like that, but the x100's like to tail up at the end before the apex and the PX tend to carry flat into the apex and drop. I play the x100's and I notice that it encourages me to vary my spin. I've tried PX shafts that friends of mine use and it just didn't suit me. Because it carry's so flat, it hangs in the air just that bit longer and flies a little bit further. I'm also not so sure you should jump into an x200 without trying. That moves the flex point pretty far from your hands, you really gotta load her up. I'm thinking about trying those KBS shafts for my next set (although, probably not in the near future). I always hear great things about them. I do understand straying away from them as dg and px shafts definitely are the value buy.

I've cracked quite a few, never in winter though. Most are when I began and played the more brittle distance balls. However, I've cracked 3 tp blacks, a tour i I found, as well as 1 pro V. I think part of the problem is that I don't know when to retire a ball. I'll play it until it gets lost or if it's unlikely, to fly true, like a gouge or a crack. The small cracks sometimes go unnoticed, and I've played with those balls and couldn't figure out what I was doing wrong. The ball will take off fine, but then go quite a bit shorter, and spin a direction you didn't want.

wish I could use the force

I write in all caps, where lowercase letters are just half the size. I started doing it when I got to high school. My dad is an engineer and I guess I picked it up from there. It always seemed neater because none of the letters cross the horizontal ledger lines and it's easy to read.

Whenever I yell fore, I try to point at the ball so people have an idea that it is indeed going for them. I also have come quite close to being hit a few times so whenever I hear it, I'll duck behind my bag or scurry next to a tree.

I picked up a free app when I got a smartphone. I've been wanting a laser rangefinder for a while, but when I got the phone, I said forget it, this is close enough. It helped me find my carry numbers and my next step is to figure out precise partial swing numbers. Maybe the exact number isn't what I really need, but it lets me know my percentages of risk and encourages me to play shots with the best chances. Also, since I don't have an exact number to the pin, it got me playing to sections of the green. That really got my scoring averages down, especially when I'm having those off days.

I've got set 420/500. Fantastic clubs. When I had them bent, the guy said he never felt anything so soft. I always think I want to get new irons, but then I look back in my bag and I can't justify putting these on the back burner.

What happens when you shank one sideways and put it through the drywall and into the tv in the next room?

The guy is really milking his chances to dish out crap on his former boss, way distasteful, especially in public forum. I almost hope he does something so crude that Adam drops him before the event ends.