iPutt

Congratz! It's always great to break down one of those score barriers. I myself just broke 90 for the first time a few days ago. It's good to see work you put in pay off. Now you need to work on getting into the 70's

I find that playing in this weather isn't too bad as long as you drink a lot of water and you tend towards the shade while standing/walking, but I feel like it gets tough to focus on the range when hitting shot after shot.

Do they still send an email if you didn't get them?

Hahaha of course, I got the Titleist 910 F with the Diamana Regular Flex shaft. My main complain with my old 3-wood was the balooning even when hit well, most people said it was because of the light flex in the shaft. After some analyzing by the club fitter, turns out that even though I swing at around 90ish mph, I don't flex the club in the right places to warrant a stiff shaft. The main problem was the head on my old club since it was a million years old and the 910F brought my spin down on avg by 2500 rpms (my old 3 wood produced the spin of a 6-iron). I also found out that some other 3-woods that I tried out at golf galaxy didn't feel right to me because heavier heads to me don't fit my swing which has pretty good tempo. Overall, get fitted and you'll find out things even you don't know about your own game!

Today for the first time in my golfing career I went to get custom fitted for a club. I found a great shop from Golf Digest's top 100 list of fitters that was right near my town. All I can say is, wow. It was honestly all I could have hoped it could be and more. Now I finally realize why everyone says that getting fitted is the best thing that you can do for your game. I will never again be buying a club any other way. This place made me feel like I was getting ready for the PGA tour with all the different cameras and machines that they had to analyze my launch angle, spin, shaft kick, and more. My only complaint is that I need to wait 2 weeks for the club! I have no doubt in my mind however that it will be worth it and it will be one of the most comfortable clubs in my bag. Just wanted to share with everyone how essential it is to get fitted and how I can now understand the hype.

Well, I last posted here after shooting my 93 and talked about my new goal of breaking 90. Now I've been there, done that . Shot an 87 today at the same course, Bethpage Red. Started out the on the front 9 with a somewhat unimpressive 48. Only one par which came on the 4th hole where I hit possibly the best 7 iron of my life, 165 yards into the wind to 15 feet. Mostly unimpressive golf and some screw ups like the penalty stroke on the 7th where I hit the ball with my practice swing. Also on the 8th hole, I proceeded to drive it 295 yard right down the middle (downwind on rock hard fairways, still my longest drive ever though), hit it to about 20 feet with my 56* wedge, and then 3-putt for bogey. So after this nine, I really tried to refocus myself and just concentrate on each individual shot because I was hitting it pretty well up to this point. Ended up shooting a 39 (+4) on the back for my best 9-hole and 18-hole score. 5 pars, 4 bogeys, almost flawless. I still left a couple shots out there today (especially on the front) which proves to me that I still definitely have room to improve. The back wasn't even spectacular golf, just hit some greens and dropped some putts. One highlight was the open faced 4 hybrid out of a fairway bunker and onto the green on the 18th hole to save bogey (I had already went bunker to bunker on my second shot). Another was the 3 hybrid up the hill on 15th hole for the GIR which I then 2-putted for par. Overall I just drove the ball great today and putted well down the stretch for my career best 87.

I was with my instructor the other day during my lesson and he was watching me hit balls. I hit what I considered a "draw" that curved about 10 yards to the left. He said we have to fix that hook and I was like, no way, that's a nice draw. He says that he considers a draw a ball that goes up straight and falls to the left.

I think it sounds pretty normal. Like someone above posted, he probably figures that interacting with people is better than doing nothing in his downtime. It also makes it more likely that you'll come back to him for paid lessons.

I caddied today and got the first loop/tee-time of the day at 730am. I have to say, even just caddying I could see how awesome this is. No groups in front, greens roll flawlessly, get done in 3ish hours. I have to try this soon.

I was showing off in my uncle's front yard hitting high lobs over a telephone wire and landing them only 20 or so yards away. I was hitting them parallel with the street so there were some dense woods in between my uncle's house and his neighbor. It was pretty fun having my family watch me so feeling confident, I say "now watch how high this one is gonna go!" Full swing with an open lob wedge and completely skull it. Flies away through the woods without touching a branch (of course) and slams into the neighbor's aluminum siding making the most obnoxiously loud sound ever. Luckily no one seemed to be home as nobody came out of the house, and since there was no damage, no harm no foul. It was really funny afterwards but I was incredibly embarrassed/nervous when it happened.

150

So if you're an amateur playing in say The Masters, you can't accept any of the prize money you would earn if you make it to the weekend? Assuming of course that you wanted to keep your amateur status. And also, are all the contestants on the Big Break now considered pros since they're playing for money? Or is it just the winner that has to turn pro because he's the one winning the money?

I have to say that even though I know a lot of the analysts are saying this performance is better than Tiger's in 2000, I disagree. Rory's scores are better, but when you look at the US Open in 2000, Tiger was the only player under par. That's just absurd when you think about Tiger being the only player that week to beat the course in such a large magnitude. I'm not taking away anything from Rory in any way as this is quite an accomplishment, however, I still think that Tiger's performance was still more dominating.

Anyone else catch some of the post round interviews? It seems as if even some of the pros (Snedeker, Garcia, etc) are writing themselves off already. At least that's how I interpreted it. I know that what Rory's doing is amazing and record breaking, but the players could at least act like they feel they have a chance.

I don't want to say that it's over yet because we all know Rory's history at majors, but this tournament really looks like it's here for the taking if he wants it. He really needs to have some sort of major melt down to lose this thing. I want him to win, but not going to lie, it takes away some of the interest for me personally if on Sunday he's 12 shots ahead of the field.

On playing days to warm up, I like to first go to the range and get a small bucket (40-60 balls depending where I'm playing). I hit balls with a wedge, short iron, long iron, hybrid, and wood. Then, if time allows, head to the putting green and hit some three footers, 15 footers, and 30 footers. This all take about 45 minutes and allows me to be fully ready to play. On practice days, I like to go to the range looking to improve on some certain area. Always focusing on something, I think that the practice is starting to pay off.

Shot a 93 for my career best. The funny thing is is that it came on the hardest course I've played all year (Bethpage Red). My driver wasn't even working that well but I was able to really take advantage of my short irons and short game and really grind for a score. My goal of breaking 100 for the 2011 season is over and now we move on to breaking 90

A few things, 1) I feel like shank is a little bit more irresponsible and stupid than he is funny. It was entertaining at first to see his carefree attitude but forgetting your three wood and putter for a major TV series is ridiculous. 2) Kent seems by far the best one on this show. I don't necessarily like his attitude, but I think that it's being backed up by his flawless play so far. 3) Russel, sorry to see you go man, I hate when you see two of your favorite players in the elimination challenge. I think that for blackjack it would have been smarter just to play it like you would in a casino and going by the book. No looking at your opponent or at the bench. 4) I like David and I think he has the game, but I think his mental game is a little bit fragile, probably because of his inexperience. Just my thoughts for what it's worth

Newtogolf- I am definitely going to voice these concerns to him at the next lesson, today I was a little distracted I guess just getting a feel for him. You're completely right, if we're not on the same page then I don't know if I want to work with him. jshots- I definitely do have a much better understanding of the swing now through both this forum and the last instructor. This is exactly why I was a little skeptical today, and I'm going to talk to him about it.

So my instructor from last year no longer teaches in state so I have to find a new one. He was by far the best instructor that I've ever had and I improved leaps and bounds with him. I was pretty upset when I found out that he left but life goes on and the search began. The other day I scheduled a lesson with a new guy that works at the same range as my old instructor and the proshop workers recommended him. The only problem is that I'm not sure if I'm comfortable with some of the things he taught me today. I think it may be because I made such good strides with the last teacher and now I'm afraid to change any of that since some of the new tips go against the old. I guess they could be good tips, I just don't want to do anything detrimental to my progress. So my question is, what should I do in terms of a teacher? Should I stay with this new teacher and see where it takes me, or should I find a new one. The problem is that he works at my home range and I would be uncomfortable getting a different teacher at that range. I'm not saying he's bad, I just wasn't sure of some of the things he was telling me. Maybe I should focus on self teaching? Problem there is that I don't have a video camera and don't trust my own judgement. I just want to improve and feel like finding the right teacher is key. Thanks for any help.

So I've come to realize that the main problem I've been having this year with my game is finishing out the round. I don't mean this in terms of physically playing out all 18 holes, I mean finishing the same way that I started the round. So many times so far this season, I've had a great round going after about 13 or 14 holes, and then I just lose it. I end up 3 putting the last few greens or can't do any better than double or triple, ruining the great round that I've been able to put together. What is causing this!?!? Is it because I'm putting too much pressure on myself to finish strong? Today I was actually getting mad at myself while I proceeded to finish the last 3 holes triple-double-triple, all 3 putted. I don't know if I'm rushing? I tried to slow things down today but I don't think it helped. My slice also always seems to come back towards the later holes despite my consistent draw with all my clubs early in the round. Maybe I just get tired; I've walked each round this summer so far but I would think I have the stamina by now. So really what I'm looking for is an answer to why I can't mentally finish the round. I'm so frustrated that my swing as a whole is finally getting to where I want, yet I can't complete any work that I do early in the day. Things just feel better early, and I slowly leak confidence I think as the round progresses. So any words of wisdom would be great help and thanks so much for any advice.

First round of the year this year and just getting back into the grove. Get to the 9th which is a downhill par 3 that plays about 175ish. I hit the most perfect 5 iron I've every hit in my life. It felt completely effortless and honestly sounded like you would hear the pros hit on TV. It was about 15 feet away but the contact that I made was what made it so great. Of course I was pumped but there was no one there to share the moment with

Favorites- David (short canadian), Russel (marine), Will (dreads) Dislike- That one Texan (not sure of his name), The guy with that glasses that arrived last And also, was anyone else wary of the 1/2 stroke that was given during the elimination challenge? I feel like if you're on the big break, it should be a level playing field and no one should start off at a disadvantage.

I personally haven't been asked many times, but I can see how it could get on your nerves. I wouldn't lend out more clubs susceptible to damage (woods, hybrids) no matter what, but I think that I would be pretty lenient on lending out more durable clubs like my irons, wedges, or putter for a swing or two. One of the only times I've been asked to have a club borrowed is when a rather older man (mid 60's or 70's) saw me spin back a wedge into a green, said he's never seen an average player do that, and he asked me to try my wedge. I tried to explain that it was more about swing speed/green slope than the equipment, but I didn't see any harm in letting him take a few shots at it.

Go watch the first season of "The Haney Project" and you'll have your answer It's a hick in his swing, so yes, however unfortunately, it's real.