RayG

As mentioned, feet can be a good tell... BUT- also look around the landscape, not just the green surface. The green can appear to be downhill, but that can be an optical illusion. Similar to those "Magic Roads" type of situation. Without taking too much time, you can do what Johnny Miller used to describe how putts will react. Taking in the general landscape, imagine where the water would flow if you poured water on the green. If there are hills to the right, or if there is a valley somewhere water will flow to the lowest point. There are, of course, exceptions- especially at some of the newer 'designer' types of course where they plop artificial mounding or swales around. The overall hole should give a good clue as well- an uphill hole, the green would normally slope from back to front, downhill would be front to back. But if you're playing Augusta, forget everything and just take the three putt and run.

50 years and no HIO for me, But I have seen a couple of real doozies over the years. On one of my first trips to FL after my parents moved down, I got to play in my Dad's little group thing. One of the Gentlemen was 90+ and still played twice a week. On one of the Par 3's it was no more than 130 yards, slightly uphill, with two bunkers flanking a little run up area no more than 2 yards wide. Fairway is a little baked being early Summer. "Matt" takes out his driver (as usual) and top-thinned it... straight as an arrow and trundles up through the gap and in the hole. Needless to say, he wasn't impressed. He said it was probably the worst he's hit any of his TWENTY SOMETHING aces... I hate this game sometimes....

Maybe once or twice since drivers became VW's on a stick. Early Persimmon/Laminates were no bother when conditions were right. Even the early days of "Oversized" Metal woods, it wasn't that bad- heads weren't THAT much bigger than the wooden ones. Once they ramped up to 460cc 20 years ago and they really pushed the technology in weight distribution, movable weights, etc... They were meant to be hit off a tee to get the most out of them. Even with larger 'sweet spots', off the deck usually meant a spinnier shot off the bottom half that was harder to control and catch just right. And for most people, controlling a 45/46" inch shaft is a LOT tougher than the 42/43" of a modern FW that would probably go further anyway.

Could be psychological as well. Hitting indoors is NEVER the same as actually playing. Also- Was the rubber tee EXACTLY the right height that you normally play? If its a bit shorter, your head says to hit down on it more than normal and you end up with a weak fade and lose distance. If it is too high than you could be trying to hit up at an extreme AOA and/or off the top of the face and losing distance that way.

If, as it says, he is a 16 "Vanity Cap", then it's closer to 20 actual cap. Then you are in with a shot. However, if he really puts in the work and gets to be, maybe a 10, then he definitely pulls it off before time is up. There's always that "One day" when the gods align for him and against you. Also- YOUR numbers may creep up as you age out of those 270 yard drives as a 30 something. All the while, he is improving and possibly gaining distance.

Those 3,4,5 hundred dollar shafts are 'usually' precision made with the highest of tolerances regarding materials, weight, trueness, kick points, etc... and are usually meant for the elite players who can tell the difference. A fitting tech who works on commission might try and upsell out of a stock shaft by showing those extra 2 yards you get with the $400 shaft instead of the stock one. For 99% (or more) of golfers, one of the 3 or 4 stock shaft choices will work just fine.

It's all in the marketing. They all want to show their 'Maximum' Distance or Forgiveness. Yes- recently they are going with the "Forgiveness" route since Technology is nearly at the limit for getting the most distance. But Distance sells in today's Bomb and Gouge mentality. And the numbers they have pushed over the years are "generally" with the highest swing speeds and lowest spin models. AND with heads with lofts not readily available unless they are custom ordered. Some guys are going with lofts usually reserved for the Long Drive circuit. 7*,6* or even lower that will lower spin rates even further. Joe Weekender sees that the "Big Brand LS Model" is the longest driver, they will assume they will be crushing it past their buddies and they'll pick their pockets for $5 on Sunday. Get out there with the -AoA, over the top outside in slash at the ball swing and it MAY go further, but it ain't going straighter. Reviewers of those LS models, for the most part, do point out that they are probably the LEAST forgiving versions of the clubs, but when you 'nut it', they are monsters. For the casual player who doesn't really follow the 'Tech' involved, you can have a Manufacturer show up and offer a Free driver and just ask if they want more yards or more fairways, almost certainly they'll want yards. Even if it means it isn't the right version for them. When, if they got a proper fitting, the higher lofted, draw biased, regular flex version would get them those extra yards AND more fairways.

I get a bit annoyed at the YT'ers or Manufacturers all saying "Low Spin" this, "Low Spin" that. A couple of problems with that thinking. Sure if you are swinging at 110-120 and find the middle, yes, you can get away with that low spin number. But- Spin adds stability to keep it straight (Ideally, anyway- talent not withstanding) Spin adds distance- the backspin aids in the ball climbing. Yes, too much is not great, either. So if you are swing at 85-100, a little extra spin is necessary to grab a few more yards. A 115mph swing can get away with a 1500 backspin # and a high launch angle, while that 85 mph'er needs closer to 2300+ to get the most out of the ball, which, is ANOTHER factor.

Start a YouTube channel, get a million or so subscribers and apparently they welcome you with open arms if these guys are to be believed. Well, not some of the *Big name* courses- Pine Valley as an example, since even Augusta has allowed a YouTube channel access to their course.

I play a lot more solo rounds because my usual golf buddies can't get the time off or have family obligations. I can take more Fridays off and I get out where I can find a slot. With them, we might get out twice a month if we're lucky. And as someone else mentioned, I'm not the type to chat up strangers I meet up with and exchange numbers to meet up and play again sometime. I am more likely to run into the same guys anyway every so often and then they aren't strangers when we meet up randomly again. A couple of years ago, I would show up (walk on) around the same time at a local and meet the same guy about 4 or 5 times over the course of a couple of months. He might be with different friends each, but a couple of those were repeats as well.

Okay, maybe a *bit* of an overstatement... But we've all seen 'that guy'. Absolutely kills it off the tee. And it usually ends up dead. Either off the planet or under water. Reminds of a guy I played with 2 years ago. Unbelievable clubhead speed and distance... IF he could ever find it again. Went through (I know, I counted) 10 balls on the first nine just off the tee alone. That's not counting approaches over water that were short, etc... So call it a dozen on the front. As we made the turn, he went to his car and got 2 dozen more ProV1's from his trunk. (used them on front as well) I got the courage to ask: "Why are you using those balls with the way you lose them?" "Well, I got fitted into them and these were the best for my game..." "oh, okay... cool..." Went through 15 more on the back. To be fair, the back 9 is a bit tougher.

This came up last weekend. I got paired with a 2 that was in a cart. I was walking with my pusher. Nice enough guys- had a couple of mutual 'semi-acquaintances' through a few degrees of separation and the like. I was a bit off target on a few holes, and they did their best to help locate my ball when I went astray so I didn't waste time walking to where it might be and then poking around. And I did my best to look for one of theirs since they were likely to be on opposite sides of fairway. They knew the course like I did so they should know the various internal OB's. On a particular hole I hit my tee shot and as it was drifting right, I said: "That's gonna be OB short of the corner... Oh well, three from there..." (course is packed and I use a modified version of the new OB rule in casual play). Next guy gets up and hits almost the same shot, and as it's on its way, I said: "That's gonna be OB by me..." He replied: "uh-huh..., I guess so". He is about 3-4 yards ahead and a couple further OB. I get to my ball which is 3 yards over the line, pick it and drop within a club of the line and as I drop I said again: "so it's 3 from here...". I then play a 5 Iron across the corner and wait for his shot. I look over and he's taking his stance and then just goes ahead and takes the shot from OB. I shrug to myself and walk on. I wasn't going the be the guy with adenoid issues saying: "Well, you know, you were OB there and really should have taken the drop or re-teed, so this round can't count to your hdcp... blah, blah...". He was having enough problems out there. I swear, if he could hit it anywhere close to the middle of the club and straight, 320 plus was a breeze. Well, he may have done it a few times, but he was SO far right he was further from the hole than the actual length of the hole itself.

Look for ANY waterproof activewear that DOESN'T have a particular sport associated with it. That $250 FootJoy (or whatever) "Rain Gear" equivalent can probably be found for less than that including pants. As an Example, Frogg Toggs has gear that can do the same job for a LOT less than that Galvin Green listed. There are a few others that when you lose the association with 'Golf', price drops alarmingly.

Ah-hah! I see you're double dipping in 'enemy territory'! 🤐 I see nothing... And you've already seen my responses,,,, Exactly- If someone asks to only be a two, they would get a blank stare and a "No", then be introduced to the 2some they will be joining. Especially on a busy weekend.

Well, yeah... but that messes with the Media's coverage of the story!!! Not to mention Armchair architects and course critics who miss the point of: "If it's marked OB, don't hit it there... Internal, External, nocturnal, whatever. Don't hit it over the white stakes..." Unless, of course you can fly it OVER the OB area with a driver off the tee. And if you can, then I think maybe it IS time to roll back the ball... Oh, as for Spieth hitting off the 'range'- he took an unplayable and took advice from referees and rules officials and took a drop 'NEAR' the driving range. Explained here on YT-