RayG

As mentioned, any number of causes there. I had an extremely high launch angle and lost a bit of distance, and many would go left a bit. In my case I was able to do some poking around and got a 90 minute fitting at the PGA Superstore. I had my M6 which I was 'okay' with but not thrilled about. Warmed up at a range, hit a few 7 irons in the bay before starting. Hit a couple of other drivers to get a feel and loosen up. Then hit 20 balls with my M6. Got the numbers off the best 10 and put them aside. then proceeded to hit a few other drivers and did some comparing. As it turned out- it wasn't so much my swing or club, it was more a shaft issue. SS was at 100 but transition was a bit 'exuberant' so I've used a Stiff shaft. The stock shaft in the M6 had a low, softer kick point and with that combination it lead to a high launching, left flying super spinny shot. Fitter and I checked around and hit a few other clubs and I came upon the C721 with the Smoke Black. Instant improvement. Same length, loft, lie, etc... Spin dropped to just over 2000, launch angle dropped a few degrees and everything (well, nearly) went straighter and 20-25 yards further carry. Higher kick point (which, I think is an overlooked stat with shafts) meant the head wasn't flipping at impact, but being dragged through in a better plane. Someone may say "Oh, you need a softer shaft" Maybe so, but if you think about it, you can get a XS, S, R, A, L shaft, but each of those can have 3 variations on kick point so you have 15 choices, not 5. In my case a 'S' shaft was right, but the model or KP location made a big difference.

Plenty of short swingers out there. Rahm and Varner in particular. It isn't about the swing- it's about impact. How you get there is whatever way you can do it. Furyk's swing wouldn't be taught by anybody. Neither would Matthew Wolff's. They have a swing they developed and it certainly works for them. What you can do is swing your swing and train yourself to use it effectively and repeatedly. Plenty of us out there with restricted flexibility due to age, medical issues and the like. You can only do so much. Taking lessons from someone who says "you can get 30 more yards if you turn your shoulders to 90*" hasn't taken into consideration limited physical abilities. Work with what you have to get the best of of your situation. Oh, if you do have limited flexibility, look to increase lag with supple wrists. A short swing can lead to tension in the forearms.

Can the data be extracted or exported into a ".csv" file somehow? Plop that into Excel and it will generate a spreadsheet. Take what comes out and modify the headers and such to your liking. I did, however come across this- It doesn't specifically track distances, but you should be able to add that category- Spreadsheet Library - Golf: Performance Analysis

For the most part you will get all kinds of 'tips' on how to fade, slice, hook, draw the ball on command. Especially for the situation you mentioned of being in trouble. "Clubface aimed at target, open stance, grip to your feet- NOT - the target line, swing normal, etc..." And someone will say "it doesn't work" or something. Well, chances are it won't. In this particular case, what you need to do is just try different ways to slice or hook to ball. How do people slice off the tee? With an open face and an out to in path. Try that on the range. This is something, IMHO, that is definitely "Feel" dependent. Maybe you want a high slice, or a low fade- two different approaches are required. The "Swing Normal" part is a joke. If you are stuck in a trouble situation, there little chance of being able to "Swing Normal". As I said, practice doing it on the range to see what works for you. then maybe try it while hunched over (as if you are stuck under a branch), then try to hit it high, then low. No situation will be exactly the same- so learn what path and face angle does what to the flight. Knowing THAT, you can adapt the swing to match the situation.

This past season, I was having some 'strike' issues with my Hogan Black Blades. So I went back to my Hogan Edge GS Ft. Worth set from around 1993((ish?). Still a smaller head, but with plenty of forgiveness. Traditional lofts as well. Had them regripped- probably the 3rd time, but at least 10 years on the old ones since I've had other sets in the interim. They are in excellent condition with no rust and a few little spots of pitting. I loved my original Edge's from 1989 that I won during a charity event, and played those for several years until they were stolen. I found the newer set in my Dad's bag that he picked up at an estate sale. I asked what he paid for them- "$50". Okay, I told him "I'll give you $50 AND my current set for these". He obliged since he was nearing the end of his golf "career" due to age and health issues. After he passed, I went through his collection of clubs and found a set of TaylorMade Technicians in great shape as well. Along with some off brand stuff and 'clones' along with the set of Wilson's I had traded him for the GS's. Most went off to Goodwill, but I kept the Technicians and his assortment of hickory shafted clubs including one of the Hagen Spoon Sand Wedges and a a few from clubmakers in St. Andrews. Only used the Technicians once or twice just for a giggle to prove to my buddies I could beat them with anything.

Would it be easier to look around for a shorter shaft that can just be popped in? That way, you have the original shaft AND a replacement in case you might want to sell it on in the future. IF it costs $100 to go through all the cutting and re-gripping, weights, etc... It may be worth just re-shafting in the correct length with another 'original' shaft. Just a thought.

Looks great... until you realize he's hitting Driver... 😜

Nothing. Once the swing process starts, I'm blank. Experience and Muscle Memory 'should' take over. It's like asking "Do you inhale or exhale before Putting (or Driving, whatever)...?" If you think about it, you are toast.

Playing... and playing a lot. Of course, I was younger and had a lot of time after school. And learning on Blades in the mid/late 70's. Lowest official cap I got to was 6. But I only kept one for 2 years in the 80's. I wasn't good enough to worry about it or enter any comps. A 6-10 will lose more times than not to that 18 who has a good day... seemingly all the time. I do know that my "handicap" went UP when I took my first and last official "lesson". Joke of a Pro just screwed me up and I lost my 'natural' swing. I'm not a number chaser, so it really doesn't matter. I can play with just about anything and shoot what I normally would shoot with my clubs. Just recently seemed to rediscover my natural swing from my 'youth' and have played significantly better in the last few weeks than I have for the last 5 years of playing around with my swing, thinking I would improve. So it wasn't just one "magic" club or swing tip, it was playing and practicing with what I had.

Any difference in length? If you were "really" fitted for a Driver, they would take length into consideration. If you're hitting it straighter, less length may have helped control the club head. It's also possible your lesson may have impacted angle of attack. more loft with a higher AOA can decrease distance as well.

Things are a bit different over here. Majority are NOT "members" of any club. And at least around here lately, it's tougher to just show up as a single and get slotted in. Mostly because they don't want people hanging around waiting due to some Covid thingamajiggy . They prefer everyone to book ahead online. Even singles. Earlier in the Spring it was nearly impossible to get out as a single. People were booking 4 spots 7 days in advance through the course website and then just not show up if it was too hot, too cold, too windy, too wet, etc... So the tee sheet was full but maybe only 75% of people would show up- and since they used the course site, there were no charges for not cancelling. If they used GolfNow, they would be charged to full price even if they didn't show. At least once or twice I pulled into a parking lot and could SEE that there were lots of 2's and 3's waiting, so I would call the pro shop. Nope- Online only and there are no slots available. "But I can SEE the openings from the parking lot!". Sorry, sheet is full and they might show up. "THERE'S A TWOSOME ON THE TEE!!". Sorry... For me, I can't always plan out 7 days out to play, so trying to troll various courses looking for an open single slot the day before is annoying. Recently one or two of the courses I frequent have semi relaxed the walkup policy. They're finally aware that people are working the system and there will always be openings. They'd rather have someone fill in that spot and actually pay instead of missing out of the $$$. Now- you refer to playing "Solo". Do you mean actually playing 18 by yourself, or just arriving alone and getting paired up? Again, around here, there is very little chance of playing 18 by yourself, too many people out on the courses. A course generally won't let you go out alone if there are openings to make up full 3's or 4's. And don't expect to have the groups part like the Red Sea just because you insist on playing alone on a full day. No matter how fast you're playing(or expect to play). If there isn't an open hole, then you wait your turn like everyone else.

Happens to the best of them... Not sure If anyone is familiar with SAS golf...

Good job... A good Putter has nothing to do with the Price Tag. Someone who putts well should know that. Hand them just about any putter and they will always be a good putter.

I've mentioned my story as a "Range Rat" for a year before- Dad would go and play and he would leave me at the range to learn the game. It worked- the first round was a 98 (13yo). And beat him by 6. I think later on he was annoyed AND proud at the same time. I never shot over 100, and he never did beat me. 4 years later I could shoot par maybe once a month with those original Northwestern Chi Chi Rodriguez Blades (half set- 1,3,5W's, 3,5,7,9, putter) I started with. That's how you learn to center it and play all those in between shots. Learn on a half set of butter knives.

Meh. They could have had a bit more fun with it. I would have preferred the "Cleveland River Fire" to honor when the Cuyahoga River actually caught fire. 12 times.

It's been awhile since anyone mentioned these- so I'll throw in my 2 cents. I picked up a couple of dozen of these for our trip to OC, MD last weekend. I have been using the Titleist TruFeel for awhile- mostly for budgetary reasons. But since this was a special trip, I figured I would splurge a bit and see if the performance matched the claims in the ads. I'm not exactly a bomber with SS about 99/100, so off the big stick, I didn't really see a difference there- totals from 240-270 depending on wind and roll out (last course was a killer, fairways were super grabby bermuda that always seemed to be into the grain!). The BIG difference was in the approach irons and wedges. The old TruFeels rolled out quite a bit after landing, but these genuinely just stopped within a yard. Also seemed to carry just a wee bit more. With 6 iron and in carry and total were shockingly close. And I am no real super spinner of the ball. They also felt a lot better off the putter than the TF's. When I would catch one and drop it with a one bounce check up- I would get back into the cart and say to my buddy "I REALLY like these balls..."

Nope- still not ready for the "Gold" Tees... Recently turned the clock at 60. Not going for the tips, and haven't done so since my 20's. Still have enough in the bag for the Standard "Mens" (or whatever they're called these days) tees, maybe one back depending on the yardages involved. Most Muni's aren't designed with 5 or 6 sets of tees. You might get 3 sets, and the differences between are negligible- especially the standard and back tees- maybe 5/10 yards.

If you have a "fade", then weighting and Lie angle will help straighten things up a bit. But if you "slice" from an over the top out to in path... then no. EVERY manufacturer will use a perfect robot swing to determine what the settings will do. Which doesn't translate to the real world. Unless you're Moe Norman or something.

I suspect that DS tweet was more of a BS tweet. I was HIGHLY skeptical when they originally said, "new concession" was taking over in a month and run it for a year until "Drive Shack" would start construction. A year later it was still closed. And that was 2 years before any "Pandemic". Besides the fact that it is on NYC Parkland, makes it even more suspect that they would allow DS to build a facility like that on the property. Years ago, that range was supposed to the site of an Indoor Artificial Wave Pool for Surfing. All the brochures were pretty, "agreements" were signed, etc... Wound up being a project that required up front commitment from people willing to become "Members" for a ridiculous amount of money. A few people went in... and... nothing. It was doing fine a a range- They had good instructors, good quality Mats, Good Srixon Range Balls that were changed every April and October. Mini-Golf and some batting cages, along with a Bar & Grill that seemed to do okay. Somebody in "Government" must have seen a chance at enhancing their take by making deals. They probably got their take and don't really care what happens. If they wanted to, it could be fired right back up into a decent range in a month.

I suspect it has to do with the motivation of each player. We play as a three maybe twice a month. I will get out once, sometimes twice a week. I have been playing for a long time and have actually never shot over 100. I was a range rat for 1-1/2 seasons before my Dad let me go out and actually play. Shot a 98 (no mullies or gimme's- My Grandad played with us and was Scottish, so no coddling allowed). I loved it and tried to improve until I was around a 4/6 depending on the course. But there was no place to really go as that hdcp, AND I had found surfing, skateboarding and girls taking up more of my time. I never really "lost" my game. Took a few years off in my early 20's, but picked it right back up and have kind of settled in shooting low-mid 80's with a 79 thrown in on a good day. My buddies are in it for the craic- they have shot essentially the same score for the last 25 years we've played together. 100-105 with maybe a high 90 thrown in on an easier course. No real game plan to improve. In the spring, they might go to the range once or twice, hit a few 7 Irons to warm up and then just beat Driver for 80 balls and call themselves ready to go. When we play for a bit of something, they each get a stroke a hole and I have never lost. Even if they do a best ball off the card, I'm collecting. And yet, none of us really care. We know we aren't playing for millions, and most times not even for quarters. Sure, they get all aggravated with chili dips, chunks and 4 putts, but the beer cooler is in the cart and I remind them we aren't good enough to get that angry about it.

Unless they are truly unique and "historically noteworthy" then they are worth what someone is willing to pay for them. Which might be a bit more for the older hand made clubs, but certainly not for clubs from the 70's thru 90's.

No clue... but it's the one everyone wants.

Fancy names with fancy prices. "Goo-Gone", "Ungoo"... Nail polish remover works or just plain denatured alcohol. The stuff is at most a cupla bucks a GALLON. Instead of $5 for 2 OUNCES.

I find that there are 4 levels. You have the "Baby Draw", the "Draw", the "Pull Hook" and lastly, the "FORE LEFT!!!"

I play with a guy who is a bit "round". He struggles with the weight and if he loses too much weight, he looks and feels terrible. He just carries more weight better. Generally healthy over all, considering. The one thing he has is he is INCREDIBLY flexible. I cannot believe some of the ways he can contort himself when I would snap a ligament. He also struggled a bit to find 'his' swing. He generally had a weak slice and played it. He asked me if I could help. His weak slice was a a classic over the top from an extremely vertical swing plane trying to get his gut out of the way. Because of his flexibility, I tried to get him to remember to think to himself "Around, NOT up" to try and bring the club from the inside a bit more. And also to think about more "oomph" on the downswing. He tended to just go back and forth and nearly the same speed. Moved him away from the ball a bit and had the ball a bit more forward to take advantage of hitting more up on the ball. Flattening the swing and moving the ball almost immediately lessened the slice but still had no 'pop'. He eventually got the "oomph" part and now he is longer than he was and straighter as well. But he also realized a few years ago a Stiff shaft wasn't his best choice. Probably contributed to his rights as well.