flanagan

I didn't break 40 for nine holes until I was 28, and I started playing at a young age and have always loved golf, just haven't always "gotten it". About 3 years later, started taking lessons and hitting the range and practicing more and over time got to where I expected to shoot in the 80s. Now, many years after that, expect to shoot 80 to 85, occasionally in the 70s. My short game has improved a lot over time and I work on it. For me the main thing is taking lessons and having someone help keep alignment, ball position, head position, etc. on track. Still work on my swing, always something to work on, and sometimes it all just goes horribly. I can't say I've "learned to go low", but I can say I've gotten better little by little over a long period of time, and if I can, believe me, anyone can.

Sorry, I didn't ask about the CBs release date and I'm not good enough at working the ball to give you the insight you are looking for on that. I just happened to be on the range working on my short irons with my little driveway markers (hitting straight to some posts in the distance), so just continued on with that with the new Titleists for a few minutes. Scary thing was, the first 2 CBs I hit were the "P" and, no kidding, they both landed at the base of the post I was hitting to (perfect "P" distance this morning with a little helping wind). They were the two best looking shots I hit with any of the irons. Of course, this emboldened me to pick up the 6 iron and promptly overswung and was reminded by the feel of the mishit why I probably shouldn't play them on a regular basis. I wrongly assumed the CBs would be tougher to hit, they really weren't. Just happened to be in the right place at the right time today, but it was fun to look at the clubs and hit a few.

Your starting this thread shows only that you have no idea how handicaps are calculated. I haven't changed mine on this site (playing to a 10 now), but shot 76 yesterday (6 over). Had a great round for me, but that would only not make sense to you if you don't understand handicaps or golf.

Titleist rep (great guy) was visiting our pro today and I was fortunate enough to get to borrow the 2 AP2 irons he had in his bag of new clubs. My reaction to hitting several shots on the range with mine and the new model is very positive. For some reason, the topline seems narrower at address to me, but I can't explain it. Like the look. Hit them with an S300 and really liked the feel, in addition to the look, and the distance was great. Also hit the CBs (why not) and when hit well, they felt good. Having seen the ads and read a little about the new AP2s here and elsewhere I was skeptical there would be any noticeable difference compared with mine, but there was a difference. Can't say come Spring I'll be abandoning my current irons, or that I should, but if I was buying now I wouldn't have any hesitation.

I remember the first time I played with my girlfriend . . . but, back to your round, I can relate to the 33-42, did that myself last summer, its putting the good score in the 30s back to back that always gets me. Either take a big hole somewhere in the back nine or start gagging on the last couple of holes. Congrats for putting it all together.

Unless someone has actually seen you play, knows something about your academics ("straight"), etc. there is no way anyone could answer that question. My money is on go to school. But if you have the money and the qualifications, Q school isn't that far away and you may get the quick education you need (one way or the other).

His swing is good, didn't say it wasn't. There are hundreds if not thousands of them better trying to make it in pro golf. But, I doubt anyone would say we can see the equal of Tiger's physical abilities or any evidence of a 220 yard carry with a 6 iron. I disagree he's being defensive. By his own admission, he likes to boast, just no evidence to back it up. Like I said originally, I wish him well if he wants to become a professional golfer, but the attitude and swing video have me thinking all hat and no cattle. He's got a ways to go to prove he's the James Brown of golf, but you never know. Anyway, I didn't break 80 this afternoon, but enjoyed every minute of trying.

So that isn't you in the video? Thanks for the waffling, but you clearly don't generate as much power as Tiger Woods. Still waiting for the results, the smart alecky comments really are no substitute.

If hitting low and working the ball from around and under trees is a "specialty" shot, been doing that a lot lately, and pretty good at it (been doing it all my life). I don't consider myself a "low handicapper", but I'm like some above who will choke down a little, restrict my swing, hit some knockdowns/punches, mostly distance control things. I don't consider myself real good at working the ball but I try. If you know your distances and are accurate, I suspect it's the chipping and putting that's holding you back, rather than hitting the ball straight. I do think if you practice different kinds of shots you get more of a feel or connection with your swing and more confidence.

No, it is about results, still waiting for some. Look, can't comment on your short game, hope it's good. But as for the physically as good as Tiger stuff you are claiming, pretty apparent that isn't the case. Guessing you've got a ways to go to be a legitimate scratch golfer, but, if that's your goal, or whatever it is, again, good luck.

I just don't want you waking up eating crow. Sadly, your answer (and lack of response backing up the bragging you admit)doesn't surprise me. There are 100s of high school kids and other juniors out there with swings as good as yours and better, let alone older guys already on the fringes of the mini tours. Seriously, I hope anyone with a desire to play golf at the highest level possible for them achieves that goal, everyone who loves the game, and loves it more than they love themselves, has a chance to achieve that. Read Coyne's book, get good advice, whatever . . . but I'm sensing arrogance, not confidence.

If you don't care what anyone thinks, why let people waste their time giving you opinions you gave the impression you genuinely wanted when you started the thread in January? If your goal is to make it, good luck. If your brag is you can back it up, feel free to post links to the tournaments you've been winning, because if you can physically do what Tiger does and have a pro level short game, you should be playing this weekend in the Fed Ex event. I'm not sure the "mental game" is your biggest strength, at least not as revealed in this thread. Confidence is good, but humility and honest self-assessment will help you really see what you need to work on. Then work hard. There's a good thread on here which is easy to find started and continuing by someone who is working hard, you can learn a lot from that.

I used to practice mini flop shots from the carpet onto the sofa, for reasons not necessary to get into, I'm not allowed to do that anymore (it's that % you miss that gets you into trouble).

"First off they should not let you play on greens in that condition" (your complaint, not mine) -- you were condemning them, and asking how we would feel in your "situation" (which included your suggesting they were somehow wrong for even letting you play). I choose to have the opinion that you were wrong and hypocritical in complaining about that. Seemed a little irrational, and after reading the above, now I have some insight into that. You didn't limit your complaining to the nondisclosure (which I agreed with you on, if they knew when you booked). Something tells me to be glad I wasn't the guy behind the desk.

Everybody's swing and ability is different, so that is why you may get a lot of different answers. I suggest most would agree in the new equipment era, no reason for a beginner to carry a 3 iron. I used to play a 3 iron and 4 iron and not horribly, but have abandoned them for hybrids for all of the reasons others will tell you and you can find by doing a little research. As for a driver, get fit for a driver and get one with enough loft and not too long and I think you'll have no trouble hitting it and may find more margin for error than with a 3 wood off the tee. You may find skipping a 3 wood altogether a benefit, depending on how you like other fairway woods/hybrids and whatever yardage gaps you are wanting to address. Anyway, another opinion.

I agree, if they knew they were going to aerate , they should have told you when you made the tee time, that's only fair. Sounds like you got a good deal on green fees, though. I think you carry things a little too far when you want us to condemn them for letting you play on the greens at all. People play on aerated greens all the time, you certainly have if you've ever played golf in the fall. If you had a concern about the use of the course because of your play, you should have not played, not try to turn your use back on the course as a way of complaining. I don't understand the take your business elsewhere thing either. If that's your regular course, then you should know that's part of their maintenance. If you are that upset they didn't tell you in advance, that's certainly your call. If it's not your regular course, they won't miss you. Aeration is a fact of life where I live. I expect it and deal with it, not like you are playing in a tournament.

You can't go wrong with the Odyssey Black. I really liked the mallet version I had, but left it for the Cameron I have now and love, for the opposite reason, I'm not straight back/straight through. It took awhile to get used to a blade "look" again, but making a few more putts helps with that.

You didn't list what you had for snacks.

You're getting to the point where you aren't making sense. You want to go to the stack and tilt, great and good luck. You've already made up your mind to do it, if you weren't prepared for some disagreement, you shouldn't have posted your intentions.

Ditto, that's total nonsense. You can find stats on where pros are averaging placement of their second shots and it's not 4 feet from 150 yards.

Why do you want one?

Just when I thought I'd seen it all, went out with the family for a Tuesday night 2 person best shot (you all call scramble, I believe), my wife and I playing with each of our two daughters. We catch up to a twosome (also playing best shot) by the fourth hole and ended up waiting forever after for them to finish. Never thought I'd be held up by a twosome, while playing in a foursome, especially in that format. By the time we got done another foursome behind us was sitting with us on every tee and passing time waiting for them to get far enough along on every hole so we wouldn't have to wait hours in the fairway. I can't imagine how long it would have taken if two others were playing with them. Just goes to show it isn't necessarily the size of the group, and I really believe they still would have been slow but possibly a little faster playing their own balls. BUT, no course with integrity should allow fivesomes during peak hours and it is way too common.

Certainly sounds like for the conditions of play, etc. it shouldn't have been a big deal for anyone out there that day, but, seriously, how does it take that long?

Actually, falls under the category of extremely common knowledge for 20+ years, BUT kudos to you for working it out on your own.

Back to the original post . . . . . I echo the person above who suggests to watch taking it back too far inside. Who knows without watching you, what the cause is, but making sure my takeaway is sound is half the battle for me.