Dave325

Wow, @boogielicious! That is exactly the same issue I have been experiencing, especially with my driver. And, the same advice I got from my Evolvr coach at A4 on my last analysis. Of course, I have a whole lotta other things I am trying to get down from my last trip to Erie. Just yesterday, I noticed that I was tightening my grip at A4, the club shaft went more vertical, sending everything off plane and result was an excessive fade. Then, I relaxed the grip and let the club fall on plane and pause at the top and the result was a dead straight hit with good distance. Of course... There are a lot of other elements that go into it... Setup, grip and chest position (which Erik fixed), head position, weight forward, etc.

Worked on pitches in basement, where I setup a target. Still need work on the short pitches while swinging with the hips and letting the club fall. Also, did three 30 minute sessions in the backyeard with driver and 7-iron. Focuses on backswing and downswing drills with the iron. Then, focused on the driver issues I was having yesterday in the round. Three elements I discovered that I need to remember... 1. Soft chest pointing to the ground at A4 2. Relaxed the right arm a bit at A4 and let the club drop a bit. 3. Pause at A4 and make sure to start downswing with hip bump. * Start the pre shot routine with the downswing drill with a double pump. Reset and swing. I think part of my issue yesterday was in the transition at A4 and the club shaft coming too vertical.

Started the day with a 2.5 mile run, weight and kettle bell workout, followed by a few rounds of boxing on the heavy bag. Warmed up a bit in the backyard with the driver and 6 iron working through some the backswing and downswing drills. Played a round in the afternoon, but had mixed results (posted 100). Started keeping a log and had a better back nine. End up with the following: Fairways hit = 8 GIR = 4 nGIR = 5 Putts =34 (no 3 putts, but had a 4 putt on a par three, which is a bit embarrassing) Positive side: Short game chip and putts has immensely improved with the technique that Erik taught me while in Erie. 34 putts was an all time best, and, if I used the putter off the fringe (which happened a number of times), I counted this as a putt. Hybrids and irons are still looking better, but just need more time with the swing changes. Staying on course with my priority items... I'm not leaving my wing man, Maverick. Negative side: Driver off the tee is still a bit of an issue. The good thing... no shanks or heel hits. The bad thing... a bit of an excessive fade has creeped in. I noticed at one point that my grip needed adjustment (needed to turn more to the left... made the change on 14 and wrote that up in the notebook). I had 3 or 4 lost ball penalties that cost me with these wayward drives (I really need to stop that bleeding, seriously). I tried a few pitches, knowing that I need work on these (some miss hits here)... but gotta keep trying to do the right things here.

So based on this... If a player already has a wet club from the dew, and fails to wipe it off before the next stroke, is he penalized?

Agreed! It seems that if he could use a towel, then what Speith does with the clubface should be permissible.

Spent the afternoon at the range working on backswing and downswing drills. Took a bunch of videos, so I will review those tonight. Worked on the driver a bit with the new backswing. Staying on track, started to develop a fade with the driver. Hybrids and irons swings were spot on with the new swing. Loving that. Finished up the bucket with game situation drill alternating clubs between the driver, hybrid, iron, wedge. Focused here today on keeping a soft chest at A4 and pinch c at A6 through the follow through. I have a new A6 feel.... Feel like I'm reaching for something on the shelf far to the right. Made some notes in the notebook today regarding this. Finished up at the green. No one there today, so I had the green to myself. Did a little four ball game. Pitch 4 balls and putt them out. Putting was really strong weigh the new stroke. Loving that too. My accuracy and speed have come spot on with the change. Went back to a standard grip. Still need a lot work on the pitch stroke. Suppose to be better weather tomorrow, so I'll try to play a round in the afternoon.

I agree with the lost part.... So is my only option with a "plugged out of sight ball in the fairway".... To walk back to the tee and re-tee where the next group is probably already walking up to that tee box? it seems like this would slow play down considerably, where conditions might not be perfect. No other options under this lost ball rule? And, yes.... I enjoy playing by the official rules... But if there is no option, and the USGA wants or cares about slow play, then maybe they might want to consider an option (shrug).

Great idea, AdamF. I would suggest also to stay with watching the videos suggested above (or all those by Dave and Erik). They are great instructors and know their stuff. Also, avoid the error that I have fallen into time and time again by scouring the Internet for quick tips and videos. There is a lot of conflicting info and bad swing tips that can mess you up, while offering some quick fix. Work on the one or two priority item that and stay with those until they are are ingrained. Only then, move forward. I only say this because I've made this mistake before and have gotten off track (never again, though). You'll enjoy the game more, with a steady improvement in your swing, if you stay with your priority item you should be working on. Best wishes for your game, Adam!

Great explanation, @boogielicious!

Agreed. The provisional is always the best option in the case of a ball is hit in the hazard or close to an OB. But when a ball is clearly in the fairway and may have plugged out of sight (like in wet conditions that @Gator Hazard mentioned) you might not think to hit a provisional until you get out on the fairway and can't locate your ball. I have some of that in the spring and fall at my home course.

I realized that everyone plays with slight adaptations of the rules. Over the last 1/2 year, I have been trying to learn and adhere to the USGA rules. However, some of the guys I play with give me grief... As they play by what some call "winter rules" .... Rolling the ball to improve the lie, free drops when lost ball in the fairway. I personally wouldn't walk back to the tee to re-tee (unless it's a tournament). Correct me if I'm wrong, but can't you drop a ball in the area where the ball was lost and take a stroke and distance penalty? That may help speed the play for those non-tournament rounds. Just thinking... And I'm still learning all the rules. But just thinking that this might speed up play on the busy days.

Worked today in the basement (chip/pitching/putting) and then in the garage (full swing - hybrid and iron) and pitching. Focused full-swing on the backswing and downswing drills. I've been working on these a couple hours every day to get them ingrained. Staying on track with the single focus here. Since it's been one week from my visit to Erie, I thought I would post a few minutes of my practice drills in MySwing. Here they are:

It's been one week since my trip to Erie. So, a lot of thing are changing here with my swing. In this video, I am practicing a couple backswing and downswing drills.

I completely agree with this one, and it has helped me a lot. So, what I do when I get to the range... Divide the balls up based on what you are going to work on that day. However, keep the last pile for game situations drills (I call it). I will alternate: Driver, Hybrid, Iron, Pitch (repeat). I even do this in my garage after I am done working on drills. It's kind of like the dessert after dinner. A nice reward for a good workout. Hope this helps. And yes... It does take awhile to make it second nature.... I am at the place now too. Keep working at we'll get there.

Do you have one specific big miss that is costing you strokes (more than the others? Like... Leaving putts short, Missing chips, etc. Maybe start there and just work on that one thing. Just an idea.

Another good day of practice. Started the day with some chipping, pitching and putting drills in the basement office. For my break from work, worked on the driver and 8 iron in the backyeard until the snow started to fall and blow around (winter golf ain't for wimps), Worked on backswing and downswing drills I learned last week, focusing on soft shoulders at A4 and follow through position. A little bit better on the driver today.... The club head was starting to scrape the ground yesterday for some reason. Retreated to the garage later in the day for more drills. Drills before fun. Finished up with practice the backswing / downswing with hybrid, various iron, pitch and chip in random order (game situation), Wrapped up with pitching practice with various distance strokes. Reviewed notes and added some details. Need more wok on the pitching with the hip turn. Plan on taking some videos tomorrow, since it has been a week that I have started working with these new changes. Setting my sights at the single focus eye and the plan on vigorously only doing what my instructor and swing coach tell me to focus on. I totally trust them to the fullest, and am loving the results. No more searching for golf tips, YouTube videos, or other golf forums. Cancelled a bunch of them and unsubscribe to various golf tip thread in email. I'm all in here. Hey stupid monkey! I'm coming after you!

We have three tee positions at my course (the one with the posted 8 steps), and the tees are relatively close (no more than 10-15 yard difference between each). I usually play the tips, but if I am teamed up with a group that is playing the forward tees, I will oblige and follow along with the group. I really don't care where I play from. Hey, I am out playing golf, so that is a good thing. I like to say... be flexible.

The course I play at regularly just sent an email around to all the members, about speeding up play. I thought it was pretty good, and something to add to the forum since we're had these discussions more than once, and with golf season right around the corner (at least in the north portion of the US it is). I realize that most of us adhere to these anyway, but just in case... here it is..... 8 Tips to Speed Up Play There is nothing worse than slow play to take the fun out of golf. No one wants to be behind slow players. It has the domino effect and slows down the course (and enjoyment) for everyone. Don’t be a slow poke. Review the following tips and help speed up play making golf more enjoyable for all. Be early for your tee time. Proper pace of play begins with teeing off at the appointed time. Allow time for unloading your equipment, putting on your golf shoes, any desired practice or warm-up, purchasing any refreshments or balls and driving your cart to the first tee. “Tee It Forward” unless you are consistently able to reach greens in regulation from the back tees. In other words, play from a set of tees that is comfortable for you – one where you are more likely to hit lofted irons into greens instead of hybrids or fairway woods. It is acceptable for players in the same group to play from different tees. (The USGA Handicap System provides a formula for adjusting handicaps from different tees.) Remember you are not a tour player. Forget your ego and play to your level – it will be a lot more fun and rewarding. Be helpful to others in your group. Follow the flight of all tee shots, not just your own. Once in the fairway, help others look for their ball if you already know the location of yours. Volunteer to fill in a divot or rake a bunker for another player if needed. Be ready to attend the flagstick for others. Plan your shot while walking to your ball or while others are playing. Carry extra tees, ball markers and an extra ball in your pockets so you never have to return to your bag to find one when needed. Line up your putt when others are putting and be ready to play when it is your turn. Play ready golf first on the tee hits, not first in the hole! Walk directly to your golf ball; don’t follow others unless assisting in search. When two players are riding in a cart, drive the cart to the first ball and drop off the first player with his choice of several clubs. The second player should proceed in the cart to his ball. After the first player hits his stroke, he should begin walking toward the cart as the second golfer is playing. Heed these tips and your game will be a lot more enjoyable. The group behind you will thank you.

Spent a couple hours in the years working on the driver and 8 iron. Divided the time between backswing and downswing drills. Then moved to the garage to work on the pitching technique, focusing on letting the club fall freely and turning the hips. Noticed that I need to keep my head steady until impact for consistency. Adding some chipping practice. Added a new playing drill for fun.... 4 balls, alternate hybrid, iron, pitch and chip (repeat). A little indoor fun to break up the drills a bit.

Welcome March! One month closer to spring! Good practice day to start the month. Did a couple sessions in the yard working on the backswing and downswing drills. Did a little time with the driver before the rains came in. Moved practice to the garage... More backswing and downswing drills, though mixed it with the 6 iron, 7 iron and hybrid. Finished up with some chipping and pitching practice. Added a little putting practice in the living room. Things are starting to come together. Intentionally focusing ONLY on my priority items, nothing else.

Finished the February 5-min challenge and didn't miss any days. considering I did the same in January, I guess that's just a "renewal".... So, just send a. Notice in case the current award expires.

Wrap-up for the month of February: Spent some time in the backyard working on backswing and downswing drills (12 balls from the front (backswing) and the same 12 balls back with the downswing drills. Repeated this twice and ended with chipping practice. Later in the evening (inside), worked putting (speed, accelerate the backstroke and follow though distance)... Worked on the coin drill. Followed up with some pitching (whiffle balls in the house) practice focusing on the key elements and letting the club head fall with the shorter distance pitches. Last step for the day, a little more chip practice, focusing on the shoulders, weight distribution and follow through (keeping the club head down). Overall, a good practice day considering I had to fit in a trip to the dentist (arg). See you in March.

After all that work of disrobing and standing out in the water, he hits it in a sand trap. I guess that's better than another sand trap. Even at the pro level... I would think he might have been better off taking the drop and getting a pure strike at the green.

It was in the mid-60s today, but just a bit windy. Spent three hours at the range. Took my notebook and went through each of my drills. Divided up a jumbo bucket into sections to run through all drills. 1. Backswing drills - 3 good backswings. If the third is good, then hit it. 2. Downswing drills - First, weight forward (hip bump). Then, full swing... Bump, bump, swing. 3. Work on driver positioning and driver... Backswing.... Backswing. Backswing and hit the ball. 4. repeated #1 and #2 with a different iron and hybrid. 5. Game situation - Driver/hybrid/iron (alternate) with backswing and downswing. 6. Held back the last 10 balls and took them to the open area behind the range to work on pitching. Key points here are keeping shaft straight at address, weight on front foot (right knee toward left leg). Wrist hinge back swing (butt of club making very little movement). Downswing - Lett the club head fall, and swing around the left leg / hip turn. Facing the target at follow through. Practiced different distances. 7. Finished up with hitting these balls (and some others left behind) with the full swing pitching and A wedges. I am loving the new swing changes. Wedge hits were more consistent than the past with solid contact. 8. Went to the practice green to work on the chipping mechanics. Swing from the shoulders, arms straight and clubhead down on follow through. Practiced at different distances. 9. Finished up with putting drills. Working on a fast tempo for the backswing and smooth transition into the stroke. Focused on doing the same distance of backswing and follow through stroke. Set a tee at the ball placement and a couple coins for the furthest point of backswing and follow through. Worked on this at various distance from the hole. Also worked at aligning the putter head first and then taking stance. Finished up with a clock drill at 3 foots and random distance from 20 - 40 feet. I usually do this with ten balls and try to end up with no three putts. This is the first time I made all balls without any three putts. So, I can already see an improvement in my distance control. It was a very productive and fun day at the range. Sorry for the lengthy post... Just a bit excited about the new stuff. Practice now got really fun, and with real purpose. (Thanks, Erik).

Travel day today back from Erie. Spent some time taking notes remembering everything from yesterday. Ended up with three pages filled with notes and drills. Kind of sore today from all the swinging... Or maybe it was due to falling on the ice with clubs outside the hotel, so did some visualization of the drills and technical specifics. Gave the muscles a break today and jumped in the jacuzzi for a little muscle therapy. Planning on hitting the big time tomorrow.