alcorn

Ok.. the thing about most blades is the sweet spot is very small in comparison to most other irons. What this requires is an extremely constistant and sound swing technique. Thats why you see alot of pros and low single digit handicappers playing them. Its not changing the spot that make you contact, its being able to change things in your setup, grip, swing path, ect. that allow you to work the ball with clubs like that. Personally, I can hit em but I can't play my most effective golf with them so don't much experience with them. Therefore, I can't give a really good answer. But my suggestion to you would be go to a good pro and take afew range lessons and a playing lesson and they should be able to help you.

Congrats 804. Glad you won. As far as the 1 birdie and 6 pars go... I'd like to how many fairways and putts you had overall

I've noticed afew general rules are known by most golfers but a lot of the people out there today have never picked up a rule book and read it. Thats the way it seems to me anyyway. I played with a guy on monday who claimed to be a 7 handicap, but he also ground his club and took practice swings in sand traps. Now don't get me wrong, I'm not constantly thinking of the rule book when I'm out but it just doesn't seem relevant to most people today. Your thoughts...

1. you want a flatter swing 2. there could be a thousand reasons for that. You may be bringing your hands over to quickly. Go to a pro and take a lesson.

When I play to keep stats these are what I keep track of. Total score Fairway drives GIRs Chips and Pitches Puts

Sorry guys that I'm posting one after another here but I had to respond to 804 here. The first thing I would do is go take a video lesson from a pro. Having your swing analyzed and working on the areas that you need to focus on is crucial to getting better. As far as putts go, practice lags, practice short putts. Have a range that if you can get the ball within so many feet of the hole then 8 or 9 times out of ten you'll make it. To answer your other question, scratch golfers should be able to put the on green 9 times out of 10. Most focus on a specific part of the green.

When I was 13 years old I took up the game. I'll never forget my first match 9 holes 68. God looking back its so painful. I had a cousin who was junior in high school, who had lead his team to the state finals, he worked with me every day. How to practice, how to swing, and how mentally play the game. I got to low 40s to high 30s very quickly. Here's what I consider keys to being a decent golfer 1. Good swing fundamentals (chips, putts, full shots, ect.) 2. If going to practice. Practice with a purpose and don't over practice (swinging til you can't swing anymore won't help you if you don't have a purpose in what your doing) 3. Prepare yourself mentally. Every golfer has ups and downs. When I say prepare mentally what I mean is plan for excactly how you want to play the round, the hole, and the shot. If you know the course then you'll have an idea but if you don't know the course then plan hole by hole and shot by shot. The key is no matter what you are doing focus on the shot at hand and not the snowman you just put up. 4. Time - you put in the time and you'll be suprised how much you improve. 5. Preshot routine - Most golfers have a specific routine that they go through before every shot. It helps focus. Bottomline, those are things I work on. We could say probably a thousand different things but the keys are in numbers 3 and 4. hope that helped

I start by say that chipping and pitching are my two weekest areas in my game. Seems like unless I use my 60 degree I'm topping it. I was reading a book by Golf Magazine (Breaking 100,90,80) and one thing it said was to focus your shortgame around 1 wedge. I just wanted to get some other opinions on this. A side note I'm most comfortable with the 60. I don't know whether to base my game around it though. gimme your opinions guys

I totally agree with Pakdoc. If I could see any matchup, it would Tiger vs. Jack, both in their primes. Equipment from the same era or equipment of their choosing. I think Tiger could probably win. The only thing that truly separates them is that Tiger until recently really hasn't had much real competition.

Who cares?? If they don't want women then thats up to them. Its a private club. IMO writing an article about it is just stirring up trouble that doesn't need to be.

Big M I apologize, but there is no need to call me out in public.

Do it. They worth the money.

can't argue with myrtle if those are the states your looking at. Try the Dunes course by RTJ its a good track. One destination you may look at would be Montgomerie Alabama at the Capital Courses on the RTJ trail. It has a great quiet hotel and the three courses that are there make for three great days of golf.

I played that course afew years ago. Your right, it did suck. Next time your down that way you should definately play both the oxmoor valley and ridge courses. Both are definately worth the money.

I'd add one TPC Sawgrass.

1. Get my handicap to around 5-7 2. Shoot atleast three rounds below par 3. Just become a more solid player all around.

To get to that low you have to focus on the little things. My suggestion is go to a good pro and have him analyze every part of your game. Then you'll know where to focus. 1 more thing, physical shape can have something to do with but then look at golfers like craig stadler and john daly. Comparitively they're both big but both have been successful. One many thing to focus on is playing strategy.

4 hybrid... Alot of players find them easier to hit.

I'd pick a hybrid or wood to fill that gap. Personally, I play my 5 wood more than my 3 so thats what I recommend.

Here's some advice I give everyone who is going to buy new clubs. Try as many as you can in you're price range and pick the one that you feel the most confident in. Remember what feels right to me may not feel right to you. You said you have a tendency to draw the ball so I would definately take that into consideration. I just bought a Ping Rapture last weekend. I also tried the burner, hi bore, G5, G10, R9, Rapture 2, and it just happened to be the one that I liked the Rapture the best because it was simple and easy to hit, plus I got a hell of a deal because it was last years model. So if I were you I definately wouldn't count out last years model or looking at used clubs. Places like Golf Smith and those stores with have plenty of used clubs to try. Personally, I would steer clear of titleist and alot of the TP drivers because they can be hard hit well (well - straight and long). I would recommend the the G5, the Rapture, or Taylormade Burner as a good starter driver because they're all pretty forgiving. Bottomline though, decide your price and good try every driver ya can til you find that fits you. Happy Hunting

I've played an R5D for 5 years or so. Two years ago, I began hooking the ball after taking lessons (Turns out my hand come over just alittle early). Anyways, last june I hit one of these Ping Raptures and loved it but the price was 450 dollars at the time so I had to pass. This past sunday I walked into my local golf shop with a coupon for 30% off any item over $100. I walked out with my rapture after paying much less than half the original price. It hits great and I love it (Only played 1 round with it but big weekend ahead). Hitting it around 250 to 260 on solid shots which is about where I was with the R5 except these are straight. My question is does anyone else have this driver if so what do you think of it? Also if you don't have it what have you heard?

250 consistently is believable. but 4 fairways? 4 GIRs? Ok, please understand that what I am about to say is meant in no way to offend you and its not personal, but as someone who has played college and coached high school in the past ten years I'm going to tell you what I would do. First, get to your local driving range. A number of reasons why this important but here are some things to focus on 1. Find out exactly what ranges you can be effective at with each club. You need to know exactly how far you'll hit the ball if you only make 70percent contact, 80percent, 90 percent, and so one. You can't possibly know what type of round you're going to play if you don't know this 2. Find a club, whether it be your driver, 3 wood, 5 wood, 7 iron, whatever, that you can hit that fairway 9 - 12 times during your 18 holes or 5-6 times during your 9 holes. 3. Maybe most important, when you're at the range do stop with a club until you 5-7 consecutive well struct shots. (and then have to go straight too). What this does is build muscle memory so those 1rst tee jitters are nonexistent because you don't even have to think to hit that good shot. Second, Remember that just playing isn't practice. Playing is playing. If I practice on a course then I hit two to three balls and I play every one. This way I put my self in different situations. The key is do this on a day or time when the course isn't busy and do it by yourself. Third, own up. Every player, myself included, has blamed bad shots on nerves, a wife, or heck I played a tournament scramble with some friends afew years ago and I blamed it on my kidneys failing (I had just put on the transplant list) but we have a responsibility look at our mistakes and fix them and not loose focus. Remember that golf is 60 percent mental and 40 percent physical, stay in there and don't loose your cool.

I liked the flow of the book and it shows a few great emergency type shots. However, the only thing I dislike about the book is if a golfer does not have good fundamentals they can try some of these shots and screw up parts of their game.

There's an old saying, if it aint broke then don't fix it. If you can hit your driver 230 and straight that's good enough for most courses. I wouldn't change. If you're looking for something new just to find something that you can hit afew yards further then thats your perogotive. Personally, I just switched from an R5 Draw that I bought when they first came out to a Ping Rapture 1 which I found at less than half the original price. But my reason for changing is because of swing changes. As far as which flex to get, my swing tempo is on the slow side for stiff flex but too fast for the regular flex so a pro suggested fitting me with the stiff because I hit it best. I would suggest that you get fitted if you're going for a new driver and can't decide on flexes. The pro should help you make that choice.

Sorry but I don't understand how you can supposedly hit the ball 350 yards and have a 25 handicap. If it were me I'd first play next few rounds keeping track of the following 1. Approximate Drive Distance 2. Fairway Drives 3. Greens in Regulation 4. Number of Chips 5. Number of Putts I usually start this way for the first few rounds so I have an idea of where I'm at and then I start the real work. I usually spend time everyday practicing chipping and putting (approx. 40-60min) and then every few days I'll go to the driving range to try to get consistent trajectories with all my irons and fairway woods. Then I focus on my driver. So in short, if you are accurate about your 350yd drives then put the drive down and focus on your second shots and shortgame. Also read up on playing stratageys.