rfeight

I love lifting. It gives me the opportunity to get outta my head and stop thinking, just lifting. My quest has been to find some golf specific lifting that'll help with my game. Fromt he pics above, it looks like the deadlifts and any other exercise that's good for the core might help. I've also started doing a modified standing cable wood chop exercise to strengthen my core. You can see the video with an explanation at http://www.bodybuilding.com/exercises/detail/view/name/standing-cable-wood-chop. Instead of facing the cable and twisting my core like in the pics, I stand in my golf stance with my chest towards the cable and my knees 90 degrees similar to the top of the back swing and use my abs/core to pull the cable to the impact position of the golf shot. What I'm trying to emulate is the Ultimate Swing Trainer motion with a cable pulley. I'll let you know how it turns out, but so far it really forces me to focus on balance and turning, especially when I've got 40lbs on there.

Skipped my workout with weights today and decided to ride the stationary bike and read Lowest Score Wins! Darn books getting in the way of my real training. Yesterday I finished JIM STOPPANI'S SHORTCUT TO SHRED: DAY 39 - CHEST, TRICEPS, ABS from www.bodybuilding.com. That guys program is killing me... in a good way. We'll see how I do headed into the last week of my 12 week $250k challenge. So far I've lost 12 pounds and lost a few percent body fat. I'm hoping to be in good shape for this golf season.

Is the live version better than the classic for strokes Gaines?

So has there been consensus as to whether the live or classic version is best? Is the live version worth the extra money? Also, I was thinking about getting fitted this spring. Would there be benefit to getting this beforehand, establishing some stats to have the fitting done to strengthen my weaknesses and add strokes gained? Thanks in advance.

That helps. I was thinking about irons first, followed by hybrids, Driver, and then my wedges. Oddly enough I'm most accurate with my short irons from 140yrds in, and need the most help with 150 to 200yds out. But with my HUGE cavity back irons I feel like I'm missing out on shot shaping and high soft landings that'll stop the ball. I struggle with my ball roll after the shot. On better courses this kills me because I hit a green and it rolls off the back. But my choke shot is the 165 to 185 hybrid to the green. I don't hit far so these get sprayed or dribbled forward 15yrds. Anyway, thanks....

Marty, I concur about the relaxed arms. As an instructor of a martial art whose been training for over 20 years, the relaxed upper body with a solid lower body is a common theme when attempting to not muslce a technique. Same goes for golf. If you swing trying to hit the ball instead of letting the ball get in the way as your arms rotate around your body, you're going to interrupt the circular rotation and hit the ball offline. If you think about it, even the tension in your arms and shoulders rolls you onto your toes and causes you to be top heavy, creating an outside in slice. But just rotating your body 90 degrees and turning your hips and letting your arms follow without tension lets your power come from the ground. Anyway, glad I'm not the only one it works for.

Thanks Wally. I got my first set of clubs from Golf Haus when I was 7 years old. I played on the same baseball team as the owner. I loved those clubs. Real woods. I was thinking about going to Miles Golf in Ypsi for a fitting later this spring when I get my swing grooved a little better. Never been fitted and I hear they'd awesome.

Good to know. I'm thinking irons and maybe a hybrid. I like my driver. I'm not sure if they could adjust it for me. But we'll see. Thanks again.

Awesome post. Thanks for sharing. I didn't realize you could go multiple times to get a fitting done. I was going to attempt it all in one sitting. But we all know we dont' always swing the same every day. Some days were slump and are tired. Others, we're spot on. Great post. Thanks.

I'm actually going to get fitted this spring too. I just want to get my swing grooved a little better before I do. We've only been playing a week or so outside here in Michigan. For someone that also doesn't want to spend $1,500 on clubs, what would you suggest for keeping the costs down? I was thinking about new irons, I need a distance club, and maybe need to have my driver adjusted. Anyway, I'm a little nervous about getting fitted and am grateful for you sharing your experience. THanks.

I know this thread has been done for couple years. But I'd be interested to know if there is anyone that also uses Paul's swing still on the forum. I've been using it for a couple years now and that coupled with a few other things have led to me breaking 90 and coming close to breaking 80. That's my goal this year. The one thing I struggle with is the Driver. I seem to have temporarily found a cure by using Paul's fake draw stance and club position to hit a real nice fade. This tells me I'm way outside in when in a normal stance. The Optishot says the same. But the fix is working quite well and I'm looking forward to lower scores this spring.

Agreed about the exaggerated shots. I've never hooked a ball like I can on the Optishot.

You may be right. I actually had a sort of convergence in golf in my life, all of which may have led to me becoming a better golf. First I changed my swing. I wandered from online tip to online tip, never fully understanding the elements of a swing until my dad suggested I join this golf site. While getting a daily or weekly video tip I found a teacher in there that really resonated with me. His name is Paul Wilson. His swing is the swing machine. I bought his videos and book and have been using it to lower my score ever since. The second thing I did was when I moved, I gained free driving range priveledges with my association dues in my neighborhood. So I began practicing in the summer 3 times a week. They have an awesome short range, two driving ranges, and an 18 hole putting course, all of which I take full advantage of. The last thing I did actually happened when I bought the Optishot and began playing in the basement in the winter. Paul's swing taught me how to find that correct swing path. The optishot verified it. He also taught me a lot about the swing itself. I almost went to the S&T swing, but stuck with the Swing Machine and am glad I did. I've since bought his other videos on shot shaping and driver and they've also helped me. I play on the Optishot in the weekend tournaments under the same handle I use here in case anyone wants to play a round.

I agree. Before the Optishot, I was struggling to break 90 and constantly was verging on 100+. After getting the Optishot and playing for a winter, my score dropped. I find the irons to be pretty accurate. My driver is not at all accurate. I have a square head, cheap Orlimar driver that actually works better with the optishot than my R11 because the bottom is more flat. The challenge is it's a different feel, which I have to adjust to on when I head to the range. But Irons are accurate. I find when I practice my 8 through SW and can hit the greens on the practice range accurately that it translates to the course. Swing path has been my biggest eye opener.

I've been using the Optishot (upgraded to the 2) for some time now and while it isn't the most accurate. I have been able edit the clubs to fit my distances, making it much more accurate. The only thing I haven't been able to get to work in the driver. But that goes for the same on the course usually. Has anyone got the Optishot working? PS - I may repost in another thread, but thought I'd post here because of the mention above.

Welcome back. I'm a newby too and looking forward to the conversations.

I'll check it out. my order is in. I was about to buy the Game golf living tracking system, but the app sounds like it could do the same. The book sounds right up my alley. Thanks for the suggestion... and the stellar site.

The book sounds intriguing. Does it come with the app? Or is that an additional charge?

I help self employed business owners and professionals organize their finances so that they can retire on time. aka coordinate your financial plan with your taxes and investments.

Hi All, A new member, admitted lurker, and avid golfer; albeit, hoping to get below 80. My story - I've been playing since my dad hauled me out every Sunday morning when I was 7 to the local municipal course that no longer exists. The only reason i went was for the hostess apple pie after the round. I hated it. I got 10 swings starting at the 150 and was always frustrated. Now, years later at the age of 42 I can honestly say that golf is one thing that keeps me and my brothers and dad, so close. We love playing. If you wanna call it playing. I just broke 90 a couple years ago. Wanted to break 80 last year and had double hernia surgery at 41, and am back on track now working on it again. My goal joining - Get the info needed to Break 80. My strategy - practice better, improve clubs, become a student of the game Practicing - I have been using two break 80 strategies I found online. The first focuses on hitting the ball well, starting with the short irons. Then driver and putter. The second is more about course management, and playing without ego. In the winter here in Michigan, I play in my basement using an Optishot. And now that the weather is nicer, I go to the driving range 3 to 5 times a week, so practice is available, but I also think I'm lacking in a decent clubs. I noticed since getting my Odyssey putter and R11 driver a few years ago that these clubs perform better, when I'm on, than my older clubs. Particularly the putter. Improve clubs - I play with cavity back cheap set of Orlimar Black Ice clubs from Dunhams, a couple Cleveland wedges (60/56) an odyssey putter, and a used R11 driver. I'm to the point where I can afford, and would like to have a set of clubs made, probably down at Mies golf in Ypsilanti Michigan. I'm pretty accurate from 140 in, but terribly in-consistent outside of that. Some clubs feel way better than others, and I think it's the shaft length and how it sits on the ground. That's why I was thinking about having a set made. I'm torn about what to get. I like the cavity forgiveness, but can actually work the ball a little when I'm playing well, which is hard to do with the cavities. So I was leaning towards musclebacks. Anyway, Thanks for having me in the forum. You can see me on twitter at rfeight. Rich