shermanM4A1

I have a red Taylor Made TMTK stand bag with black straps similar to those of a backpack. Anyone know where I can find info on the specs of the bag?

Yeah, I'm taking lessons right now with a golf pro. The golf pro tends to emphasize iron play and the short game, since he says that those are the areas where people tend to neglect. (kinda true, considering that everyone I see at the driving range is swinging a Taylor Made or Nike driver). Even though I agree that the short game is important, I still want to hit decent drives.

I'm still getting heat burns. The burns are mostly to my right middle finger (the entire finger is now bandaged). I also got a blister on my right thumb. Any ideas on how to reduce friction? @rjfan91 or anyone who knows: What kind of tape were you referring to?

So, if price is the same for comparable brands of golf clubs, why would a player buy one brand of club over another? I am wondering if different brands have different technologies or benefits.

How high should I tee the ball? I find that I tend to hit the tee when I tee it too high and hit the ball thin when I tee it too low.

What are some things that make the golf clubs from one company different from another? Are certain companies' clubs known for distance, workability, forgiveness, etc? I'm mostly interested in how the clubs of the following companies are differentiated from one another: Callaway Taylor Made Ping Titleist Cleveland Nike

I can hit most of my other clubs pretty well most of the time. However, I can barely get the ball off the tee with my driver. How do you usually hit your driver. By the way, I have a Taylor Made r5 driver, if that helps. Also, my handicap is not really 36. It's just that I'm a beginner and I have yet to play a single game of golf.

Kind of a silly question, but... What's a Skycaddie, and what does it do?

Thanks. The heat burns were on my left index finger and my right middle finger. I am seriously considering getting a glove, but I'm not sure if that will help.

I heard that you don't need to keep your head perfectly still. Personally, I stare at the ball until after I have hit it. Then, my head turns along with my follow through, so that I can see where I've hit the ball.

I've been practicing at the driving range recently. After hitting a whole bucket of balls (around 70 balls), I got a heat burn on a couple of my fingers. Aside from the obvious (taking slower swings & holding the grip slightly less tightly), what are some ways to prevent heat burns? Will getting gloves help?

You can also try going to your local golf club shop. Some golf shops sell individual "used" irons that are still in remarkably good condition.

Thanks for your responses. I have tried limiting my lower body movement during the backswing and I've seen some dramatic improvement in my game. I don't get the fat shots as often anymore and I rarely whiff now. The limited lower body movement seems to give me more power and consistency. Now, if only I can fix my slices.

Are there any ways to prevent rust?

Sometimes, especially during the winter, I don't really feel like going to the driving range. However, I still want to practice. Is there any way to practice my golf swing and/or putting in my backyard at home, without purchasing fancy equipment? (By the way, I don't plan on actually hitting actual golf balls, as I don't want to risk hitting them into my neighbor's backyard.)

How much should my lower body move during the backswing? I occasionally whiff and sometimes hit the ground hard with the club before striking the ball (causing a very fat shot). I'm not sure if any of this is attributable to lower body movement. All I know is that so far, two different guys have told me to keep my lower body mostly still during the backswing. No one has commented on my arms or my grip yet, though I'm sure there are problems there as well.

I've heard conflicting theories on this. What's your take? Is it better to turn the hips considerably during the backswing to generate power? Or is it better to turn the hips just a little, drawing most of the power from a shoulder turn? I've tried both, and both seem fine to me. I'm just wondering which method is better for me in the long run.

Yeah, I'm a beginner too. Before you buy anything, you should try the club out first. That way, you can see if the club is too light/heavy for you, etc. Most stores have demo models that you can try.

Yeah, sometimes, the advice is good. Like the other day, some guy told me not to bend my knee so much on my backswing and now I am virtually whiff-free. However, being a newb, its difficult to tell good advice from bad advice. Also, sometimes different people tell me different things. Like, some people say you should hit down on the ball during your full swing while some people say it's better to try to scoop it up.

What do you do when someone gives you unsolicited advice at the range or during a game? My friend tells me that he gets such advice all the time. He said that usually I should just ignore the person and continue on with whatever I was doing. But, what if the person is persistent and won't stop trying to "help" you?

How about in terms of golf accessories? I saw a "divot repair tool", gloves, golf shoes, club headcovers, tees and a "golf umbrella" at my local golf store. Of those, which ones are actually necessary for playing golf?

I've got a couple questions regarding golf balls: 1. How can I tell whether or not a golf ball is too old to use in gameplay? (I know that during a game, I should ask my partners to check out the ball if I want to replace it. I just want to know which balls I should not bring to the golf course in the first place) 2. Is it legal for me to write my name or make a marking on my golf balls with a Sharpie? I use Nike balls and sometimes Titleist, and many other people have exactly the same balls.

I'm new to golf, and I want to go and play a few games at local golf courses. In general, aside from balls and clubs, what are some things that you usually bring to the golf course? Also, are there certain things (other than clearly illegal items) that one should avoid bringing? Thanks.

Lions (Stafford): Stafford is a great quarterback, but since the Lions have so many problems, it is uncertain whether a single quarterback can revive the team. Still, I think it's a good start. Seahawks (Curry): Curry is a safe pick here. Sure, the Seahawks could have drafted Sanchez and trained him to replace Hasselbeck when Hasselbeck retires but that would be risky. The Seahawks made a great trade for Denver's first-round draft pick next year. Jets (Sanchez): Ok, so Brett Favre finally retired (I think) and the Jets do need a new quarterback. I don't know if Sanchez will be starting next season, but if he is, then the Jets are taking a huge gamble on a new QB. But, hey, it could work out wonderfully. We'll see...

I've been searching for used irons the last couple days and I find that the irons either have a graphite or steel shaft. Since I am a beginner, my swing speed is not very fast. My main focus right now is just being able to hit the ball (i.e. no whiffs). I don't have any medical issues that would require me to use one type of shaft or the other. The 5 wood I mentioned in my signature has a graphite shaft and I like the feel of the club. However, I'm not sure how durable graphite is compared to steel. Any advice?