powerfader

Couldn't agree more, the idea that we'd all cheat on our other halves if something "better" came along is one put forward by people who want to rationalise their own lack of morals.

Not very fun.

Did you see the Spurs match yesterday?

Yeah if that helps you remember it, but like the other poster said "closed/open stance" is in relation to your target line, its not just a needlessly confusing term.

Yeah he's right, that's an open stance. Funny I'd never thought of it like you did but I see how you got there.

I've played with scratch players who would kill for a swing like that; I wouldn't make any big adjustments at all. One observation I can make is that your posture isn't quite perfect, your back could do with being a little straighter (you're hunching just a tad) but really that's all I can think of!

Paddy Power have done this a few times; last season they paid out early on Stoke City Fc getting relegated......They stayed up comfortably in the end and the booky lost out big time. I think its a marketing ploy, theres so many bookies out there (close to what economists call a perfect market in its nature) they have do do something to differentiate themselves from the pack. Punters have alot of choice, if I was a betting man I'd bet with the "stupid" booky. Perhaps I'm giving them too much credit!

A slicer doesn't tilt he turns. If you could look straight down at the top of your head (assuming you are right handed) you would see your left shoulder and right shoulder moving counter-clockwise rather than up and down. The left shoulder pulls backwards and the right shoulder lunges forwards and the plane immediately goes from a diagonal line to the ball to a line straight down on top of it.[/QUOTE] I noticed you are an advocate of the "Golf Machine", I've watched everything Brian Manzella has put on youtube (a fantastic Golf Machine instructor you've probably heard of). I tried one of his tips which was along the lines of what you explained; namely trying to get the right shoulder dropping so its lower than the left, while simultaniously coming down "on plane". There's no question that this straightened out my divot and got me approaching from the inside but I found that I hit an auful lot of shots fat, which was so frustrating I reverted back to type. I found it really hard to drop my right shoulder without also dropping my head, any ideas how to fix that?

Thanks for the input, you obviously have a firm grasp of swing dynamics, but I think you patronise me slightly. A slice/pull slice categorically IS caused by dragging the club excessively inside AFTER impact (the out-to-in move with the emphasis on the "in"). That was the problem I set about trying to solve, I've had a modicum of success getting the club arriving from the inside (although nowhere near consistantly). My shortcoming has always been I'm too eager to drag the clubhead inside after I've made contact and have tried countless tips and fixes to chase the ball through impact and properly extend through the ball. For some reason none of them worked, but the move I've made with my left foot has really had a huge impact, probably because it quietens/slows down my over-active hip turn. As for the aiming right comment, that wasn't really what I was excited about, just something I've done for a while because it probably helps lessen that over the top move you describe so vividly. I think If I set up with a perfectly straight stance but still made the left foot adjustment I would still hit drastically straighter shots than if I didn't. I reluctantly agree that it probably is a "band aid" move, but as yet its proved to be a decidedly durable band-aid!

Interesting to hear your comments on the right foot, but I'm eager to hear what people think about the idea of not fanning out your LEFT foot; instead having it pointing straight ahead or slightly inward. Is that something you've ever heard of, do you think it will have any negative effects down the line? I havn't posted on technique before but this one change had such a dramatically positive effect I thought I'd see what you guys thought. In case I haven't explained it properly I've attached a crudely drawn diagram of what I mean.

This isn't an anti-Hogan post, far from it, but I thought I'd share my variation on the Hogan set-up because it really has done wonders for me. My "bad" shot has always been a pull slice or if I leave the face open (rarely) a normal slice. I'm self-taught but have used the fundamentals as as my main source of guidance. Hogan set up his swing to guard against the hook, his bad shot. That got me thinking isn't a pull slice/normal slice basically the polar opposite of a hook? Keeping the same stance (that is my right foot is about 6 inches behind my left foot, set-up for a draw) exactly the way Hogan suggested. I did the exact opostite of what Hogan said to do with my feet. That is, I turned my right foot away from me about 20 degrees (to encourage a full hip turn) and: This is the biggest discovery I would urge all slicers to try, instead of fanning out my left foot, I have it pointing slightly inwards so its almost trying to point at the ball. It feels like there's quite alot of tension but that's the key to it. If you concentrate on keeping it there through impact (basically just hitting into your new hard left side) then I guarentee you wont drag the club inside through impact like slicers do, its basically impossible to do! I'm hitting a consistant mid-height draw EVERY time! Had to share this with you guys because I figured if it could help me then it could help someone else in the same boat (I'm given to understand there are a few slicers out there!) Shot a 76 yesterday, never been so excited about golf!

Did a quick search and didn't find anything quite along these lines; My problem is I've been hitting alot more draws than usual, especially off the tee and 2/3 of them are fine while the other third are horrific pull hooks. I've worked long and hard to get my club coming on an inside plane and my clubface slightly closed but I still often revert to type on impact and pull the club drastically inside. The resulting divot looks like an arrow pointing away from the ball. Anyway what I'd really like is if someone could give me a swing thought to make me extend through the ball for a few inches and not drag it inside. Any help would be greatly appreciated! Also worth mentioning that in my whole life I have never hit a proper hook, not one, that should tell you quite a bit about my swing.

Certainly TKAMB is one of the most important novels of the last hundred years, but I sometimes think that it gets more publicity and plaudits than it deserves. I suppose it has a special place in the American education sector because it kills two birds with one stone (pun intended). That is, it's an enriching read and addresses an issue that's always at the forefront of American consciousness, race. But from the last century "Steppenwolf", "The Beautiful and Damned", "The Trial" "Midnight's Children and especially "The Outsider" have resonated with me on a much higher level. I recommend them to anyone looking for something to sink their teeth into!

"The only way he's gonna get more distance is if he hits it and then runs backwards" Great line

You know nothing of Anderson or Manchester United, Why you decided to write a blog on Manchester United is a mystery to me. That passable pastiche on Anne Hall aside I'm still shocked that somebody I assume has watched Anderson play a few times fails to see the immense talent the lad has. A few months ago Ryan Giggs was asked about the current crop of youngsters at Utd's disposal and who he was excited about. He answered without a moments thought that Anderson was the most exciting player he's seen for decades and that his potential was such that he could quite seriously have a shot at being the best player in the world. You think you know more about football than Ryan Giggs?

That team wasn't what I wan't it to be, rather what I expect Ferguson envisiges as his first team. He's played Foster so often in Pre-season and is always lauding him to the hilt that I'd be astonished if he didn't replace VDS this season (even if its a gradual phasing out). On that subject I think VDS isn't mobile enough to play at the highest level anymore however much I appreciate his service to the club. As for Foster I wish Fergie would flog him because I just don't see him as a safe pair of hands, way too accident prone. The pig seems to me a solid reserve keeper but never good enough to be NO1. The thread's about Man City and I wish we'd bid for Shay Given when we had the chance. Rafael WILL play more games than Brown this season (if only due to Browns injury record) Brown will be picked when facing a serious side that poses a real challenge offensively, but honestly how often does that happen in a season- 15 times tops? ANDERSON SHOULD RETIRE? and I thought I was prone to overreactions! I've never heard a United fan say a word against him, surely you can see how talented he is? He's a quality player, both footed, great dribbler, Dogged tackler, fast, unbelievable vision, control and execution. I admit he has an errant shot once and a while but really you need to give the boy a chance. Stephen Irleand doesn't have the potential and raw talent of Anderson in his wildest, magic mushroom induced dreams! Ferguson won't screw rooney around as much this year (he's promised as much), that's the main advantage of Ronaldo leaving; he will play just in front of Berbatov with Owen a willing substitute.

I'm also a United fan (you probably could have guessed that!) and I can't see who Ireland would replace in our team for this coming season. Foster Rafael Ferdinand Vidic Evra Valencia Carrick Fletcher Anderson Rooney Berbatov Perhaps that was a slightly sweeping dismissal of their credentials but I havn't seen De Jong shine since he left Germany, he's just been steady and competant rather like Barry. As for Irleand I concede that he was fairly exciting last season and still has time on his side but honestly he's not better than anything the top four have. Just heard a good joke: Whats the definition of confusion? Fathers day in Liverpool

I'll be genuinely surprised if they break into the top four, let alone win the league: .Tevez will run around like a headless chicken but only get 5-10 goals. .Adebayor will start well, then get comfortable and lazy. .Santa cruz will get injured a few weeks into the season and barely play again. .Robinho will play well at home but go missing anywhere else. .They still don't have anything like a top four midfield (especially since Elano left), Barry, Kompany, Ireland, Wright-Phillips, De Jong etc are all mid table players. .Hughes is not only incapable of steering a side to a title, he is also woefully inept at man-management and unable to galvanise such a large and troublesome/lazy/mercenary squad. .Their first choice defence (when Lescott signs) is pretty good but they have little quality in depth. .Because of this ludicrous summer of chucking money at their problems the media will put them under so much pressure and teams will start to see City as a big game thus upping their performance levels.

I can't understand why "soccer" is looked upon so unfavourably by Americans.

Sorry I don't know anything about American sports but from a European perspective: 1. Manchester United v Liverpool - Outright hatrid mixed with spectacular football and historic tradition. 2. England v Germany (Soccer NOT World Wars!) 3. England v Australia (Cricket) -Colonial resentment coupled with the only game that rivals golf for sportsmanship. 4. Joe Fraser v Ali - It really was personal not like the pseudo rivalries that boxing manufactures today. 5. Barcelona v Real Madrid - "El Classico" gets quite heated: Franco's dictatorship imprisoned those who dared to speak Catalonian, plundered other Spanish clubs to give the best players to Madrid and was all round pretty nasty. When Figo moved from Barca to Madrid he was pelted with severed pigs heads!

In all likelyhood he will pass Nicklaus' record and everyone elses for that matter, but you can't say with any finality that he's the best player of all time. Tiger has broken course records because he rode the crest of the technological revolution in golf that made a mockery of tracks that couldn't update quickly enough. He is the best player in world, has been for 10 years or so but anyone who's watched golf for any length of time would agree that the field has been weak in that period. Imagine Snead, Hogan, Jones, Palmer, Player and Nicklaus himself with modern equipment and training (mental and physical). Comparing players over history purely on the amount of trophies they won is the simplest way but it leaves out all the variables I've mentioned.

I wasn't basing my claim only on the pitiful performance this week, just one in a catalogue of chinks in his armour. I'm not even saying he's not the best golfer in the world, he probably is, even on current form. My objection (if you actually read my post "mate") is the way he's revered like some kind of deity. Commentators, magazine journalists and posters on this site are under the missapprehension that we're alive in the time of the great one, we're not.

So all that talk last year about how Padraig's victories are devalued were totally unfounded. Perhaps commentators will start to talk about Tiger in a realistic way. On the BBC when Tiger made the putt on 16 for a bird some droning commentator said "he is just amasing!" yeah right he's a genius at 6 over. Clearly he isn't as good as everyone makes out, no way near what Nicklaus was. There can be no excuses for his performance this week; Turnberry will never play easier than it did yesterday and frankly it wasn't exactly viscious today. He's been fit for months now and had nearly a year to exclusively work on his short game. Nicklaus won what he did against a stellar field, a once in a lifetime crop of genius golfers, Tiger's been pitted against a fairly ordinary field for 15 years now. Perhaps they're starting to get their acts together, by the way my money's on Westwood.

Yeah why don't we all free-ride, then there'll be no golf courses to trespass on.

-my left pocket has to be empty at all times. -never carry a spare ball when I approach the tee (defeatest). -always use a centime to mark my ball. -never use white gloves.