deafheaven

I can't help but put a plug in here for Tour Edge Exotics woods. They're expensive though. I love the G5 driver. If you want to try something with a similar feel but newer, try the Cleveland Hibore XLS or XLS Monster. Completely different sound though.

Is there a prettier shot than a nice little draw around a dogleg into the middle of the fairway? The dogleg you describe is much like the one I play although I suspect mine is shorter. A perfect draw shot has gotten me onto the green 2 or 3 times (par 4). Hitting it straight however is well into the bush.

Forgot to answer your consistency part of the question. I prefer, for the most part, to hit my drives straight. Like I said, there are 2 holes where I almost always try to hit a draw as well as 2 holes where I'll purposely hit a fade. I can miss my draw shot one of three ways. From most likely to least likely they are... 1. Turn my clubhead in too much and end up with a hook rather than a draw. 2. Get the inside portion of the swing correct but don't finish outside resulting in, usually, a really straight shot (into the bush). lol 3. If I hit off the toe I'll get a short, low, duck hook left (doesn't happen too often). Right now I'd say I'm about 60-70 percent effective with my draw shot. If I used it more I'm sure I'd be more consistent with it. Just yesterday I was driving the ball nice and straight down the middle every time and when I got to the hole with the trees I tried my draw shot and toed it. My buddy asked me why I didn't just hit the ball straight like I'd been doing all day but my response was that I want that shot in my bag. I look forward to those 2 holes to practice that shot.

Pretty simple really. I turn my club face in, just slightly, and then concentrate on an inside to outside swing path. Really, it took all of one day at the practice range. As the result of this, I corrected my big outside to inside golf swing that had me slicing the ball horribly. Can't hit a draw off the turn yet though and I'd really like to do so. There are 2 holes where I generally play where a draw really comes in handy. One is a dogleg left. The other has fairway trees over to the right, and I found myself hitting those stupid trees far too often (right in my range). So now, I actually aim for those trees with my draw swing.

I went from having to tee off with a 3 iron to now having my driver being one of the more accurate clubs in my bag. I had a bad slice. I got rid of the slice by learning to hit a draw. So now, 4 years into this game, I can draw, hit straight, or fade with my driver. I'm not long, but am generally pretty accurate hitting at least 75% fairways.

take your club, hold it parallel to the ground against your chest and you'll see where you are really aiming. You'll be surprised at how often you think you are aimed properly when you are not.

I'm very happy with my neo. For a high handicapper like me, it gives me everything I need in as compact a package as possible. I can see where a single digit handicapper may look for more features, or a range finder for exact yardage to the pin... but that's not me.

Don't go bringing logic into the discussion Seriously though... the only time I feel the course is being somewhat greedy is when they try to charge a full fee for the cart regardless of whether there is one or two people in the cart. My buddies and I play as a threesome 95% of the time and there are some courses that charge $25 bucks for a cart regardless the number of players.

Good Luck. Look forward to your updates. I still hope to get out to Vancouver some day. A couple of years ago I had a golf vacation set up to go play at the Olympic course (I think that's what it was called) but it fell through.

I see you have an Exotics driver. Have you tried their woods? They are sweet. I struggled hitting a 3 Wood until I got my Exotics cb2. I haven't hit the newer version of exotics but they get good reviews. The 4 wood is 16.5 degrees.

I only this year added a sand wedge to my bag. What a fool I've been to have waited this long. So yes... I say add a SW. I wouldn't go 4 degrees off your AW though. I'd go with a 56 if you are comfortable opening up the club or, if not (like me) then go with a 58. Make sure you select the proper bounce to complement the type sand typically found where you play.

Absolutely. It's value is in the confidence it gives you. Being able to stand over your ball knowing you have the correct club in your hands enables you to concentrate on execution.

Do you rest the driver on the ground at address? If you do... don't. Hover it at ball height.

I can't imagine the benefit. There are too many variables. Wind, slope, lie, etc.

I like Cleveland wedges (and the zip grooves) but most people on here are going to tell you to get Vokeys.

Anybody got any ideas? Insects love me I've had some success with the wipes (moist towlette thingies). I imagine the highest concentration of deet is ultimately the best thing (although perhaps not the healthiest). I even tried the urban legend spray yourself with listerine thing last year (doesn't work). I can't imagine those bracelet things work.

I have the R9 and am returning it for the 460. The moveable weight technology is not needed on a 460 head. I like my R9 but I'm looking for a little more forgiveness and a little bigger sweet spot.

I've been experiencing this exact problem and now that I think about, the quoted observation here rings true. I believe an open slightly open stance has crept into my pitching. I think I'll pitch into a net for a couple of days and I bet I cure it. thanks

It's taken me years to stop worrying about distance. I'm not a long hitter and never will be so it would extremely prudent of me to work on my short game (which I"m doing). I feel I have a decent chance of hitting the green from 180 and in so it's going to be the up and downs that are going to determine my progress. It's not mentally easy to ignore the fact that I may be pulling out a hybrid where my playing parternrs are using a 7 or 8 iron. Huge advantage to them. On the other hand, I take pleasure in taking different type shots successfully... like hitting low instead of high, pitching with an iron to go under a tree instead of trying to blast over... that type of thing. As far as what people say about how far they hit... it's mostly bs. Having a gps this year was very enlightening... not only for my own use but in checking out some other players shots also.

Play with fewer clubs. Start with 10 and get comfortable with those. I suggest one wood and one hybrid be included in that. Read a lot, watch a lot of videoes (lots of good stuff available free online). Also, if I could go back in time, I'd practice the short game 75% of the time and hit the driving range no more than 25%. Don't get frustrated. It'll come in time (faster if you take a lesson or two). It took me a full year of play to lose my slice with the driver. Took me a year to break 100 and another almost 2 years to break 90. Now, after 4 full years of play I am still trying for that elusive 79 although I seem to have gone from high 80's to struggling right now to hit high 90's. Next to a woman, this is the next most likely thing in life to drive one crazy. :D

According to Phil Mickelson... 1) Weight should be evenly distributed 2) Ball should be forward in your stance (like looking down a rifle barrell) 3) Ideally you should be hitting the ball with 1 degree of loft... if the ball is too far back in your stance you'll be de-lofting the club and causing the ball to hop along towards the hole before it starts rolling... too far forward and you'll be adding loft and causing the ball to skid before rolling. 4) You want the ball to start rolling as close to impact as possible 5) Do yourself a favor and get a copy of Phil Mickellson's dvd... secrets of the short game.

Good thread. I've been feeling mightily frustrated myself. Last year I was hitting high eighties/low nineties and this year, so far I'm struggling to hit under 100. On the other hand I just got laid off so I see much golf in my immediate future. I've been really struggling with distance. I've never been a big hitter so I can't afford to lose the length I had. Finally saw some slight improvement today though. Hit some nice shots. Uncharacteristically struggled with my putting though. Seems like it's always something. Length one day, short game the next, penalty strokes the next, accuracy the next.

A FYbrid (hybrid/wood gap) might fit in there real nicely.

Do yourself a favor and pick up Phil Mickelson's dvd called "secrets of the short game".

For an early tee time, pretty much all Canadians drink Tim Horton's coffee. lol I rarely drink alcohol at any time but if it's a really hot day I'll sometimes grab an ice cold beer at the turn. My drink of choice at the turn though is an Arnold Palmer which, for some reason, my golf course hasn't offered so far this year. I'll have to look into that.