MikeyGolf

I agree with this. The long game is the key to lower scores. If one is consistent off the tee and has minimal penalty strokes, scoring under is more likely. A great short game can help in a particular round, but, consistent ball striking is paramount.

Ping B61 putter, been using it off and on since the 90's or maybe prior.

Many drivers over the years, one that sticks out for for seeming like an advance in my distance of the tee was the Cleveland Launcher.

Not sure if it really a glass ceiling or just stuff that can happen to a golfer. I was a scratch for a long time, was in the 60's several times on my regular courses and played decent in amateur tournaments. I could overpower the course and had a great wedge game. The putter always held me back to an extent. Great lag putter, but, just did not make enough putts to go with the length and other aspects. I can still remember the day/round. I was qualifying for the state amateur and was cruising along. On the 12th green, my hands just went. The yips/lack of confidence was there. Completely fell apart and did not qualify. After that, I felt more pressure on full shots during competitions to compensate for my putting woes. Just never returned and play for fun since. I can still shoot in the low to mid 70's, putting is now a challenge though.

I know this thread is over 5 years old. I played varsity golf in high school and was improving quickly during that time. I already was going to a Div 1 school and the golf program had a walk on program. We talked with the coach and there were qualifying tournaments. 1 round and the top 2 or 3 were on the team assuming the score was low enough. I made the team as a walk on 3 of my 4 years after shooting low 70's in the qualifying rounds. I knew I would never have a chance to play in a tournament, but, I did get free golf access and I played a lot of golf with the team. This was in the late 80's, not sure if the process is similar, but, it was a great time and became a better player from it.

11 States AZ FL IL MN WI IA NE TX MO AK NV

Ping Eye 2 were great irons, I wore out the 2 Iron in that set Also, the Tommy Armour 845's were a great set. I hit those irons a long way, solid all around

Yes. Holed a 4 Iron, it was really cool to see it drop

4 in almost 40 years of playing 1 Double Eagle

A picker, feel it is a benefit on short irons, not as much on mid to long irons. Feel that my short irons are similar to how Stricker hits them

I started scoring in the 70's early in high school. Improved fairly quickly once we joined a decent country club. I was always able to get the clubface to the ball and had a nice draw from the start. In high school, I spent a lot of time on the putting green learning how to not 3 putt. Learned pace and feel on longer putts. My swing is more of a sweeping motion, so I became pretty proficient at the short iron shots and was really good with a sand wedge from 100-120 yards. Walked on in college and shot some good scores, just never really was able to make it to the next level. After college I played some solid rounds in the 60's on easier courses. At that point I started losing my nerve on the greens and lost confidence. Have just played for fun since. I still generally shoot in the 70's. Looking back at my peak, I feel that length was the most valuable part of my game. I could hit a wedge 150 yards and my driver in the 280-300 range. Par 5's were the holes to dominate as well as the short Par 4's. Also, I rarely 3 putted and was able to get up and down the majority of the time. Nothing worse than a bogey, making 2-3 birdies a round, limiting 3 putts, and trusting your swing and not steering the golf ball is a path to consistently breaking 80. I would say length off the tee is one of the most important things to shooting low, makes approach shots significantly easier. I still shoot in the 70's on familiar courses, just notice I tend to give away shots at a higher pace now and my hands are shaky on the greens now. Which makes me laugh at times at how much I miss hit putts now.

Hole in One in April The best thing about it was the fact that it was a well struck shot. Nice draw, felt good off the face

I have always had a 1 or 2 iron. A 2 iron off the tee has generally been a good shot for me, due to the fact that I tend to sweep the ball. Also, the 2 iron is a good option for hitting low cuts and hooks out of the trees

If Scott can putt like this, why did he cheat all those years with the anchoring?

I remember my transition to a single handicap, it was easy to identify looking back. I played when I could in middle school and I recall finally breaking 50 on this somewhat easy course with my yellow pinnacle. I was on the freshman golf team, but, was pretty much near the bottom of the team. We joined a fairly nice country club during the fall of my Sophmore year and I played a ton. Had some basic instruction, but, it really was playing and getting confidence in getting the ball in the hole. I went out for golf the spring of my Sophmore year and played well enough to actually make the varsity team. I was at that point consistently breaking 40 and getting better. I did struggle with some high scores in varsity tournaments since the comfort level was not there. I have pretty much been a single digit handicap since that time over 30 years ago. Thinking about my golf life, it seems that the key for me being a single digit player is always having the ability to hit the ball solid. Even at the early age above, I was able to get the ball moving somewhat forward and straight. Also, I had that desire to be better and liked competition. Putting has always been a struggle, but, I practiced a lot as kid on long putting and become a good lag putter. I was able to get the handicap to around a 1 and played some college golf. I have a natural strong grip and have always been a drawer ( sometimes hook) of the ball. The ability to hit the ball far and somewhat over power the golf course was my advantage at that time. I became really good with the sand wedge from 100-120 yards. The handicap is around a 5 now, the ability to "get after" the ball is gone and the easy birdies on Par 5's have dried up. At this point, the ability to hit the ball somewhat solid allows me to stay out of trouble and basically make bogey the worse case on a hole. I know my limitations and attempt to miss in the correct spot. Lessons and practice are important, but, I really feel time on the course was the most valuable. I had to learn how to get the ball into the hole, learn how to recover, learn how hit non normal shots. Being able to hit a punch 2 iron out of the trees after a bad tee shot, getting the ball back in play and still making a par.

A few things are keeping me from scratch right now Inconsistent putting - never been great putter, but, I have always been a good lag putter - short putts are my nemisis now Par 5 performance - not as many birdies/eagles as needed Not as strong in the 90-125 range as in the past - fewer birdies In addition, do not have the confidence to go low - in the past, when I shot in the 60's, I was able to just let it go and not let up

www.Usga.org/Infoclubsdb/intro.html Read #5. I guess it is not so clear after all. What a great forum. Come and ask a simple question and get ridiculed. Lucious - good suggestion on strengthening a 2 iron.

They are not exempt and thanks for telling me what clubs i should/should not use.

Is it a trick question if it is possible to get a new 1 iron??

Is it possible to get a 1 iron that complies with the new groove rule?

Duval has pretty ggod on the extra Directv channel. Good insights.

I always play from the back tees. I am a 3 handicap. It seems that a. Big difference with the back tees is on the par 3's. It is not an ego thing , just feel that the back tees provides the best challenge.

I will look into the groove rule. The 1 iron is an old tommy armour 845.

First Post As someone that grew up with a 1 and 2 iron in my bag, I resisted the hybrids. Once the groove rule came along, I need to replace my irons and did not have a lot of luck finding a 1 iron that met the rules. I purchased a 17 degree hybrid and really like it. It is great out of the fairway and off the tee. It has worked so well, that I took my strong 3 wood out of the bag and now just go with the Driver and hybrid. I do miss my 1 iron, it was great for getting out and around trees.