NotAStick

I'm guessing you play the ball pretty far back in your stance. It makes sense that you can still hit it even if the bottom of your swing is 6 inches in front of the ball, provided you hit down at the right spot. It's definitely unconventional, but if it's consistent, I guess more power to ya. I'm sure it's easy for you to get it out of the rough with that style shot.

Yeap! Make sure the "half swings" come from your shoulders rather than your hands and pretty soon these proper-technique half swings will out-drive your old full swings, I would wager.

I call BS. Your perception of their game is meaningless. I would bet I could go out and hit more GIR than Phil Michelson 5% of the time, but I'd be willing to bet he would still beat me. There are subtle aspects to a player's game that may not be visible, but make a substantial difference. I've caddied for tour players and played with tour players and I've even beat a few mini-tour players, but my game doesn't even hold a candle to theirs. Not even close. Just because he had a bad day and shot 73 and I shot 71 doesn't make me better. Because that's the worst he ever shoots. He posted a 64 against my 75 the next day. It's not where your best shots go. I stick an approach shot to 3 feet now and then, just like Phil or Sergio. Maybe not as often, but its easy to perceive you can keep pace with them when you hit a few shots per round BETTER than them. But when I miss my approach shot, I'm much more likely to make bogey. When I do something funky with my swing off the tee, I'm much more likely to make a double bogey and when I hit an average iron approach shot, I'm MUCH less likely to sink the birdie putt anyway. In order to simply get a PGA Tour card, you have to shoot (this year) -19 over 5 rounds at one of the hardest courses in the world (The PGA West Stadium Course). I've played to as low as a +2 and have (once in my life) put together 4 straight rounds in the 60s at a course of moderate difficulty. That's pretty exceptional by most people's standards, but I know I probably won't do it again unless I win the lotto and get back to practicing 30+ hours per week, like I was. It might be my game and style, but in my experience, a legit PGA tour event generally plays maybe 4 shots harder than the course does under normal conditions, due to greens, pin placements, rough, etc. That's not accounting for the pressure of competition. Not to mention, even under "daily play" conditions, the tees they play from generally are rated to about 75+. I would put the rating of an average tour course at around 78-79 and a USGA national event around 80-83, in my experience. To go out and shoot a season-long scoring average (to stay in the top 125) around 71 is pretty impressive. I think a legit PGA Tour contender is averaging at least 5-6 strokes under the rating on a regular basis and by my estimation, would carry about a +7 handicap if it was accurately calculated with a modified course rating for tournament conditions. If a player shoots a few rounds of 74 and misses the cut, his scoring differentials are still -3. Even someone who misses 8 cuts in a row would probably play to a +2 to +4 handicap. I'm absolutely convinced Tiger plays to around a +12, for comparison sake. I think that is what the quote by Travino mentioned above was saying. If you can't walk out on a championship course and have a legit feeling that you can break 70, you aren't even close. If you know someone who can walk onto any random "real" championship course (7000+ yards, 74+ rating) and expect shoot in the 60s, his handicap would be around +5 or +6 (or better), which puts him in a pretty insane elite group and he should think about a legit chance of making money as a pro. Worse than +5 and he doesn't have a chance. Then again, I know a few guys who have a fun time going out and playing 3 or 4 events on the "Great Lakes Tour" of southern Ontario, where anyone who can cough up the $500 entry fee and give up his amateur status can play.. and where 6th place pays.... $500 and a win is worth $10k. They've never won anything, though they are probably about +1 handicap golfers. I'm not sure if that's what you mean by "tour pro" because that's not what I mean. I used to think like you until I actually played PGA caliber courses and carried their bags around during play. I was pretty floored by the ball-striking of the guy I caddied for and he only played a few years bouncing between the PGA and Nationwide tour before giving up. He would go out to one of the hardest courses in the city and shoot in the 60s every time while talking to his girlfriend on his cell and putting with his eyes closed (serious). The course ended up getting redesigned because it was "too hard" for members, being rated around 76. Anyway... I think you're lacking insight into this one. That's all. Those guys are good... Damn good.

It's about allowing you to compete with other players. If you have a good day (about as good as your top 20%), you should shoot a net even par (score minus handicap). Bad days (the other 80%) you should shoot over par.

Congrats! Been playing for over 20 years and competitively for almost 15 and have never had one. Many many eagles, no aces. I've actually been closer to the albatross than an ace. Crazy. Maybe soon?

Well, I was watching the tournament today. The 18th hole, Tiger plays "conservative" and hits 3 wood, 318 yards down the middle. That distance is incredible. There is no shot under 240 yards I've ever seen Tiger hit that I don't think I could replicate (surely, not as consistently, nor even often on some of his better)- but the point is that the distance and accuracy from the tee made me feel inspired. I spent 3 hours on the range today, grooving a swing with my short irons. I was knocking down the flag. My 9-iron went from a consistent 155 to a consistent 162 over the course of 3 hours by improving swing dynamics. I hit 30 greens in a row wit the 9 iron at 160 (the practice green was only about 18 yards wide) and hit about 30 56* wedges at 105 yards - two of them clanked off the bottom of pin. I putted for a few hours and then played 9 holes with 8/9 GIR at 34 (-2) and I mis-read and lipped out a few short putts or it would have been a 30-31. I hit it in the trees on both Par 5s and had to chip out to the fairway. On several other holes, I had to bend it around the trees because of mediocre drives, but still got it to stick on the correct quadrant of the green. The course was on the "short and tight" scale, but it was still very frustrating. Looking at my stats, I lack in overall driving (length and accuracy) but my GIR percentage is around 70% (some months around 80%), which is better than most tour players (I play easier courses - definitely not claiming to be better). I know my putting can be great when I put in the time, but it's something that requires constant maintenance. When I spent several hours per week just working on putting technique, like i have in the past, I can get my putting a hair short of tour-level, but I've never managed to get my driving to that level and really tough, long courses totally eat me alive. Averaging 290 (at sea level) is out of my league. I would be amongst the shortest hitters on tour (sea level average about 260), but my accuracy is often under 50% unless I'm playing huge fairways, which kills me. If I wasn't so short, I could hit irons and play fairways and greens, but I just can't reach the long par 4s with anything but a driver. A 3-wood flies 250-ish at altitude (that's about 235 at sea level?). I've absolutely roped a 3 wood a few times in my life out to about 275 at altitude (maybe 250 sea level), but I felt like I shattered the ball swinging about as hard as I could and hitting it right on the screws. I couldn't reach but 1 or 2 of the par 5s played by the PGA tour the entire season and those 500 yard par 4s would require absolutely nutting two shots just to reach it (not accounting for soft fairways)... even when I was playing my best. I've played as low as +2.5 on the handicap and honestly, I feel like after the swing change this week and the practice sessions today and yesterday, I'm playing hitting my irons better than that right now. But where is my driver? Maybe it's a strength thing? I'm a pretty skinny guy. Anyway, watching Tiger smooth a 3 wood out 320 yards today, I felt inspired to go out and do some strength training as well as swing exercises to gain some more length off the Tee. In order to play 7600 yard courses, I'm often swinging out of my shoes just to reach the fairway and though my tempo feels pretty good, I think I'm leaving some distance out there. My iron distances are within about 5% of tour players and I swing my irons with about 80% effort. But my driver is a full 10-20% shorter, even with a 95% swing. Anyway. I wanted to write this all down so I have some incentive to pursue it. Work is going to keep me off the golf course during the next few weeks, so I think I might hit the health-club at the hotel while I'm traveling the next few weeks. Thanks for listening to my ramble!

I have occassionally had problems with this. I love playing with single digit handicappers. I also find that playing with someone better than me tends to elevate my game. When I play with someone who is always digging in the weeds, the pace and focus really throws me off. I also dislike playing alone because I tend to lose focus and hit lots of shots, expecting perfection. This is something I have to work on, but I expect perfection and when I don't hit it perfect, I have nothing to compare it to but the visualization I had of the ball sticking next to the hole, or rolling in the back of the cup and it's hard to let it go until i hit it just right. I played the other day at a fairly challenging and expensive course. There were two italian guys with New York accents (reminded me of your stereotypical deli owner in The Bronx). One had mutton chops and the other hand the Rolli Fingers twirly mustache. I gave them a chance and introduced myself, but after the first hole, when they both spent 10+ minutes searching for multiple lost balls, we were already almost a hole behind. Gah. Anyway, once we were 2 holes behind the pace and they were (by my count) each scoring double digits on every single hole. One of them stepped in front of me on the tee box on the 4th hole... normally I don't give a crap about teebox "honor" in a fun round, but he looked me in the eye and said "I got a par, you had a bogey". hah. I had a 3-putt par on a par 5 and he had at least 14 by my count, though after hitting two balls OB and losing another in the weeds and re-doing his final putt 4 times, I guess he did have a par. After 8 holes, I told them I my wife called and I had to hurry up (i'm single) and I skipped forward a hole to play the back 9. Played the front nine in 41 (giving myself a par on 9) an the back nine in 34. heh. On the same hand, many of my personal best rounds have been with players better than myself. I've never been randomly paired with someone who beat me, at least since I was a teen, however. So that tends to be limited to tournaments, which I don't play many of. To be clear, I have no problem with higher handicappers, but I do have a problem with guys who hit EVERY drive in the weeds and the proceed to search for 5+ minutes and then try to hit it out of the weeds, multiple times, while their partner sits there watching, instead of going to find his ball in the tress on the opposite side of the fairway. Gah..... Sorry ok.. this has nothing to do with skill, it's just etiquitte. In short, I agree with the OP - better players can elevate your game, as long as you don't try to replicate their shots. My only issue with that is playing with very long hitters makes me hesitate to play my game and take 3 wood on some holes, since it is a tad humiliating to have their 5 iron fly past my 3 wood.

Just to clarify and reiterate. There is no dropping the ball unless you can positively identify it in a hazard and/or are certain you know where it crossed the hazard line. OB and lost balls are not hazards and both have to be re-played from the tee. A provisional for any ball that is very far off the tee is a good idea. An added bonus is that you don't have to leave the hole with a poor stroke in your mind. even if you find your original, you get a second try to hit the fairway and bolster your confidence. Note, there is a stipulation stating that you can't "abuse" the provisional (by hitting one every hole, for example), but it's loosely enforced. Some tight courses have strict rules in the mens club where any ball that "may be off the fairway" requires at least one provisional to be hit off the tee to help pace of play.

There are something like 80 in the Greater Denver area, extending from Ft. Collins to Castle Rock and the front range. But of those, there are maybe 20-30 that are real championship courses. There's a good nubmer of executive and dinky municipals. They're nice to have for a cheap, quick circle.

In good springy grass with soft earth, the tee often flies out of the ground. But in tougher dirt (which is common here), my tees often break. Each driver is different, but most modern heads get best distance and best launch/spin characteristics if you hit it in the top 1/3 of the club face. That means that the crown of the tee will hit the club face, usually right at the bottom 1/3 point or so. I can often see the tee mark on that spot on the face. When I hit it too low on the face, I get more spin and lower launch (and less distance), but I pick the ball clean off the tee without breaking it. With new faces, I agree that "don't break a tee" is a bad mantra. With the old persimmon heads, "hitting it on the screws" meant clipping the ball clean off the tee, but not with a 460cc head.

A reverse pivot is the biggest cause of thin shots. On your follow through, are you 100% weight on your left foot? (95% is probably ok) If there's any (

Agreed. Range balls suck and don't fly the proper distance anyway. Range targets are often poorly measured and inaccurately placed. Range turf is often chunky and sandy. Frankly, unless you're at a Pinehurst or Cherry Hills that uses massive bentgrass tee boxes and ProV1 practice ballls, and plaques all over the teebox with exact laser yardages to each flag, you won't have much luck. I use the range for contact, accuracy, ball flight, etc. I use practice rounds on the course for distance. Even on a good range, it's hard to get a +/- 5 yard accuracy of where you're landing and how the ball is releasing, etc. Next round, drop a ball at yardages for each of your irons on various holes and hit a few shots and see where they're ending up. It's hard to "work on" the yardage on a poor range, but isolating swing fundamentals that will help and working on those and then going to the course to try it out is about all you have.

The +13 number I saw was based on 2009 scores, rather than 2007 scores. http://golfwashington.com/index.php/...-Handicap.html However, I think he does it wrong by multiplying by .96 rather than dividing. So maybe it's more like +12 based on 2009 scores. I'm not really sure where the rating/slope comes from. The courses are likely much harder than their normal rating/slope on the card with them firmed up. The pro at his local country club has said he routinely shoots 62 from the tips there and he says he has posted a few scores of 58 and 59. I think I saw the rating there is around 74-75, which would be a differential of -16. Could you maintain a +8 if you ever posted a -16? Interesting calculation, but it's not entirely practical.

I have trouble carrying my bag. No matter how good shape I am in (i'm in quite good shape), the carrying my bag tends to cause my hands to swell, which makes me loose a lot of my feel late in the round. I can run 5 miles without too much exhaustion, but a round of golf leaves my hands feeling weird and messes up my swing. I've played a few rounds with a caddie and I simply LOVED being able to walk and not carry a bag. I've thought of getting one of those push-cart things, but I despise to motion of walking while pulling a card and having to walk around the greens and tees to avoid rolling over them, so I generally end up in a regular motorized cart. For me, walking requires very careful planning of hydration, rest, etc. I have to do some exercises during the round to keep the blood flow in my arms and hands normal, etc. I can do it, but it's a pain. I do have minor carpal-tunnel in my hands, so I'm sure that's part of the cause, but anyway... just feels weird to me these days.

I really don't think there's an advantage to using even fraction. It's a feel issue, whether you're using 50% or 70% or 40% so I don't know how even fractions help you. The difference between 50% (1/2) and 45% (uhmmm... 9/20?) is really just a matter of... really not much. You mention that you have trouble dialing in the distance. I would suggest using the highest lofted club that you can reach the green with and then trying to think of it in percentages. Personally, my wedge play is the biggest strength of my game and I play a LW about 90 yards with a full swing. Unless I'm concerned about backspin or overhead branches, I use the 60 for most shots under that number and I have pretty good luck. I think you generally have more precision when the ball lands softer and stops sooner. I recently switched my wedge setup from 47 (pw) 54 and 60 and went to 47, 52, 56, 60. Carrying 4 wedges meant I had to ditch my 3 iron, but I can choke up on my 5 wood for an equivalent shot. I really prefer the precision from 125-90 and having more choices around the green, like chipping mid-length chips with the 52, which I've found is really working out for me. If only I could be more consistent with the driver... sigh.