uppi

It is unfair. But its called the REAL WORLD! In the world of business, it is all about who you know. Newtworking, making connections. They have classes in college on this for godsakes. And golf happens to be a very big business. Look at the kid who goes to Harvard and gets his MBA, 4.0 GPA, etc but gets passed up for a job by a guy who has a 3.7 GPA from Michigan (still good, but not as good) because a family friend is the CEO or other bigshot of the company. Thats life. Its not fair, but you should be used to that by now.

The course rating system is not perfect, at least in Wisconsin. We have several courses (milwaukee county courses come to mind) with huge inflation in there ratings. Take Oakwood for example. While long, the course is completely wide open, with virtually no trouble around the greens. Yet from the black tees it gets a slope rating of like 73.5. First time I played it I played from the black tees and shot 38 for 9 holes, didn't feel like I played much better than at my home course. Because really all I had to do was bomb something SOMEWHERE out there then hit a shot SOMEWHERE around the green (no trouble around the greens) then if you have even an average short game you can get up and down 40-50 percent of the time. Yet at my home course its not quite as long but its tighter, more trouble around the greens, tougher greens, etc and it only gets like a 71.2 course rating. If I were to make my home course at Oakwood, I could probably be sporting a 5 handicap right now. So NO, the course rating system has its flaws.

Its funny I just got done watching highlights of the 1997 masters and Tiger's swing looks so natural. It was amazing watching him hit drives as far or father than phil does now (with old technology) and smoking it right down the pipe. He hit a NATURAL draw. Back to the now. Can Tiger even HIT a draw anymore? All he has the balls to do are hit these p*$$% little weak cut shots with the driver. For those saying Tiger is still winning majors under Haney, he is doing it IN SPITE of Haney. Until he goes back to Butch or at least a coach that will work with the swing he has (or used to have) we will never again see him dominate tournaments and majors like he used to. Think about it, mid 30's should be his prime, he should still be winning majors by 10+ shots, but now he cant even make cuts. And when he is playing halfway decent, he cant finish (see PGA 2009). Haney is a terrible coach in my opinion. I am not saying he doesnt know things about the swing, but he is a terrible COACH. All you have to do is watch the haney project to figure that out. When it comes the the golf swing its his way or the highway. Its like his swing is the perfect swing and there is NO other way to do it but his. He took Tigers natural swing in 2004 and rather than work with the swing he already has and make some minor changes to it to improve some things like a good coach would, he completely changed it. And people can argue it all they want but Haney's swing is unnatural and forced for Tiger, so of course he's going to struggle with it. There is a reason Phil has improved of the tee as much as he has. Its because his swing was not completely changed by Butch. Rather small adjustments were made, like getting more width in this backswing and not overswinging. Unfortunately the sad thing is even if Tiger went crawling back to Butch, Haney has been f&$(($ his swing up for so long I dont know if Tiger can get back to were he once was. I dont think we will ever see his dominating performances we saw in the early 2000's ever again. Furthermore I am not sure he will even break Jack's major's record.

I am sick of all these ex pro athletes who think playing on the pga tour is such a piece of cake. I like Jerry Rice and I dont have a problem with him getting an exemption into his own tournament, but lets get real if he thinks even for a second he can compete with pga tour and nationwide players, he needs a wakeup call. Hopefully this tournament was it. Same thing with Big Ben last year at the US open challenge. Guy plays OUT OF HIS MIND and shoots 81 or 82 or whatever it was. Then tells the PTI guys in a interview he thinks he could play on the PGA tour if he wanted to. REALLY!! He thinks one 81 will get him there. Even if he shoots that twice, he still does not make the cut from last year. The pro's had to play in wet crappy conditions an were still shooting mid 60's there.

Justin Rose and Charl Schwartzl. I love the positions they get the club into, they are perfectly on plane throughout the whole swing

Without a doubt its pitching/chipping for me with putting a very close second. If most 10-12 handicaps just improve marginally in both those areas they can all easy drop to a 6-7 no problem. Once you get to that then I think it becomes approach shots because you need to start making more birdies and less mistakes to get lower. Last year mid summer I got as low as 9.5 before going back up to a 10, and when I was a 9.5 I was striking the ball pretty much the same as I am now, maybe even worse, but I was always getting up and down. Last year I purchased a range pass and thats pretty much all I did was hit balls. No range pass this year, I plan to just hang out by the greens all day when I go to practice, because I know thats whats needed for me to get to the next level at this point.

I should also clarify its not that im taking the club lower and around my body more, I am taking it straight back but keeping my arms much closer to my body. As a result with my shoulder turn I get flatter and I feel like I cant get as much turn because my arms dont feel like they are going back as far, but I am hitting straighter and more consistent, with a much better ballflight, and even increased my iron distance a little

Well unfortunately thats your problem. If you want a "men's club" feel you need to join a private country club. Simple as that. If you cant afford it tough. I know your type. Your the old man that plays the same local muni all the time and tries to pretend like your a private member there. Your the old man who yells at the kids for practicing with more than 3 balls on the putting green, and go's around the entire course policing it like its your own. Quit kidding yourself and join a private club, otherwise come back to reality and realize that when you play a public course you are not going to have all the amenities a private club offers. On a side note: Why in the heck should high school kids have to go to private clubs to practice and take up the members time? They pay excessive amounts of monthly dues + initiation fees to be members there, they deserve to have the course open only to them. You really think that because you pay your 10 bucks to play your local muni that they owe you something. Give me a break.

Andrew: I love this kid more every show. Tony makes a stupid move in picking him and Andrew just makes him look like a fool. This kid is by far the most talented on the show, has the most all around game, and nerves of steel. Andrew for the Win!!! Blake: Glad to see him finally go, though up until his final putt where he took a chunk out of the green, I was actually not bothered by him today, which is a first. He kept his mouth shut unlike Gipper and Tony and just played, kept his temper in check, and up until that final putt actually played good golf tonight. At least we got to see that he is not a COMPLETE hack before his exit. Gipper: You are now the new Blake. Quit freaking worrying about Andrew so much and your brother and start worrying about yourself staying alive. Honestly I believe the final is going to come down to Mike and Andrew, because Tony and Gipper are going to keep trying to take on Andrew and he is just going to make quick work of them, heck Tony is lucky that Blake yipped that putt or I think Andrew would have done just that. I mean did Gipper graduate from junior high yet? Tony: Not as immature as younger brother, but boy did he make a dumb decision toinght, going after Andrew. You think these guys would learn their lesson, but neither brother will, and I believe they will both be eliminated within the next 2-3 episodes because of it. Tony and Gip can hit the ball a mile, and they are lucky 75% of the challenges are distance related, like playing all par 5's for the elimination challenge tonight, or at least one of them would be gone already. Andrew and Mike are just to good all around, while Tony and Gipper are really just bombers. Mike: Played solid golf today and didnt get all hung up in the middle school drama. He is probably as solid all around as Andrew is, but I think his temper is going to get the best of him when he goes head to head with Andrew. Kevin: Obviously has a very good short game and suprised that he has made it this far considering this was only the second challenge they had all season that had a putting aspect to it. I think his luck will run out next week though.

Yes I mean the leading wrist, the left wrist for right handed players and the right wrist for left handed players. Also when I am refering to the "release", I mean the way Hank Haney describes it. He says that in the proper release of the club the back of the hand is square (flat) at impact and the clubface has the correct loft. So if you keep your wrist slightly bowed/flat thorugh the entire swing, why would you have to think about "releasing" the club. Obviously a flat left wrist is what everyone talks about, but with a slightly, and im talking slightly, bowed left wrist it delofts the club and you will get more distance. If your hands are cupped at the top of the swing, which I used to do, it makes it much harder to time the proper release of the club at impact, and strike the ball consistently.

Exactly. While Andrew is now my favorite to win it all, I have a feeling the producers probably asked Tony and Gipper something along the lines of "Andrew is playing great under pressure and does not seem to be folding, do you think he is a threat to win and do you need to get him into elimination?" and they respond "Yea Andrew needs to go". But the producers just show their answers making it look like they just hate Andrew and want him off the show

just curious, and if true why dont more people practice this?

So yesterday I was warming up on the range for my last round of the season, first time playing in two weeks, and I was all over the place. I was hitting shanks, slices, thin shots and fat shots. Needless to say the round didnt go to well as I shot a 92. I have generally been a hooker of the ball all season long, trying to hit fades. All the sudden I cant hit a solid shot with a draw to save my life. While I was on the range I started tinkering with my takeaway and tried a flatter swing. It felt like I could only take the club halfway back but It practically guaranteed me a "in to out swing" and I started hitting straight shots, not slices or hooks but hitting it dead straight. The only drawback to it was if not careful it was easy to go "inside in" and hit duck hooks. I realized when I would start the club back I would try and take it straight back, but I was not taking it straight back to my target line I was taking it what I thought was straight back but was actually outside the target line, causing me to come outside in. Should the backswing be this flat though? I practiced in the mirror last night and it seems WAY to flat, and I am worried it will start to other problems. It feels like I am taking the club back to the inside to much which according to most instructors is not a good thing. However I have seen guys like Matt Kuchar who have insanely flat swings and play well so I guess I am asking how flat is too flat? How do you know if you are taking the club too far to the inside on your takeaway?

Dang, I really need to move down to Florida. Not only do you get to play all year around but your Green's fees are rediculously cheap! I would jump for joy if I could find rates that you guys are complaining about. Seems like around here you cant get a tee time for less than 40 dollars anymore, and thats just for your average run of the mill muni

I have to say I am now rooting for Andrew to win outright. I also thought it was fitting that after Vince called out andrew first in the rediculous horse game, andrew said he was going to "beat him down" well he did just that in the elimination challenge, and Vince got what he deserved. I also liked that through all that bulls#(*# Andrew held his head high said all the right things and still has never said anything negative about another player. I would have strangled Mike and Blake by this point if I were him. Like when MIke tried to make him eat those strawberries when they were eating a couple episodes ago. Seriously? How old are you Mike? Your the definition of douchebag. I liked Vince and up to this point thought he was a threat to win, suprised to see him go. I was shouting at the TV and so pissed off that he and andrew did not finish Blake off. Had a couple chances to. I didnt think I could hate Blake any worse than I already did, but man this episode brought me to a whole new level of distaste for that gigantic toolbox. I mean are you kidding me, the way he went off on Erdman after he won that first challenge. The guy just won and was happy, go congratulate him like everybody else. Then he makes that snark comment about how he cant believe that Erdman is still on the show. I know Erdman is a weak player who Andrew basically carried to this point, but dude you have been playing worse than he has! If Andrew doesnt win I would honestly like to see Blake win, just so I can watch that guy in the Disney tournament next year get his S$*$ kicked in and see highlights of his terrible attitude and horrible golf game.

I would say driving and my putting from 15 feet and in. However I am absolutely awful at lag putting

Exact same feelings. Lots of people have been liking Blake from the start and hating Andrew, but I have the EXACT opposite feeling now. All I have heard from Blake since the show started is how Mike and him are the two most talented players on the show, and him running his mouth about who he thinks are the weakest players on the show. Until he hits ONE shot that shows he is better player than the bottom 5 on the show, and doesnt struggle to avoid elimination on every show, then he should shut his mouth and quit talking (and he is saying that to Andrew!). I heard all the stories about Andrew before the show started and thought I was going to hate him, but after watching this show I really like him now. He talks a lot, but from what I have seen its not like he is being cocky or really even that annoying at all. I know we only see a fraction of whats actually taped, but what did he say this week that made that idiot Blake blow up so bad? All he was saying (from what we could see) was how he agreed with their choice of laying up and how it was a smart choice. and it was. From 230 out with a 2 shot lead, lay up, just put something on the green somewhere and 2 putt and you force the guy who ended up getting eliminated to stick a shot from 230 out and make the putt just to tie. How is that not a smart play? And people can hate on Andrew, but all I have seen from him so far is clutch. When has he NOT produced yet on this show? I havent really seen him do anything bad under pressure yet. He just goes up and hits it with confidence. He doesnt look like a scared puppy either like 75% of the other guys do. Tony Finau and Andrew to me so far seem like the contenders for the win. Even Gipper who I think is very talented has seemed nervous and on edge at times. I predict Blake will be off the show next week, as he should. One of the worst players on the show, in my opinion.

It is definetly not true that ALL slow golfers are high handicaps. I would consider myself a slower golfer and while im not a low handicap im certainly not a weekend duffer either. I am usually playing by myself however so pace of play is not a problem for me. If I get the occasional guy who is a single in a cart up on my arse I let him play through simply because I cant stand rushing so I can keep myself comfortably in front of him. I dont know how anybody can focus on their shots and play "comfortably" with people always right up on them. While it is true that slow golfers cause slow play and not high handicappers cause slow play, the vast majority of people that I have had huge problems with were people that were not only terrible golfers but just had no clue how to play the game. What I hate most are the foursomes in carts I end up catching after two holes (nobody in front of them) and they never offer to let you play through the whole round. You watch them from the tee box and both carts go to one ball and watch a guy hit, then one of the carts goes sideways for the next guy and watches him hit while the other cart goes BACKWARDS and finds another guys ball who proceeds to hit after the guy on the cart that went sideways hit, then both carts proceed to drive to the other guys ball 25 yards on the other side of the fairway they started on and watch him hit. Its so frustrating when your trying to have a good round. The worst pace of play problem I ever had was with this idiot of a guy and his wife, who was probably a first timer. I saw this guy hit and unfortunately he was not a good golfer at all himself, and he was trying to teach his wife. Well I am on the 3rd teebox with my ball teed up waiting, and he is 40-50 yards up on the ladies tee box watching her tee off. Well she duffed off the tee 4 times in a row, and each time he would walk up and get her ball walk back and retee it for her. Keep in mind I am sitting there on the 3rd tee box for ALL for attemps, and there was a foursome on the 2nd green putting. After the fourth time of him getting the ball and reteeing, I yell are you f$*$* kidding me! and then she actually hits one that goes about 50 yards down the fairway the 5th time. Well anyways I finally hit my drive on that whole (its a par 5 with a creek about 40-50 yards from the green) and when I get to my ball in the fairway they are over to the left looking for his or her ball in or near the creek, so I just hit and walk right past them while they were looking for their balls. They saw me and looked at me but never said anything. For someone to be so selfish and to think nothing of something like that just irks me. Its these people and these types of personalities that get my blood boiling on the golf course.

Hi all, just curious if anyone has some experience with these. I really like the look of the i15's compared to the G15's (especially the hybrids) and I also tend to overdraw/hook the ball, so I am really intrigued by the fade bias design. However, When I went into golf galaxy and asked one of the store attendents about them, he said you better be VERY VERY GOOD and went on to say how he has never had anything bad to say about pings clubs until these. He basically made it sound like unless your a pro/elite amateur you will hate these clubs because they are so unforgiving. I have i10's and love them, so I figured the i15 woods series would have at least the same type of forgivness as the i15 irons (which are suspose to be more forgiving then the i10's). Anyone around my handicap have any experience with these clubs and if so what did you think?

I spent the big bucks for a brand new scotty and ended up trading it in before the season was over. I liked the feel a lot, the problem for me was you have to have a pretty consistent stroke with them. Offcenter hits felt absolutely awful. It felt like I was only hitting the sweet spot 50% of the time, if that. Plus I like the softer feel of the white hot inserts better. try them out at the store for several putts before you pull the trigger on them.

its ok as long as you make sure you still follow through properly. When I was fighting a huge over the top problem, I started "forcing" myself to swing more inside to out. Then I got into the habit of hitting HUGE pushes. Once I got myself following through properly, started hitting nice draws. Now I just have to learn to control it.

I think its def something with your driver/woods. I have just about the exact same yardages with my irons as you and I am around 240-250 with the 3 wood and 275 with the driver.

I have been having huge problems with this. My posture is good, my grip is good, my takeaway is good, I get into all the right positions at the top of the back swing. I have a full shoulder turn, with very minimal turning of the hips to the top. However, I struggle keeping my upper body quiet on the downswing. When i try to slide then turn my hips, my shoulders always go with, and its hurting my consistency. It started out as really bad pulls, then when i tried to correct that I started pushing the ball and shanking my wedges, now im shanking just about every club in my bag. My latest read is Hank Haney's Essentials, and in his section on the downswing, he talks about dropping your arms and feeling like your shoulders stay in place and back stay facing the target. When I practice moving my arms through while forcing my shoulders to stay in place, it seems to work. I am not reallly thinking about my hips turning, but when I practice this way it seems the hips are almost taking care of themselves. For you experienced players out there, Is this how the downswing should feel? Also if Anyone has good advice on "separating the upper from lower body" I would greatly appreciate it. Hoping to get some good discussion going.

Exactly I saw a couple of times during the round you could see his mouth motion the words F%$*

My best round: 78 Course: Willow Run Golf Club Yards: 6400 Rating: 70 Slope: 120