dag2000

95, 49/46 I got hot on the back for a stretch, playing 11 through 16 even (par, bogie, par, par, birdie), but then finished double, double, double.

98, 51/47 Squandered some opportunities and had very poor concentration on the front. On three holes I was ideally positioned for a short pitch or a close-in shot and I ended up skulling it (into the drink), chunking it (into a bunker), and skulling it (over the green, lost ball) again. I estimate that it added 5 - 7 shots to my front 9 score. On the other hand, I'm still putting well since reading Dr. Bob Rotella. Three weeks ago I shoot 103 easy the way I was tee to green today.

Drove the ball through the right rough into the leaves and crap at the beginning of the woods. I was even with the 150 marker. I was at the bottom of a gulley or depression that ran across the fairway. After a rise, the fairway dipped again and gradually rose up to the green. Because I was on the edge of the trees, I had branches and leaves to contend with. I somehow had to punch the ball out low enough to not hit the trees, but high enough to clear the rise in the fairway. I had to fade/slice it about 30 yards. And it was a blind shot to boot. So I took a five iron, opened the face, aimed into the woods on the left side of the fairway and let 'er rip. I took the club on an inside line and finished really high. The ball shot through the wedge of air above the rising fairway and below the overhanging trees, curled beautifully up the fairway and out of sight. No, it wasn't pin high or even on the green. But it was on the edge of the front skirt that guards the green and I was freaking psyched!

Distance kills me more often than not because I can get a little wild. I only pull out the driver 6 or 7 times a round. If I was smarter, it would be 3 or 4. I'd much rather be 190 from the green on the fairway on a short par 4 after my drive than I would trying to hit a 140 yard running hooked punch out of the woods.

A buh-rootal 101. Front 9 started off okay - bogie, par, bogie - then I quintuple bogied the par 4 fourth hole. Green guarded by water, dunked my second, then dunked the next so I was hitting 6, then three putted. Shaken, I doubled five. The I had a mini-rally - bogie, par, par, then tripled number 9. On the back I was just miserable. It was brutal heat and humidity and I was just on empty. Back to the course on Sunday!

Thanks for the tips, all.

Here are some grip photos: From Leadbetter's book: Here's Ernie Els' grip in three steps: There are many idiosyncratic swings, but not a lot of variation when it comes to grips (except for overlap versus interlock for your pinkies). Here's the source for the grip photos . Lots of good here, but treat it like a buffet: find something that's good for you, that you like and use it. Don't try to take in everything.

In my opinion, the most important rules to observe are: 1. Don't improve your lie 2. Take stroke and distance for OB and lost balls 3. Know where to drop your ball when you dunk it in the water 4. Don't ground your club in a bunker 5. Putt the ball out 6. Know what to do with an unplayable lie 7. Only 14 clubs 8. No "do overs" :) The rest of the rules are important, mind you, but in my opinion, if you are scrupulous about the above, then you're playing honest golf.

Congressional Blue Course

I've you're supposed to hit the ball with a hybrid the same as you would an iron, i.e., same ball position and hitting down swing. But what about when you're in the rough? When I hit an iron out of the rough, I open the club face so the face squares when the grass grabs the hosel. I also try to use a steeper swing. Does the same apply to a hybrid like the TaylorMade Rescues? Thanks!

What's interesting is that the golf shoe market, which was once like the dress shoe market, is becoming more like the athletic shoe market. In other words, buy them, use them, throw them away. FWIW, I had my first pair of FootJoy Classics for over 10 years. I'd still have them, but I developed a nerve inflammation problem in my left foot that requires me to wear an E width instead of a D width. At $80 per year or so, I'd have spent at least $600 on golf shoes.

I don't have a problem with the name dropping. So many of the names he drops are people you've never heard of. No problems whatsoever. Mind you, you're buying through Amazon from an independent bookseller. I don't know how well Amazon vets its partners, but, like I said, I've had no problems. Well, I understand your point, but that wasn't my experience. I was able to apply some of his advice right away. **** Overall, I loved Game Is Not a Game of Perfect . Putting Out of Your Mind , however, didn't do anything for me. It was just kind of redundant.

Yes, yes, yes. I used to dread putts in the 4 - 5 foot range and, of course, usually missed them. I just finished Bob Rotella's Golf Is Not a Game of Perfect and I now expect to make those putts. I take almost no time over the ball now. I read the break, take a couple of practice strokes, take my stance, address the ball, and stroke it. No pause anymore. I visualize it going in and then pull the trigger. This has only happened in the last week. So I may find that this technique won't continue to work for me. But so far, it's been really good. I also try to hole every putt and chip.

A couple things caught my eye here. First, a proper golf grip doesn't feel natural to a beginning golfer. Most beginners I've seen tend to take the right hand and turn it so that the thumb is on the right side of the the grip (as you look down at the club), so it feels like you have some decent power and control over the club exerted through the thumb. Without seeing a picture of your grip, I can't tell one way or the other, but when I took my first lessons and was given a correct grip, it felt very uncomfortable. The fact that you're young and athletic can actually work against you in some respects. You can get away with improper technique by virtue of good hand-eye coordination. With respect to feeling like you're being locked out of hand action at impact, if you mean by that that you cannot consciously manipulate the clubface at impact with your hands , I don't know if that's a bad thing. If your hands, arms, and shoulders are reasonably relaxed, by the time the club reaches the ball, you shouldn't need any hand action. If you can, post a picture of your grip. But the most important thing is to relax and learn patience. It's a lifelong game and it is indeed difficult. And the mental game is so important. Patience is rewarded in golf, over and over and over.

Thanks for the responses. I'd like to bump this a couple times if the mods don't mind. For those voted "Maybe," I'd love to hear your thoughts on what might influence your buying decision.