Gerardv

Here is the best I can do. The quality is pretty bad. I got a nicer camera recently and will have better vids if the weather in Ohio ever gets better!

I will look through my videos and try to find one.

Added video of my swing so people can see what we have to work with.

Thank you! That is a huge help.

So, I am pretty much a gimp due to a spinal cord surgery and two serious car accidents. In all three cases, my neck took the brunt of the abuse and my pain management doc tells me I have the neck of a 90 year old. I want to get away from my lift and flip golf swing, which I can repeat, but limits distance. I also have at least 8 brain tumors, two remaining spinal cord tumors and countless more throughout my body. My gimp-ness makes it very hard for me to extend my arms and turn in the back swing, which is the one of the reasons for the flip. Without a good turn back, I don't make a good turn going forward. In the last few months, I took lessons from three different Pros. The first one is out because instead of working around my physical limitations, he berated me for not being able to fully extend my left arm while getting to the top - he was a jerk, to say the least. As a tactical handgun instructor in my non-golf life, I could never, ever imagine treating a student how he treated me. OK, so that leaves me with two. The next stuck with my natural movement, didn't mind that my left arm never really gets straight and simply worked on getting me to turn my body as much as possible. He moved the ball forward temporarily in an effort to end my casting of the club, and gave me drills based around the Ledbetter Swing Setter. All with the goal of helping me stop releasing my lag so early. He also had a physical limitation which eliminated any insensitivity to my issues. More background info – naturally, I have a very upright set-up and swing. Instructor number two admitted his first reaction to build lag is to get me to get me to extend first, and then work the other issues from there. Basically, that option is off the table, so he suggested I transition to a Matt Kucharish one-plane swing. A very foreign way to swing based on my current move. He also has medical problems, so he understand my issues. Yes, I picked these two because I knew ahead of time that they have physical issues. The third guy, the jerk, had great reviews on several golf forums, but clearly if you are physically limited, you need not bother to see him. At this point, I am 13-15 handicap, but want to improve drastically this year. After years of surgeries and other medical limitations, I am hoping this is finally the year I can play, a lot. So, I am more than open to putting in the work. The one-plane swing concept is foreign to me so I am looking for advice and will do the research myself. So, any thoughts on the one plane swing, or experiences with it are appreciated.

This was Turnberry in Pickerington and is part of the Columbus local muni system. The reason I hesitated in naming the course is other than the one marshal who saw the guy hit into me, the rest handled the situation pretty well. I will play there again. As someone mentioned, usually the people in Central Ohio are very nice and I see this as unusual behavior. My wife graduates nursing school in 10 months and when she does we are going to join a local "golf club." Until she graduates, money is tight so the local muni courses is where I need to play. Thanks everyone for the comments and thoughts. It took every inch of my will power not to hit the ball back at this guy, and if he wanted to play through, I would have let him. That wasn't what he wanted - he wanted me off the course. Because he was pushing me, and I was trying to outrun him, I caught the group in front of me anyway. Plus,he didn't realize there was a girls golf league two holes ahead of us. So, even though he created a scene about getting his round in, he was going to hit a road block. I didn't tell him. I figured he was mad enough anyway.

Thanks - I did complain about it in the clubhouse. They did give me a rain check, but how do I know that loony tunes guy won't be out there again? Probably just give it to my neighbor's kids since he plays out there all the time.

And you will be waiting until the third Sunday after St. Smithen's Day. I played with a guy in a charity best ball outing that hit three drives over 300 yards - confirmed with a GPS. He had a HORRIBLE swing, but was big and when he made contact the ball went forever. It helped that it was dry and hard, but he simply hammered the ball. The rest of his drives were dribblers, tops and huge slices. Never, ever had I played with a guy that could, every so often, just powder the ball. Myself, I am about a 13-15 handicap and hit it 220-230 on average. Until I got the GPS, I thought my average was about 10-15 yards farther. Sometimes the truth hurts!

Today I didn't have to work and my wife took the kids to my sister-in-law's pool. So I took advantage of the after 5pm deal at the local muni. As I am playing, a pretty big guy is behind me - which wasn't really an issue. He was walking, I was in a cart (my gimpness means I can't walk). I am a full hole ahead, on the fourth tee while he is on the third. He waved me over and thinking I dropped something, I went back to see what he needed. When I got within shouting distance, he starts yelling at me about cutting in front of him. No idea what he was thinking. He proceeded to not putt out on the 3rd green and walked up right behind me on the 4th tee. While I am hitting, he is yelling at me about it being "my world" and how I was going to keep him from finishing his round. I ignored him, hit my tee shot and while lining up my second shot he hit into me. So, I called the clubhouse and told them what was going on. While I was standing on the green, he hit into me again while the ranger was standing right there. The ranger didn't throw him off of the course which amazed me. He made him wait until I could move on before letting him move to the fifth tee. Didn't matter, he hit into me again. At this point, I didn't want to be around anymore so I finished the hole and left. As I rode away, the guy kept yelling at me. Something like this has never happened to me before. I have seen other strange things happen, but never had anyone snap like this. I parred the first three holes, was sitting in the middle of the fairway 100yds from the green on 4 when he hit into me, and he ruined the rest of my round. Parring the first three holes is a big deal to me. To be honest, I can't figure out why they didn't toss him off of the course for hitting into me. That is simply unsafe - even if I was wrong, even if I wasn't letting a faster player through, even if I left spike marks on the greens, and failed to put the flag back in after holing out it doesn't justify hitting into me. None of those things happened. I fix ball marks, and even make it a habit of fixing at least one other ball mark on every green. There are an endless parade of golfers who don't fix them, so I don't have to go out of my way to find them. The fact that there wasn't a good reason for it is even more shocking. I play FAST. Usually, when people play a round with me they are talking during my shots on the first few holes because I am addressing the ball while the previous player's shots are still in the air. Plus, I was in the cart and he was walking. There is NO WAY he was being held up by me. There was a twosome behind me that left between the 2nd and 3rd hole, and one in front of me, so maybe he thought I jumped in front of him. Nothing I said made a difference though. He never asked to play through, he kept ranting about how it was "my world" and nobody else's. Ten years ago, I would have stood and fought, but now I am older and wiser. Leaving was the right thing to do. Still, it rubs me the wrong way since I wasn't doing anything wrong and felt like I had to leave for my own safety.

I really, really, really want my next set to be blades. But, neck, arm and hand problems make any "stingers" a serious problem so most likely another set of game improvement irons is in my future. Maybe a set of Diablo forged, or something like that. Mizuno MP-57s or Callaway X forged might be the most aggressive I can be with my clubs in trying to get a blade. At time it gets me down. Then I realize most of the pros don't use full blades and it makes me feel better. IF we are honest, most of us shouldn't be using blades based on our games. However, everyone has the right to use what they want, and I would NEVER presume to tell someone what they should, or shouldn't play. It is probably good for me, and my doctor that I've sworn off ever using blades. Still, I get that twinge whenever I head to Golf Galaxy and the pro there isn't helping. For those of you using them, all I can say is I am jealous!

One time in my hometown of Cicero, IL, a bar fight ended up in the parking lot where I was standing with a couple of friend. One of the combatants pulled a putter from his car trunk and embedded it in the head of his adversary. The victim staggered away with the putter firmly stuck in his melon. Never seen it happen on the golf course.

I currently live in Ohio, but will never admit to being an Ohioan. Instead, I am a Chicagoan trapped in Columbus, Ohio! Welcome to the forum. It's one of the better golf meeting places online.

If you like it, then enjoy! Personally, I think it looks pretty cool. I have the black pearl Cleveland wedges and might try it.

Go to the forum actions section drop down your will find toward the top of the page, choose the edit profile option. When that page opens, on the left hand side you will see edit signature. That is where people are filling in what is in their bag. Welcome, and enjoy.

During a recent round a player in my foursome hit a his third shot, which is a blind approach, to the right of the green on a par 5. Along the right side of the green is a small creek and a low spot not visible from the fairway, or from the cart path. After he hit the shot, I commented it might be in the creek and he assured me it was over the green. There was NO way the ball was long, it was clearly either in the creek, or near it. Well, the cheater was in the other cart and has I drove around behind the green to my ball, he was standing next to a ball I assumed was mine. That is until he told me it was his. So, we hit our chips and as I walked to my ball I looked over by the creek and there is a ball sitting there. It was not visible as we drove by on the cart path because of the depression created by the creek and was not visible from behind the green. At this point I am blissfully ignorant and mention to my foursome that there is a ball sitting just off the green near the creek. The same guy who claimed his ball was over the green makes a bee line for it and stuffs it in his pocket. So, we finish putting and I ask him what type of ball he found over there and why, since I spotted it, he didn't give it to me. That is when I realized why he ran over to pick it up. It was the brand and number of the ball he played. He showed it to me VERY quickly, and I noticed it was marked with the same color marker he uses as well. So, as it played out, he couldn't find his ball, was sure it was in the creek and dropped a new one behind the green. He accounted for everything, right until his first ball was found. I didn't say a word since he was 11 strokes behind me anyway. Plus, everyone knew, so nobody had to point out that he was busted.

I am going to go against the grain a little based on my own experience. After being out of golf for nearly 8 years due to medical problems I came back intent on enjoying the game. First item on my list of rules was not to worry about distance and just keep the ball in play. All day long I could stand on the tee and hit driver right down the middle - about 230-240 yards. There were days I hit every fairway, no joke. Then, I could hit an iron into most greens at the local courses which plays pretty short. One day, I shot an 82 at my local muni which is one of my lowest scores, ever. Then I looked back and realized I am playing a pretty short course from the whites and the blues add another 10-30 yards on most holes. Which means the 7 iron I'm hitting is really a 5 or 4 if I play from the blues. My ball striking was pretty good but hitting even a short par 5 in two was out of the question and a 420 yard par 4 put stress on my game. So, I realized that distance is part of the equation - not hitting 300 yard drives but hitting it at least 250-260 is needed to play at a scratch level or even a 5 hdcp from my perspective. So I took a pretty good game and started to dismantle it to get more distance. Granted, I am also working on my short game and can probably pick up 3-5 strokes per round just getting back to my old short game level. But, to get where I want to be, I need to hit the ball farther, it's just that simple. Getting from 30-20 would be easy by hitting a tee shot 200 down the middle every single hole. But, getting from a 13 to a 5, which is my goal, requires more distance. I need birdie chances and need shorter irons in my hand. The short game is important, probably most important, but distance matters more than a lot of us are willing to admit. Just my two cents.

I hope they work out for you. Good luck.

As someone already said, asking good players and "interviewing" instructors is the way to go. Every instructor has specific views on the swing and finding one that fits your natural swing is the path to success at the beginning. I'm in the process of "hiring" an instructor and the first person I went to, who was highly recommended, clearly knew what he was doing. However, his idea of the perfect swing had a lot of leg drive which won't work with my physical limitations. Due to spinal cord, brain and brachial plexus surgeries my flexibility is limited and I can't do what he wanted. Another instructor had completely different views on how the lower body should move during the swing that fit with what I can do. Neither way is right - but one way was more right for me, and that is what is important. The better my swing gets, the more open I am likely to be to ideas out of my comfort zone. Until then, I want someone who teaches the way I already think about the swing.

Stubborn is good.

I have been through this exact situation - well, actually my tumor was on my cervical spine and there was one on the brachial plexus. It took almost 7 years for me to get back to playing full-time again because I also had several brain tumors dealt with as well. Your doctors will assume that just walking and living a normal life without golf is good enough. Don't let them convince you it is. I was told all kinds of things, one being that I would never play golf to the level I did before. Well, I told them I would, and have been able to play more during the last 18 months and should be back to my pre-gimp level soon. Your friends will tell you playing golf doesn't matter or that you should be happy to be up and around. Tell them to mind their own business, in a nice way. Getting through this won't be easy, but you can do it without a problem. Good luck and if you ever need someone to talk to, drop me a PM. Having been through it, I will gladly help however I can.

I've decided to go and get a string of lessons after searching around to find the right pro. I figure I won't get to play much over the winter so I can break my game down and rebuild it. As it has worked out though, I haven't had to completely rebuild - just tweak. Regardless, the best time I ever spent improving my game was going around and interviewing pros until I found the right one. His swing theory matches mine and he teaches in a way that allows me to learn.

Thank you.

OK, I broke my rules and am commenting. Bob Sanders was changed to Doug Sanders - the funny thing is, I was watching sports center when I wrote this article and they were talking about Bob. I must have inserted his name because I jsut heard it. Sorry for the mistake. Thanks for pointing it out.

Top Ten lists always make for great debate. This one was published on another golf site and hopefully I'm not breaking any rules by posting it here. It seems like a fun topic and something people can debate and even yell at each other about. (Just to keep things on the up-and-up, I am the author so I won't be commenting again, no matter what people post.If you have a question, send me a PM, if I get involved in the debate, it spoils it.) http://www.golfcourses.tv/article/vi...haracters-ever Top ten lists are always a big hit no matter how boring or simple the subject might be. The simple truth is Americans love to see movies, games, athletes, books or just about anything else ranked so the best of the breed can be identified. Even more fun is the argument created whenever someone steps up and puts their opinion on the record. When it comes to something people are passionate about, which covers anything golf related, the debate takes on urgency, combined with a certain lightheartedness - a near perfect combination. So, with that in mind, here are the top ten golf characters of all time. Some are fictional, others are real, but all represent something great about the game itself. 10 Doug Sanders/Ian Poulter – Poulter is seemingly Saunders reincarnated thirty years later. Both have a flair that is considered either well played, or played-out depending on each person’s perspective. Still, they are hard to miss and in today’s age of beige on the PGA Tour, Poulter is a welcome sight. 9 Happy Gilmore – In an episode of Playing Lessons with the Pros on the Golf Channel, Padrig Harrington offers to do a “Happy Gilmore” and then succeeds in striping it right down the middle. Only one golf movie has more quotable lines than Happy Gilmore, and that’s Caddyshack. 8 John Daly – The question isn’t whether John Daly would make the list, the question is whether his character is fictional, or real. Nobody, it seems, knows for sure. 7 Jack Nicklaus/Tiger Woods – There is only one spot on the list for the best player to ever play the game and the jury is still out on who has earned the title. 6 Judge Smails/Ty Webb – It’s impossible to separate these two in the movie, or on the list, they just go together. But remember, Ty’s father never liked the judge. 5 Lee Trevino – He once said that real pressure isn’t playing for money or fame on the PGA Tour, it’s playing for $100 when you only have $20 in your pocket. 4 Tin Cup – He not only gets to play in the U.S Open, but gets Rene Russo as well – a nearly unbeatable combo. 3 Carl Spackler –Bill Murray’s bizarrely crafted stooge is possibly the only character in golf that could have knocked our eventual number one from the throne. He came close, but fell just short. Spackler is one-half lunatic, one- half stooge and one-half lovable lug. Yes, that adds up to 150% because even the laws of mathematics can’t contain Bill Murray’s larger than life interpretation of Bushwood’s assistant greens keeper. 2 Arnold Palmer – A man so enamored with the game that after all he has done to benefit golf he still feels he is indebted to the sport. Men of his stature and men of his unwavering selflessness come along once in a lifetime, or once in several lifetimes. 1 The Gopher – How can you argue with this choice considering the gopher’s antics dominated a movie that brought us great characters like Carl Spackler, Judge Smails, Al Czervik, Danny Noonan, Lacey Underall, Spaulding and Ty Webb? Putting any other character at the top of this list is akin to hitting it right in the lumber yard.

It's been 19 years since I lived in Chicago and I have long since lost track of the golfing scene. Can anyone tell me if there are any indoor golf ranges near Westmont? Even an outdoor range might work out if the weather holds through the Thanksgiving weekend. Any help is appreciated.