Black Sail

I am coming back from a long term injury in my lower back. I am literally starting from scratch. I was playing at a 2 handicap when I had to stop and now it's been 14 months since I've played a complete round of golf with a score. My 2020 goals are to improve my fitness to a level commensurate with (amateur) tournament golf, rebuild my swing from the ground up focusing on driving distance and proximity to the hole on approach shots, and of course putting stats. These goals are in no particular order so my question is where would each of you start and what would be a reasonable expectation for a timeline? I am a very aggressive competitor and must find a balance between pushing myself by not settling for mediocre results and having the patience to fully bring myself back at a safe pace so as not to cause further damage to my back and shoulder.

maybe just get a tune up fitting, not a full scale fitting. Should be able to have someone give you a look for cheap since its only your irons in question.

Impossible to tell from these photos. It all depends how much time and effort you are willing to put into the project. You might be able to sell the lot for more than you paid for it, or you could clean and repair them to sell individually. There isn't much money in selling vintage clubs unless you get educated on what is worth it and what is just trash. I would compare it to baseball cards. It's hard to know the true value unless you are a guru. You might be able to make some pretty cool decorative items out of them. Those things sell pretty well if you are handy with tools or know somebody that can help you turn them into something creative.

SPOT ON!!! This is the best quote I've seen in this whole thread (all of the rest of you have given him good advice and I agree with you). Whatever set you feel most comfortable with in order to develop YOUR swing. Once you have that swing, get fit. HOWEVER....If money is no object and you feel confident that you will be a life-long golfer, I would find an instructor that also does fittings. Once you start lessons ask your coach about the fitting and when he thinks it best for you to get one. Then buy the clubs that the numbers fit you to. Find the coach with the best reputation in your area and let them guide you every step of the way. Best of luck to you, Sir, and please keep us updated as things move along.

Congratulations, Brother, and Semper Fi! Range "time" is relative. My recommendation is going to the range or practice area with a specific goal in mind. Also, make every shot mean something. Golf is so mental that if you put yourself in golf course scenarios on the range, it can help to translate to the course. Mindset is everything and the game is to be enjoyed first and foremost. Be careful of just being out on the range hitting balls for the sake of hitting balls. If you have bad habits and you aren't working to change them, then you are just reinforcing those bad habits by hitting more balls with those habits. Most of the good players I know and work with accomplish more with a few practice shots because they are actively practicing. Less experienced players tend to get out there and send a bucket down range and feel like they have practiced when all they did was go through the motions. If you can get in that mindset early you will be golden. Train like you fight, Marine! Best of luck.

I totally get that. Everybody is fight their own battle. I'm just saying the higher percentage of transfers are for getting a playing job. On the other hand, it's like the news. These things have happened in the past and, of course, the landscape of things is always evolving, it is just that we now have immediate access to information as it happens and it seems like a lot more than it really is. It's the 1% taking attention from the 99%. I don't blame them at all. It is a business and NOBODY will look out for your future like YOU. Like you said...it is just a small percentage of folks. We just see them more because of our ability to consume information in real time.

@iacas I broke par on the Scarlet Course (68 on the par 70) at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, NC during a charity Pro-Am. I got under par with an eagle on the 16th hole (a short Par 5). I won a charity tournament there with my partner, John Ashton (played Sgt. Taggart in Beverly Hills Cop). Funny dude. Also (not on the same day) I aced the 12th hole at the Legacy Club at Alaqua Lakes (The Tiger Trap hole from the Buick commercials). I thinks that puts me at Broke Par, Eagle, Hole-In-One, and Tournament Winner. My next goal will be LSW. I meant what I said when I told you that I respect your place in the game. We are all here to learn. No hard feelings... Dave

@Vinsk Absolutely! The ugly "business" of professional sports continues to rear it's head in the NCAA and even down to the high school level. It is tough enough to keep a leash on these kids by managing their expectations, but the parents and "managers" don't help by convincing the player that they need to "put themselves in position for the draft". It kills me every year. Commitment is no longer rewarded because professional players switch around from team to team through the trade system and the college kids are just taking that example and moving to where ever they think they can get the starting job. I long for simpler times...

I'm a "see it all" guy as well. As long as you can keep up with who is doing what, it can really tell you a lot about their course management and how they think their way around tough golf courses. Then, of course, there is the entertainment value of being able to see all of my favorite players.

You assume correctly in this instance.

I would consult with Erik on that if I were you. I can only hope it's that simple. All I am defending at this point is that there are thousands of us coaches east coast to west and we all have our way of doing things. At the end of the day the highest percentage of us are looking out for the best interests of our students and want the best for them. I truly believe we are all chasing the same goal. I really believe in Erik's methods. I've just been out of the loop for a while. My bottom line lies with the condescension. Let's keep it classy.

I agree and I just want to keep it that way. As stated, I am here to learn. I am NOT a top 100 instructor and I have been absent for most of the past 15 years on deployment. What I have done to this point is based on my own reality and as I learn I am sure I will catch up with the more modern and educated coaches out there. Do you do everything you are asked to do if you have something further to say on a particular topic? This is an open forum for all of us to discuss our theories, hypotheses, purposes, and the lot. I am doing just that. I never said he was wrong, I am just supporting my stance and letting him know that there is more than one way to our objective of shooting lower scores. Please, Sir, don't make it more than it is.

Out of context, @phillyk. "Just fine" was my way of saying I have success with my method the same way you do with yours. I will be more specific in the future. My apologies.

If I have a lie the puts me at risk of injury (i.e. my ball is behind a tree root or a rock) then I will move it to a safer spot. Generally, though, I play it down all the way through.

1. Agreed...dust it off and focus next time around. 2. How old are you? It makes a difference as far as recovery. Hold off until you know exactly what the source of the pain is and how to fix it. 3. Don't do anything foolish like "play through the pain". It could make it worse. Just remember, "It's easy to be hard, it's hard to be smart". Get medical advice and follow it. Recover the best you can and don't rush it.

What courses do you play in Charlotte?

It seems as though you are assuming that there is only one way to approach the game of golf and anyone that has a different opinion than you must be "wrong". I'm not doubting your knowledge or saying you are wrong. I'm just saying that this is how I approach things and it works just fine. Clear and simple. I'm sure you will let me know if you disagree, just don't talk down to me or anyone else because of a different opinion or method.

@iacas Erik....Friend....You and I have clearly had very different experiences in life. You approach things with a scientific mind and it has served you very well. I am well-read on your history and accomplishments in the game. I applaud your multiple degrees and certifications. As such, I am impressed with the amount of data that you have collected over the years and the facts with which you support all of your statements. I, however, lived on the other side. I have a long and successful career as a U.S. Marine with most of my years of service in Special Operations. Having said that, I have grown accustomed to the need to make sound and timely decisions under great deals of stress. That requires me to keep things as simple and as manageable as possible. Hence, my approach to the game. Since you have such a great depth of knowledge, I have come here to learn from you. I appreciate all that you have to teach and look forward to learning all I can from you and all the others here at TST. All I ask is that you do it with some amount of respect and dignity. You come off as elitist, rude, and narcissistic. I don't know if it stems from sucking at other, more athletic sport. Maybe you were bullied as a youngster. Don't know and don't care. As the owner of TST I expect a lot more. I concede that you know more about the game than do I, I also concede that you have a MUCH greater teaching resume than do I. However, let's tighten it up a bit when it comes to answering the feeds. I am not offended or hurt...just disappointed. Let bury this and move on. I will read up more on how distance and power translate to the entire long game. I will also likely purchase your book because I have great faith in your knowledge and experience. Just don't be such a dick, Dude. Internet muscles aren't sexy. Dave

I agree. Both are important, I am simply cautioning golfers to approach fundamentals first and then distance because usually distance shows up when consistency kicks in anyways. Absolutely. I have really enjoyed hearing everyone's thoughts on it. I appreciate all the candid responses. Good times...

That's my point @billchao. Focus on getting your numbers dialed in and the consistency will come. Once that happens, the distance will come as well. It's kind of a "one hand washes the other" mentality. Correct. The PGA Tour season is very young. Most of the top players don't have data in the system yet. I actually started this post with the current data and got ate up pretty good. These guys are on their game in here and I love it. I learn something new every day. You are spot on there, but a few course management decisions CAN make a difference for a player who struggles with consistency. I wrote this piece for the guy that doesn't want to completely change their swing, but wants to enjoy the game more and maybe score a little better.

If you have never traveled to the United Arab Emirates or have never played golf there I highly recommend. Abu Dhabi Golf Club was the first course I played during my trip. It is the host of a fantastic European PGA Tour event. The course is beautiful, the facilities are great, and the members and staff are top notch. I met a gentleman on the first tee (I played as a single) and by the end of the round we were scheduled for a tee time there the next day and one at another club a day later. The other club was an amazing experience. We played at Sadiyat Beach Golf Club. It's a Gary Player design and it is a TON of fun to get around on this one! Dubai will be my next golf outing in the UAE and I can't wait. Tell me about your experiences and recommendations from this part of the world!

Another real difference maker here is what tees the amateur is playing from. Middle tees and back tees will tell a completely different story for a person. I am talking about the 15 handicap guy playing from the white tees (6400-6800 yds) where you don't need to hit driver off every par 4 to get a short iron into the green. Again, we are really splitting hairs here as to who this applies to and handicap definitely does make a difference as to how I am going to approach player development. Because there is more than one way to get an answer to a question. Just like there is more than one way to cut strokes off your game.

I have not seen that, Sir. Thank you for the graphic @iacasI guess, taken out of context, some folks are taking me to mean that distance is NOT important and accuracy is EVERYTHING. What I truly mean is that when I have my students work on their swing mechanics as they apply to the approach shot, their understanding of the golf swing increases and thereby helps their ability to swing the longer clubs. If I can get a guy to hit the sweet spot with shorter clubs, I can get him in the sweet spot with driver as well. At that point one enhances the other. I just start with the shorter clubs first. @rehmwa Funny you mention that. The VS in the title is the underlying piece here that incites that critical thought. I like to see that golfers can truly appreciate both. Getting to the sweet spot gives you both as @Bonvivantsaid earlier. I put the VS in there to see how many folks would truly pick a side. I agree that both are important.

@DaveP043 Your critical thought has saved the day. I was sitting in a professional development class years ago and before class started there was a white board in the from of the room that said "Institution VS Individual". As it was a course based on the Sokratic Method of instruction, a fiery debate ensued and almost everyone took sides. I kept quiet for the entire class and waited. At the end when the dust began to settle and things got quiet, I asked a single question to my class mates. "What if the Institution developed Individuals for the greater good and not only for the Institution?" That is what we are dealing with here. You are correct in that distance and accuracy can go hand-in-hand and I support developing players to do both. What I REALLY wanted to see is how many players would be willing to choose one over the other.... Again, thank you for your wise perspective. This gets better by the minute.

I wish it worked that way, but not every player that comes to me is young and full of power. I have to work with what I have. A lot of my players are older, or have some physical limitation. However, you are correct in how the ideal player would be developed. Again, it's just not always my choice.