NotThatRobLowe

This is really the point I was making in my post. I had lost the feel to fix my draw when it becomes a hook or snap hook. If I could just practice one shape and have consistent success on the course, I would stick with it and probably wouldn't bother practicing both. For others struggling with their one shape getting exaggerated, practicing both shapes may help them develop better feel for that face to path and help them to make corrections. Not saying to do both shapes on the course, but it may be a drill that helps get your swing get back on track if struggling with your fade turning to slice or draw to hook. A simplified Johnny Miller nine box drill. I've been using a three box version which is helping me regain some feel of how to get back to my draw when it turns into a hook.

I know this thread is a bit old. Similar experience here to @ChetlovesMer. When I was trying to "Shape Shots" my handicap was slowly improving. When better golfers convinced me to focus on one shape, my handicap improved for a couple of months until I also developed a snap hook that I couldn't figure out how to correct and then handicap plummeted. Maybe there are even less fun things that can happen, but taking 10 penalties a round is not fun. My game went completely off the rails. What is helping me get my swing back is working on both fade and draw at the range again. Maybe I am not good enough to "shape shots" on the course, but by regularly working on shaping shots at the range, my misses seem smaller and the snap hook shows up far less often. I may just play one shape on the course, but working on both at the range is getting my swing back to being somewhat predictable and penalties are coming down. And yes, I have seen a pro. Funny how I can stripe them when he tells me exactly what to change in my swing. Hard to reprogram over bad habits and self diagnose when coach isn't there.

Believe Phil has recently played some tournaments with a 47.5 driver. It looks like Bryson isn't even playing longer than 46 right now, so may only impact guys like Phil trying to keep up. It isn't like Bryson or Phil are dominating tournaments. Stats seem to show that more people are playing and watching golf than ever before. Love or hate Bryson, he has generated more interesting discussion around the game than anyone in a long time. PGA is fun to watch right now. If reducing the driver length levels the playing field, it could level the competition, but it wouldn't be as fun to watch the tee shots.

I have only broken 90 a few times, just once since last September. Finally had a breakthrough round this weekend. I followed a 105 at a tougher desert course (70.7/137) with an 83 at an easier course (67.9/112). This year I've been working on the Impact Zone five dynamics 1. The Flat Left Wrist at Impact 2. The Forward Swing Bottom 3. Loading the Club on the Backswing 4. Lagging the Load Through Impact 5. Swinging the Club Along a Straight Plane Line Through the Impact Zone I've really been struggling with lagging the club. I've stuck with it and am finally seeing some progress, old early release habits have been hard for me to break. I started tracking my shots over 100 yards, under 100 yards, putts and penalties to see where to focus my practice time. The targets listed below for each category actually target breaking 80, but I feel like this has given me a good guide of where to focus my practice. Over 100 yards - 34 (Averaging 38) Under 100 yards - 16 (Averaging 25) Putts - 30 (Averaging 34) Penalties - 0 (Averaging 3) It became clear that focusing under 100 yards should yield the most benefit. I do realize that poor approach shots from over 100 yards are also contributing to pushing that number up. I started with just 3/4 to full AW until I felt consistent. Then each club I felt consistent with, I'd go to the next. I've been focused on AW-8i and this week will work on 7i. Recently I spent one full range session getting driver dialed in a reliable again. I have been dedicating some time each week to practice: 80% of my range time on wedges through 8i. 20% of range time developing a reliable driver swing. Working to make iron and driver swings feel more similar than different 20 yard chipping in the backyard. Spending time on the putting green, putting to coasters, and putting on a flat steel ruler. My 83 was composed of 31 swings over 100 yards, 23 under 100 yards, 29 putts, and 0 penalties. This round I limited my clubs to Driver and 5i-LW leaving my 3h and 4i that can get me into trouble in the bag. Also, I am not a long hitter, only 2 drives beyond 240. Only 3 GIR, so chipping and putting were pretty strong. My 105 was 40 over 100, 29 under 100, 27 putts and 9 penalties. My 3h and 4i resulted in a few of those penalties.

YMMV. I used to suffer really badly. I wouldn't go anywhere without having a sciatica brace in my bag just in case. I'd left multi day ski trips and golf trips early do to extreme pain. A few things helped. Monthly visit to chiropractor (I understand this is not for everybody, took a while to find a chiropractor that didn't leave me feeling like I was in an accident). Improving my golf swing took pressure off my back. Biggest improvement came from hip socket flexibility. Finally went to a great PT for a knee issue. She had me do a variety of step ups and different body weight exercises in different positions. She told me my knee was actually fine and that my back could be fine, but that I was compensating for my right hip being locked up. At this time I was running a few miles a few times a week and was surprised this could be an issue. I could do step ups all day with my left leg, but stepping up from static position with no momentum and I just couldn't move. My right hip was completely locked up. Once I improved that hip joint flexibility and developed a little more core strength, my back issues have improved greatly. I still get occasional flare ups, but not like I used to have. Now I can do our annual weekend and golf 4-5 rounds in a weekend without issue. (knock on wood).

I wasn't ready to commit to same length, but I liked the concept of minimizing the differences in length. I built a set of irons with 1/4" differences rather than 1/2" differences built off 8i as my preferred length. I went same length (36) for both PW (43) and AW(38). Built these on Apex 19s and steel Elevate ETS 85 stiff shafts. Lofts and Lies are standard, except the 4i is 1 degree stronger and 5i is 0.5 degree strong. I needed to Frankenstein weight in the hosel on the 4i and 5i to maintain D2 swing weight. Please don't start the argument that they will overdraw, etc. They fly the same as the rest of the clubs. I am not the longest hitter (155 7i) and for me, smash factor is a big component of distance. I hit the center of the face far more often. Still working to generate more carry and more stopping power on the longer irons vs current shorter carry with too much roll. So far I love them. The lengths go from 36 to 37.5 vs the standard for this set of 35.5 to 38.5. Reduced some variability and my swing feels much more repeatable through the entire set. I did not cut down my 3h or 3w. Yet. Time will tell, each week dialing them in more and more. Handicap is dropping slowly.

I have the new IM10 HZRDOUS in my 3w and had the shaft in my driver. Love it in the 3w, can't hit the similar shaft in the driver. Swapped it for a riptide shaft. Both are stiff flex, 3w slightly heavier.

Try different shafts. Hook may indicate you "could" get better dispersion with a stiffer shaft.

92 at a fairly easy track called Toka Sticks here in sunny AZ. 4 over on 18. No penalties today though.

I am also looking at shaft options for my current Apex 19 irons right now. Not happy with the stock graphite 60g in Apex 19, they just feel too light. I have some arthritis and have been in graphite for a decade now but this last set isn't a fit. I am looking more for accuracy and height to hold greens and feel that a bit more weight helps. I was able to go to local golf galaxy and hit a few different shafts (in the new apex dcb head). I was looking at the mitsubishi mmt debating between 85 and 95 weights and between regular and stiff flex. Before I left, to add to the comparison, I also tried the new elevate ets vibration dampening steel shaft. I immediately could see a higher launch angle in where it was hitting the screen. The distance was similar and shot accuracy was good. Doing that comparison blew up my trip because I thought I was set on the MMTs but ended up really liking the elevate steel. After doing some research, I found that the elevate ets is a high launch high spin shaft which was working for me on the simulator and felt great. It looks like steel is also making advancements similar to graphite. If you want super light, graphite are the better option but from 80 grams up, there are really good options in both steel and graphite. There are some graphite shafts that I have tried that feel absolutely awesome, but hard to control. For me, combination of feeling good but still accurate. Got to balance that feel versus real. Looks like I may be going back to a new lighter steel option in Elevate ETS 85 or 95.

99 at Trilogy in Gilbert AZ. 8 over through 8 and then carded a quadruple bogey on 9. Overall just1 par, 13 bogeys, 1 double and 3 quads. A duff in the water, a pull hook OB, and a push OB. Need to keep the ball in play and the big numbers off the card. Need better mental focus and positivity to recover and scramble a bit better on those holes.

Higher handicapper here, been working to rework my swing this last year. Recent focus has been on Impact Zone concepts. The last few weeks have been focused on flat lead wrist and forward divot. My focus was to get my hands out front at impact. I was struggling and tried to swing just looking at where I wanted my hands at impact and realized how badly I've been flipping the club. Made some improvements and will keep working. Went to the range this week to add focus on load and lag. It became immediately clear how badly I cast the club. The feeling of softer hands and increasing the load at transition and holding lag are helping my tempo and ability to gain momentum through the swing and not ripping my hands down immediately. Holding lag also seems to keep the club on a better swing plane. Still inconsistent, but working on patient transition and gaining hand speed momentum without flipping the release. Addicting feeling when making proper contact.

I'll remember that. I was sure hydrated that day.

Thanks. Been practicing chipping more than putting. Played a course today with a ton of water. Didn't eliminate penalties or reduce 3 putting today! Back to the range this week.