Hollister

Hmm. The longest putt would be 26 ft and chipping would be worthwhile, too. Would you consider 7.5 x 28 feet plus 2 feet fringe at the small ends be too short? What would be the minimum length you'd recommend?

Yes, looks nice. My guess would be around 6k. Prices for artificial green run between $7 to $10 per ft. when having it installed. A quick search shows that a compactor runs at $35 a day.

Hey guys, thanks for you opinions! Been pondering the matter for the last weeks, too. Confession first: I've got the artificial SWG turf rolled up nicely on the backside of my house next to the bags with sand infill. It was a bargain - the equivalent of a indoor quality putting carpet. For the installation I am looking at further 50 bucks for gravel and sand, $20 for a weed blocking fabric, rental for a compactor, $30 for a few cups, a couple of nails, seaming glue/fabric and a few things I might have forgotten. $130 tops, overall $260 when finished. And low maintenance guaranteed - wouldn't dare to go for a natural green. The size is about 7.5 x 28 feet plus 2 feet fringe at the small ends. That would fit behind the house where grass is reluctant to grow anyways. My idea was to split the roll into a l-shape - but that would not fit behind the house. Hence the hunt for arguments. And yes, I asked myself the questions you asked: - Do I really need a putting green in my backyard? - for that price tag I say YES, PLLLEEEAASE - Will I outgrow/master that putting green eventually? - couldn't answer that - cup placement would be another topic to cover - Couldn't I continue chipping on the lawn? - yep, but have balls land on the green would be really nice - I have no chance to practice that on the range Hmm, under the circumstances listed above: Would you proceed with a 7.5 x 27 feet patch plus fringe? Should I hunt for more turf - which length for a putt would you consider prudent? Or should I opt for a l-shape in a sunny spot of the backyard (and hunt for arguments).

Guys, what would be the most striking argument to convince my significant other that we really, really need a 200 sq ft putting in green in a sunny premium part of the garden and not right behind the house in the shades? Please help... PS: I could hit balls from 25 yards did not make it through - same as "I could add a sand trap"

Actively unhinging the right wrist is a casting/flipping guarantee ( releasing the club ...). Maintaining the flying wedge should do a better job. I practice to hold the right wrist hinge. I want un-cocking, but not un-hinging.

Regarding S&T; look-up "controlling the low point". You essentially hit the ground in front of the ball -> hitting through the ball.

Hmm, long discussion. I like to add my experience. Been working on my full swing for the last 14 months now. I really practiced putting about 5 or 6 times on a green. I spend about 15 times with wedges. Thats it. Rest is full swing. Began working on the long sticks at end of May. Today I played 9 holes at 7 over. I hit way to many hooks with the long sticks and got into the rough many times (plus one bunker). I would regard todays long stick performance as messy. Again, just 7 over. Am I happy? Well, if not so many 3 woods and 3 hybrids went... If I had hit every tee shot just good and on the fairway, I would have shaved off about 4 to 5 strokes. Two easy puts did not go in (on just aerified greens). My experience is that my short game (

Ha, ha, Jeff - he seemed to be a nice guy on the forum. In a way I can understand him. Mind over matter. I think the older you get, the more you'll think that brains and experience speed up any learning process. After one year S&T; I do now firmly believe that it is the other way round. Why do kids learn that fast? They do not think much about a motion they are about to learn. They just look, copy, repeat, look, copy, repeat, repeat, repeat, repeat, repeat, repeat. Count the hours a kid spends learning table tennis/soccer/golf/tennis/... You'll never ever spend that much time on anything when you are in your 50ies. I tried to pm Jeff, but he shut down his forum account back then. Guess age makes you loose that playful attitude. Well, pros, I just beg you to be patient with us "mind over matter" guys, since we don't know better... :D

Link broke... Yes, great and powerful swing! Bet the balls were OK, too.

Have a look at the Trackman data of PGA pros regarding the angle of attack. What would yours be? Looking at pro swings, you'll find guys returning to the same and to a higher position. How do you figure 165 mph ball speed? Got access to a launch monitor? Then you should get the angle of attack, too. Guessing would be easier that way.

Had a quick think about Bradys sheets then. Well, I continued with ball striking first (full swing - hit fairways, then hit greens from a defined and workable distance). I think that the short game is important, but reaching those greens is currently a bigger priority for me. So far, it paid off. Staying out of trouble and putting the ball on the green from 100 yards makes life much friendlier. I will turn to the short game when I have more time. The up-comming vacation just suits my plans. Anyone else had success with Bradys master plan?

Nice job! I second the Evolvr sign-up. The guys are great, you'll learn better and faster that way.

Push shots or punch shots or push draws? That latter would be higher than a punch shot. If you are hitting low, you are likely to hit thin. Got pictures or a video?

Why? What works for the tour pros should be fine for us. I have yet to meet a golfer that does not has "more distance" on his mind. Hitting down compresses the ball gives more spin . Lofting an iron to positive degrees, esp. a wedge, is going to invite disaster. But you can always go for the 0 degrees or the actual loft. No harm done, no distance or spin gained.

Oh, yeah, tell me... The club face is too closed at impact (swing path should be in to out on a push draw). Check you impact position - the hands should be in front of the club head - if not, try to avoid "flipping the hands" to make the ball go faster. The other thing would be the hip slide towards the target. If you stop too early, you close the club face faster. You can read up on it under "rate of closure" (in the S&T; literature or watch the DVDs). Without video or pictures it is really hard to say what goes wrong...

I hit very low pushes (thin hits) or hooks (club face too closed) with the long clubs lately. Video showed, that I am standing up early (inclination to the ground) and cast the club for compensation. I was trying to squeeze every yard out of the swing... Bad idea. So, staying in the inclination plus stopping casting should solve it. Eaaaasy :D Do a video of your swing and you'll find your cure quickly.

Eric, this is a very important topic. At least for me, since it is the reason why I am still playing golf. If it weren't for a "method" and your posting here, I would have buried my golf bag in the basement 18 months ago. Actually, I never really understood the heated discussion on method teaching. From a European view - alas Germany - you'll be taught the traditional swing by the majority of golf pros which goes by-the-book. In my experiences they just tell every beginner what to do. Do this, hmm, better - and so on. The background has to be acquired by the student reading hopefully a good book. All my lessons went that way. No instructor actually explained what he is going to teach me. And lately no instructor ask me why I try to keep centered over the ball - all three pros I met tried to make me move my weight back when swinging back (all nice guys walking by and offered their help). I felt that being left in the dark or dumb is not what I was looking for. Makes a nice cash cow for the pro, but does not really answer my questions on how to get it done. Being taught Stack & Tilt, reading up in the book and finally watching the DVDs was excellent so far. As you abilities progress you can take over control, instead of just being controlled by a pro holding back on you. S&T; was very transparent. I would not want to do it without the help of a pro, but practice is way more rewarding that way. You have checkpoints and can work toward you goal. Since feel is not real, you need to reach certain positions in your swing to hit the ball right. Physics rule... One thing I never got is that "everybody needs to swing his very own way", like the pro has to carve a new swing for every student. Since we all share the same physics, how many useful variations could there be or could your local pro "invent" for you? Marrrrrketing... :D Bottom line, ask your current pro what "method"/approach/theory etc. he is teaching and read up on it. It'll make learning way easier and hopefully faster. If he is not telling you straight away, well, it is trust or leave. Well, thanks Eric for endorsing my current "method swing"!

Do I slide my hips? Man, I am actually practicing to slide them more towards the target! Why? Oh, just look at any tour pro - or simply read this: http://thesandtrap.com/forum/thread/29616/the-biggest-secret-slide-your-hips

Haha, had the same "muscular" experience, when was I was told to "feel the weight" in my front foot and "crush the can" with it. Took it too literally, thought I was going to need a hip replacement soon. Next complaining body part would be the right elbow from P6 exercises...

Ha, ha. Wouldn't see it that harsh, though. But yes, it is hard to keep your mouth shut and smile when receiving the same advice by a pro: move your weight back. Or listening in on a training session behind you. Or a buddy telling you about the newest tip he saw on the tube - roll-over the arms faster after impact (even w/o the cam you see flip-flip-hurray going on). Again, smile and work on your lateral shift forward... There is a always a solution: headphones - and a big smile :D

If it were that easy... Without a video or picts from P6 to P7 it is hard to give you advice. What are your hands doing (P6->7) - holding the flying wedge? If not, that could be a reason for fat shots, too. So, open up a my swing-thread.

Interesting, guess it depends on the individual skill level. A poor swing won't get you there in 6 weeks. I like the planning worksheet (PDF). Gives you an idea on what to practice! Structured practice makes sense. I surely can not believe that every golfer is able to break 80 in 6 weeks with 18 hours total practice. Mr. Riggs is always good for a headline... Good luck, everybody! Count me in - I would like to break 80 by the end of April, too. Please do report about your progress right here!

Have not seen an interview of Kaymer until today. Like-able guy. Modest. OK - due to my nationality I might be a bit pre-occupied. But he is not to be seen much on TV over here. At least a lot of my non-golfing friends know, that "we are no. 1 golfer" now. Huh, yellow-press, ... Been watching the WGC this weekend - hope he plays better in the next week to be honored with a little more air time...

Been searching for such a solution, too - but found none. On our side of the pond we have http://www.scope-systems.de installed at several ranges. If you find a solution that works with a ordinary video cam, I am happy to hear about it!

I love the Analyzr application! Finally can retire the combination of the QuickTimePlayer and a real ruler (set square) to debug my swing. Love it, recommend it to every Mac user! Get a cam, get Analyzr, get better!