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About podunker
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- Birthday 11/30/1964
Personal Information
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Member Title
Mini-Golfer
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Your Location
MISSOURI
Your Golf Game
- Index: 4.1
- Plays: Righty
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podunker's Achievements
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Swing Machine Golf vs. BodySwing
podunker replied to ghallowell's topic in Instruction and Playing Tips
They are the same concept basically. He just put out a new book with some different explanations on the same things. I have the swing machine golf book, and the body swing book is really just an update, but same concept. -
Just to follow up on this. I took the shafts out and did some testing. I used the same balls, tees, hole, etc. to try to keep as little variance as possible. Once again, I don't know what my swing speed with the driver really is. Most are saying I am in the 100-105 range, because of how far I hit my 8 iron. Most say with that swing speed I should stay with the stiff flex shaft. Because of those statements, I almost didn't even try the other shafts out. MAN, WHAT A MISTAKE THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN! The first thing I noticed, was that the two x stiff shaft did feel a little heavier obviously. The next thing I noticed after hitting them, was that the shot dispersion was much tighter. Not only on solid strikes, but also shots off the toe. The dispersion was even tighter with the 'ahina than the Pro Force. Both were much better than my stiff flex. Miss hits with my stiff flex usually ended up being a rope hook into trouble. Not the case with the x stiff. I noticed a little lower launch with the Pro Force than the 'ahina. Now for the distance. To my surprise, I was about 10-12 yard further with the x stiff. I couldn't believe it. Better shot dispersion and more distance! The 'ahina is the one I am keeping. Glad I tried them out. Guess it does pay off to get fitted.
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Well I was just looking at some charts on the internet and guessing about the swing speed. Maybe it's closer to 100-105. I hit a good drive about 285 and my TM 3w about 240-250.
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I just purchased a new to me Titleist 913D2 Driver that came with a stiff flex 60 gram RIP Phenom Aldila. I just got the head adjusted the way i like it, which is A2, a little open face. I tried several spots, but this setup gave the straightest and farthest ball flight. A slight draw usually. Then as I was playing a round today with my buddies, we started discussing shaft flex and they said I should be using an extra stiff shaft. I have never had my swing speed really measured that I can remember. Just had irons fitted, and they gave me stiff flex steel shafts. So I figured that's what I needed in everything. Well, after doing some research, looks like I might just need extra stiff in my Driver. I hit my 8 iron about 155 yards on average, to give you an idea of my swing speed. My guess is it's around 120. Anyhow, one of my friends said he had two extra stiff shafts for me to try that he used with his old 909 and 910 drivers. So he gave them both to me, since he no longer has a Titleist driver. The two shafts he gave me are: UST Proforce V2, at 76 grams, and a Mitsubishi Diamana "ahina at 72 grams. They both have the sure fit on them already. So I was just curious if anyone knows anything about either shaft? And also if you thought it would really make a difference in driving distance or not. Funny thing is, I have always used stiff shafts in all my drivers. Guess I should get fitted, but not likely to happen any time soon. I am going to take them out and try them in a few days, but wanted opinions on them. Also, with these extra stiff shafts, am I going to have to go through the process of getting a different setting for the head. Didn't know if these shafts might need a little more loft or less loft etc. Thanks in advance
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Oops........it is suppose to read left hand on top....not right......sorry. Man I should have proof read that.........Eric can you fix it or can I do it somehow. It makes no sense as written.
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These thoughts are actually from an old golf instruction book written by Gerry Hogan, but man did they really work for me. 1. keep the left hand on top of the right for as long as you can on the downswing. (Great for helping me not cast the club and holding the lag as long as possible. Don't worry you will square it up at impact if your grip is right and keep turning your body) 2. imagine the club is a hatchet with the cutting edge facing down when you grip the club normally. On the downswing you are trying to chop/hit the sharp edge of the blade into the back go the ball. This keeps you right elbow tucked in on the downswing and the left hand on top of the right. He explained it like this I think. Put your hands together right out in front of you with palms facing each other like your praying. Take your back swing and rotate your left hand on top of your right all the way to the top. On he downswing keep your left hand on top and try to chop the backside of the ball with the bottom of the hands. You have no choice but to keep your right elbow tucked into your side if you want to hit it, two hand karate chop the back of the ball. I don't know if it will help anyone or not. For me, too many swing thoughts can just kill me. One/two is max for me. These two thoughts have been awesome for me to make solid contact more consistently. I know, they only work if you have the other key elements right...........but I love them.
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"The A Swing: The Alternative Approach to Great Golf" by David Leadbetter
podunker replied to iacas's topic in Reading Room
It always surprises me how such a little thing can make a difference in contact. The you showed in that thread Iacas is very similar to my normal grip. Especially the way"both" the "V's" line up between my right shoulder and head. The grip for this swing is very different feeling anyway. The left hand "V" points toward my right eye, and the left hand "V" points toward my left eye. Like they are opposite of each other, not like I was ever taught. I think the left hand is even more in the fingers than the grip in the thread you posted shows. It's all about the feeling. Maybe just the grip change would do the trick! -
"The A Swing: The Alternative Approach to Great Golf" by David Leadbetter
podunker replied to iacas's topic in Reading Room
Ok I was able to go to the course today. Initially it was awful as expected. I was having big trouble with hooks, hooks, hooks. I finally got the grip weak enough and started to hit some nice draws. I was just in the practice area hitting shots. Once I got a little comfortable with it I played nine holes. I really had to focus on the grip and when I did I hit it very well. Probably a little longer than my normal swing. I was also making great contact. Having the grip in my fingers was the key. I felt like I could really relax my arms and wrist just let the swing happen. I felt like it created more lag. I shot a 37. Needless to say, I will stay with it and see how things progress. Don’t get me wrong. I have no illusions that I am doing the swing exactly like the book says. I am sure I am not as upright on the backswing and am still probably not finishing like they suggest. I do love the feeling of having the grip more in my fingers and not in my palms. Love the contact I was making. Still getting used to the weak right hand also. When I revert back to my more strong grip, hook, hook, hook! -
"The A Swing: The Alternative Approach to Great Golf" by David Leadbetter
podunker replied to iacas's topic in Reading Room
Disclaimer: I am a tinkerer by nature when it comes to my golf swing. I am around a 7-8 hdcp, but would say my putting is very good and that carries me. I have tried many concepts over the years and learned something from them all. Yes, I call them concepts, SnT, Natural, Single Plane, etc. My biggest problem has always been consistency. For example, I shot a 73 last Sunday, and and 81 five days later. I hit a bunch of solid iron shots with the 73 and could not hit a solid shot with the 81. In my mind, nothing had changed with my swing between those few days. Contact changed, and when I couldn’t make good contact, I started changing my swing mid round to fix it! Guess how that worked out? Here are my first impressions after skimming the book, watching the seminar, and taking a few swings in the yard without hitting any balls. Trust me when I say this, I have never read anything from Leadbetter except the stuff he puts in the golf magazines a few years back. I don’t get any of those publication now, and haven’t a couple years. So I feel like I can be pretty fair when trying this concept out. The first radical change for me was in the grip. Gripping the club more in the fingers is an unusual sensation for me. I always wear out my gloves first in the heel of the palm. The new grip inherently seemed to make the club handle set lower and seemed to me to loosen up my forearm pressure. It also made it much more natural to keep the club head outside the hands on the backswing. Having the right hand in such a weak position was also a big change. When I watch the seminar, I also noticed when Dennis Watson was swinging the club early on while Leadbetter was talking, his wrist seemed to be very loose, and limber. I kind of like the feeling honestly. I also liked in the seminar how David explained the shoulder or upper body turn. Sometimes an image is all it takes. The way he let his arms hang down in front of him and used them like pistons to show the turn. I always struggle with this feeling myself. It’s a lot like one particular other concept that has you turn your left shoulder down instead of around to turn. I am very intrigued by the follow through they show in the seminar. I have a BIG problem with rolling my hands, and even whole upper body sometimes on the follow through. So It is going to take some time to get used to just flipping my right hand up. I am going to continue to read, and hope to hit some balls tomorrow……….so I will update. -
This Has Helped Me Tremendously
podunker replied to Blackops1961's topic in Instruction and Playing Tips
This deserves a bump. GREAT DRILL FOR MAINTAINING SPINE ANGLE ON BACK SWING AND FOLLOW THROUGH! I have a tendency to lose my spine angle on the follow through. Especially later in the round when I start to get tired. When I do, my draw turns into a pull hook. once again, FANTASTIC DRILL. I, myself, will add a little hip slide towards the target on the downswing, so it feels like an actual golf swing. I even finish up with my weight on my left side, for right hand golfer, on the follow through. As for the comment above. It's just an exercise to get your body in shape to stay in the right spine/shoulder angle. However, in a good golf swing your right shoulder will be coming down towards the ground on the swing plane as you move into impact position. That's enough talk about the swing...............never rmind. It's just a great exercise to improve your game, period! -
Well here I am again experimenting and loving the results so far. I have been trying out parts of the Single Axis, Single Plane, or Moe Norman type swing for a few weeks now. One of the biggest problems for the Am Golfer is inconsistency. That goes for any level of amateur golfer, from single digit to high capper. I myself have always really struggled with it my whole golfing life. It always amazes me how I can shoot a 75 one day and two days later go out and do, what I think, is the same exact thing, and shoot 83. I hear that same complaint from a guys who shoots mid 80's and then shoots a 97 two days later. We, I , never feel like we are doing anything different in our swing. So what is the answer. I always say, "Thats why we are amateurs." After thinking more about my swing, I think the more variables you have in it, the more inconsistent you will be. The more movement up and down, or back and forth, the more inconsistent you will be. For that reason alone I think adopting a centered pivot or steady head will only help the average golfer. I have wondered for the longest time, why we don't set up in an impact position all the time when we swing the club, or as close to it as possible. After all that is the position we want to be in ultimately. I think keeping most of your weight on your left leg or side is part or a piece of setting up in an impact position. Some even slid their hips left at setup. The same thing goes with your grip. I never understood how someone could set up with a weak grip and get back to impact right. Especially with the right hand set up very weak. At impact your grip seems like it should be on the strong side. Especially if you are keeping your right elbow in like the experts say. A weak right hand grip seems like it would cause you to have to straighten your right arm out too quickly. It seems like you have to have a fairly strong grip to keep your left arm above your right, from the behind view, at impact. I never really thought about the arms at setup though. Yes, I have leaned my hands away from the target before, and now lean them towards the target like they will be at impact. Doesn't it make sense to have your hands ahead at setup if that is how you want them at impact. The one part I never thought about was the way the arms hang from the body. Most golfers hang their arms straight down or close too it at setup. But that is nowhere close to how they are at impact. So to make a good swing you have to totally change the positions of the arms during the swing. Which, to me, causes a big variable in your golf swing. That was the biggest thing that got my attention with the Moe Norman type swing. The swing sets the arms up at setup like they will be at impact. Which makes a lot of sense to me. Yes it looks funny to some people. Yes it feels really funny when you first try it. But the results for me have been great. For myself, one of my big problems was inconsistent ball contact. I would hit a few fat shots and few thin or toe shots a round. I think it was do to the fact that I had to raise my head up at impact to go from relaxed arms hanging down at setup to a straight left arm at impact. If I didn't raise my head, I would hit it fat. However, if I raise it too much, I get the thin or toe hit. So on days that my timing was good with my head, I would hit good shots. On days when it was a little off, not so good. By setting up like Moe, you take the head movement up and down out of the equation. I don't have to worry about hitting it fat or thin. I just return it to the way I was at setup! I am loving it right now, and have been hitting the ball as solid as i ever have. Center club face strikes are so sweet! I'm not saying it's the answer for everyone, but it seemed to work for me. I have adopted the straight left arm setup, and stronger grip of the swing with a lot of success. In particular the position of the club in the grip. More in the palm or down the life line, instead of in the fingers. I think this grip has also helped me solve another problem I have of flipping the club through impact sometimes. It' very hard to flip the right hand when the grip is in your palm instead of your fingers. Just food for thought.................
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Lately I have been doing a lot of reading on the golf forums about golf swing techniques etc. It amazes me how many people will not try something just because of a "Gimmick Name" it was given for marketing purposes. Whether it be Gravity Golf, 5 Simple Keys, Stack and Tilt, etc. Some of the most enjoyable times I have with golf are trying new things. If they work great, if they don't great. What works for me and by body type, age, athletic ability, might not work as well for someone else. What works for them, may not work for me. To me the amateur golfer should try whatever he can to get better, it's not like his lively hood depends on it. Pro golfers would be reluctant to make a change for that reason alone I'm sure. But us amateurs have nothing to lose by trying something new. Forget about the "Names", just try some different things and see what happens. It might only be a part of what they are trying to teach. For example keeping a steady head, or holding the lag, or transferring weight to inside back leg, etc. One little thing like that can make a big difference to some players. Most of the time it's just the "feeling" that your doing that thing that makes a difference in your swing.
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What goes around comes around.........or something along those lines. Just a quick update on what has happened with the new season starting. I tried to get right back into my "Swing the Club" not "Hit the ball" mode from the get go, and things didn't go well. I noticed at the end of last season my lower back was having lots of problems dealing with the torque being developed by initiating my downswing with all lower body. I mean it was hurting all the time after I played and I was spending lots of money at the Chiropractors office. Once again, when I started back up this year, same problem. It got so bad I couldn't play for a while. I was also having a heck of a time keeping lag in my swing or not flipping. the loose arms feel was actually working against me I think. I have finally resigned myself to a few truths about my game also. I am a "Hitter" and not a "Swinger", as hard as I have tried, I can't get rid of the hit instinct in me. With my back issues, I also decided I have to change some things, for health reasons, just to be able to play. So I went back to the thing that got me going in the right direction in the first place, Evolution Golf! I went back to what Dave Wedzick had taught me in the summer of 2010. It was like putting on a favorite pair of broke in shoes, oh what a great feeling. I started with some of the same drills as I used back then. I looked more into the 5SK stuff they are teaching now. Really pretty much the same as they taught back then under S & T. I was amazed how easy it came back, and It also showed me that I had lost some of the fundamentals that I had been using last year anyway. Two things stood out to me this time around. I used to play Callaway X16 irons when I first started this in 2010. I know play the Taylormade Speedblade irons. One to the things I didn't like with the x16's and Dave's method was how low the ball flew. My new clubs hit it much higher than the old ones did. Without losing any distance. My wife, who has never left the S & T method she learned from the beginning had the same problem with her ball flight. She helped herself a little by not putting as much weight on her left side at address with her short irons. Which helped her hit them higher and thus stay on greens better. The second thing I noticed...............NO MORE BACK PAIN! Looks like I am back in the fold for now with the 5SK stuff. We'll see how things progress.
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Louis Oosthuizen -13 Kevin Streelman -11 Ryan Moore -11