powerfade

Uhh..no. A powerfade will be a tighter fade usually played off the tee with a driver. They won't run as far as a draw but are more predictable because you're going more for placement + distance rather than distance + unpredictable rollout with a draw.

You're trying to create a feeling, not hold a towel in place. Try a golf glove instead. Just something to visually tell you whether you have separation. With the glove in place, see how your upper arm is connected at the top of your backswing. Notice the position of your arms and chest at the top. Remember that feeling, not the glove. Start your downswing from the bottom up and away you go.

I hope you don't struggle like my brother in law (who I love dearly). We've been playing for roughly the same amount of time (20+ years). He is a total mechanics thinker on the golf course. He's read the articles that tell you not too, but he always does. I'm a 7/8 index...he's a high 90's low 100's shooter. We golf together 5 or 6 times a year. He's doing the GolfTec lessons right now which introduces more mechanics. We're out playing 2 weeks ago, and he's struggling. I finally get him to think about the target and swing with a tempo that feels slower than he thinks it should. Yes...he starts hitting the ball nicely, with a big ol' smile on his face. You can say you need to think about mechanics on the course right now, but at the very least begin training yourself to think target. Begin this training, where else, but on the range. Devote 25 golf balls out of the middle of your next large bucket to playing a few holes on the range (and in your head). Picture the shot you want, the ball flight, the ball landing at the target (fairway/green). Throw a few chips or pitches in there as well. Aim at different points on the range. Don't let mechanics take over. Afterwards, use the rest of the bucket to work on the issues you felt were most damaging during your mini round. How about doing this every time you go the range? If you only think mechanics on the range, the game will feel foreign when you try to think target on the golf course. Start training yourself now. Thinking mechanics on the golf course is a game killer IMO.

Be patient with it. Changing your golf grip can be challenging (even frustrating). Alotta people just go back to the old (wrong) way because they're comfortable with it. Good Luck.

That blister location tells me you're gripping the club too much in the palm. This inhibits a good release which is so important if you want clubhead speed. The grip should run from the base of the left pointer to just below the base of the pinky (the exact location varies by instructor), then wrap your fingers around the grip - do not collapse the hand onto the grip and squeeze. Use light grip pressure as others mentioned.

Have you tried the towel drill? Take a small golf towel and place it under your leftunderarm. Use only enough "pressure" to hold the towel in place during your backswing and back into impact. This "pressure" required is very light. It's only enough to keep the upper arm connected to the side of your chest. Inside upper left arm connects to the left side of your chest/torso. The connected arm will ride up on your chest a bit during the backswing.

So it landed short of the green, bounced on, then rolled off? Choking up will not help. You'll land it even shorter and likely get caught up by whatever fronts the green. It sounds like your trajectory is too low for a 5 wood if you're getting too much roll. Do you agree? Where's your ball position? A ball or two ahead of center - at the bottom of your swing arc. Are you delofting the 5 wood? Can you hold greens with your irons or do you play for roll out? Do you let your hands and clubhead release through impact? Does the butt-end of the club point back at you just beyond impact (keeping your shoulders square or slightly open at impact)? If the butt end travels too far forward pointing more skyward past impact (shaft more vertical), you're holding off the release which inhibits a nice high trajectory. This can also happen if you sway into the ball. (Don't tee the ball too high with a 5 wood and don't play it too far forward - there's already a lot of loft built in).

Is it rolling off because it's coming in hot or because you're hitting the back of the green? I'm guessing you're hitting the back of the green? If so, try to choke down on the 5 wood. Practice it on the range first (comparing it to your normal 5 wood) to figure out how much to choke. Swinging "harder" on any club is a recipe for...a high score.

I've been a SBST putter for as long as I can remember. I've posted on threads in TST supporting that method. I read Pelz' Putting Bible about a year ago. I also listened to the argument and feedback given here in TST about the arc stroke taught by Utley. (I'm open minded). I suppose it was a combination of short game success using Stan Utley's short game methods that led me to Stan's book, The Art of Putting. I picked it up July 2nd and gave it a quick read. That night I picked up a heel shafted putter (not a face balanced one like my Odessey 2-Ball). I spent 90 minutes at Golfsmith and was starting to get the hang of the stroke thanks to the simplicity in which the book was written. The next day I spent 2 hours on the practice green. The first hour was really enlightening, making me realize how I was 'holding off' my wrists and arms during the SBST stroke (as many have said). Using the arc stroke, my forearms made a natural rotation open-to-square-to-closed. The second hour I started knocking them down. I referred back to the book several times (it easily fits in the bag). One attribute that is common to his putting and short game strokes is to keep your right arm against your right side on the backstroke and let it fold then simply straighten it on the forward stroke. I find this so easy to repeat. I played 3 rounds over the 4th of July weekend (re-reading the book several times). My putting was simply incredible compared to how I'd been over the past year or so. I averaged 31 putts, but it was the quality of the long putts (true tap ins) and the accuracy of the short ones that made me a believer. The first round included 3 birdie putts of 8, 12, and 15 feet. My 3 footers were going in dead center. The stroke is becoming engrained although I still think a little about the mechanics just prior to the stroke. I caught myself a few times stopping the rotation through impact which will leave the face open. If you follow his instruction to reduce tension and allow the rotation, the release will happen naturally and automatically. I practiced during the week and played this past Monday and Tuesday. Monday I shot an 83, uncharacteristically triple bogeying three par-5's (OUCH!!). My back-nine was even going into 18 where I tripled the par 5. The putting was solid throughout. Yesterday I shot my personal best at my home course (even par 72) thanks to an all around good game (5 birdies including a 15 and 20 footer). I 3-putted 15 and 17 (20 and 30 feet) so all was not perfect, but my confidence with the putter is through the roof right now thanks to Stan's book. Changing the most important aspect of golf - the putting stroke- after 20 years is risky business. It's only been 2 weeks but, so far, I consider myself to be an Utley convert. If you're a SBST putter, proceed at your own risk. If you're new to the game, get this book (and - my personal advice - switch to cross-handed which I was glad to see that he says is 'ok').

I've posted elsewhere in TST about reading Pelz' Short Game Bible and following his techniques the best I could. His short game philosphy seemed to make sense, especially the clock positions. The strokes seemed 'normal'. I'm a high single-digit handicapper, ranging from 7.1 to 8.5 over the past 6 months. My full swing distances are on the higher-than-average side of the scale. The Pelz shortgame approach seemed to work for me the past two years except for one recurring problem...I noticed most of my short shots were hitting near the heel side of the face with an occassional shank...mostly with the 7:30 swing. I tried to fix it, but could never figure it out (I even posted my issues in TST but I never quite fixed it although I believe I was consistently coming over the top). The shanks started to occur more often and they worked their way into my pitching stroke. I also noticed I had become a terrible bunker player which wasn't always the case. I was in trouble with no confidence whatsoever, so I did something about it... I bought Stan Utley's book in May. His techniques are unlike anything I had ever heard. I worked on learning the mechanics at the practice area for a few days then took it out on the course. My first 35 yard "pitch" was to 2 feet. Later that round, I chipped in a 25 footer from a slight depression just off the green. During the second round I made an awesome short-sided bunker shot. I decided to stick with it. Two months later I'm completely commited to Stan's techniques. I've received compliments from fellow club members and strangers about how good I'm chipping and pitching. (I let a few of them in on my secret). Most importantly, I'm making contact near the center of the face now. I've had zero shanks. I have confidence once again. I thought I would continue to use Pelz' clock system, and I suppose I am to some extent, but I find I'm relying more on feel when it's actually time to make the shot. Stan's book is a simple read. It may go against some of your beliefs, especially ball position, weight distribution at setup, and postion of the butt-end of the club throughout. The strokes are easy to learn, similar to each other, and repeatable IMO. I would almost guarantee you've never seen his bunker technique. I'd recommend this book for anyone who hasn't become proficient at the short game (although you've tried) whether you're new to the game or have been playing for years but just can't seem to improve that short game.

I tee off in about 3 hours for a club tourney then I'll watch Round 3 on DVR later. I'll be amongst the masses at Torrey Pines on Sunday.

Check your alignment first...Take your setup then lay your club down behind your heels. Are you aligned correctly or are you aimed right of your target?

Absolutely not. There would be too much damage. Many of today's greens are not as furry as they were in the pre-50's era and therefore harder to get under without scuffing the green. There'd also be more strokes taken on greens resulting in slow play.

Only the on-course commentators communicate with the caddy to get the club. That means we only hear it for the two featured groups in most cases. They may have additional spotters on the par 3's...not sure. Other than that, it's probably best guess from the booth. Who's gonna question it? PW sounds about right for the 17th

I know because my Team Play partner has one. We shared a cart for roughly 15 rounds this past Jan-Feb. The bags were loaded with rain gear, windshirts, etc. Why else would you want to have a bigger bag unless you planned on putting stuff in those pockets? It was tight with my SCB. It would have been frustrating if we both had C-130's. Another regular partner of mine carries a Callaway Staff Bag. It's also a tight squeeze when I'm sharing with him. That's my opinion and I'm throwing it out there. (Why do you feel the need to tell me that I shouldn't post an opinion here? You really need to keep that shit to yourself.) The OP said he didn't want a Cadillac size bag. If the C-130 is not a Cadillac sized bag, what would you classify it as? You, yourself said you don't access the side pockets. What's that all about? If he said he wanted a big cart bag I would have said the C-130. Of all the bags I looked at, it was superior for what I was gonna use it for. In the end, I decided against it because it would be too heavy to lug to and from the driving range. It also wouldn't fit on the floor of my crew cab. It would have to stay on the backseat. Finally, it wouldn't fit on a push cart. Have YOU even looked or used the SCB Deluxe??

I was looking for the same thing last year. I checked out several bags over a few weeks then bought the SMS C-130 because it was an awesome looking bag with plenty of cargo space, big isolated pocket, big ball pocket, and 14 dividers with an external putting tube. It sat in my family room for a month, with the tags on, because I kept thinking it was too big. Then I saw the SMS SCB Deluxe (Speed Cart Bag). It was a smaller version if the C-130 in every way. I loved it so much that I bought the SMS Speed Cart V1 a week later. No regrets on either. The SCB Deluxe works well on an electric cart too. Since the two center dividers are taller and the two outer dividers are lower (and the same height), you can rearrange your clubs to where the longer woods are always furthest from you whether you're in an electric cart or using a push cart. The C-130 is a tight squeeze on a cart, especially if there's another monster bag on board. Sure, two will fit, just don't plan on accessing the pockets during your round. I'd go with the mid-sized SCB Deluxe.

Try the Bridgestone B330 before you try any 'low spin' balls. Having a lot of spin is not bad. Learn how to use it to your advantage and learn how to take some off when you have to, especially on full wedge shots. Learn how to hit more club with shorter swings, i.e. a 90y 3/4 PW instead of a full SW.

Would you throw the shirts in the washer or get 'em dry cleaned so they hold up longer?

Yep, we can only offer opinions and such. It doesn't add to the entertainment value of the forum, but there are plenty of others who do that

I've read many articles from pros and teachers as far back as I can remember who advocated "swing thoughts" or "swing keys". These are not recollections of mechanical lessons or techniques. Trying to keep your mind completely clear during the swing over the course of a round seems like an impossibility. Do you all at least think of your target? To each, his own

No swing thoughts? That's as bad as negative swing thoughts. We should all have 1 or 2 (max) short, meaningful swing thoughts. This works in conjunction with the image of your target. I think one of Jack's swing thoughts early in a round was something like "Complete the backswing". These aren't specific mechanical thoughts. They're meant to remind you of a key.

If you're doing this in a fairway, chances are you're hitting on the very bottom of the sweetspot, or even a little thin - bottom of the face. If your fairways are extremely lush where the ball sits up, then you can get underneath it without taking a divot. Another thing to consider is that by sweeping a mid to short iron, you run the risk of making contact while the club is ascending...not good. Also, by sweeping instead of hitting down, you're losing a ton of spin. Remember, the bottom of your swing arc is not the center of your stance. It's forward of center. If you're swinging properly, the club will strike the ball with a descending blow, then continue travelling down into the turf for a brief period then back up resulting in clean ball-first contact then a nice divot.

Your partner is correct. Divots are an indication your swing is properly bottoming out past the ball. The exception is the long irons where you sweep them.

Right now, I'd use... Driver 4iron 8iron Gap wedge Putter I have a 5-club tourney coming up later in the year. We'll see if this same config makes it in the bag.

I prefer TST over GolfWRX for general golf talk. If I want equipment-specific information I use GolfWRX.