bmartin461

Are you making this conclusion from one 9-hole round or is this a recent trend? I think you have received some good advice on how to evaluate your putting from @RandallT and @alleztom.

So to be clear, you are saying you have a solid long game and don't want to practice on what you think is costing you strokes then you ask if putting can be improved or if it is just a mystery and if it's not a mystery you still won't practice it? Ok, I got it.....

Ok, so you said you were left with tap-ins, so you speed was not off, did you miss all to the right, all short, all left?

Enough said.

Just playing the role of supporter of technology for now, some of the huge value the internet of things can bring is when you can logically tie things together to provide either more efficiency or more convenience or more safety. Using technology called IFTTT (IF This Than That) you can do all sorts of things. For example, the second my daughter connects her iPad to our home WiFi I get a ping, it logs it into a Google Spreadsheet. I can also have it setup to text me my Nest thermostat goes above or below a certain temperature. It's endless really, if garage door is up and you detect no one is home, close it, turn off the sprinklers if the chance of rain > 70%, when I reach home, turn off cellular and connect to the home wifi and prioritize my device. Ahhh, I love technology.

Fair enough, maybe 10 years is aggressive, how about 2-1 on "in our lifetime"? I selfishly wanted to just document this prediction somewhere as years ago I predicted they would improve technology so much that you would be able to walk into a grocery store, pick what you want and walk out without having to check out. Damn you AMAZON! Of course, now when I tell people of that prediction no one believes me. LOL. I would think each appliance has a fingerprint, it would be just knowing what it was. How about this for crazy: Smart meters that monitor electricity usage in homes in parts of Germany leak data that could reveal what programs are being watched on the digital TV, researchers there say. The researchers tested smart meters made by German company Discovergy and found that someone with network sniffing skills and equipment could use a "man in the middle" attack to eavesdrop on data related to power use in the home. The smart meters record high-resolution energy consumption of appliances every two seconds and transmit it to the server at the utility company over the Internet. The system gives utilities up-to-date information on power usage and allows customers to use a Web browser to get detailed data and statistics that can help them track usage and expenses. The data includes the amount of electricity used and the type of appliances used, but also granular information based on the lighting display of the digital TV, according to the researchers. The household electrical usage profile reveals content displayed on a cathode ray tube (CRT), a plasma display TV, or a liquid crystal display (LCD) TV set with dynamic backlighting, the paper says. The lighting patterns, basically the amount of light and dark emitted on the display for individual frames, is unique for each TV program and movie. Someone would have to already know the light pattern "fingerprint" of the specific content to compare with samples coming from the smart meters at the homes to be able to look for a match to recognized content. This technique of matching the light patterns could be used to determine what channels are being watched on TV and what TV programs, DVDs, or even downloaded videos are being viewed, said Dennis Loehr, a researcher at Muenster University of Applied Sciences who is getting a doctorate degree at Ruhr Universitat Bochum.

I was talking to a guy who's company supplies the meters for residential electrical utilities. He told me every one of them transmits data over the lines and every 100th one or so is slightly thicker as it's the one that transmits the data wirelessly to get around the transformers. All this data is MASSIVE and untapped at this point. He said they can detect what brand your refrigerator is, know it has a faulty part and identify the part to order. He also said they can detect when a tree is causing resistance on the power lines due to growing too close etc. Crazy stuff for sure. But to answer the original question, no, not I don't. I think in less than 10 years no one will need own a car, that autonomous cars will become so prevalent and efficient that you would simply walk outside and you would have a ride waiting and you would go where you need to go and the car would then leave. I also think an eye implant/contact will replace the smartphone.

Product Name: Half-Cup Putting Aid Product Type: Putting Training Aid Product Website/URL: http://halfcupputting.com/ Cost: $12.99 Ratings (out of 5): Quality: 4 Value: 5 Effectiveness: 5 Durability: 3 Aesthetic Appeal: 4 My Member Review Pros: Color: At first I thought the yellow was not good, but it does help you focus on the opening and it is something you would notice before leaving the green, therefore less likely to leave it behind. Weight: It's plastic and very light, you can keep it in your bag and you would not notice it was in there, handy to have on hand when warming up. Design: Fit perfectly on the practice green holes, very subtle so it did not bring any attention from other golfers Cons: Usability: Having to remove it to get the balls out is a small hassle, but not terrible. Durability: I could see this thing breaking pretty easily if it was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Packaging: Very basic packaging and instructions, I think it could benefit from having some more ways to use it listed (e.g. using it on carpet, using it for sloping putts). Versatility: Really a one trick pony, but if that is what you need to work on, it's perfect. Review For me, a 5 foot putt is not automatic and one of the areas of my game where I give away strokes, especially in competition. I knew this was a weakness of mine so I was very interested in this product for that reason. I'll admit at first I didn't get it and I didn't see how I would benefit from it once I got it. I followed the limited instructions which entailed 15 putts from 5 feet with the aid installed and 15 from 3 feet, then removing it and doing the same number of putts. For me I did 5 at a time so I could account for how many I made at once under both situations. What I found was my aim was slightly off and unless I really focused on my mechanics I would miss. Once I started to concentrate on the setup and a slight shaft lean, I would make 3 out of 5 with it installed. I then did the same with it out and made all the putts from both distances. Conclusion: I like that I can keep it in my bag and use it either before a round to build confidence or as part of my practice session to hone my short putting skills. I think the Half-Cup Putting Aid is good investment in shaving a few strokes lost on missed short putts.

The JPX-900 Tour line has a 3-iron. http://www.mizunousa.com/Golf/Products/JPX-900-TOUR-3-PW-STEEL-RH

Well, if you need someone to test it out as well, let me know. LOL

It must be a software setting as this model does not come with the smart key, it does say it is USGA conforming.

I have to say to my West Coast nominees: 1. I'm jealous, what an amazing opportunity 2. Don't disappoint! 3. Let me know if you need a caddie.....

For me, it would be just a few basic things: 1. Pace of play - no one in front and no one pressuring from behind. Pace of play for me is also not being partnered with slow players. 2. Course - I truly appreciate a nice course, both in how well it's maintained and how it is designed 3. Friends - With someone who takes the game seriously but still enjoys having fun in the process See? Basic.

Got mine and the bonus markers, very cool! Brad

What's interesting is I had this same idea after reading an article on line about a woman who challenged herself to 10 push-ups a day for 30 days. So I started last Wednesday doing 50 (straight) each day in addition to anything else I had planned. Sometimes I get them out of the way in the morning but usually it's at night after the kids are in bed. I did find that doing them in the morning is harder for some reason. Tomorrow will be one week in.... Brad

You can always strive for more, how about the duodecuple bogey? http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/golf/ustour/8453149/Kevin-Na-hits-duodecuple-bogey-shot-by-shot-break-down-of-Americans-16-at-Valero-Texas-Open-par-four-ninth.html

Sent!

Thanks Erik, no worries.

Payment sent. Thanks!

@Golfingdad & @DaveP043 thanks for the input, I think I'll pack the clubs and then look around for any deals at one of the recommended courses in the area.

Thanks for posting. I'll be down there with the family at the sister Marriott property, Desert Springs over New Years. Since there are two course on that property I might just stay there to play rather than drive to Shadow Ridge. I did notice the rack rate is high this time of year. Brad

All good stuff, thank for sharing.

Thanks @Patch, can you elaborate on how you go about your short game accuracy practice? I've been struggling with finding something that translates to improving the on course performance. Part of the problem is the places I practice at don't have great short game areas. Brad

I would recommend this exercise for anyone who is struggling to make improvements to their game even with moderate level of practice time. For many years I would, on average, go to the local driving range 1-2 times per week to practice, mainly full swing, but I would also do short game and putting. I always struggled with the specific though, I would not walk in there with a game plan. Part of it was it was a nice break from the 11 hour day in the office, so not really a total loss. For the last 6 weeks I have not been able to practice, I have had travel plus I hurt my back which limited me for a few weeks. I was able to get out to play 2-3 times since this long practice absence and you know what? Spoiler here, my game was the same if not just a little better. I made a very conscience decision to play my shot shape and I no longer try to draw my driver, I play the fade and it has worked out great. I have actually had a drop in my index. What this also tells me is I was focusing on the exact wrong things that are preventing me from getting down to my goal of a 10-12 HC. It is now painfully obvious my short game needs work, I rarely chip it close enough to have a makeable putt. I think I putt pretty well, but I could also benefit with more practice here as well. I have found this to be an absolute eye-opener and such a profound confirmation of what I have read on this forum from the likes of @iacas and others regarding HOW to practice. I know if I kept going like I was I would not have ever believed it fully. My hope is that this might help someone else have the same experience. Regards, Brad