***Official Bushwood Country Club Lounge***

[smittysbar]

Okay, here is a place for the Golfers to talk about tournaments, clubs, swing help or thoughts.

Today is the Players Championship, which I think ought to be the 5th Major. Largest pot in the PGA. The daunting 17th, which seems to bring excitement every year. At least we will get to see Sergio blow up yet again.

I am ready to see some water balls!

[GordonGekko]

Originally Posted by seaofred

I went through two different Taylormade drivers last year. First I bought the RBZ 1st gen. Played maybe 10 rounds of golf with it, and then the head broke off the shaft right where the shaft enters the head. Then I got the RBZ Stage 2. My 2nd tee shot with it, the exact same thing. So I then went with the Cobra AMP Cell driver and absolutely love it.

I've had two Callaway drivers pretty much split in half parallel to the head, most probably due to the composite tech they put into them.

[Prison Bitch]

Originally Posted by GordonGekko

I just can't justify paying $400 for a driver, this aint the Biggest Big Bertha days.

I buy a driver every 2-3 years and I am always 2-3 years behind on models. I play Callaway and bought one on closeout last year for $119. It was $349 new. I don't have any idea why average golfers can't wait 2 years and clean house.


I also have tons of awesome golf clothing that I buy on closeouts, $19 each for great shirts and pants. I look at the tags and wonder: "$75 for a new Nike shirt? $85 for a pair of nice slacks? Who the hell is buying this stuff at retail??" Not me. $19.

[philfree]

Yeah golf equipment is crazy expensive if you want to stay up with technology. I've never been that guy who gets a new driver every year or even more. Hence the 15+ year old Mizuno's. I'm trying to change my old fashioned ways though. I had a Super Stroke grip put on a putter the other day. That's a little change

Every few years I will purchase a Golf Instruction DVD though. I just bought Butch Harmon's 'About Golf' and I also picked up the Joey D Golf Fitness work out DVD. I'm liking the Joey D video and some of the drills/exercises. Working on my turn, trying to add some width to my swing and some strength for balance.

The Butch Harmon video is O.k. with good fundamentals and then he has some of his pupils he's teaching. Pros as well as some Ams.

Fun stuff!

[Prison Bitch]

Phil's short game video is outstanding. Essentially he says to keep your wrists locked ("hinge and hold") as you chip or pitch, since doing so prevents the head from coming up and skulling the ball. This simple advice has made shots around the green almost fool proof.

['Hamas' Jenkins]

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

Phil's short game video is outstanding. Essentially he says to keep your wrists locked ("hinge and hold") as you chip or pitch, since doing so prevents the head from coming up and skulling the ball. This simple advice has made shots around the green almost fool proof.

It's difficult to actually do that on really short shots. If you notice Phil's own technique, he doesn't actually use H&H that often.

['Hamas' Jenkins]

Originally Posted by GordonGekko

I've had two Callaway drivers pretty much split in half parallel to the head, most probably due to the composite tech they put into them.

The carbon fiber crown is epoxied to the titanium face right at that junction. Hundreds of people have had that problem. It's one of the reasons why I would never reshaft a stick and glue FT-9 or Razr head.

Regarding equipment: my irons are 24 years old. The problem is that Ping doesn't and won't make them anymore, so they become harder and harder to find in good condition. The one benefit is that cast Pings are almost indestructible.

I've only ever bought one club at new retail price: a Ping G2 Driver. I had it in my bag for almost five years.

The difference between drivers of the last 7-8 years is pretty miniscule. Most of the benefit will come from properly matching a shaft and finding the right loft for ideal launch conditions.

[WilliamTheIrish]

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

It's pretty hard to really snap hook a wedge. You're probably pull-hooking them, which is different. There are four basic ways you can strike a ball

The clubhead's path influences initial direction: Outside in will start left; inside out will start right. The face angle determines the movement of the ball: A shut face will draw the ball, and an open face will cut it.

A combination of these factors influences ball flight.

Inside path with an open face=push slice.
Outside path with an open face=pull slice (by far the most common ball flight).
Outside path with a shut face=pull hook
Inside path with a shut face=push hook.

The degree to which you rotate your forearms will influence the amount of sidespin on the ball. If you snap your right arm fiercely over your left, you get a lot more hook spin. If you hold the angle off, it will cut.

If you are really snap hooking what is happening is you are coming from the inside and rolling your arms over (shaking hands with the target) really fast.

Best fix for that is to feel like you are hitting shots with your legs. It will sync your upper and lower halves.

This may sound kind of crazy, but bear with me. I play left handed. Picked up the game a decade ago. Had always played with a baseball grip, not the interlocked grip.
Two seasons ago, at the behest of my wife's grandfather (a great guy and lifetime golf pro), I went with the interlocking grip. I knew it would be difficult and it resulted in some of the worst shots I've ever hit. I knew there would be a rough patch but after two full seasons I was worse than ever. Ex: I normally hit my 7i a very high and steady 150yds. After two years of interlocking it dropped to 135.

This season, I went back to the baseball grip and have concentrated on hitting down, rather than the usual "picking" of the ball. I'm now hitting my 7i back to 150 but get into these terrible pulls that I can't shake during the round.

It hasn't been warm enough to go to the range yet to get some instruction, but that's on my list of things to do.

Anyway, that's my story. I appreciate the suggestions and will keep them in mind. Any other suggestions would be welcome.

[Prison Bitch]

Every pull or slice is caused at connection in my experience. Your clubhead and your turn should be synced. I.e., if your arms come through before your body you will pull. If your arms come in after your body you will slice or fade. If you are pulling then slow down your swing and allow your arms to come thru the zone a bit later.

[GordonGekko]

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

The carbon fiber crown is epoxied to the titanium face right at that junction. Hundreds of people have had that problem. It's one of the reasons why I would never reshaft a stick and glue FT-9 or Razr head.

Yeah that carbon fiber crown just falls apart, literally. Looks like a really cheaply made club when it happens. Luckily the two I had I got for around $30 each on Ebay. I feel for the people that spend upwards of a couple hundred for these clubs. Ripoff.

[GordonGekko]

Originally Posted by WilliamTheIrish

This season, I went back to the baseball grip and have concentrated on hitting down, rather than the usual "picking" of the ball. I'm now hitting my 7i back to 150 but get into these terrible pulls that I can't shake during the round.

It hasn't been warm enough to go to the range yet to get some instruction, but that's on my list of things to do...

Hitting down on the ball is essential to good iron play, absolutely essential and it is one of my biggest focuses as well. I use the vardon grip although I used interlock for a few years but it was too weak a grip for me. Never tried the ten finger grip. My model for my swing is Trevino and Trevino took gaping chasm massive divots so I know hitting down on the ball is crucial to good iron play.

And sorry the weather has been crap for you. It's getting near 80 here today and I am going to hit up the range after work!

['Hamas' Jenkins]

Originally Posted by WilliamTheIrish

This may sound kind of crazy, but bear with me. I play left handed. Picked up the game a decade ago. Had always played with a baseball grip, not the interlocked grip.
Two seasons ago, at the behest of my wife's grandfather (a great guy and lifetime golf pro), I went with the interlocking grip. I knew it would be difficult and it resulted in some of the worst shots I've ever hit. I knew there would be a rough patch but after two full seasons I was worse than ever. Ex: I normally hit my 7i a very high and steady 150yds. After two years of interlocking it dropped to 135.

This season, I went back to the baseball grip and have concentrated on hitting down, rather than the usual "picking" of the ball. I'm now hitting my 7i back to 150 but get into these terrible pulls that I can't shake during the round.

It hasn't been warm enough to go to the range yet to get some instruction, but that's on my list of things to do.

Anyway, that's my story. I appreciate the suggestions and will keep them in mind. Any other suggestions would be welcome.

Two things:

1) The baseball grip will tend to exacerbate a hook, because your dominant hand takes over the swing.

2) Attempts to hit down on the ball are well founded, but in my experience often lead to golfers trying to hit from the top, thus coming over the top. With a baseball grip and a steep downswing you're asking to hit pull hooks.

['Hamas' Jenkins]

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

Every pull or slice is caused at connection in my experience. Your clubhead and your turn should be synced. I.e., if your arms come through before your body you will pull. If your arms come in after your body you will slice or fade. If you are pulling then slow down your swing and allow your arms to come thru the zone a bit later.

If you hit the ball with your body first, it is literally impossible to come over the top. You can, however, come too far from the inside and come in way under plane, leading to big push-cuts if you don't release the club.

[Braincase]

From the dues/fees department. I went with "The Club", 35 bucks a month with access to some decent courses, including Alvamar, for an additional 20 bucks when I play. Found out that Alvamar is offering a junior golf special - from April 1 through the end August, for players 18 and under, unlimited golf on the public side for $100. TOTAL. Both my girls lettered last year, and my son will be able to play on Alvamar's junior team.

I'll always love Lawrence Country Club, but forking out $500 a month isn't prioritized. This is a hella solution right now.

[OnTheWarpath15]

Dammit.

This is the third time I've had the chance to see Tiger in person, and something gets in the way.

Had tickets to the WCG at Bellerive in 2001 - the event was cancelled due to 9/11.

Went to the BMW championship in 2008 - he missed due to injury.

Have tickets to the Masters next week, and he just had back surgery.

Suck it, Trebek.

[GordonGekko]

Originally Posted by OnTheWarpath58

Dammit.

This is the third time I've had the chance to see Tiger in person, and something gets in the way.

Had tickets to the WCG at Bellerive in 2001 - the event was cancelled due to 9/11.

Went to the BMW championship in 2008 - he missed due to injury.

Have tickets to the Masters next week, and he just had back surgery.

Suck it, Trebek.

I saw him at the PGA Championship 2000 at Valhalla on a Saturday. Literally just caught a glimpse of him as he was walking off the practice putting green and was headed for the first tee. There were so many people I said eff following him and went out to find other players. Watched Mickelson for a long time.