I've had to put my driver away. I can't figure out why but when I swing it with a ball tee'd up, everything feels all wrong. I have NO clue where the balls gonna go...left, right, skyball, wormburner..its very bad. Sticking to hybrids and 3 woods for the time being..working well.
Irons are pretty smooth right now. Throwing darts on par 3's and getting some really nice approach shots from all distances on par 4's. Now if only I could sucker some of my friends for money!
For me - not as consistent as last year as my handicap has gone up almost a full stroke since the closeout of fall. BUT - I am having more fun and hitting it a ton - much more free with my stroke and While my scores have increased, I am scoring more birdies (even had an eagle on Saturday). Also, finally winning some money after taking a smackdown for most of last year in my regular thrusday game.
In theory, there is no difference between theory and practice; In practice, there is.
The choices we make today, affect the choices we can make tomorrow.
I'm having trouble squaring the clubface. Not playing enough to fix it.
If you're throwing darts, I'm taking the shotgun approach. I just spray it all around.
Joanne Herring: Why is Congress saying one thing and doing another?
Charlie Wilson: Well, tradition mostly
-Charlie Wilson's War
shotguns can kill, tooOriginally Posted by Dwight Schrute
Started to play a little much the past week and a half and kinda got a little lazy with all my swings, overswinging some, not focusing. Did finally hit my driver again and at least I made good contact 90% of the time and the swing didn't feel silly. Still not confident with it, though.
Well, I have a new toy!
I bought the new Cleveland Launcher DST driver. The one that is under 300 grams and advertises the "ultra-light" technology. There is no question that this is NOT hype. I probably gained 11 yards or so. However, being that the shaft is 3/4 inch longer, I'm working on rolling my hands and finsihing big - otherwise I'm losing it right. However, I love the club and picked up the 3 wood and 3 hybrid to go with it.
The Launcher features Cleveland’s Sub 300g Technology, which makes it one of the lightest drivers in golf. The overall club weight is below 300 grams, which is 25 grams lighter than standard drivers. They achieve this in part by using a lighter grip and a new Mitsubishi Diamana Red shaft that weighs only 47 grams. This allows the shaft to be lengthened to 45.75″ for more swing speed and the overall weight allows golfers to swing it faster for more distance. Cleveland’s claims of increased distance are from 3 to 10 yards. The DST uses variable face thickness to create a larger C.O.R. on off center hits, so that they fly further. A lower and deeper center of gravity also helps get the ball in the air faster with higher MOI for straighter drives.
The Launcher DST drivers are very solid, long, and classic looking. Cleveland Golf has managed to pack a lot of technology into a club that doesn’t look very technologically advanced. With clean lines and paint job and the great shaft options available, Cleveland has a big winner on their hands with the Launcher DST. Available now with prices in the $299 range, this is the best driver deal I’ve come across so far this year. If you haven’t hit a Cleveland driver in a while, give this one a try. You won’t be disappointed.
But for me the real news is putting. This has NEVER been my strong suit, and for the record, yes it's true, our semi-annual event "The Spastic Monkey Invitational" was so named in 2008 in honor of my putting (in)ability. But so far this year I've frequently just gone totally unconscious. We played in a scramble last Tuesday and went 7 under in 7 holes, mainly due to putting. If someone else showed me a reasonable line - I made the putt. Which is good, because we used damned few of my other shots.
Last edited by UK78ALUM; 05-20-2010 at 01:04 PM.
Grammar: It's the difference between "feeling you're nuts" and "feeling your nuts".
Dave
I got a new rife putter this year and its possibly the most favorite club I've ever purchased. Now I wanna sit on greens and keep hitting putts..it feels that good.
John,
Try over-compensating until it comes back to you. Finish big with your right arm (I assume you're right handed) WAY up under your chin. Then when you get back in the groove you can relax that a little.
Grammar: It's the difference between "feeling you're nuts" and "feeling your nuts".
Dave
I've still yet to be able to hit it consistently with a driver. If I'm playing well that day, I'll use it. But, if my buddy and I are just having a friendly match for beers after the round, and it's pretty tight, I'm either going with my 3 iron or my 3 wood.shotguns can kill, too
Started to play a little much the past week and a half and kinda got a little lazy with all my swings, overswinging some, not focusing. Did finally hit my driver again and at least I made good contact 90% of the time and the swing didn't feel silly. Still not confident with it, though.
Joanne Herring: Why is Congress saying one thing and doing another?
Charlie Wilson: Well, tradition mostly
-Charlie Wilson's War
Super Moderator
I've been hitting my driver really well lately.
RAM Golf $40 (discount) driver - 270 - Straight as of late.
If I'm not hitting it so straight than I exchange it for my Titleist 1 iron.
I can get 250 fairly consistently with it and it's always straight.
Will bag the driver if I'm spraying it while playing a course that's tight and littered with homes.
Lob wedge as of late is a killer. Not getting the weight on the front foot and burying the club behind the ball. Essentially two strokes for the price of one on the short game.
Last edited by surveyor; 05-21-2010 at 10:35 PM.
I had a damn good run on Wall Street
With my high fashion model wife
I woke up dry beneath the African sky
Just me and my Swiss Army knife
.
absolutely deflating when you've hit a perfect tee shot or second shot(par 5) and get your lob wedge in hand and then proceed to chunk it. Chalk it up to trying too hard.
I want to follow up on my own posting regarding the new Cleveland DSTs..
The driver and 3 wood are great clubs, but this DST hybrid is the easiest to hit, longest and sweetest hybrid I have ever owned. And I've had most of them - Cobra, Titleist, Mizuno, Cleveland Hi Bore and Taylor Made that I can think of offhand.
In fact, these three clubs together are probably the best matched and best suited for my swing that I have ever had.
Big thumbs up to Cleveland for these!
Grammar: It's the difference between "feeling you're nuts" and "feeling your nuts".
Dave
One of the things that's tough playing golf is that I don't understand what people are saying with things like that. I still think you should take me golfing one day, and pay for it, I'm a communist and all. I'll make sure we have fun. I'm good at fun.
means most amateurs will usually hold off their hands and not get the clubface square..so to compensate and make sure you're squaring the clubface..the only way you won't feel completely ridiculous and be able to get your arm up to your chin is to turn your hands over..thereby squaring and then closing the clubface.One of the things that's tough playing golf is that I don't understand what people are saying with things like that. I still think you should take me golfing one day, and pay for it, I'm a communist and all. I'll make sure we have fun. I'm good at fun.
I saw a guy hit in the 70s with a real ratty set of cheap clubs. Does spending all the money on the latest driver or putter make a golfer better, or does it give the player a confidence boost because he thinks he has an advantage?
depends a lot on what kind of game a player plays and also what particular club we're talking about buying.
I am of the belief that any modern driver is not gonna have a lot of difference in them. I use an R5 from what..4 or 5 years ago now? Just because its an 8.5 and they are hard to find. I still hit with and outhit a lot of guys who use brand spankin new drivers and so on.
Wedges...having new wedges DEFINITELY makes a difference. I think putters do, as well. Go from a "cheap" putter to a well made putter and you can feel a huge difference. Irons...ehh, if you are comfortable with a set and as long as they are still in good playing condition..wear em out!
For most weekend hackers (like myself), you can't tell a difference between cheap irons and $1000 Titleists.
Drivers, to me can make a world of difference. For whatever reason, I can hit certain types better than others. I can't hit Titleist or Callaway drivers to save my life. But give me a Taylormade or Cleveland and my driving accuracy goes from about 12% to 50 or 60% just because of the club. Couldn't tell you why, however.
I'm of the opinion that wedges can become worn out. I try to replace mine every few years.
An expensive putter will give you a smoother putting stroke - but it can't read the greens and help you judge the speed any better.
Joanne Herring: Why is Congress saying one thing and doing another?
Charlie Wilson: Well, tradition mostly
-Charlie Wilson's War
Super Moderator
I agree for the most part.
My putter is by far the most expensive club in my bag, followed by my lob wedge.
My irons (3-SW) I built myself several years ago of components purchased from Goldsmith - cost per iron, about $16.
My Titleist 1 iron I bought on eBay for $36 and my RAM golf driver I purchased a few years ago on clearance for $40.
I can drive the ball just as straight and far as folks I've played with using $300+ drivers.
A couple of close friends I play with are 6-7 handicappers. One plays with knock-off irons and driver that are a fraction of the real gear they copy. The other uses HB irons and HB persimmon wood driver and 3 wood.
He gets his driver around 240-250, but is rarely ever in the rough.
I had a damn good run on Wall Street
With my high fashion model wife
I woke up dry beneath the African sky
Just me and my Swiss Army knife
.
Well, to me the easiest way to answer this question is to consider that Jack and Arnie had most of their wins with persimmon woods and blade irons.
Now imagine if (back then) those two had had the equipment available to Tiger and Phil today. Their names would be found even more often in the record books. I am absolutely convinced of that.
For the current day amateur, I believe in two absolutes: (1) You can't buy a game. You can buy improvements, but the underlying game still has to be there first. So, your money would be better spent on lessons than on a driver whose face is artificially closed to correct for the slice inducing swing. (2) The improvements come at each end of the spectrum, not the middle. Give a 20 handicapper a more forgiving driver with Graffaloy Blue shaft and he'll see immediate improvement. Give a 5 handicapper a set of actual fitted clubs, specifically built for him, and he'll drop a couple of strokes a round, especially with the short irons. But in between those two extremes, it's a matter tempo, replicating your set up, stance, swing, etc., every time, and practice.
I'll try to put all this together tomorrow. The second part of my 60th birthday party is tomorrow afternoon. The guys in my regular foursome are taking me to Valhalla. I'm thinking that breaking 100 may be a good round
Last edited by UK78ALUM; 06-07-2010 at 08:36 AM.
Grammar: It's the difference between "feeling you're nuts" and "feeling your nuts".
Dave
Had a friend who played Valhalla's Ryder Cup layout and I think he shot 90 and he's a scratch golfer on "amateur" courses.
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