Having trouble with your golf game?

[Stupid Fitz]

Been hitting the ball a lot better lately. Worried its just the beginning of the season weirdness where everything is going right and then crashes. Just my second year really playing so i'm def playing catch up, but I'm starting to figure out why crap is happening which I think is progress. I still struggle with the either or issue. I'm either hitting the driver pretty well and not making great contact with the irons, or I'm doing ok with the irons and I may as well not even try using my driver. Right now i'm hitting the driver the best I ever have. Long irons are the struggle. I do ok with wedge through 7-8. First lesson of the year next week so I'm hoping to get a couple things ironed out with my hands. That is where I feel i'm off on the irons. Some days i'm very uncomfortable especially with my right hand and those are the days things go bad.

Have you tried playing 3w off the tee? I do that sometimes, because my driver game is complete crap.

I do sometimes, but honestly, if i'm hitting my 3w ok, i'm prob hitting my driver ok. Again, its really an either or issue with my swing/hand positions. I just got back from the range a bit ago and I was nailing the driver, but just not making good contact with any irons outside of my wedge. I grabbed my 3w and even hit that really well off the freaking mat, which rarely happens.  I've sort of figured a couple things out that have helped me a bit, but i'm really curious as to what my guy says next week. He's pretty good with, "yeah, that's a completely mumped way of doing that, but, it seems to be working for you so lets run with it".

[Spracne]

Been hitting the ball a lot better lately. Worried its just the beginning of the season weirdness where everything is going right and then crashes. Just my second year really playing so i'm def playing catch up, but I'm starting to figure out why crap is happening which I think is progress. I still struggle with the either or issue. I'm either hitting the driver pretty well and not making great contact with the irons, or I'm doing ok with the irons and I may as well not even try using my driver. Right now i'm hitting the driver the best I ever have. Long irons are the struggle. I do ok with wedge through 7-8. First lesson of the year next week so I'm hoping to get a couple things ironed out with my hands. That is where I feel i'm off on the irons. Some days i'm very uncomfortable especially with my right hand and those are the days things go bad.

Have you tried playing 3w off the tee? I do that sometimes, because my driver game is complete crap.

I do sometimes, but honestly, if i'm hitting my 3w ok, i'm prob hitting my driver ok. Again, its really an either or issue with my swing/hand positions. I just got back from the range a bit ago and I was nailing the driver, but just not making good contact with any irons outside of my wedge. I grabbed my 3w and even hit that really well off the freaking mat, which rarely happens.  I've sort of figured a couple things out that have helped me a bit, but i'm really curious as to what my guy says next week. He's pretty good with, "yeah, that's a completely mumped way of doing that, but, it seems to be working for you so lets run with it".

I have this Ping driver that I've just never been able to hit, outside of a few lucky swings. I think a fitting might help, and I happen to live right above a club fitting shop (but don't want to spend the bread). My 3w game, however, is on point. Same with wedges and irons (understanding that I'm, at best, a mediocre golfer). Have you ever had a club fitting?

[Stupid Fitz]

Been hitting the ball a lot better lately. Worried its just the beginning of the season weirdness where everything is going right and then crashes. Just my second year really playing so i'm def playing catch up, but I'm starting to figure out why crap is happening which I think is progress. I still struggle with the either or issue. I'm either hitting the driver pretty well and not making great contact with the irons, or I'm doing ok with the irons and I may as well not even try using my driver. Right now i'm hitting the driver the best I ever have. Long irons are the struggle. I do ok with wedge through 7-8. First lesson of the year next week so I'm hoping to get a couple things ironed out with my hands. That is where I feel i'm off on the irons. Some days i'm very uncomfortable especially with my right hand and those are the days things go bad.

Have you tried playing 3w off the tee? I do that sometimes, because my driver game is complete crap.

I do sometimes, but honestly, if i'm hitting my 3w ok, i'm prob hitting my driver ok. Again, its really an either or issue with my swing/hand positions. I just got back from the range a bit ago and I was nailing the driver, but just not making good contact with any irons outside of my wedge. I grabbed my 3w and even hit that really well off the freaking mat, which rarely happens.  I've sort of figured a couple things out that have helped me a bit, but i'm really curious as to what my guy says next week. He's pretty good with, "yeah, that's a completely mumped way of doing that, but, it seems to be working for you so lets run with it".

I have this Ping driver that I've just never been able to hit, outside of a few lucky swings. I think a fitting might help, and I happen to live right above a club fitting shop (but don't want to spend the bread). My 3w game, however, is on point. Same with wedges and irons (understanding that I'm, at best, a mediocre golfer). Have you ever had a club fitting?

No, i'm not at that point yet. Maybe some day. Everyone i've talked to said it would be pointless to do/pay for a fitting so early on. Once I get my swing repeatable enough, I may do it, but for now I just bought some Cobra Irons at Dicks and a driver that was rated for beginners. I'm coming along though. Last year was my first year of playing consistently and it was really up and down as expected. I think/hope I hit a point fairly recently where I kind of know enough that I can self correct a bit. That obviously helps on the range so I just need more swings so I can be better on the course. Lessons start this week so it will be interesting to see what he says and has me do. I'm actually a little worried its going to put a bunch of new stuff in my head and mess up the progress I have had the last couple of months.

[BIG APPLE CAT]

It's a fine line... Definitely easy to get information overload to a point where you're just twisting yourself in knots. I admire how bubba Watson has purportedly never taken a formal lesson, but he's also an exceptional talent. If you don't fully understand the mechanics it can be very valuable to have someone who does say "hey quit moving your head around so much" or w/e and like bam game changer that just fixed a bunch of your issues

[Stupid Fitz]

It's a fine line... Definitely easy to get information overload to a point where you're just twisting yourself in knots. I admire how bubba Watson has purportedly never taken a formal lesson, but he's also an exceptional talent. If you don't fully understand the mechanics it can be very valuable to have someone who does say "hey quit moving your head around so much" or w/e and like bam game changer that just fixed a bunch of your issues

Golf is very weird. Its really the only sport I've tried where I really really struggled. I'm def shitty at other sports, but I could always at least be average. When I first just started going out there, I obviously sucked ass, but started getting a bit better on my own just by playing. Then I took some lessons and learned some things and got a bit better. Then, out of rough ridin' nowhere, I couldn't even hit the ball 30 feet. Just over and over I would be slicing, chunking, etc. It just happened and it lasted for like a month or more. That is the hardest part mentally for me. I feel like I'm doing the same thing I did before, but the results are crap and I have no idea why. As I said above, I hope i'm a bit past that as I've kind of figured out that if the ball does this, I probably did that and can adjust a bit. Learning to play golf past 40 is not recommended. I'm making my kids play so they at least learn the basics early.

[ben ji]

It's a fine line... Definitely easy to get information overload to a point where you're just twisting yourself in knots. I admire how bubba Watson has purportedly never taken a formal lesson, but he's also an exceptional talent. If you don't fully understand the mechanics it can be very valuable to have someone who does say "hey quit moving your head around so much" or w/e and like bam game changer that just fixed a bunch of your issues

Golf is very weird. Its really the only sport I've tried where I really really struggled. I'm def shitty at other sports, but I could always at least be average. When I first just started going out there, I obviously sucked ass, but started getting a bit better on my own just by playing. Then I took some lessons and learned some things and got a bit better. Then, out of rough ridin' nowhere, I couldn't even hit the ball 30 feet. Just over and over I would be slicing, chunking, etc. It just happened and it lasted for like a month or more. That is the hardest part mentally for me. I feel like I'm doing the same thing I did before, but the results are crap and I have no idea why. As I said above, I hope i'm a bit past that as I've kind of figured out that if the ball does this, I probably did that and can adjust a bit. Learning to play golf past 40 is not recommended. I'm making my kids play so they at least learn the basics early.

I wish I would of learned to play as a kid but my dad never played so I ended up taking a 1 credit hr golf class at ole ksu and had a buddy who worked at Colbert hills who would let us play the par 3 for free. That class was the only instruction I've ever had and my grip is pretty messed up now from figuring out what works for me. Ended up shooting an 88 at Hodge Park in Nkc last weekend so I'm happy with that.

About 4 years ago I went through a stretch like you were talking about where I just couldn't hit a ball, literally went home after losing 10+ balls on 7 holes on a 9 hole round after work.

Stopped playing for about a month and I was back to normal.

[Stupid Fitz]

It's a fine line... Definitely easy to get information overload to a point where you're just twisting yourself in knots. I admire how bubba Watson has purportedly never taken a formal lesson, but he's also an exceptional talent. If you don't fully understand the mechanics it can be very valuable to have someone who does say "hey quit moving your head around so much" or w/e and like bam game changer that just fixed a bunch of your issues

Golf is very weird. Its really the only sport I've tried where I really really struggled. I'm def shitty at other sports, but I could always at least be average. When I first just started going out there, I obviously sucked ass, but started getting a bit better on my own just by playing. Then I took some lessons and learned some things and got a bit better. Then, out of rough ridin' nowhere, I couldn't even hit the ball 30 feet. Just over and over I would be slicing, chunking, etc. It just happened and it lasted for like a month or more. That is the hardest part mentally for me. I feel like I'm doing the same thing I did before, but the results are crap and I have no idea why. As I said above, I hope i'm a bit past that as I've kind of figured out that if the ball does this, I probably did that and can adjust a bit. Learning to play golf past 40 is not recommended. I'm making my kids play so they at least learn the basics early.

I wish I would of learned to play as a kid but my dad never played so I ended up taking a 1 credit hr golf class at ole ksu and had a buddy who worked at Colbert hills who would let us play the par 3 for free. That class was the only instruction I've ever had and my grip is pretty messed up now from figuring out what works for me. Ended up shooting an 88 at Hodge Park in Nkc last weekend so I'm happy with that.

About 4 years ago I went through a stretch like you were talking about where I just couldn't hit a ball, literally went home after losing 10+ balls on 7 holes on a 9 hole round after work.

Stopped playing for about a month and I was back to normal.

This was the advice everyone gave me during that time, but I continued to go to the range several times a week thinking I could figure it out. I bought an 8 lesson package this year really just to spread them out over the playing season so if something goes bad, I can meet and hopefully reset. When it goes bad, i've learned that I either need to break or get in front of someone that knows what they are doing and can help.

[IPA4Me]

Best thing ever for my golf game was working with a pro that had one of these. Let's you feel a real swing plane/arc.

When crap goes awry, it's always my setup these days.

[DaBigTrain]

Best thing ever for my golf game was working with a pro that had one of these. Let's you feel a real swing plane/arc.

When crap goes awry, it's always my setup these days.

Jim Furyk would like a word

[IPA4Me]

Best thing ever for my golf game was working with a pro that had one of these. Let's you feel a real swing plane/arc.

When crap goes awry, it's always my setup these days.

Jim Furyk would like a word

He's a freak

[Spracne]

What changed my game was some simple advice: vertical drop, horizontal tug.

[wetwillie]

I'm playing tomorrow for the first time since September, pray for me.

[BIG APPLE CAT]

What changed my game was some simple advice: vertical drop, horizontal tug.

I'm trying to figure out what this means without googling and I got nothin

[Tobias]

sounds like some Beetlejuice lingo

[kim carnes]

What changed my game was some simple advice: vertical drop, horizontal tug.

I'm trying to figure out what this means without googling and I got nothin

It’s from curb

[BIG APPLE CAT]

I think one of the best feelings in golf is when you're on the tee box and a group rolls up behind you and then you proceed to just smash your drive dead central down the fairway.

Also nice: I was golfing on Friday and I had a shot where the ball was just barely outside of a greenside bunker. So my shot is I have to stand inside the bunker, with the ball probably 9" above my feet, and I chip it over the bunker onto a downhill sloping green that might have actually just been concrete painted green, and the ball stopped about 4' from the hole. I didn't realize that I had an audience from a nearby teebox but these guys were watching and were like "wow! Hell of a shot!"

[star seed 7]

What changed my game was some simple advice: vertical drop, horizontal tug.

This is a family blog Spracne

[ben ji]

I think one of the best feelings in golf is when you're on the tee box and a group rolls up behind you and then you proceed to just smash your drive dead central down the fairway.

Also nice: I was golfing on Friday and I had a shot where the ball was just barely outside of a greenside bunker. So my shot is I have to stand inside the bunker, with the ball probably 9" above my feet, and I chip it over the bunker onto a downhill sloping green that might have actually just been concrete painted green, and the ball stopped about 4' from the hole. I didn't realize that I had an audience from a nearby teebox but these guys were watching and were like "wow! Hell of a shot!"

Smashing a drive off the tee box is a great feeling but for me the best feeling is hitting a perfectly flush 7 Iron from the fairway and the ball landing on the green just like you pictured it in your head.

[Spracne]

I think one of the best feelings in golf is when you're on the tee box and a group rolls up behind you and then you proceed to just smash your drive dead central down the fairway.

Also nice: I was golfing on Friday and I had a shot where the ball was just barely outside of a greenside bunker. So my shot is I have to stand inside the bunker, with the ball probably 9" above my feet, and I chip it over the bunker onto a downhill sloping green that might have actually just been concrete painted green, and the ball stopped about 4' from the hole. I didn't realize that I had an audience from a nearby teebox but these guys were watching and were like "wow! Hell of a shot!"

The inverse of this is one of the worst feelings in golf: absolutely chunking a drive with the group behind you watching. I get nervous in these situations, so it becomes a self-fulfilling prophesy often.

[BIG APPLE CAT]

I think one of the best feelings in golf is when you're on the tee box and a group rolls up behind you and then you proceed to just smash your drive dead central down the fairway.

Also nice: I was golfing on Friday and I had a shot where the ball was just barely outside of a greenside bunker. So my shot is I have to stand inside the bunker, with the ball probably 9" above my feet, and I chip it over the bunker onto a downhill sloping green that might have actually just been concrete painted green, and the ball stopped about 4' from the hole. I didn't realize that I had an audience from a nearby teebox but these guys were watching and were like "wow! Hell of a shot!"

The inverse of this is one of the worst feelings in golf: absolutely chunking a drive with the group behind you watching. I get nervous in these situations, so it becomes a self-fulfilling prophesy often.

Amen, brother. I could be +2 at the turn and if an audience sees me chunk it off the 10th tee...it's gunna be a long back 9

[BIG APPLE CAT]

I think one of the best feelings in golf is when you're on the tee box and a group rolls up behind you and then you proceed to just smash your drive dead central down the fairway.

Also nice: I was golfing on Friday and I had a shot where the ball was just barely outside of a greenside bunker. So my shot is I have to stand inside the bunker, with the ball probably 9" above my feet, and I chip it over the bunker onto a downhill sloping green that might have actually just been concrete painted green, and the ball stopped about 4' from the hole. I didn't realize that I had an audience from a nearby teebox but these guys were watching and were like "wow! Hell of a shot!"

Smashing a drive off the tee box is a great feeling but for me the best feeling is hitting a perfectly flush 7 Iron from the fairway and the ball landing on the green just like you pictured it in your head.

Good call. Esp if it spins back a little bit. Need to use my ballmark fixer tool? Oh hell yeah, let me repair my damage you beautiful delicate green. Roll true me boy

[Spracne]

Roll true, me boys!

[Stupid Fitz]

Man, this game is so freaking stupid hard. I knew my new found pull was a short lived anomaly, but it was so fun making adjustments from there as opposed to slicing everything. Lasted about 3 weeks. I was crushing it. Drives were the best. I was hitting those right down the middle. Golf was fun again! Went to my Friday round with pals all jacked up. Hit the range before and after 3 shots I knew immediately that I was effed. Started with the PW and it was fine, just not going left like they had been. Switched to the 7 and it was really slicing. Picked up driver and bam......slice is back with a vengeance. I was freaking crushed. For the last several weeks I had been telling people that it completely flipped and I had no idea why. Even my lesson was amaze last week. He said my swing was night and day from last year. He and everyone else kept saying, "who gives a crap why you are hitting it good now"? Well everyone, this is why I cared. It still feels the same to me and since I really don't know what I was doing differently, I can't fix it. Back at it, I guess.

[Spracne]

I'm sorry for your loss.

[BIG APPLE CAT]

Give yourself some time to mourn and heal, but then it's time to accept this new reality and move forward.

Also, just out of curiosity, do you have a weak, neutral, or strong grip? And by that I mean the position of your left hand (assuming you're a righty) on the club. Is your palm under the club (weak), on the side (neutral) or on top (strong)?

Just my    but I have found one of the quickest ways to fix a slice without having to figure out what's goofy with your swing is to move to a stronger grip. The more on top of the club your left hand is the easier it is to roll the clubface over. Heck, you might even start to draw the ball a little bit (which is by far the sexier ball flight, not even an opinion it's just a fact Jack)