The Golf Thread

[Fine Vol]

Originally Posted by lawgator1

Not mental. You are not swinging properly. Trust me. I have sooooooo been there.

A couple of tips (and remember, we all think we are experts).

1) Don't swing like an eggshell, i.e. straight up and down. There should be some angle there akin to 45 degrees plane to ground.

2) Hit down on the ball. I know it sounds counterintuitive, but the goal is to pinch the ball between the clubface and the ground. The club will naturally lift the ball. The biggest mistake people make is trying to sweep a ball off the ground. It doesn't work that way. Ever wonder why the pros take enormous divots? Because they hit down on the ball.

3) I know it is a mantra, but its true. Keep your head down. If you play and practice enough so as to repeat the same swing over and over, you learn to trust it. And that means that you line up your shot and play your draw or your slice, and then swing, confident that the ball will do what you intended. So you don't need to watch it until it is well on its way. That, my friend, is the secret to shooting in the 80's. Shooting in the 70's is about putting. And you don't want my advice on that because if you take it you will quit the game.

Thanks great advice, the hit down on the ball I will take to heart because I do what you said, try to sweep under it.

[Fine Vol]

We will be weeeelllllllll.........getting .....lets say HAMMERED and have some Monte Cristos on the side

[lawgator1]

Originally Posted by Fine Vol

Thanks great advice, the hit down on the ball I will take to heart because I do what you said, try to sweep under it.

Leads to shanking the ball, slicing the ball, topping the ball... The one thing that does not do is lift it off the damn ground.

[justingroves]

Originally Posted by lawgator1

Leads to shanking the ball, slicing the ball, topping the ball... The one thing that does not do is lift it off the damn ground.

So true. I suck at golf because I do exactly that, sweep under it.

[Fine Vol]

You picture this sweet sweep in you head and then clack 1 foot drive woo hoo

[VolinArizona]

Isn't it true with your woods off the tee to have a swing that sweeps?

Obviously irons you swing down. My irons are getting much better in my 2nd season of golf.

However, I can blast the off the tee with my driver or my 3 wood, but my slice is awful.

[Fine Vol]

Originally Posted by VolinArizona

Isn't it true with your woods off the tee to have a swing that sweeps?

Obviously irons you swing down. My irons are getting much better in my 2nd season of golf.

However, I can blast the off the tee with my driver or my 3 wood, but my slice is awful.

Yea irons are hard so I will hit down on the ball.

[BigPapaVol]

Originally Posted by VolinArizona

Isn't it true with your woods off the tee to have a swing that sweeps?

Obviously irons you swing down. My irons are getting much better in my 2nd season of golf.

However, I can blast the off the tee with my driver or my 3 wood, but my slice is awful.

The only club that should sweep would be the driver and that's based solely upon ball position. Some good pros will sweep the 3 wood, but majority tee it low and catch it with a slight descending blow, generating back spin to lift the ball. If they are trying to hit a moon ball that stops quickly, they might move it a bit forward in their stance to catch it on the flat stretch of swing, but 3 woods are made with slight bit of bounce to press the hands forward of the ball just a hair. That bounce can be deadly to the mere mortal trying to sweep a 3 wood.

If you really want to get better, scrap the long stuff for a while and hit tons of shots from 40 yards and closer. That way, you'll stop caring about distance and begin to develop good directional control, a feel for the center of the club and some rhythm to the swing. Not to mention you'll shave about a jillion strokes.

[lawgator1]

Originally Posted by BigPapaVol

The only club that should sweep would be the driver and that's based solely upon ball position. Some good pros will sweep the 3 wood, but majority tee it low and catch it with a slight descending blow, generating back spin to lift the ball. If they are trying to hit a moon ball that stops quickly, they might move it a bit forward in their stance to catch it on the flat stretch of swing, but 3 woods are made with slight bit of bounce to press the hands forward of the ball just a hair. That bounce can be deadly to the mere mortal trying to sweep a 3 wood.

If you really want to get better, scrap the long stuff for a while and hit tons of shots from 40 yards and closer. That way, you'll stop caring about distance and begin to develop good directional control, a feel for the center of the club and some rhythm to the swing. Not to mention you'll shave about a jillion strokes.

Truer words never spoken. Ask any PGA player and they will confirm that 95 percent of scoring is about what happens inside 100 yards.

[Fine Vol]

Originally Posted by BigPapaVol

The only club that should sweep would be the driver and that's based solely upon ball position. Some good pros will sweep the 3 wood, but majority tee it low and catch it with a slight descending blow, generating back spin to lift the ball. If they are trying to hit a moon ball that stops quickly, they might move it a bit forward in their stance to catch it on the flat stretch of swing, but 3 woods are made with slight bit of bounce to press the hands forward of the ball just a hair. That bounce can be deadly to the mere mortal trying to sweep a 3 wood.

If you really want to get better, scrap the long stuff for a while and hit tons of shots from 40 yards and closer. That way, you'll stop caring about distance and begin to develop good directional control, a feel for the center of the club and some rhythm to the swing. Not to mention you'll shave about a jillion strokes.

[Lexvol]

.....And hit the putting green again, and again, and again.

[Fine Vol]

Originally Posted by Lexvol

.....And hit the putting green again, and again, and again.

WITH THE GOLF CART.

[ut 4 me]

putting is the only good part pf my golf game. and by good i mean not horrendous

[BigPapaVol]

Originally Posted by Lexvol

.....And hit the putting green again, and again, and again.

exactly. 3-6 footers ad infinitum and a lot of distance control drills.

[volfanbill]

i know where you are coming on hitting down on the ball, but it's more important to come through the ball during the swing, not necessarily hit down on the ball. the mistake is scooping or sweeping and bringing the club up as you make contact with the ball. the angle of the club makes the ball get up in the air. maybe it's just different wording, but my opinion nonetheless.