The Golf Thread

[GAVol]

Originally Posted by 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.

Those two things aren't really mutually exclusive though. If you'll watch most of the guys on TV hit down on the irons while releasing the club through impact. You're still hitting the ball first.

[volfanbill]

i guess what i'm saying is you stay on the same plane you started out with. the club is level with the ground at impact, the same spot it was when you began your address. if you're still hitting down at impact, you're in trouble.

[GAVol]

Originally Posted by volfanbill

if you're still hitting down at impact, you're in trouble.

Not really . . . I guess it depends on what club you are hitting, but I'd say that for good players - with mid/short irons especially - typically the "bottom" of the swing occurs AFTER impact.

Some players have "swept" everything - most notably Greg Norman - but those guys are few and far between.

[volfanbill]

i wholeheartedly disagree, but i'm beginning to think it's just the way i'm defining your wordings... if you're wanting extra distance that is a way to go, but you're losing the point of the loft of the club that way. i don't sweep the ball, I get under it and have a higher trajectory for most players of my handicap, i'll admit that. Too many golfers see coming down as extra distance, but you lose the bounce of the club and the ability to make it stick.

[GAVol]

Originally Posted by volfanbill

i wholeheartedly disagree, but i'm beginning to think it's just the way i'm defining your wordings...

Just another illustration of why there are about 10,000 different theories on how to hit a golf ball. Who's to say what's right or wrong as long as it works for somebody?

[GAVol]

Originally Posted by volfanbill

i don't sweep the ball, I get under it

Personally, I find that a lot more dangerous than hitting down on the ball. Do you by chance tend to hit a lot of shots thin? And honestly, I've never considered "bounce" to be much of a factor with any club other than a Wedge.

What's your handicap? Just interested . . . Mundane things like swing theory fascinate me.

[volfanbill]

Originally Posted by GAVol

Personally, I find that a lot more dangerous than hitting down on the ball. Do you by chance tend to hit a lot of shots thin?

What's your handicap? Just interested . . . Mundane things like swing theory fascinate me.

nope... if i do make a mistake, it's hitting it fat. i take the big thick divot out on my swings... however, the divot starts just slightly before where the golf ball was. also, it should be noted that different soils help create bigger or smaller divots. coastal and more northern soils create bigger divots than say Appalachain soil.

[GAVol]

Originally Posted by volfanbill

the divot starts just slightly before where the golf ball was.

I'm dying to know what you are shooting. That sounds like a recipe for inconsistent ball striking - unless you are a Moe Norman disciple or something.

[volfanbill]

last time i truly kept track of my handicap it was a seven, which was about a year and a half ago. however, up until about two weeks ago i had only been able to play about 6 times in a year's span and so i'm sure it's a lot higher right now.

[volfanbill]

here's a tip.... don't play softball all spring, summer, and fall without playing golf at all and then expect to just have your golf swing in your pocket. i played last week and shot a freaking 91. i about blew a gasket.

[Lexvol]

I actually hit the ball much further with my irons when I hit down on the ball.

[volfanbill]

just out of curiousity lex, can you get them to stop?

[GAVol]

Originally Posted by Lexvol

I actually hit the ball much further with my irons when I hit down on the ball.

Just as you should. Hitting down causes the club to de-loft and swing speed to maximiaze.

[GAVol]

Originally Posted by volfanbill

here's a tip.... don't play softball all spring, summer, and fall without playing golf at all and then expect to just have your golf swing in your pocket. i played last week and shot a freaking 91. i about blew a gasket.

I go through the same thing. I don't practice enough anymore to shoot really low numbers, but I can usually get it together just well enough to make my expectations get way ahead of my ability.

[JTrainDavis]

I practiced checking up balls at the range today, actually did a fair job, all the way as high as with a 6-iron. Could get a slight back-kick with anything higher than 8, and with the 6-8 i only got a short bounce (around 10 ft) and a good stop.

A winter's worth of hitting the wiffle-styled practice balls out in the garage seems to have paid off somewhat. 18 Tomorrow afternoon will show how well.