I was once a good player

[Steve698]

Hi All,

I am new here, my name is Steve and am looking for advice regarding title.
I was once a 6 handicap player and played 3 times a week and practised at the range in between but that was 20 years ago. Up to about 6 years ago I was a club member playing once a week and played from a handicap of 8 although if truth be told I struggled at that and was nearer 10 or 12. Then a few things changed in life (won't bore with the details) and I left the club and didn't play for the last 5 years. Recently been feeling the need to play again but with lay off and me now being nearly 53 years old with a bad back things don't work quite the same. I seem to have lost all my swing speed and am hitting 7 iron 135 yds carry, my short game is laughable (skulling every pitch), and the last game I played I shot 107, I'm used to high 70's low 80's 107 is so depressing. I'm a bit confused as my driving is still good both on course and at the range I can still get it out to around 270 (still 60 yds behind my son but that's another story) hybrid clubs are also good, straight and long. Problem seems to be with irons and I'm thinking maybe I need a little more help than I used to. I used to play Mizuno MP-67 but they were stolen and I changed to Titleist AP2 just before the lay off. Now I'm thinking my game isn't strong enough and I have been looking at speedbladez or maybe Ping G series. I don't intend to join a club again at the moment and will just be playing for fun once or twice a month and going to the range once a week. I don't have the time to hone my swing as I used to. Any thoughts ?
Turned into a rather long post - sorry.

 

[Hobbit]

If you played as long as you did, you're rusty that's all. Scores can vary a lot, even if you're playing regularly. Last year was high 80's/low 90's, and this year back to 70's, with only a few rounds in the 80's - it happens. I play 3 or 4 times a month, and virtually no practice. Can't see why you can't post decent scores.

As to what irons you think you need. Wait till you've played a few months, then decide.

Welcome back to this mad game - where are you based, and do you want a knock?

 

[pbrown7582]

Welcome to the madhouse, youll soon remember how to get it round in a decent score keep persisting.

 

[duncan mackie]

I could have written this down to the handicap low of 6 to the back issues - it's just that I'm 5 years older now!

I was back at 13 until additional time enabled me to get back down a little - then injuries had me back up again.

As Hobbit posted there's rust and a degree of comfort over your clubs (probably).

Welcome.

 

[Steve698]

well I agree some the **** play can be put down to rust but it's a bit weird how the Driver and hybrids are going really nice yet the irons across the board are short and the contact is awful, I have been spending a lot of time at the range but all I have achieved as far as the irons go is to try to hit them harder and harder as I can't believe how short they are going and in hitting harder I am losing my timing and damaging my already weak back.

 

[delc]

Welcome to middle-age! I was a pretty decent Junior golfer, but then went to University, moved down to London (where at the time golf seemed impossibly expensive and exclusive), got married, bought a house with a big mortgage, etc, etc, and didn't really play any more golf until I was 40. When I did return, it seemed a whole lot more difficult than I remembered. Like yourself my driving was still good, but my irons and short game were much dodgier. Lowest I've managed to get to is handicap 10. Now 12 at the age of 69.

 

[Steve698]

Thanks delc, I can totally relate to that path of life as well as the path of golf and thanks for the welcome to middle-age although I have to say I'm not a fan. I see you play the Speedbladez irons - what do you think ?

 

[delc]

B

Thanks delc, I can totally relate to that path of life as well as the path of golf and thanks for the welcome to middle-age although I have to say I'm not a fan. I see you play the Speedbladez irons - what do you think ?

The Speedblades are OK, but I'm not sure that I would buy them again, knowing what I know now about their ridiculously strong lofts, particularly in the shorter irons. I can't really see the point in having a Pitching Wedge that you can hit 120+ yards, apart from the bragging rights! I had to buy an additional Gap Wedge to make them at all useable for actual scoring.

 

[Steve698]

B
The Speedblades are OK, but I'm not sure that I would buy them again, knowing what I know now about their ridiculously strong lofts, particularly in the shorter irons. I can't really see the point in having a Pitching Wedge that you can hit 120+ yards, apart from the bragging rights! I had to buy an additional Gap Wedge to make them at all useable for actual scoring.

Hmm well the debate about the strong lofts is something that is going on with many but that aside how is the feel from the clubs and general forgiveness ? Not personally bothered about the number on the bottom of club more about the accuracy. Saying about hitting a wedge 120 yds my son who I will have you know I taught all he knows about this game hits his wedge 150+ with a Mizuno blade and standard loft, swinging at 124 mph helps I spose, doh.

 

[the_coach]

although there's not the time maybes to practice - would think it would be worthwhile checking out the basic fundamentals of set-up & motion over (as much as the physical limitations now allow) with a PGA pro - possibly over the long run may save you a good deal of heartache - as what you remember you used to do with the 'feel to real' of what's happening now likely to be a little ways different.

couple of things maybes to consider given what you said initially is now going down

given the sometimes skulls, irons distance & that from the tee with the driver is pretty much okay

often times these kind of issues are linked with a flattish shoulder turn/body rotation which you can easier get away with both off the tee box plus the with different head shape of the metals even hybrids (to irons) off the ground, which will tend to give folks the leeway of some skid into strike

distance loss will occur with a longish layoff, sadly with age for most, & any injury that may inhibit the 'turn' - that's why given any injury for sure it's a good idea to see what's possible by having that checkover with a Pro.

blading chips/pitches means the low point of the motion is happening before the clubhead arrives to the ball, check weight is staying on the lead side with these smaller shots, & that there's not any lateral sway trailside off the ball, if so then the weight often times stays too much trailside on the throughswing so that low point is the wrong side the ball then clubhead traveling upsome into the strike

check with the iron swing motion that shoulder turn isn't a ways too flat (so a line drawn across the shoulders top of the swing would point more to the horizon rather than foot or so over the ball/target line, also that there's no lateral slide trailside during the take back
& at transition weight has to be back on the leadside before the upper body/arm swing moves downwards back to the ball

'downwards' too maybes an issue in the iron strike & lack of distance (along with the enough turn)
to get ball first along with retaining the angles into strike some, the iron swing has to have some 'downwards' in the motion & not a ways too much 'around' (around & flatter will get by with the driver off the tee box) in order along with weight on the leadside at transition start to keep the angles & have the low point of the swing arc with the irons target side of the ball that ways you get best "compression" so best transfer of energy from clubhead speed to ball speed

good luck with the comeback

 

[delc]

Hmm well the debate about the strong lofts is something that is going on with many but that aside how is the feel from the clubs and general forgiveness ? Not personally bothered about the number on the bottom of club more about the accuracy. Saying about hitting a wedge 120 yds my son who I will have you know I taught all he knows about this game hits his wedge 150+ with a Mizuno blade and standard loft, swinging at 124 mph helps I spose, doh.

I am now a weak and feeble veteran with only an 85 mph swing speed! 150 yards with a wedge is even more ridiculous, bearing in mind that the majority of golf shots are from 100 yards in. How many gap wedges does he carry?

 

[delc]

For loss of distance with age, I reckon the formula is 1 yard for every year after the age of 50. In my case at the age of 69. I am about 20 yards shorter off the tee than I was in my 40's, when I won a couple of longest drive prizes. I played against an 81 year old gent in a Seniors match last week who had been a 4 handicapper in his younger days, now playing off 17. You could see that he was a good player, but his drives only went about 150 yards. Made me feel like Bubba Watson!

 

[patricks148]

Thats golf for you.

i started off as a 24 handicap in 9 years ago now off 5... i imagine i will be back to where i started at some point in the future

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

I was off 6 early 1990s - then when kids and job move came only played very occasional golf 1996-2004. Started up again and really struggled - hitting the high 90s and low tons horribly regularly. My swing that got me to 6 had gone from it's groove - worse - I had faults that were very destructive that I'd 'grooved around'. So not only couldn't get old swing back - I wouldn't want to.

And so this year I've bitten the bullet - ditched my arrogant 'I can fix it myself - I used to be off 6' mentality - and had a couple of lessons to learn a 'new' swing. It's difficult - but as pro says - as I played a long time at a reasonable standard - it's not like I'm starting again. The basic coordination and understanding of the game is well in there. I just have had to accept that I can't sort this myself and if it means learning a new swing and working on it - then so be it. And it is working. Currently 11 but feeling I could get to 8 next year.

 

[Steve698]

I am now a weak and feeble veteran with only an 85 mph swing speed! 150 yards with a wedge is even more ridiculous, bearing in mind that the majority of golf shots are from 100 yards in. How many gap wedges does he carry?

At the moment he carries 4 but still has some gaps.

 

[jamielaing]

Hmm well the debate about the strong lofts is something that is going on with many but that aside how is the feel from the clubs and general forgiveness ? Not personally bothered about the number on the bottom of club more about the accuracy. Saying about hitting a wedge 120 yds my son who I will have you know I taught all he knows about this game hits his wedge 150+ with a Mizuno blade and standard loft, swinging at 124 mph helps I spose, doh.

When I got fitted for my new irons I wanted to get the ball going lower. The guys advice was stronger lofts. As a bigger hitter this would have left me one club within 150 yards. Distance is great but at the 120 and in mark it can start to hinder you. Although it does help you to learn some course management. I hope your son has a good short game! It's frustrating being able to do that and not capitalise on it. I know that too well!

 

[North Mimms]

I was once a good player too.

It was a Thursday in May, from between about 10.30 and 11.45

 

[Steve698]

When I got fitted for my new irons I wanted to get the ball going lower. The guys advice was stronger lofts. As a bigger hitter this would have left me one club within 150 yards. Distance is great but at the 120 and in mark it can start to hinder you. Although it does help you to learn some course management. I hope your son has a good short game! It's frustrating being able to do that and not capitalise on it. I know that too well!

And you have hit the nail on the head there, his short game is the part he needs to tighten up. Last week we played a par 5, he bombed a drive 360 yds left a wedge to the green and walked off with a 6. I have told him he has learnt to hit the ball and he does that very well but now he needs to learn how to play.

 

[garyinderry]

I was about to type you should ask your son to teach you how to chip again.

On second thoughts, maybe you should ask someone else. oo:

 

[jamielaing]

And you have hit the nail on the head there, his short game is the part he needs to tighten up. Last week we played a par 5, he bombed a drive 360 yds left a wedge to the green and walked off with a 6. I have told him he has learnt to hit the ball and he does that very well but now he needs to learn how to play.

How old is he? I was similar when I was around 16. Only cared about distance and backspin. Now I am (significantly) older I have worked out that only the score matters, nothing else. What does he play off?