Impact of Play Your Best...

[Tiger]

Right I'm going to fess up I've got very mixed emotions right now. First and foremost I think that GM have played an absolute blinder in getting this opportunity with Ping, it is by far the best opportunity they have ever offered its readership (well apart from the uber comp in the centenary year but that was a bit different).

I got swept up in the excitement and have been massively inspired by PYB setting myself what I think is a realistic target for 2012 and working hard towards that goal. I know that when I do achieve it I will feel on top of the world.

But, and it's a big BUT looking at the Twitter updates I am getting increasingly envious, jealous, moribund, depressed, gutted, despondent, fed up, miserable, etc...

Well played to the guys selected and I will be rooting for you to achieve their goals this year, but it has left me with very mixed emotions and it's only going to get worse I think. For all the other opportunities on here you get over the initial disappointment of not being selected quite quickly but in this case there is going to be a constant reminder...

But, and yes it's another but, I have always wanted GM to do something like this. Not just give a few golfers some new gear but also look at the difference it makes to their game over the course of the year. The only person I've seen that with is Auburn Warrior after his Wilson fitting so I am actually really interested to see how all this pans out even though I can't bear to watch because of the overwhelming sense of jealousy. A bit like covering your eyes during a horror film and peeking through your fingers.

GB72 summed it up quite well on Twitter "its a bit like the end of Bullseye when Jim Bowen showed you what you could have won"

I'm not ungrateful as I've done pretty well out of GM competitions over the past three years and am still really looking forward to Hidden Gems match with FootJoy and GM in May but with PYB they've raised the bar so high I'm not sure any competition will ever come close, ever again...

...well until PYB 2013 that is!

So gutted, pleased, jealous, appreciative, confused and excited all at once. I need help...
:rant:

 

[StrangelyBrown]

I'm sure it was Jack Nicklaus that said "before you learn to win, you have to learn to lose, because you're going to lose an awful lot more than you win".

Better luck next time Tiger.

 

[Alex1975]

The equipment means nothing to me, they are just bats, for me the value is in the coaching and the personal help. I would have loved that and it would have taken me to another level. However, if I believe that it would have then I believe that I can get to that level, so its all good.

Let it pass you by Tiger and find your own way.


I am interested on what grounds they picked the winners though?!

 

[Tiger]

Its not so much the not being picked it's just seeing how amazing the experience is afterwards. I mean they're getting advice from GM Top 25 coaches having their bag completely redefined it's just quite simply awesome. I'm not sure I agree with you on the equipment front though Alex, it's the degree of custom fitting to go alongside the coaching and personal help. Unbelievable stuff.

Right I'm off to find my own way...anyone got a compass?

 

[AmandaJR]

I'm cured of my intense desire to have been selected at the moment as would be downright embarrassed to present my swing/game to public view as it stands. Plus my coach is a GM Top25er and I have a lesson tomorrow in the sanctuary of his indoor academy and only he and I will know how poop I am at the moment!

Reading on Twitter I just felt genuine excitement for the guys involved.

If I had been picked then I feel the most beneficial assistance would be in sorting out what's between my ears :ears:

 

[DaveM]

Pull yourself together man! Just show what you can do unaided. Stand tall like a man????? .:thup: .

 

[Alex1975]

Its not so much the not being picked it's just seeing how amazing the experience is afterwards. I mean they're getting advice from GM Top 25 coaches having their bag completely redefined it's just quite simply awesome. I'm not sure I agree with you on the equipment front though Alex, it's the degree of custom fitting to go alongside the coaching and personal help. Unbelievable stuff.

Right I'm off to find my own way...anyone got a compass?

Less and less am I a convert to the custom fitting thing, though most of my stuff is fit for me. I use an MP 58 with a PX 6.5 in it for practice and it feels better than my custom fit MP 53 with a PX 5.5. My buddy was up at Amanda`s place for his full Ping fitting( I was unable to go in the end), he ended up getting fit indoors, as far as I know he got stock Ping shafts and was not offered anything but flex differences so who knows what his flight will be? Apart from his 2.5* upright he could have worked the rest out himself. A club is a club to a large degree is my feeling. We will see what shafts the winners get in this comp.

A positive outlook and some good pointers will see you make your targets!!

 

[bladeplayer]

Im with Alex on this ... I was thinking before i DIDNT get picked how hard it would be to break 70 with the equipment i have & love , never mind with all new gear , the major value game wise is the help & advice ..

 

[GB72]

Less and less am I a convert to the custom fitting thing, though most of my stuff is fit for me. I use an MP 58 with a PX 6.5 in it for practice and it feels better than my custom fit MP 53 with a PX 5.5. My buddy was up at Amanda`s place for his full Ping fitting( I was unable to go in the end), he ended up getting fit indoors, as far as I know he got stock Ping shafts and was not offered anything but flex differences so who knows what his flight will be? Apart from his 2.5* upright he could have worked the rest out himself. A club is a club to a large degree is my feeling. We will see what shafts the winners get in this comp.

I positive outlook and some good pointers will see you make your targets!!

I certainly feel that there is a difference between being fitted by the manufacturer at their national HQ and elsewhere. At the HQ you will get hundreds of choices whereas anywhere else you are always going to be more limited. Wish I had gone down that route as my new Cleveland Irons are really not working for me at the moment to such an extent that the old Cobra SZs may go back in the bag.

 

[Deleted member 15717]

I went in with the feeling that I wouldn't win anyway, so wasn't massively disappointed (though well happy I got on the runner's up list!). I am still determined to break through the barriers, and the sense of accomplishment knowing that you've done it yourself will be massive. I think it is just perseverance and commitment which will see you over the line. If you have an iPhone, download 2 apps. One is called Golfshot, and the other is called GolfPlan, with the latter being presented by Paul Azinger. Play a few rounds tracking your score with Golfshot, entering all details required, and then start GolfPlan. It looks at your stats and gives you specific drills to work on various parts of your game. It helps a bundle!!

 

[joma1108]

i have to agree with wabinez, the golfshot app is a really food app and the thing that has helped me most as you can track all your stats, and it shows you where you need to improve, for me its GIR, if i can get that then my target of break 80 is definitely on.

there is also an app called golf mission which is a game to play when you are on your own (better as a two player) to give you a bit of competition, rather than you against the course this is also worth looking out for.

i was also gutted not to make the break 80, but delighted to be in the 20 but im hoping that i dont have to wait until then to have broken 80.

 

[jgozza]

I have followed all 4 of the golfers on Twitter and good luck to them, cant wait to see how much they improve.

Keep your chin up Tiger and hopefully there will be a play your best 2013 challenge with both our names on ;o)

 

[pendodave]

chin up.

Your kit list looks plenty good enough to be going on with.

As for the coaching, sometimes playing well after spending a few weeks going up and down blind alleys of your own making is all the sweeter for it.

If you're serious about getting better, the Rotella (yes I know, but bear with me) book 'golf of your dreams' might be a useful place to start. Getting better at golf isn't rocket science, not does it always take someone else to tell you how to do it at every stage. Some level headed analysis of where you REALLY shed shots and avoiding that by specific practice or course management techniques can all be done by any hacker.

And the weather is bloody fantastic.

 

[HawkeyeMS]

Stop looking at Twitter - simples

 

[Matty]

I never even entered as I knew that being selected would be a non-starter for me as work gets in the way quite badly!!

What would be way more interesting to me is for 2 players to get fitted for all new gear and a bit of coaching while the other 2 get some gear replaced and loads of coaching. Then we can see if custom fitting ir same, better or worse than intensive coaching.

 

[USER1999]

I am still struggling to see what benefit custom fitting is before embarking on a set of swing changes. I can only go from my experience, but I have been c/f by titleist for my ZB irons. We elected to go with R300 over S300, as at the time I was hitting them nicely. I still like them. I know from this fitting process that Project X and me do not mix. I only hit two shots with a project X and the fitter physically took the club off me saying I looked like I did not have a clue with it. True, as this is how I felt. I did try some other shafts too, but the R300 was the best fit.

Fast forward to this year. Still hitting the ZBs ok. However, looking at my swing with my coach, I don't load the shaft properly to make it work. I never have done. I have always liked a heavier shaft, and it previously suited my swing. Now I am getting nearer to loading it properly, my coach is telling me I would benefit from a lighter shaft, possibly in stiff, and it would help me achieve the swing I now want.

I am thinking of getting my Adams CB2s back out, which have a lighter KBS tour 90 stiff shaft in them. These might now be a better fit for me.

For the guys being fitted by Ping, in 6 months time, after lessons, coaching, practice, etc, they could see a similar change. Will Ping re-shaft their clubs?

Same to an extent with drivers. A shonky swing now could lead to a K15 to fight the slice. Sort out the swing issues, and may be an I20 would be a better fit.

I don't get it.

Good luck to those involved though, it'll be an experience, that's for sure.

 

[Alex1975]

I never even entered as I knew that being selected would be a non-starter for me as work gets in the way quite badly!!

What would be way more interesting to me is for 2 players to get fitted for all new gear and a bit of coaching while the other 2 get some gear replaced and loads of coaching. Then we can see if custom fitting ir same, better or worse than intensive coaching.

I think it would be 100% coaching that would win that one.....

 

[Tiger]

Thanks ladies and gents for your words of profound wisdom (particularly you Hawkeye, no flies on you, ever!)

The green eyed monster has slunk back to his murky corner and I am full of joy once more . When the announcement was made I wasn't as downhearted bcause I knew I already had my own plan of action and things were going so well, but the myriad of tweets did me in, albeit briefly.

I guess I was doubly gutted as my Play Your Best back up plan was kicked into touch by work stuff so I knew that Swanny, Rob and Dave were playing Stoke by Nayland, which I've always wanted to play and what a glorious day to be playing it!!!

But the weather is awesome, the clocks have gone forward and I may well be able to play nine holes tonight after work...

PS pendodave I have got all the Rotella books and am a big fan.

 

[Alex1975]

Thanks ladies and gents for your words of profound wisdom (particularly you Hawkeye, no flies on you, ever!)

The green eyed monster has slunk back to his murky corner and I am full of joy once more . When the announcement was made I wasn't as downhearted bcause I knew I already had my own plan of action and things were going so well, but the myriad of tweets did me in, albeit briefly.

I guess I was doubly gutted as my Play Your Best back up plan was kicked into touch by work stuff so I knew that Swanny, Rob and Dave were playing Stoke by Nayland, which I've always wanted to play and what a glorious day to be playing it!!!

But the weather is awesome, the clocks have gone forward and I may well be able to play nine holes tonight after work...

PS pendodave I have got all the Rotella books and am a big fan.

As I have covered before I can not be a member of a club at the moment and am time limited because of a highly full work schedule and new baby. I have a spot at the end of my garden where I have put a net and it is paying huge dividends. I make sure that I am not trying to do anything that I have not been taught so that I do not ingrain errors and am able to hit many shots each day. This is working out great and could help with your time limits. I will be living at the bottom of the garden now the clocks have changed, away from HID so I can smoke and hit shots till the cows come home....

 

[jgozza]

Did you notice that all the winners come from a shire??

Cambridgeshire
Yorkshire
Staffordshire
Perthshire

Maybe i should have put that i was from bexleyheath-shire..lol