Is it worth trying to get better ?

CrapHacker

CrapHacker

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I'm spending as much time as possible down the range to get myself to an acceptable level so I can get out there with you guys some time soon.

Finance is tough, so lessons are going to be few and far between, but I've played before in the past, and I know my old bad tendencies etc, and I know my old strengths.

I thought as I was starting from scratch as it were, that I'd shape ( reshape ? ) my swing to hit it straighter, or maybe a slight draw would be nice.

But my shot shape still appears to favour a slight fade.

Now, if you were in my position would you accept that I'm always going to be a fader who doesn't hit it very far, and concentrate on making it as well grooved and permanent as possible, so I can confidently ignore any problems down the left side.

With this sort of swing, I should easily get to an 18 handicap, but don't know if I could get much lower.

Or do I persevere trying to get a longer ball with that slight draw.

It might eventually help me get to a better standard, or I may just end up with so many potential bad shots that I never get better than 24.

Now I know I always used to be frustrated with my length off the tee, and with my long irons, but I did used to be straight, and so, on a good day, I could pretty much avoid any trouble. Hence the 13 handicap at my peak 15 odd years ago - I was dull, but reasonably effective.

I'd really REALLY like to be able to consistantly smack one 270 odd yards down the fairway. I don't want to be dull. But I just can't see me playing enough to warrant the effort of getting that extra yardage. Or even finding out how much extra yardage I've even got in me.

At the moment on the range I'm flying a drive ( which pretty consistantly has a slight headwind ) about 200 yards using 1 piece range balls. So I'm guessing on the course, with slightly better balls, including roll that would work out to be about 225 ( ish ) on average.

God I'm confused :D

So what would you guys settle for ?
 
What a good question.
Can you answer a few of mine honestly please?
How far do you hit your 9 iron. Mine goes 120
How far do you hit your 7 iron. Mine goes 145
How far do you hit your 5 iron. Mine goes 165
 
In answer to CrapHacker. I really do think there is too much emphasis these days on hitting draws & hitting the ball a long way. When I used to have a fade I knew where it was going unless it was an almighty slice. However, since working on my swing & taking lots of lessons, I actually opened up the entire fairway & also the left hand side of the fairway &the left hand side rough & the left hand side jungle/trees... lol.

My point is if you have a shot you can rely upon whether straight, fade, or draw, long or short, the important word is rely upon. If you can rely upon it then yes tinkering can improve some things, but it can also open up a can or worms.

Now, don't get me wrong I'm glad I've taken all those lessons, well, some of them anyway, its increased my knowledge & the understanding of my swing & its faults & how to correct those when I feel I need to.

The Fade has one really big advantage over the draw, you can drop the ball softly. In other words, faders generally can hold greens, that drawers cannot, unless they can learn how to spin the ball to a stop for that draw shot. Someone with a natural cutswing does spin the ball without too much effort, the only problem if you wish to see it as one is a loss of distance. So as I started off, if you can control that fade & still produce some straight shots when you need them, why complain.
 
Very important - How old are you ?

How tall ?
Click to expand...

When I answer those ads in the back of certain magazines, I'm late 30s and 6'2

But if you were to meet me you might suspect that mid 40s and 5'11 were nearer the truth.

And of course, my Farrari is in the garage at the moment.

:rolleyes:
 
Very important - How old are you ?

How tall ?
Click to expand...

When I answer those ads in the back of certain magazines, I'm late 30s and 6'2

But if you were to meet me you might suspect that mid 40s and 5'11 were nearer the truth.

And of course, my Farrari is in the garage at the moment.

:rolleyes:
Click to expand...



Hey you two - Get a room!!!! :rolleyes:

Seriously though i will follow thsi thread with interest - you sound just like i am........though i was not a 15 handicapper in the past.

M
 
What a good question.
Can you answer a few of mine honestly please?
How far do you hit your 9 iron. Mine goes 120
How far do you hit your 7 iron. Mine goes 145
How far do you hit your 5 iron. Mine goes 165
Click to expand...

Very difficult one to answer honestly, because I don't get out on the course enough, and range balls aren't really going to give any sort of decent answer.

But last time I went out I hit a 4 iron to the middle of the green on a 160ish par 4 ( allowing adjustment for where the tee was ).

I allow my 7 iron to be about 135-140, but I can't accurately confirm that.

If you left me 110 to get to the green, I'd pick up my 9 iron and not feel obliged to slash at it.

As I practise more, and hopefully get back out onto a few decent courses, I'll be able to work out more accurate answers.

I had a 'swing evaluation' yesterday from a pro at a local muni 9 holer. He said my set up was weak, but I had a good backswing. After that I get no action through the ball, so it's all hands and arms and no core muscles.

But he wouldn't tell me how to improve it until I pay him £40 for an hour lesson. And I don't know when I'll be able to afford that. Talk about a captive audience :)

So if they ever invent a competition when you hit the ball on the backswing, you guys are in trouble. Apart from that, you're safe for now. :D
 
lol

I just think height can be a massive help, large wide swing can generate a lot of ball speed.

Im mid 40's and 5'11" too, and have played off 11/12 for a long time, so yes it is possible to improve, but I find that older we get, the less easy it perhaps is to change things, so it becomes harder to make radical swing changes.

I'm a stocky build, but for what its worth, my distances would be....
4 iron 18-190
7 iron 150-160
9 iron 125 -135

One good lesson could certainly give you a lot to work on for a few months, but you have to put some work in perhaps, which can be tedious.....
 
Seriously though i will follow thsi thread with interest - you sound just like i am........though i was not a 15 handicapper in the past.

M
Click to expand...

The handicap came down when I used to play regularly in the early/mid 90s. I had one glorious summer when I managed two consecutive 81s ( I think ) on a par 72 course ( Park Wood GC on the Kent / Surrey boarders if anyone has ever played it ) in the monthly medals, and rightly got slashed. Next season I had to give up the game, and I've never quite worked out if I was on the verge of great things, or if I had overreached my limited talent, and would have had a season of misery and tears before bedtime.

 
Seriously though i will follow thsi thread with interest - you sound just like i am........though i was not a 15 handicapper in the past.

M
Click to expand...

The handicap came down when I used to play regularly in the early/mid 90s. I had one glorious summer when I managed two consecutive 81s ( I think ) on a par 72 course ( Park Wood GC on the Kent / Surrey boarders if anyone has ever played it ) in the monthly medals, and rightly got slashed. Next season I had to give up the game, and I've never quite worked out if I was on the verge of great things, or if I had overreached my limited talent, and would have had a season of misery and tears before bedtime.
Click to expand...

I am playing my first comp tomorrow simply to bget a card put in. Hopefully by the end of the week i will have 2 cards in, then next weekend another.
I suspect my handicap will be 22-ish.
 
One good lesson could certainly give you a lot to work on for a few months, but you have to put some work in perhaps, which can be tedious.....
Click to expand...

Work is not a problem. I enjoy getting onto the range for 30 - 40 minutes, and banging away at a few. And if that's not possible, I'll practise my swing ( Boom boom ). I last managed to get on the course just over two weeks ago, and I must have had 3 range sessions and 3 or 4 putting sessions since then.

The problem is time and money, I'm afraid. I can easily find £2.50 for a bucket of balls, and sneak in half an hours practise. Or 30 minutes on the putting green. But £25 - £35 and half a day for a round is a lot tougher. So I'm trying to get a couple of twilights planned midweek, if anyone has any good suggestions.

And ranges only help on grooving your swing, they don't get you out there.

And as for chipping and pitching practise - impossible to us non members I'm afraid.

:(
 
I am playing my first comp tomorrow simply to bget a card put in. Hopefully by the end of the week i will have 2 cards in, then next weekend another.
I suspect my handicap will be 22-ish.
Click to expand...

Anywhere 20 - 24 is a darn good place to start from.

GL
 
My local pro does half hour lessons as standard and only hour lessons if you ask, maybe worth asking about that? after all half hour = half price!
For what its worth I'm in the same boat as you, I took a video at the range last night, which shows my backswing, which I am very happy with, but as I move into my downswing, I have real trouble keeping my head and back straight, which means that I have trouble striking the ball well.
Take a video of your swing at the range and post it in the help section and see if people can help you!
 
So what would you guys settle for ?
Click to expand...
Just getting out and playing a game that you enjoy with your mates!

You don't need to be a long hitter to enjoy playing golf...just be more accurate! :) hehe

One of the shortest hitters I ever saw played off 3, he was just unbelieveably consistant. Trying to murder the ball for extra distance just upsets your timing. There's nothing wrong with a SLIGHT fade, sounds like you just need to get your driver firing a little better.

Regards...
 
Craphacker..

When I began playing this glorious game over 20 years ago I wanted to join a club but I didn't want to embarress myself. I watched all these guys walking to the first with all the kit and thinking" I've got to practice hard to get to a standard so I can play with them!"

What an idiot I was.
I spent a whole Autumn and winter on the range on Sunday mornings instead of playing. I practiced, read the books and magazines and finally felt "good enough" to join.
Paid my subs and signed up for the first Medal. No handicap so I couldn't win it but it would give me my first card. Played with a 6 and a 12 handicapper and almost held my own. Came in with 80 on a CSS of 65. Voila! 15 handicap. Straight into div 1 with the 8th best handicap in the club.

So don't ever feel that you need to be "good enough" to knock it about with anyone. That's what golf is about, the handicap system lets us compete (allegedly!)so get out there for the excercise and the enjoyment (and anguish!).

Oh and I'd love to be able to consistently smack one 270 down the middle too!!
 
Take a video of your swing at the range and post it in the help section and see if people can help you!
Click to expand...

You're 'aving a giraffe, ain't you ?

Me ? Technology ? :D

Admitedly I have a camera that will do me a short vid, if I can get me a card. But then I'd have to download it to the lappy, then get it in shape to post, then upload it, etc etc.

Maybe one day, eh.

:p
 
lol

Its a cracking post though fella, one that gets the old grey matter working overtime this early on a Saturday!

For me, I dont think I could settle knowing I had the potential to do better, but then as you say if you dont have the time/finances to be able to get that potential out, then maybe just concentrate on fine tuning the game & skills you already have to get the best out of that!
 
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