Practice club?

[Duffman36]

Hi all,
I was wondering if any of you guys use a 'less forgiving' club to practice with sometimes on the range as a way of trying to improve your swing? I've never done this myself, but have heard of this sort of thing several times now but was just wondering if there was any value in it, and if so what would it be useful for?
Thanks,
Mike

 

[Andy]

I dont myself but do know some m8's who play with blades throughout the summer and come winter the blades are ditched for a set of cavity backs.

They claim cavities being more forgiving and with dodgy lies and conditions in the winter they get better strikes, conncection with the ball, so play and score better.

I'm sceptical, but maybe some of the lower guys would agree or disagree?

Andy

 

[Cernunnos]

I have tried this & ironically it does work. Though not something I'm currently doing. Its also the club I'll throw in the boot, on the occasions when for the want of space I need to take the clubs out of the boot, just in case I get the opertunity whilst out to hit some balls.

 

[USER1999]

It would need the same shaft make and model, the same swing weight, loft, lie, length, etc.

I can't see how it would really improve your swing by hitting a less forgiving club. It would maybe give more feed back, but first and foremost, lessons are what improves your golf.

If you found you hit everything out of the toe (common), what are you going to do about it? Go and have lessons. Therefore, why not just go straight to the lessons, and practice with what you will actually be hitting out on the course.

Also, if you can hit a 'harder to hit' club, do yhour practice with one, why not play with one all the time?

To me, I can't see the point.

Doubtless someone else will.

Oh, and I have a set of blades and a blended set too, so am coming from a bit of experience with harder to hit clubs.

What is your h/cap?

 

[TonyN]

My MP52's aint the easiest of clubs to hit but no where near as hard as blades I would imagine.

I dont see the point in practicing with a harder club. I practice with the clubs I am going to use so I have the right feel for it out on the course.

It would be like learning to play snooker with a broom handle and playing with a nice cue! Why not just practice with a nice cue and get used to it!

 

[Mawgan]

The principle applies directly in cricket where some players will practice with a cut-down (narrower) bat as a way of concentrating on hitting the middle of the bat, but I agree with Murph in that there is a different relationship in golf. You must be better off practising with the club you will use on course. After all, surely that is what golf practice is - a rehearsal of what you try to do in play...

 

[topcatsolo]

My Dad used to take an old 3 wood to the range with him to keep his ball striking consistant, it was one of the old wooden headed ones with the smallest head he could find.

The club was horrifically hard to hit as you had to catch it perfectly to get anything out of it. I tried it when was younger and it helped me, might be worth a look.

Also, I have seen another memeber at my club practicing with an old 5/6 iron shaft attatched to a piece of 2x2" in the place of the club head, never got any distance but the striking area was tiny and would hurt like hell if you got it wrong. Along the same lines really.

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TM R7 Limited 8 degree with Proforce V2 X
TM Tour Burner 14.5degree With Proto 80 X
TM RAC MB 2-9iron with Rifle 6.5
TM Z MB wedges 47, 54, 59 degree
Custom Scotty Circa 62 No 6
TM Staff Tour Bag

 

[Duffman36]

Thanks for your thoughts everyone, I must say I can't really see the point of it but I have seen several people doing just this at the range before so I guess I was just curious as to why.
Murph- I don't have an offical handicap as yet, but normally shoot between +20 and +25 over 18 holes unless I'm having a really bad day (I usually try to bogey every hole, which I will consider to be an achievement when/if I manage it).

Mike

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I tend to go with a a 7 iron if I am trying to work a swing change into my game as its just an easy club to hit. However if I'm swinging well and just grooving my swing I do tend to play a lot more 4 and 5 irons. I feel if I am hitting consistantly with those my swing is in good knick. However if I don't hit them well I'll move back down the bag and work my swing back to a repeatable one

 

[Herbie]

I practice with all my clubs and I have the frame of mind that they each need a swing and a smack at that ball, I try hard not to favour any club and I practice shot variations with different clubs as you never know what may come in handy. I feel if you have clubs that you favour a little too much you may build up a psychological aversion to using them all confidently.

 

[AlchemyGolf]

I dont have a less forgiving club but one thing I have done for years is have a demo 6 iron the same as my clubs and put a moulded training grip on it.

I warm up before any practice session with it and hit balls as well for a short while at the start.I use it to just make sure I dont get lazy with my grip.

 

[jeffc]

I do as homer, i.e practise with the harder clubs within the set. At the range I hit far more balls with a 4 iron and 3 wood off the mat than the others, but I do keep changing round.
After settling the 4 iron down I go up and down the set, the objective being to hit one ball with each through the set without hitting a bad one. It's harder than you think.

Likewise I hit more with the 3 wood off the mat than the utility or 5 wood.
I find it helps to get the tempo and timing right, the easier clubs become just that if you are hitting the harder clubs well.

ps I generally only hit about ten balls each with the driver and 3 wood off the tee in a session using 100 balls.