Talk to me about bounce

Peaty, you say you've only been playing for 4 months, two of which were probably snow bound and have had 3 lessons.
What were the lessons on?

Hi Bob, the first lesson was on grip and general set up. The second was on better posture and getting the takeaway right, the third we tried to work on my club head release which I am struggling massively on.

If anyone could help in that department it would be great, basically he wants me to really whip through the ball and likens it to whipping the head off a dandelion with a wood cane. I am having a hard time visualising this though and when I try to really whip the club it tends to collapse my left wrist (which was the problem in the first place) and in turn leads to a bit of a chicken wing with my left arm.
 
If anyone could help in that department it would be great, basically he wants me to really whip through the ball and likens it to whipping the head off a dandelion with a wood cane. I am having a hard time visualising this though and when I try to really whip the club it tends to collapse my left wrist (which was the problem in the first place) and in turn leads to a bit of a chicken wing with my left arm.

At impact the hands and grip of the club should be a few inches in FRONT of the ball and the shaft slightly leaning forward. The clubshaft shouldn't be 'vertical' until a few inches AFTER the ball has been hit.

Nb: It's OK for the clubshaft to be vertical at impact with THE DRIVER because the ball is a couple of inches more forward.
 
I went down this road very early on and got the same response. What I've belated learnt is to use your shots. When I started playing I was trying to play to par. That's important for low handicappers but for high handicappers I think it's more important to play the percentages.

Until your handicap is below 18 you get a shot on every hole. If I miss the green on a par 4 with my second shot I've still got three shots to make a net par. So rather than going for the pin I get it on the green and take two putts and walk off happy. The time for me to look for par/birdie is when I hit the green in regulation or can chip on low without worrying about a hazard.

When I get better I'll look at attacking pins but for now I'd recommend working on developing a sound chipping and pitching technique with the clubs you have before expanded the arsenal at your disposal.

Hope this helps.
 
I went down this road very early on and got the same response. What I've belated learnt is to use your shots. When I started playing I was trying to play to par. That's important for low handicappers but for high handicappers I think it's more important to play the percentages.

Until your handicap is below 18 you get a shot on every hole. If I miss the green on a par 4 with my second shot I've still got three shots to make a net par. So rather than going for the pin I get it on the green and take two putts and walk off happy. The time for me to look for par/birdie is when I hit the green in regulation or can chip on low without worrying about a hazard.

When I get better I'll look at attacking pins but for now I'd recommend working on developing a sound chipping and pitching technique with the clubs you have before expanded the arsenal at your disposal.

Hope this helps.


Hard to argue with that.
 
I went down this road very early on and got the same response. What I've belated learnt is to use your shots. When I started playing I was trying to play to par. That's important for low handicappers but for high handicappers I think it's more important to play the percentages.

Until your handicap is below 18 you get a shot on every hole. If I miss the green on a par 4 with my second shot I've still got three shots to make a net par. So rather than going for the pin I get it on the green and take two putts and walk off happy. The time for me to look for par/birdie is when I hit the green in regulation or can chip on low without worrying about a hazard.

When I get better I'll look at attacking pins but for now I'd recommend working on developing a sound chipping and pitching technique with the clubs you have before expanded the arsenal at your disposal.

Hope this helps.

To a certain extent...hmmm yeah.

I don't think you should view scoring as having to get pars or having a shot so using that for a net par etc. Ignore the par number written on the card and the tee blocks.

View every hole and every shot on it's own merits and plan to get the ball in the hole in the fewest shots possible taking into account the shot in front of you and your own ability level.

(This is clear in my head but I don't think I've explained it very well )
 
Robo I agree with you. That's what I try to do. Get the ball in the hole in as few shots as possible. That said I think as a high handicapper you need to play cautiously and use the shots at your disposal. If I've short sided myself and three shots gets me a net par why attack the pin? Especially when I'll have other, less risky opportunities to score well on other holes. It's exactly the same logical reason as why low handicappers don't attack sucker pin positions. The risk outweighs the reward. Trying to get cute with a flop or a lob and all of a sudden a high handicapper can get a nasty 7, 8 or 9 on the card and spoil any momentum they've built up. I've learnt this the hard way.
 
Robo I agree with you. That's what I try to do. Get the ball in the hole in as few shots as possible. That said I think as a high handicapper you need to play cautiously and use the shots at your disposal. If I've short sided myself and three shots gets me a net par why attack the pin? Especially when I'll have other, less risky opportunities to score well on other holes. It's exactly the same logical reason as why low handicappers don't attack sucker pin positions. The risk outweighs the reward. Trying to get cute with a flop or a lob and all of a sudden a high handicapper can get a nasty 7, 8 or 9 on the card and spoil any momentum they've built up. I've learnt this the hard way.

I think Robo's point (correct me if I'm wrong) was that how many shots you've had so far is irrelevant unless you're playing matchplay.

The low handicapper would play the same shot to the sucker pin if it was his 2nd or he'd had to chip out sideways and it was his 3rd.

Similarly, unless you need a certain score on a hole, forget how many you've had and just play the shot that gets you down in the fewest number of shots. Better to make a nett bogey than to make triple trying to save par.
 
Is it just me or has everyone who has stuck up for the 60 degree a low handicapper? :)

Had a couple of 'em. Got on well with them to begin with and then as my game deteriorated so my ability to hit them disappeared and they eventually took their place in the golf bag under the stairs.

I'm not sure that bounce should really concern a new golfer. There's far more important things to spend your time, energy and money on until you are much better.

I'm not even sure what bounce any of my wedges in my bag are at the moment.I use my sand iron so infrequently I'm looking at popping a 5 wood in its place and just use my 51 degree out of bunkers.
 
Tiger, why are you a 28 handicap? you seem too wise for that? have you not put your cards in yet?
 
Tiger, why are you a 28 handicap? you seem too wise for that? have you not put your cards in yet?

Because he lives in Suffolk not Lincolnshire.
If he did, he'd be off 10 by now :)


I am still looking to win the Lotto and put you on staff Bob. Ill let you know when I start doing the Lotto...
 
Hi Bob, the first lesson was on grip and general set up. The second was on better posture and getting the takeaway right, the third we tried to work on my club head release which I am struggling massively on.

So no lessons on the short game as such?.
Was it your pro who suggested you got a 60 deg?
Also, what ball do you use?
Surprised no-one has asked that question yet
 
I also belive there is nothing wrong hitting an 8 from 115, as long as the 8 is the club for the job, hit it.

It has no reflection on the driver swing, I have seen many old gents hit 190 yards as their longest drive then stick a 8 iron to about 10 feet because the know their yardage.

I am not saying that there is anything wrong with 115 yards for an 8 iron. What I am saying is having the ability to hit the ball further means being further down the fairway and the opportunity to hit shorter irons into greens which for most people, makes the game a bit easier.

If 65 yards is how far you hit a 54 wedge then I think you would benefit from having a bit more oomph. Simple as that.

Snelly.
 
I went down this road very early on and got the same response. What I've belated learnt is to use your shots. When I started playing I was trying to play to par. That's important for low handicappers but for high handicappers I think it's more important to play the percentages.

Until your handicap is below 18 you get a shot on every hole. If I miss the green on a par 4 with my second shot I've still got three shots to make a net par. So rather than going for the pin I get it on the green and take two putts and walk off happy. The time for me to look for par/birdie is when I hit the green in regulation or can chip on low without worrying about a hazard.

When I get better I'll look at attacking pins but for now I'd recommend working on developing a sound chipping and pitching technique with the clubs you have before expanded the arsenal at your disposal.

Hope this helps.

I knew I was getting through to you on the LW subject Tiger :D
 
Is it just me or has everyone who has stuck up for the 60 degree a low handicapper?

I've had a 60 for some time and got on fairly well with it, once I got over the decelleration habit. Now using a 58 just to even out the gap. tbh, I find it easier to hit than opening up my SW.
 
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