The essential/official golf thread!

Shizelbs

How about some tips on how to get my wife more interested in golf? She doesn't take advice from me at all, so I will be getting her lessons. Anyone else have any tips or success stories?

jdhdiggs

Shizelbs wrote: »

How about some tips on how to get my wife more interested in golf? She doesn't take advice from me at all, so I will be getting her lessons. Anyone else have any tips or success stories?

DON'T TEACH HER YOURSELF!!!!!!

Buy her 5 lessons or so and go to the driving range and make no suggestions, just compliment her when she does well. Also, use the "I want to spend time with you doing something that involves more than just sitting around the house, let's play golf" card.

pearsall001

Shizelbs wrote: »

How about some tips on how to get my wife more interested in golf? She doesn't take advice from me at all, so I will be getting her lessons. Anyone else have any tips or success stories?

Good lord man, drop the subject already. With what you'll be saving in lessons, buying her golf gear & all the cutzie stuff she'll want, just think what you can buy for your system with all that money!!!!

Shizelbs

pearsall001 wrote: »

Good lord man, drop the subject already. With what you'll be saving in lessons, buying her golf gear & all the cutzie stuff she'll want, just think what you can buy for your system with all that money!!!!

Trust me, I know. I'm trying the ol', if she likes it too, I can spend more on it strategy.

Shizelbs

jdhdiggs wrote: »

DON'T TEACH HER YOURSELF!!!!!!

Buy her 5 lessons or so and go to the driving range and make no suggestions, just compliment her when she does well. Also, use the "I want to spend time with you doing something that involves more than just sitting around the house, let's play golf" card.

What are the chances we look alike too?

So yeah, thats pretty much what I am doing. Early on I tried coaching her, but I realized that she is too stubborn and that I suck. So, I really do keep that to a minimum when we go to the range. I'd buy her clubs if I knew for sure that she would use them regularly. I don't want to spend what I could instead on a BluRay player if she's not going to use it.

And I did play the card you mentioned. Thats the one reason I think she'll do it.

Nisqually Dave

The lessons are a good idea, here are some ideas that might help also. First and formost don't take her with you when you are playing a foursome with two other guys I guarantee that it will become very uncomfortable for everyone concerned. it is very intimidating for her. Two find a club that is not intimidating some clubs are just to hard and to long for a beginning women golfer. Three find a club that has a womens club that has good support where she can get lessons and not have the intimidation factor of guys hitting 3 times as far as her.

Pick times to take her when you won't be pressed by groups behind you that will make her uncomfortable, you can mention this when you sign up for tee times and they will be more than happy to accommodate you.

I marshal at a club and these are the things that I see all the time. The first few rounds are very important if you want her to continue to enjoy the game an playing with you.

Look out for the jerks who think they are Tiger and your making them wait while she plays. (They always complain to the Marshal).

Enjoy her company.

Dave

swerve

So that course that I said I shot a 7 over on the other day. I went back today with two of my ex co-workers who I have remained friends with and shot a 2 over.

Here's what is looked like
Hole/Yardage/Par/Score
1 109 3 3
2 85 3 3
3 122 3 5
4 72 3 3
5 165 4 5
6 198 4 3
7 80 3 3
8 256 4 4
9 107 3 3

On hole seven I about holed it. two inches to the left and the ball hopefully would have been stuck between the pin and the cup. Bad mistake on Hole 3 cost me a stroke. I missed the green off the tee and had a no so good chip. First put was good and put me within 3 feet... but I didn't take my time so I took a 5.
The other bogey I had an awful chip on too.

ahhh well best round ever.

Adam

Shizelbs

Way to go on the personal best. Feels good, don't it?

Thanks for the tips Dave. She is a long ways away from playing 9 or 18. All she does on the range is hit driver. She just for the first time practiced putting. Hopefully next year we can play a round together.

AndyGwis

I've finally broken 90 in two of my past four rounds. Really into golf right now, going to play tomorrow afternoon and hope to better my personal best again.

Anyone play Cleveland CG1 black pearl irons? I have the CG2s which are somewhat blade-like. The CG1s are pure blades and I love the Black Pearl finish. Upgraditis isn't just for the audio world, I guess!

If anyone has impressions of these irons, let me know.

daboyz

Andy, excellent on the breaking 90!!! I know the excitement is there but slow down a bit. blades are for the more accomplished players-not us. When you hit them pure they're sweet but they are not forgiving. stick with the cavity backs and maybe try a mixture of say cavities for 3-7 and blades for your 8-pw.
I know a few sets are made that way and that would be your logical progression.

Dave

Nisqually Dave

Andy the new clubs are going to be coming out 1 September find out where they are having a demo day and try out the new clubs out there. Take your time and get something that is fitted to you.

You should know that some of the top Pro's right now even use cavity backs or mix them in their sets. Ryan Moore, right now uses the Ping Rapture 4 and 5 iron and the rest are S 58 pings, So if they use them maybe we should to.

You are playing quite well.
Dave

wallstreet

Really gets you psyched when break a barrier like that. I shot a 79 the other day and while it's not a personal best, I had a great time playing the round.

heiney9

daboyz wrote: »

Andy, excellent on the breaking 90!!! I know the excitement is there but slow down a bit. blades are for the more accomplished players-not us. When you hit them pure they're sweet but they are not forgiving. stick with the cavity backs and maybe try a mixture of say cavities for 3-7 and blades for your 8-pw.
I know a few sets are made that way and that would be your logical progression.

Dave

I have blades because I hate the feel of cavity backs even when struck perfectly. I have original Hogan Radial's with Apex 3 shafts. Like a hot knife going through butter. It's taken me all season to hit them consistently and recently had back to back 85's.

I tend to chunk them a little bit now and then but I really don't have a lot of problems hitting blades. Sometimes if not hit perfectly the distance suffers. I'm sure there would be a learning curve playing with mid-sized cavity backs but I learned to play golf about 30 years ago with original MacGregor Tourney's so it's what I'm used to.

Same with tennis I learned 30 years ago with a conventinal sized racket and I hate the over sized rackets of today. I still play (infrequently) with a 1990's Prince 90 in. midsize racket.

H9

shack

heiney9 wrote: »

I have blades because I hate the feel of cavity backs even when struck perfectly. I have original Hogan Radial's with Apex 3 shafts. Like a hot knife going through butter. It's taken me all season to hit them consistently and recently had back to back 85's.

I tend to chunk them a little bit now and then but I really don't have a lot of problems hitting blades. Sometimes if not hit perfectly the distance suffers. I'm sure there would be a learning curve playing with mid-sized cavity backs but I learned to play golf about 30 years ago with original MacGregor Tourney's so it's what I'm used to.

Unless you are a 5 or better handicap, you really shouldn't be playing blades. Even the majorty of tour pros are playing some sort of cavity back PLUS some sort of hybrid. The margin of error with blades is just too small for the casual golfer. I too learned on blades (cause thats all there was) and Wilson Staff was my club of choice back then. I will never play blades again because the new clubs allow you to shape shot if you like but forgive that less than perfect contact which all of us (including the pros) have from time to time. There are plenty of cavity back clubs that will give the feedback most "blade playing amateurs" feel they need without the penalty blades can cause. The perfectly struck shot from blades is as good as cavity back and/or game improvement clubs...but really...how many of those do you hit in a round?

heiney9

shack wrote: »

Unless you are a 5 or better handicap, you really shouldn't be playing blades. Even the majorty of tour pros are playing some sort of cavity back PLUS some sort of hybrid. The margin of error with blades is just too small for the casual golfer. I too learned on blades (cause thats all there was) and Wilson Staff was my club of choice back then. I will never play blades again because the new clubs allow you to shape shot if you like but forgive that less than perfect contact which all of us (including the pros) have from time to time. There are plenty of cavity back clubs that will give the feedback most "blade playing amateurs" feel they need without the penalty blades can cause. The perfectly struck shot from blades is as good as cavity back and/or game improvement clubs...but really...how many of those do you hit in a round?

While I don't think a handicap number can be put on the type of equipment you use I would (next season) like to demo some of the hybrid clubs to see if I could get used to them. It comes down to what you are comfortable with, but I admit to being a bit apprehensive to start using a completely different set of clubs, but the only way to know for sure is to use the "new" ones consistently enough to determine if they will work.

All season I've been trying one of those over sized big headed drivers and can't hit them worth **** compared to my regular sized and lofted metal driver w/a very stiff shaft. I'm young enough to still have a fairly high swing speed and the shafts on many of the over sized drivers aren't stiff enough.

H9

Golf can be exciting and frustrating all at the same time.

AndyGwis

I came across a pair of cheap blades last summer and played them for a few months. Even with my jacked up swing (at the time) I grew used to them quickly and was able to shape the ball and lower my scores a bit.

I don't fear the blades. I was surprised to look up some pro players that play Cleveland clubs (as I do) and saw a couple played TA7s (cavity back), many played CG2s (semi blades), and a few played CG1s. I assumed they would all play the best, most expensive. Also, a few played the 588 wedges, some the 900 wedges, and only a few the newer CG10s I have.

If you have a good swing, you can hit any club well. If you have a bad swing, even the best equipment/technology won't help much.

heiney9

AndyGwis wrote: »

I came across a pair of cheap blades last summer and played them for a few months. Even with my jacked up swing (at the time) I grew used to them quickly and was able to shape the ball and lower my scores a bit.

I don't fear the blades. I was surprised to look up some pro players that play Cleveland clubs (as I do) and saw a couple played TA7s (cavity back), many played CG2s (semi blades), and a few played CG1s. I assumed they would all play the best, most expensive. Also, a few played the 588 wedges, some the 900 wedges, and only a few the newer CG10s I have.

If you have a good swing, you can hit any club well. If you have a bad swing, even the best equipment/technology won't help much.

Thing is (and I'm not bragging) I have an excellent natural swing even when I play very little so I can work the ball just fine with my blades. If I had a jacked up swing I'd be more concerned with finding a club that "helped" me but my swing is for the most part pretty consistent and I feel if I played all year around a couple times a week I could be scratch golfer. Just don't have the time to dedicate.

I like my blades and I can hit them pretty consistently for a causal weekend 4 month a year golfer. But I should give modern equipment a fair chance to see if I could become even more consistent.

H9

AndyGwis

Didn't play too terribly well on Wednesday, but did hit some good shots. Playing early tomorrow at a place called The Tribute. It has famous links holes from European courses and a nice view on Lake Lewisville.

Also, I'm a big ebay buyer and picked up 4 dozen near mint ProV1s yesterday for about $60 shipped. Considering that's just over what you'd pay for one dozen at the pro-shop, I think I did okay.

I typically just steal company balls left-over from our tournaments, but we haven't ordered any this year and I've run out! Friends mooch off my balls cuz they know I get them for free, so I go through a bunch.

jdhdiggs

Man, now that I have fixed my puttin, my swing has gone to hell... I used to hit 15-17 greens in regulation and 3 putt damn near everything, now I 2 putt but only hit 2-3 greens in reg. Frustrating!!! Net improvement of 5 strokes but still in the double digit handicaps grrrrrr....

AndyGwis

I feel your pain. Last weekend, I hit something like 11-12 greens in reg, and three putted at least 8 of them. I hit 7 greens on the front and three putted 5 times.

Still shot an 87, which was a personal best, but keep thinking to myself I couuld have shot a 82 that round if I could've just lag putted better.

Waiting for that magic round where it all comes together. Used to not be able to hit irons, then couldn't chip, now I can't putt.

audiobliss

I just started my golf class at school Tuesday. I have to have two physical activity classes before I can get my associates, and this counts as the last one.

We've only met twice, but so far I'm impressed with the instructor's knowledge/experience/ability to convey ideas to the students (including me).

It's a beginner's course, focusing on grip and stance and such, so I was hesitant to sign up for it, but I'm glad I did. I can tell that even if I don't learn anything out right new, I'll at least greatly improve my current game with his advice, and it'll be a fun 4 hours a week, for sure.

audiobliss

heiney9 wrote: »

Thing is (and I'm not bragging) I have an excellent natural swing even when I play very little so I can work the ball just fine with my blades. If I had a jacked up swing I'd be more concerned with finding a club that "helped" me but my swing is for the most part pretty consistent and I feel if I played all year around a couple times a week I could be scratch golfer. Just don't have the time to dedicate.

Ha, that sounds just like me. Sounds like just what Dad says. He plays golf at least twice a week, and for a good while, it really aggrivated him that I wasn't more interested in golf than I am, considering my natural swing.

But, having said that, I am really inconsistent, due to my lack of playing. I've not played around this year, and not counting the last two golf classes I've had this week, I've been to the driving range twice this year, and that was just a rare, spontaneous decision to go hit a few. I used to play about 3 times a year, but probably only play about once a year now for the last three years, and probably score around the 120 mark.

daboyz

I still feel that going to the cavity back irons will improve your game. Anyone who can shoot 85 can shoot 79. It's about having the right equipment and having the short game working. You will find that you will be more consistent in your approach shots and that you'll be on the green more, thusly, more chances to score.

I switched to Titleist CB 10's and I gained 10 to 30 yards on my irons plus I'm hitting greens. You may feel that you can shape your shots better with your blades but you'll be straighter and more consistent with cavities.

Just my .02 cents.

heiney9

daboyz wrote: »

I still feel that going to the cavity back irons will improve your game. Anyone who can shoot 85 can shoot 79. It's about having the right equipment and having the short game working. You will find that you will be more consistent in your approach shots and that you'll be on the green more, thusly, more chances to score.

I switched to Titleist CB 10's and I gained 10 to 30 yards on my irons plus I'm hitting greens. You may feel that you can shape your shots better with your blades but you'll be straighter and more consistent with cavities.

Just my .02 cents.

The only problem I have with my irons is distance. I'm inconsistent on the distance many times. I don't have a problem hitting them straight most of the time.

shack

heiney9 wrote: »

The only problem I have with my irons is distance. I'm inconsistent on the distance many times. I don't have a problem hitting them straight most of the time.

There-in lies the problem with blades. The penalty for not hitting the very small sweet spot every time on blades is significant.

audiobliss

My irons are cavity-back, if that's how you refer to it. All of Dad's are, too.

daboyz

shack wrote: »

There-in lies the problem with blades. The penalty for not hitting the very small sweet spot every time on blades is significant.

That is my point. I played blades once in my life back in school when I was playing everyday and shot 73. They are sweet when you're playing all the time but if you're not you'll be very inconsistent.

AndyGwis

So, I've been playing in a lot of scrambles with friends and for work as of late. Had a great one last Monday where we were paired with an NFL alumni. We got Baker Turner who went to Tech then was a receiver for Joe Namath, including playing in super bowl three (and I got a pic with the super bowl ring on).

Then, had one this friday, a UT Alumni tourney. 360 people out there. All was going well till I hit a drive on the long-drive hole. Upon hitting the ball, the head of my driver flew off about 80 yards, so that sucked. The bottom of my Proforce V2 shaft snapped on impact, didn't hit the ground or anything.

So, got a new Cleveland HiBore with another Proforce V2 shaft. Anyone else play a HiBore driver? I got the regular, not the XL. Hopefully this shaft holds up. I think it was just a fluke.

wodom1

I started playing this summer and have become addicted. I've been playing 9 holes almost every weekend. I bought a used set of Ping i3 graphite shaft irons (black dot) and a used Ping G5 graphite shaft driver (10.5 deg. loft) within the last few weeks. My bag is a Ping Huffer Vantage with dual straps. I'm not good at all, but I have a really good time. I'm playing 18 holes this Thursday at a course in Boulder, CO before going to the Great American Beer Festival. Should be a good time. Anyone have any thoughts on my clubs? I always walk when I play and think it's more fun that way.

daboyz

wodom1 wrote: »

I started playing this summer and have become addicted. I've been playing 9 holes almost every weekend. I bought a used set of Ping i3 graphite shaft irons (black dot) and a used Ping G5 graphite shaft driver (10.5 deg. loft) within the last few weeks. My bag is a Ping Huffer Vantage with dual straps. I'm not good at all, but I have a really good time. I'm playing 18 holes this Thursday at a course in Boulder, CO before going to the Great American Beer Festival. Should be a good time. Anyone have any thoughts on my clubs? I always walk when I play and think it's more fun that way.

I'm not a big fan of graphite shafts for irons. You'll get more control out of steel. The main thing is you're having fun.