Hey AlisonC, this is another way to go and prevents a lot of trial and error. Below is the website I use for my student which I can recommend. However, they charge $25.00 for one ball fitting and $40.00 for unlimited fitting for the year which is a great price for a coach or club fitter. You do get the best results by knowing your ball speed and spin rate which requires a launch monitor. You will be asked many questions specific to all the different shots you play on the course. It will give you your top 10 balls choice from all the manufactures. Your #1 ball is always a bit of a surprise, I always played with the Titliest ProV but it came in as #3 on my list.

Golf Ball Selector

Borrowed a couple of Srixon Soft Feel and played 18 holes early this morning with them. GPS shot distance suggests I was getting an extra 10 mtrs from my drives. Hard to say though might be because the fairways are drier, and approach shots were sticking to the green rather than skipping through. So suitably impressed.

Checked on the Net, clearance outlet had them for $18.30 a dozen so bought 4 doz whioch should see me through most of 2012. Liked the feel of the Srixons as well, very different to the Taylormade Burner “W”’s I have been playing with. So thanks to all for assistance.

General discussion topic.

Discibe the best golf lesson you ever gave or received? What made it great.

When I was a social hacker I took a female friend out for a hit. Told her to keep her hands together, keep her head down and scratch her nuts before hitting. (just like the men) did it for 18 holes. Hilarious!

Alleg, sometimes you worry me…

One of the best lessons I ever gave was to a 12-year-old deaf child. Not knowing sign language I simply gave him visual cues by showing him what he was doing, shaking my head no, and showing what he should do. He went from about 75 yards in the air to 145 in about 20 minutes, and gave him a little chipping help.

He went out on the course and played 9 with his friends, then came in and couldn’t stop smiling because he beat them.

My old friend Jerry Stolhand and myself had 30 kids for three days. We did the usual thing for two days. Some got a little better but most looked confused and clumsy.

It was going to rain the third day – what to do? I read about flat left wrist – maintain pressure point pressure and straight plane line in a book and thought we should try it.

We bought 30 rulers and some masking tape and taped them onto the back of their hands. Well, they snapped the rulers with their bent left wrists and there was blood everywhere. Being country kids they just taped over the sharp ends and kept going.

Even the dummies got it.

We showed them how to point the club at the target line and how to keep the squeeze on the shaft.

We could tell our kids in the tournament from 400 yds away because of their smooth balanced swings.

Very cool Dart, sometimes kid just need to learn the hard way. When they get it, they are a force to be reckoned with. Keep up the amazing work. I am going to get rulers today for my juniors and will remember to also pick up some bandages.

Its truly is amazing when people get it. I just had a gal who has been a struggling novice for years nailing her PW consistently 100 meters with a long shallow divot, she found lag. The sound of the ball was of compression and pure control. Her husband who plays off a 2 was envious.

Interesting article on Lag Putting.

Dont Lag Putt

I didn’t know which pro to ask so i’ll ask here.

I started playing golf about 2 years ago and play off a handicap of 23 hitting irons only. as soon as I get any wood or hybrid in my hand it all goes to shit (can I say that here?).

Driver comes off the heel and when I say this I mean sometimes I only just clip the ball. 3,5 wood and hybrids rarely come off the centre and when they do fly 45 degrees right and have a high slice trajectory.

I have had lessons and I am hitting my irons pretty well but the pro told me he could not help me with woods until I could at least make reasonably consitent contact.

I personally think its a confidence problem.

Can someone suggest a drill that might help me in this area?

I had thought about getting some second hand woods and cutting the shafts down really short to give me more control?

Moved to Ask the TGM Guys thread.

While Tiger gets every swing evaluated by Sean Foley, he gets lapped by the likes of Bubba Watson who doesn’t seem to care about his swing.

Bubba says he just pictures the shot and uses a swing that will get the job done.

Maybe Sean and Bubba should have a beer.

Bubba says he has never had a lesson. Maybe we would all be better players without lessons.

Maybe teaching pros should be retired.

I feel sure that I and some of my fellow tour players would have been better ignoring the things we were told back in 1960-80.

I heard no sense until I found The Golfing Machine and had no way of precisely measuring the swing movement until Zenolink.

No doubt there is good and bad advise, good and bad interpretation and good and bad application. Knowing which is which is the master judgement.

Hey guys not sure if this is the right thread but here goes.
Recently started playing again after 10 years of not playing. Started of hitting the ball reasonably well but after a while i noticed the same bad habits creeping back into my swing. That is my swing goes back inside and comes back down outside making the divot go left of target producing eigther a slice(driver especially) or pulling the ball left of target. This doesn’t happen all the time, but gets frustrating. Is there something simple that im doing wrong? would trying to keep my right(i’m a right hander) elbow tucked into my body help eliminate the problem?

Cheers

Notup,

You are in the normal golfing condition. Not nice.

Changing one thing will not work for long – it must be two simple things.

Learn to swing left, right and straight. You can only swing left now.

When you swing a club it turns from right to left. Learn to turn it earlier or later. Now you can only turn it later.

When you learn swing directional control or shaft control and clubface control you can play any shot you want.

Swing left with late roll = slice or fade. Swing right with early roll hook or draw.

It may be simple but it takes work; years of it. Most quit after three shots.

You do see some joy in two weeks on the course and the practice tee in four shots.

Great advice Dart -

Its interesting that many of us are reluctant to explore different movement patterns to create different ball flight patterns. I think many are so busy trying to make a perfect swing that are almost afraid to make a change. In fact, I cant tell you how many new student come to me saying they don’t want to make any big changes. I think sometimes we are afraid of losing what we have instead of freeing ourselves to learn different and new ways of doing things.

I think Bubba has an amazing mental game, he has shown us that the key is to picturing the shot then picture the swing pattern that matches. When you can do this, lessons take on a new form.

Notup,

You are in the normal golfing condition. Not nice.

Changing one thing will not work for long – it must be two simple things.

Learn to swing left, right and straight. You can only swing left now.

When you swing a club it turns from right to left. Learn to turn it earlier or later. Now you can only turn it later.

When you learn swing directional control or shaft control and clubface control you can play any shot you want.

Swing left with late roll = slice or fade. Swing right with early roll hook or draw.

It may be simple but it takes work; years of it. Most quit after three shots.

You do see some joy in two weeks on the course and the practice tee in four shots.

For tuition in Sydney call Paul Hart (TheDart) 0412 070 820.

Terry Hill’s, St. Michael’s or Duntryleague Golf Club Orange

An official iseekgolf.com teaching panelist.

Thanks for taking the time to answer my question Dart,
so let me see if ive got u right. Do i take the club back straight or slightly outside(sorry for my poor turminology) and swing through slightly to the right of the target? Would be a little worried about shanking it if so?

Also when say “roll” do you mean how “early” or “late” i close the club face?

Great advice Dart -

Its interesting that many of us are reluctant to explore different movement patterns to create different ball flight patterns. I think many are so busy trying to make a perfect swing that are almost afraid to make a change. In fact, I cant tell you how many new student come to me saying they don’t want to make any big changes. I think sometimes we are afraid of losing what we have instead of freeing ourselves to learn different and new ways of doing things.

I think Bubba has an amazing mental game, he has shown us that the key is to picturing the shot then picture the swing pattern that matches. When you can do this, lessons take on a new form.

An official iseekgolf.com teaching panelist

Golf Industry Central

Grant,

I have always thought Bubba’s swing strange but it typifies what the Zeno’s call superstiffining; a little backup in the pivot caused by the next segment work hard against it. You can see it in Rory’s’ action too.

His arms work so well it throws his legs back a little and it gives the step in his own divot effect.

The old English golfers called it hitting against a firm left side. I never could understand that until now.

Hey Dart – I agree, many good things about his swing. I admit that I have become a fan.

What is the meaning of the front heel coming off the ground through impact? Do you think its a mechanism for stabilizing the lower body.

Bubba – Right Handed

While Tiger gets every swing evaluated by Sean Foley, he gets lapped by the likes of Bubba Watson who doesn’t seem to care about his swing.

Bubba says he just pictures the shot and uses a swing that will get the job done.

Maybe Sean and Bubba should have a beer.

An official iseekgolf.com teaching panelist

Golf Industry Central

Grant,
Tiger is making changes because he has no choice. Tiger is starring down the barrel of shortened golf career. Tiger has to change how he moves for longevity.
What the golfing world don’t realise is how serious his injuries were and how close his career did come to an end, to the point where there was almost a press release announcing his retirement.

Tiger’s coordination patterns have been the same his entire life.

What Sean Foley is doing takes alot of guts to do. Sean is changing Tigers coordination patterns. Sean is not making swing changes he is addressing Tiger break downs he has in his coordination patterns that are causing Tigers knee and back injuries that keep occurring.
If Tiger has been creating the same patterns for 34 years, these patterns are going to be very hard to retrain and change.

Tiger and Foley have a 4 year plan, in 2 years we are already seeing Tiger produce the best driving stats of his career. There is 2 years to go and I’m excited to see how good Tiger will be in the future.
We have to remember tour players are just like us and there is no short cuts training the human body new coordination patterns.

Greg Norman took 2 years to change his coordination patterns and spent another 8 years improving and perfecting his kinetic link.
At this stage I’m calling Foley half a genius, in another 2 years if Tiger and him accomplish changes so Tiger can repeat his new pattern day in day I out, I will be taking my hat off and calling Foley the genius.

Tiger has won nothing of consequence in the last 2 years, and looks unlikely to win anything in the forseeable future.

While Tiger gets every swing evaluated by Sean Foley, he gets lapped by the likes of Bubba Watson who doesn’t seem to care about his swing.

Bubba says he just pictures the shot and uses a swing that will get the job done.

Maybe Sean and Bubba should have a beer.

An official iseekgolf.com teaching panelist

Golf Industry Central

Grant,
Tiger is making changes because he has no choice. Tiger is starring down the barrel of shortened golf career. Tiger has to change how he moves for longevity.
What the golfing world don’t realise is how serious his injuries were and how close his career did come to an end, to the point where there was almost a press release announcing his retirement.

Tiger’s coordination patterns have been the same his entire life.

What Sean Foley is doing takes alot of guts to do. Sean is changing Tigers coordination patterns. Sean is not making swing changes he is addressing Tiger break downs he has in his coordination patterns that are causing Tigers knee and back injuries that keep occurring.
If Tiger has been creating the same patterns for 34 years, these patterns are going to be very hard to retrain and change.

Tiger and Foley have a 4 year plan, in 2 years we are already seeing Tiger produce the best driving stats of his career. There is 2 years to go and I’m excited to see how good Tiger will be in the future.
We have to remember tour players are just like us and there is no short cuts training the human body new coordination patterns.

Greg Norman took 2 years to change his coordination patterns and spent another 8 years improving and perfecting his kinetic link.
At this stage I’m calling Foley half a genius, in another 2 years if Tiger and him accomplish changes so Tiger can repeat his new pattern day in day I out, I will be taking my hat off and calling Foley the genius.

An official iseekgolf.com teaching panelist

scott@zenolink.com">scott@zenolink.com

http://www.facebook.com/zen…

Hey Zen, from a bio and physical perspective I am sure you are right on.

My observations during the Masters was that his mental approach had a great deal to be desired, I believe this is the first thing that should be trained, not the last. The contrast between him and Bubba, Phil, and Fred were never more apparent.

I am still waiting for a new Tiger to emerge that will show us a kinetic link between his left knee and his heart : )

Hey Dart – I agree, many good things about his swing. I admit that I have become a fan.

What is the meaning of the front heel coming off the ground through impact? Do you think its a mechanism for stabilizing the lower body.

Bubba – Right Handed

An official iseekgolf.com teaching panelist

Golf Industry Central

Grant,

I think it is residual force. And upward thrust has to balance the downward thrust of the swing but the d/s thrust decreases a lot around impact leaving heaps of upward thrust – enough to get him airborne.

I have seen ordinary players do the same thing. It may have the advantage of making them taller. I think Bobby Jones did the same thing.

I have tried it but it was no help to me.

While Tiger gets every swing evaluated by Sean Foley, he gets lapped by the likes of Bubba Watson who doesn’t seem to care about his swing.

Bubba says he just pictures the shot and uses a swing that will get the job done.

Maybe Sean and Bubba should have a beer.

An official iseekgolf.com teaching panelist

Golf Industry Central

Grant,
Tiger is making changes because he has no choice. Tiger is starring down the barrel of shortened golf career. Tiger has to change how he moves for longevity.
What the golfing world don’t realise is how serious his injuries were and how close his career did come to an end, to the point where there was almost a press release announcing his retirement.

Tiger’s coordination patterns have been the same his entire life.

What Sean Foley is doing takes alot of guts to do. Sean is changing Tigers coordination patterns. Sean is not making swing changes he is addressing Tiger break downs he has in his coordination patterns that are causing Tigers knee and back injuries that keep occurring.
If Tiger has been creating the same patterns for 34 years, these patterns are going to be very hard to retrain and change.

Tiger and Foley have a 4 year plan, in 2 years we are already seeing Tiger produce the best driving stats of his career. There is 2 years to go and I’m excited to see how good Tiger will be in the future.
We have to remember tour players are just like us and there is no short cuts training the human body new coordination patterns.

Greg Norman took 2 years to change his coordination patterns and spent another 8 years improving and perfecting his kinetic link.
At this stage I’m calling Foley half a genius, in another 2 years if Tiger and him accomplish changes so Tiger can repeat his new pattern day in day I out, I will be taking my hat off and calling Foley the genius.

An official iseekgolf.com teaching panelist

scott@zenolink.com”>scott@zenolink.com">scott@zenolink.com

http://www.facebook.com/zen…

Hey Zen, from a bio and physical perspective I am sure you are right on.

My observations during the Masters was that his mental approach had a great deal to be desired, I believe this is the first thing that should be trained, not the last. The contrast between him and Bubba, Phil, and Fred were never more apparent.

I am still waiting for a new Tiger to emerge that will show us a kinetic link between his left knee and his heart : )

An official iseekgolf.com teaching panelist

Golf Industry Central

Sure Headpro I can understand although why is Sean Foley being held accountable for Tiger’s behavior, he has no control over Tiger losing his temper out there. At present nor does Tiger.
At present Tiger is still in manual mode and at that hurdle learning to make his new pattern automatic.
I don’t care how strong some one’s mental game is, if your mechanics aren’t in automatic procedure yet, you have no hope just swinging away and playing the game like Bubba does.

Tiger has the strongest mind out there, any one else had of hit it like Tiger did they would have shot a very high number.

Tiger is losing his head out there because his mind isn’t still and he can’t block it out, he’s losing his cool out there because he can’t control these thoughts at present. Which is really fear and anxiety.

Tiger is a perfect example why clear keys are so important, Tiger is a perfect example that all this focus etc is mumbo jumbo stuff.
Why do I say this ? Look how strong minded and focused Tiger is. Tiger’s mental intentions of the shot he wants to play is not matching the out comes of his golf shots. Why is this happening? It’s called anxiety and fear. Focus, intention etc etc doesn’t stop anxiety and fear like Tiger is having on the course.
Tiger has to learn how to suppressed the anxiety and fear. He is showing glimpses of over coming his fears and anxieties he just needs time to learn how to over come then. This is easier said than done.
Once Tiger starts to adapt his new patterns on automatic he can than start playing like bubba did during the masters.
Bubba is playing on automatic, Tiger is sitting at the cross roads between automatic and manual. Although give Tiger time and he will be out there playing just like bubba on automatic again.

How about that fact Tiger was in Barbados practising a high draw against Sean Foley’s wishes??? Certainly accounts for ‘old swing thoughts’ creeping in and mucking it up at Augusta. If its true and I was Sean Foley I’d be pissed…