Topic: Ask Golf Guru - Golf Instruction / Releasing Lag

Rhythm/tempo helps so much. If you can achieve this, power comes…...

Topic: Golf Talk / Thinking of joining our comittee or board

Developing Junior talent is what so many clubs should be doing and many do but there are also many clubs who are set in their ways and “a change” is not coming. Of all of the clubs I have been associated with over the years both in Australia and overseas, junior golf is paramount but tough at times.
Joining the board of directors….....good luck.

Topic: Golf Talk / Tiger out for the season

What about the R&D guys from Nike and then Nike bringing a new range of drivers/f’way woods in the future as used by Tiger etc in the next 8-12 months whilst he is out of action? Will Nike use the players on their “lessor” contracts to sell a new product? I think it will be interesting to see what unravels over time in this area? Anyway, hope he gets back as soon as it is medically possibly.

Topic: Ask Golf Guru - Golf Instruction / Lowering Drive trajectory

Windy situations and the driver? First of all, don’t fight the wind and play with it. Placing the ball back in your stance and teeing it lower with your driver is not like placing your 5 iron back in your stance and teeing it lower. Either way, most people tend to swing too hard into the wind and that is the opposite of what you should be doing. A slightly wider stance to promote better balance in the wind does help but swing within yourself. Perhaps you need to try a shaft with a higher kick point to help promote a lower ball flight. If the average golfer goes changing their driver ball placement during a round, well, not really the best thing to do unless you have some tricks up your sleeve or control with how you go about the process.

Topic: Ask Golf Guru - Golf Instruction / Head not staying behind ball

So many questions from you Gotta….Go out and hit the bloody ball all over the place and do not get technical. When the ball gets on the fairway more so than not…maybe start thinking about a few things.

Topic: Ask Golf Guru - Golf Instruction / Faulty balls?

Hi Ditty,

The Titleist/Taylormade/Callaway/Srixon and Nike balls (top shelf ones) that you can purchase in your local pro-shop or retail outlet are what the tour players use. Some players do use proto-type balls however that are not on the market as such.
As for hitting balls on the range? Think of it this way-...If you use a specific ball on the golf course, why, and what does it do for your game? If you go to the range and hit those range balls, why? If you have a range at your course, does your shag bag have balls that are the same? It makes sense to have a shag bag full of balls that you actually use whilst playing doesn’t it? If I had a shag bag full of rock-flite titanium long feel extra distance balls as opposed to a ball like a pro-v/Tm/Cally, I know what I would prefer to hit and know what to expect from a certain ball being flight and spin and what I can do with the ball.
The reason why some balls cost so much is because they are great balls but at the same time, marketing and brand awareness come to mind.Titleist is like Coca Cola as is Nike to Pepsi.

Topic: Ask Golf Guru - Golf Instruction / Basic Motion

What is “perfection of motion”.

Topic: Ask Golf Guru - Golf Instruction / Styles' journey to Scratch and beyond!

Hi mate, what clubs are you hitting left? Driver, your mid/long irons irons, short irons? Many players have the ball too far back at times and it goes right as we all know. Put up your swing again (most recent one on here and let me have a look if possible) Front and behind okay.

Anyway, as for the “negative trend in your handicap”. I am a busy thesedays away from golf things but I still teach a few kids at my local club and today I went out to play with one of them in his junior competition. He plays off 3, he is 16 years of age and he is at that level of trying to get into the sub 70 rounds. Going from 3 to 2 to 1 to zero means playing some good golf and going low at times. The problem with this kid previously would be choking if he was 1 or 2 under with say 6 to play and finish 2/3 over for the round. He would start to think about his score and the pressure got to him. All he had to do was turn it around and go the other way and finish 3/4 under and that takes mind games at times. It is like if you are a 15 marker and trying to break that 80 barrier for the first time or a 27 marker trying to break 90 for the first time.
Anyway, the kid had it going at 2 under today with 4 or so to play and finally he did not choke and finished with a birdie and an eagle to have the best round of his life being -5. I was stoked for him, he was happy but the best feeling for me was that he thought he left a shot or two out on the course after the round. He went off to the putting/chipping green to work on a few things as kids do. As for me, I had a round of par so I got whipped but not to worry as I am more concerned with helping these kids get better. (I have a few injuries thesedays like a dodgy left shoulder, left wrist and lower back) courtesy of golf by the way.
What I saw in this kid today was a spring in his step, he committed to his pre-shot routine, he played smart tee-shots, played within his current ability, took a couple of risks on par 5’s which paid off and his course management was very sound obviously. He stuck to his game plan of which I have installed in his mind constantly and it is working. All he needs to do is grow, get a few more muscles on his frame and I reckon he can be a decent player in a few years. The next step for him is teaching him the art of hitting different shots with the same club. For example…a low 5 iron, a high 5 iron, the fade/draw shot on que. Once he can do these shots with confidence, he will be on his way to better things.
His short game is also good, very creative, always thinking of what may be the better shot from a given situation so he he thinking. Golf is thinking at times, just do not do it over a shot, do it well before!

Topic: Golf Equipment / Burner?

I have found the Burner to be one of the best drivers out on the market for feel, 10-15 yards extra distance and workability with the standard shaft in it. It is in my bag at the moment. I have no idea on were to get a good price on them in Australia so try the net mate as you will get them cheaper than paying for one at a retail place or golf club pro-shop unless they are hocking them off at a reasonable price.

Topic: Ask Golf Guru - Golf Instruction / Basic Motion

Hello Burner,

Hitting the green in regulation is what we all would like to do 100% of the time but it rarely happens, even for your best players. The really good touring professionals (most of them) or low markers can have an off day with missing greens but keep their score low by being a magician around the greens. If you are not a magician around the greens, you will not make much of a living. Like any player, I dislike missing a green in regulation when I am trying to hit it but it is a nice feeling to have that you have heaps on confidence and the different shots in your mind to use around a green.
One may miss a green for many reasons (a bad swing) and we all do it so what does one work on the most? You still work on your long game and approach shots but one should spend more time on the short game. Apart from improving ones swing and even if a person is a high handicapper, they will improve their score by practicing the short chips, bunker shots, putting etc. There really is not any other way Burner. It is all about experimenting with different clubs around the practice green to see what works the best for one’s game. I would suggest to people to try and not leave the practice green until you have holed a few chips.
In the end, you can put a great swing on the ball, hit it flush to the green but the ball happens to run off the back edge or whatever.

Topic: Ask Golf Guru - Golf Instruction / Keeping right elbow in close

That is interesting Publish… What is keeping your right elbow in too much on the back-swing for a right handed golfer and being too cramped throughout the swing? Many golfers will place something (when they are advised) under their right armpit and swing it too far inside at times.This can and does promote a right to right shot at times unless the person has some sexy hands or a good release. I AM ALL FOR A COMPACT SWING at times with iron play as it does eliminate faults and brings more happiness at times. A FLW is your friend but so many golfers have it to begin with but destroy it in a few seconds when that clubhead takes it journey on the wayback and it gets all messed up through impact. The head comes into play, they try to hit the ball and go for that extra 20 m…Feel the club in your hands, feel your swing, SWING EASY, inhale some fresh air and enjoy.

I miss 4XXX beer…. cheers Tai

Topic: Golf Talk / Surprise leaders at US Open

If you are good enough to get a start in the US Open, good on you. I have tried 5 times to do it and never made it through PQ between the years of 1997-2004. I had a couple of shockers of 3 or 4 over, shot a 83 one year with 2 triples and shot 4 under/5 under and missed at times. It is tough and depends on the course you have to PQ on and in which part of the world you are in to do it as well as the amount of spots available.

I disagree with Bruce that the 2 players or “no names” leading after the 1st round will not be there come the end? They may fade, or may not and If you can shoot under and be a no-name at the US Open or in any tournament with the worlds best, you are doing rather good. They are living their dream and having a good time? I certainly hope they keep up their golf for the rest of the tournament.

Bruce… Kevin is a good mate of mine. He is a flusher and ain’t no golfer who had a “I got it lucky around the paddock”. He may have a few demons come into his mind over the next few days but he is there because he is a flusher. Are you at Torrey Pines Bruce or reporting from back in Australia?

Topic: Ask Golf Guru - Golf Instruction / Basic Motion

Styles,

Back to your last post…i agree that some guys finish their time and become “slack” or could not be bothered to keep on learning. Golf is for ever changing and being a good teacher of the game is kind of like being a medical doctor. Those guys have to keep on learning and updating even after doing it for 40 years of cutting up skin and organs.

I personally have not had much exposure on the ways/the structure of the PGA in Great Britain or how it goes about training pro’s there etc so commenting on it would be 75% guesswork on my part. As for aspiring golf pro’s in Asia, the USA and Australia, I’ve had much exposure over the years with the way they go about it and would have to say that Australia pumps out the better or more qualified “teachers” of the game. If a guy is an Aussie, qualified, and good, there are endless opportunities in Asia and the USA teaching as Aussies are in demand. Maybe it is the accent?

As for the ones stuck in a shop selling mars bars and being stubborn? I have a few great mates back in Australia that sell mars bars, they get out the vacuum for the floor of their shop but have knowledge to burn and do not charge the world for golf lessons. They enjoy making a living teaching and selling Mars Bars in Australia. Making $100.000 a year selling Mars Bars, teaching golf, selling the odd pie or pastie, doing a re-grip, selling clubs…well Bob is you Uncle as the saying goes. They never wanted to play on a tour when they finished their time some 15 years ago but should of as they flushed it back then and still flush it to this day. Each to their own I suppose. If they had of went to Asia or the USA teaching, they possibly would of made more but having buns in ovens and a partner can put a stop to things and then you factor in lifestyle.

But, I still agree on some points. There are PGA guys at certain clubs all over the place that are one directional. “I know it all types”... They are in Australia, Asia, USA, possibly Great Britain and all over the world for that fact. There are always bad eggs.

Back to the thread topic: “Basic Motion”..

I have seen/heard/witnessed some guys teach utter BS to their customer’s and shook my head over the years. For example: “You can fix your OTT cut by just gripping it stronger and closing your stance?” Nice piece of instruction there! There are lunatics out there!

Anyway, I hope you are getting to you goal of getting to scratch Styles and apart from keeping the driver on the straight and working it, spend more time on that short game as that is what makes the difference as I am sure you are aware of. Staying focused on the shot at hand is a good tip mate. Over the past few weeks, I have not played much or hit balls and became rusty with my chipping and pitching from say 50 in. A couple of practice sessions hitting balls with the various wedges and bunkers situations, well, solved that rusty feeling and I got my “confidence” with those shots once again. Golf is like riding a bike, you can hit your driver and irons and be cool but when that short game is not happening…misery and “I should of made that or done that”. BECOME a freak with your short game and that is the difference. It sounds basic but it is basic. When you have a chip shot around a green and feel you can hole it when over the ball, that is the feeling you are after. Play well.

Topic: Ask Golf Guru - Golf Instruction / Styles' journey to Scratch and beyond!

Burner,
I have to ask a question….Are you a golf pro or are you a person who reads to many golf magazines and are set in your ways of education?

Topic: Golf Equipment / TaylorMade Burner Draw or Nike Saquatch Sumo Square

HugeSlice,

Having a driver that is set up so closed is, well, ugly to start with but maybe a few people like that? No, it will not make your slices turn into hooks. It may make your shots a bit straighter if anything but it depends on your SWING mate.
I will give you a great piece of advice here. TOO many people change drivers, seek a new one and tinker with drivers. Why? They believe the marketing hype that a certain driver will go straighter or longer and improve their game. Golfers get sucked in…that is the business like any business. If you are a golfer that is at a level of which you can “tinker and experiment”, go for it at your own will. If you are a golfer that struggles to find fairways, well it ain’t the driver, it is what you do after you take the club back and then impact.
As for Nike Drivers, yeah, some good gear there and who cares about the sound? Sound does not make a golf ball “go” better? They have good shafts, quality and are made by slave shop people in Asia with a gun to their head (joking) to increase productivity like most companies! Nothing against Nike and then again, nothing against Taylor Made. I have a combo of clubs from both.

Topic: Golf Equipment / Whats the best way to clean grips?

What is happening to the, “Support your local Club Pro”.

A smart Club Pro will keep his prices low for club repairs, offer discounts for members as such, and not rort customers with over inflated golf lesson prices. If he does, members go elsewhere like the internet!
Good on you Mr.Consistency for doing your own re-grips at home and I am sure your enoyed it mate. Doing the re-shafting of you irons in time and doing it properly will be your next challenge I am guessing. Fixing clubs is fun if you like it as I do mate but I just do not do it much these days.
Club bonding, is there any other way?

Topic: Golf Equipment / TaylorMade Burner Draw or Nike Saquatch Sumo Square

The Taylor Made draw driver should be renamed the Taylor Made, I am so closed driver. If you hit a slice with this driver, seek help. No pun intended.

Topic: Ask Golf Guru - Golf Instruction / Styles' journey to Scratch and beyond!

Divots, one could think of it this way. To hit a straight shot, the club face likes to be square at impact.On the range and if you have an old shaft used for alignment between the ball and your stance, divots should be square with the shaft? If they are left or right, well that is an incorrect swing path unless intended.
I know you are a low marker styles but many people have the ball in the wrong position with various irons, a stance that is too narrow or to wide and all 3 of these areas can be responsible for divots going east or west not to mention an incorrect swing path.
I am sure you do not do it but if anyone goes to a range and hits off the mats, what use is that? It does not tell you too much as what a divot can.

Topic: Ask Golf Guru - Golf Instruction / Top Aussie Coaches - Who Are they?

I suppose some of the best coaches are never heard of over time because they are in the past, not in the internet age, retired but they did some amazing things and still do even though they are not working. Many golfers new to the game just do not know about them and that is life. CE, great coach, I am biased obviously but he was and although retired, still is great. He got me to where I am, my first and only coach with this game. He taught a great player as well as many a great player in his time with his direct approach and no bullshit. Legend.
In this current age and although I do not teach now, I just believe that going back to basics is a blessing in disguise, working on those basic’s and having fear from your first teacher that he will carve you up for not doing what he advised you way back…well….I’d love to see CE again and will in time and I am know he will be the the same direct person to me and tell it to me out front. Do this, don’t do that. This is how you do it. Charlie Earp….....Legend….

Topic: Golf Talk / titleist V1 / V1x

My wedges have grooves that are almost gone as I have had them for years. Call them a trusty and rusty. It DOES come down to your ball position, your hand action of which relates to the type of shot that is produced and obviously the brains behind the shot you are trying to produce.

If you want to drop and stop from the rough onto the green from 15m or so, well you are faced with a shot that is very difficult for the average gofer. It is not easy mate. I could say, take a 64 and slide your hands under it “softly” and you will get a bride (not a birdie) but that is tough to do. It is like having “dead hands” but you have to be very precise at the same time. Try hitting a 64 (mine is bent to 66) wedge off a hardpan or bare lie with lots of bounce and picking it off the lie. If you can do that, you are getting better with parts of the short game.

I actually have a graphite shaft in my lob wedge to make it feel lighter as well as 0.5 inches longer than standard. Why? It just works for me. If you have a grinder and like to tinker with wedges, go for it and shave off some bounce, just don’t mill off too much!!!!

Topic: Golf Equipment / Which Driver

When shopping for a driver:

The are a few things to consider being the clubhead, the shaft and the the person holding the bloody thing who swings it. There are so many great shafts out on the market as well as heads but the Einstein on the end of the club is the main thing you have to work out.

If you walk into a golf retail shop and are sold one by a sales person in 15 minutes, you have been done or if a club pro sells you one in the same time, you have been done. It happens all the time (I do not work in the industry of retail) just to let you know. Go to a person who has an idea how to fit people that is honest and will not shit on you. Trust me, there are many people who do rort customers as they know you have no no idea and some of them also have no idea at the same time. Interesting eh!!! Be careful and keep your cash in your back pocket until you get good vibes from a respected golf pro.

Topic: Golf Talk / titleist V1 / V1x

A ball can help but your technique comes into play mate. Certain balls will come out lower/higher when hit and react differently on greens. If you get sucked into all the marketing hype about the top golf balls, think again. For sure Pro-V’s are a great ball, so is the Nike Platinum/Black, TP Red and Black, Srixon, Callaway HX Tour/56 Bridgestone Tour versions etc. The better the player one is or better ball striker, the better ball will do what it does for you. There are plenty of balls at a less price on the market that will do the job depending on your ability and stop almost as good.
What ball do I use? I used to use Nike balls as I had to but I use Titliest thesedays as I prefer them. It is the feel or the”click” off the face to me as well as workability. In saying this, give me a rock and I can still work the ball but not get the flight from a shot that I desire at times however I can still get spin on the greens but I play on greens that are like sponge so any ball will suck back. Any shot hit flush with a wedge and with a good technique will stop pretty good on a green. Too many people get sucked into the high priced balls believing they will find that extra benefit.

Topic: Golf Talk / Strange Happenings at the course

Maybe if you are hitting Pro-V’s and Bridge Tours into the bush you should be hitting Hotdots or RockFlights in the 1st place?

Topic: Golf Equipment / Ti Cup Face - Is this really more superior ?

This is a forum AB, we are ready….

Topic: Golf Talk / Questions for Aussie Bomber

I am going out to purchase a Bang driver now and a sleeve of Pinnacle FX Long Golf Balls.