Topic: Ask Golf Guru - Golf Instruction / Chip flips

A few years ago I had the “yips” with chip shots from just off the green. I would be thinking, “it is just 30 feet to the hole, run a 8 iron or shut the face on a PW. At times, I would take a putter when I had some fringe in-front of me but still would yip it. It was destroying my game basically. I somehow lost my distance control either coming up short or too long. It was then tougher to make a 6 footer than a 2 footer and golf is frustrating close to the hole as we all know.
The problem was using my right hand too much and not the actual ball position or lie I may of been in. I overcame it by spending many hours on the chipping green just hitting balls with my left hand. I learnt that my right hand helps but my left hand is the key but I already knew that. A FLW is what one needs if you are a right handed player.
So, hitting a one handed shot with your wedge from say 10/20/30/40 50 metres is not easy but you can do it if you have trust in what you are doing. Ask any one armed golfer how they do it and can still hit great shots…amazing they are. If you ever have the chance to play golf with a person who has one arm or one leg and they can still knock it around in 90-100 gross in a comp? I have learnt so many things from people with an arm or leg that is not available to them. It is just great to have a hit with these guys and they have no problem with playing for a few beers or skins. Game on!!!
Golf is a great game, frustrating at times….....Win or lose the game….who gives a shit?

Topic: Golf Talk / Mickelson miracle wins Crowne Plaza

Love him or hate him, career tournament earnings of $49 million say a few things.

Topic: Golf Talk / Fantasy fourball

In playing with Jesus, the Dalai and Mohammed, what would the golf course location be? It would have to be neutral? One may need a Pope Mobile buggy on the course.

Topic: Golf Talk / Golfing pet hates

Never been to Riverlands Lowie so obviously have no idea what computer system they use for handicaps/comp results/processing etc. As Brett has mentioned or where I am, we use software called “powergolf” and within 30 minutes after the final comp card is handed in, all handicaps are updated.

Topic: Ask Golf Guru - Golf Instruction / Shadow Practice

You are on the range at your course before /after your competition or maybe you are hitting pill’s at the range down the road before/after work. Regardless, you have the sun over your back so your shadow is in full view when you are busting that pill.

Do you like it? Does it tell you things? Does it help? Do you dislike it?

It is the same on the putting green when you are putting or having a few chips.

Your thoughts?

Topic: Golf Equipment / SuperQuad TP Bargain

I saw a job advert for TM last week. It was for an Area/Territory Sales Manager/Rep blah blah in SEQ. Not than I am looking for a new job but if you are into golf, go for it I suppose?

The thing that I found funny about the advert was:
........ You must love/have a passion for golf and a University Degree in being able to bullshit with regards to sales/marketing and networking.

On the upside, think of the free gear you get being a rep and the deals you may have to confront with all of your new mates that appear all of a sudden?

As Smoothbooth has said, TM do bring out a model every couple of months or whatever it is and you are a sacrificial lamb if you pay full wack for it. It is the same with other companies that are always putting out the next best, added distance (so called) bats.

I had to laugh back in October 2007, by memory when I walked into a golf retail outlet just to have a look. They had a TM (TP) Driver that was…wait for it, was $1049, now $499. How many golfers were rorted on that one I wonder? A trick in the golf industry is to inflate the RRP and then advertise the new special price.

Topic: Golf Talk / Golfing pet hates

Hmmm.. At times I get pissed off when members call up after their day job ends to find out what their tee time is for the next day? It is so easy to check the golf club website to find this out? It take a few clicks and bingo…your time is there? It is fair to say that the older generation do not have the best computer skills but all I can say is learn? It is easy.
It is getting an old fella into the shop and you have to listen to his life story with golf….......You listen, smile, no problems mate and then you go and hit your head at times? Funny.

Topic: Golf Equipment / Lie angle - demo clubs/trying before buying?

If you are hitting them good, why change? The old saying, if it ain’t broken, don’t fix it. Resist the urge to tinker unless you have to.

Topic: Ask Golf Guru - Golf Instruction / same distance different clubs

It could be many things? Depending on the clubs/brand you have, your lofts could be out, your shaft length in certain clubs may be wrong. Maybe your 9 iron is the same length as your PW? Go and get them checked out with your local pro. As for how long you should hit each club? We are all different hummers. As an example, if you hit a 5 iron 150, add on around 10% for your 4iron etc as a guide.

Topic: Golf Talk / Putters are your security!

Hi guys, thanks for having a read and offering your replies. I must also add, I do not give a hoot about the putter head, being safe is the main thing. I guess you could also say, when a conflict arises, you do what you do. Instinct comes into play. I could think of nothing worse than using my fist on some scum. I would have to wash my fist afterwards and train stations are not known for hygienic toilets are they?
I got a phone call from the police today and the guy got sown back together at the hospital and then did a runner from the hospital. Apparently, he is wanted for other things but the police could not say why to me. I guess he will be out on the streets again behaving as a citizen right now?
As for a practice swing or why I didn’t use a 2iron, no practice swing as it was over in a flash, no FLW I reckon, as i had the putter in a baseball style and swung it like an axe. I did make that chink sound when it snapped like what happens when you hit a tree with your shaft or your shaft just breaks if is was old. So hopefully, won’t have to be catching a train again for a while. On my way back from having a social hit today, I stopped in at my local bottlo and the guy who works there plays golf as well so I told him what happened. He laughed and said to me that he has to put up with that all the time. They walk into the shop and try and steal bottles of rum/bourbon etc. I guess it is harder to steal a slab of rum cans with the price increase now. So instead, they will get a bottle of rum and have even stronger mixes with their bottle of coke from the 711? Where is the extra tax on glue, can we lower the tax on thongs so they can at least were footwear. Not trying to go down the side of politics but Sidman started it! Take care boys.

Topic: Golf Talk / Golfing pet hates

Yes, 5 hour comp rounds are painful. Luckily, I do not play in them. It does amaze me and the other people I work with that we get the blame for it though. With 8 minute intervals between tee times, people turning up late, not turning up at all, sitting in the bar until the last minute and other things…what should be a 4 hour 15 minute round turns into a 5ver. You get your choppers who dome it, you also get you good players who do have to wait for a par 5 to clear but then dome it. It would be great for the comp to be on time all the time but it does not happen much. Then you have to explain to social players that their booked teed time is 20 minutes late and you get attitude from them. At the end of the day, that is golf, you have to smile and love it. It is kind of like giving a lesson, a person turns up 10 minutes late so the next person booked has to wait longer, you say sorry and most people will understand but there is always that customer who takes the approach anally about it. That is golf! A storm in a teacup!

Topic: Golf Talk / Golfing pet hates

I dislike people who do not fix up their pitch marks on the green or tap down some spikes marks after they have finished putting, even as a social player. It is so easy to do. I dislike people who take a practice swing, take a divot and do not repair it as well as their real shot? But that is social players at times, they are there for fun and are the bread and butter for so many courses. Just wish they had a think about things at times. Members are guilty as well but not as much.

Topic: Golf Equipment / What's ur fav club??

I do not think I have a fav club in the bag as I like hitting all of them. As for a fav shot, I really enjoy hitting a 2/3 iron off a lie that is rather bare and seeing it come off. Hitting a driver off the deck when you have a nice/slightly uphill lie and pull it off is also fun. At the end of the day, hitting those wedges solid and getting your putting stroke going is also enjoyable.

Topic: Golf Talk / Putters are your security!

I had to catch a train to and from work today due to my car being serviced. On my way home, I took a putter with me to try out for 2morrow as Thursday is my day off. Anyway, minding my own business having a smoke off the train platform, I am confronted by a person asking me for a smoke. I said no and that was it. This person happened to be drunk, had a bandage on his hand and in the other hand, a bottle of glue you could say. He then started going off his head because I said no to a smoke and then he said he was born in this country? Possibly, the glue was playing with his mind. A few harsh words by him towards me made me laugh. He then did the wind up and tried to snot me. He missed, I dropped my bag and laptop on the ground, had my putter in hand and then wound it up and bang, broke the shaft over his melon. The putter head (a Ping Redwood) fell down onto the train track into the darkness. Gone! It was witnessed by security, on camera, the police came, I gave a statement so no problems for me. It was self defence on my part.
So, I then get home late, miss the kick-off to the Origin Footy and am less a putter head. It has been a different day.
I am sure the indigenous brother with a massive headache will think twice before wanting to assault a dude with a golf club in the future? Maybe he can’t remember or even knew what he was doing? I reckon I should start selling 2 part epoxy at train stations but then again, we have to try and prevent this sort of thing!!
Does anyone want a putter lesson?
Cheers boys…

Topic: Ask Golf Guru - Golf Instruction / Let's Talk GOLF MACHINE!

Hey Dart,

45 years teaching golf? That is a looooong time… I reckon we must have a game sometime in the future. You and me vs Guru and Lag Pressure. It would be a blast I reckon!

Topic: Ask Golf Guru - Golf Instruction / Best Pattern Past and Present

The best plane in golf is to be on a a jet..a plane flight. Just don’t crash land…..

Topic: Golf Talk / When is the weather too bad??

Any golfer who plays when the sky is not so nice with bolts in the distance is either insane or keen?

Topic: Golf Equipment / What's Your Brand?

Playing off a 20 handicap and you use an 8.5 degree driver? I know it gets windy at Pacific Harbour.

Topic: Golf Equipment / golf balls - 3 piece over 2 piece...

At 122mph…you should be on a tour.

Topic: Ask Golf Guru - Golf Instruction / MAINTAINING BALANCE

Finally…..the PHANTOM has arrived.

108mph/240m driver:- We have something in common mate. 112mph 4me.

Yes, you may be swinging too hard at the ball so just hang back for a while. You have the swing speed so like I have said, take a bit off and concentrate on your tempo. Stance, spine tilt, weight distribution are all important but do not think of all 3 of them in your swing mate!. A slightly wider stance can help with balance though.

Topic: Ask Golf Guru - Golf Instruction / Let's Talk GOLF MACHINE!

I’d also like to say that a teacher of this game is always learning so this is my theory in point form:-
1. No matter how much one may know about the golf swing, there is always something else to learn.
2. As Lag has said, “Fresh Clay”, the easiest and best students to teach as they have…well…no “real” bad habits.
3. Using Band Aids? For sure! The thing is, certain people just want to score more consistently and at times, have no chance in hell of getting to a lower handicap. You can show a person, this is how you do it but they do not have the skill, time, patience to make use of it. This is when a band aid comes handy. YOU tell them there and then that it is only a band aid.
4. A teacher is a person who “teaches” but also “learns” from each time he/she does it. One learns to approach an individual as that, an individual…

Make sense?

Topic: Ask Golf Guru - Golf Instruction / Let's Talk GOLF MACHINE!

Aussie Bomber…
Good luck to you if you can bomb it. You have gone from wanting to smack the shit out of the ball and then get all technical about the swing? A tip or an update for you. Many boys go long…I have a nice car.

Topic: Ask Golf Guru - Golf Instruction / Building a swing

I am not confused but I am rather sure that so many golfers on this forum are confused with technical jargon here? Are people here (in the know) able to relax or chill out and speak in terms that forum users can understand? I am speaking for the forum users that are guys or ladies playing off mid to high handicaps?

Topic: Golf Talk / How do you find the time to play?

How does one find the time to play golf?

PART A:
1. Make sure that when you get married that your partner understands that golf is part of the package.
2. Buy her a laptop, install golf video games on it to get her involved in golf.
3. Let her drive the golf cart and hopefully she will not run into tree’s or off a bridge. Be nice as she is the one driving home after the 19th.

And..or…

PART B:
1. Do not work at a golf course as you do not get to play much unless you tell your partner that you have to go to work early or work an extra day.
2. Leave your clubs at the golf course as your wife/girlfriend will not know if you are going golfing at times.
3. Put your mobile on voice-mail.
4. Lie about your finishing time at work (if you work at a golf course) as it does work. Just make sure you tell your fellow workmates that you are not playing golf, but tied up with something and will call back.

PART C:
1. Sometimes telling fibs, well you get busted from the wife.
2. I always say, “honey” you married a golfer and this is me so deal with it.
3. Here is the credit card, go shopping honey. Smiles there!

PART D:
1. “Honey”, I bought some high heels 2day.. That is great honey as now you have 23 pairs of shoes as opposed to my 1 pair of footjoys, thongs and a couple of runners.

So fella’s, golf can be played all the time but it takes a very understanding wife/partner and bribery at times to make it all possible.

I look back on times when the wife and me spent nights at airports using my golf bag as a pillow and I used to joke that she could have as many shoes and handbags as she wanted in time. Back then, it was tough on the wallet but you do what you do and go for it. The wife would say, “you better play well”.

The wife do this day racks up the card on shoes so I guess I made my promise come true! I just wish I could get them at cost for her but not many golf companies make high heels.

So guys…love your wife/partner and they like the chink-chink at times, some TLC and they will understand. Maybe they want you out of the house for the day?

Topic: Ask Golf Guru - Golf Instruction / Wet bunker play in winter

Practice is the only way. You need to have smart hands and some ticker as well (and a head on your shoulders) and confidence and this comes from practice. I could show you how to hit the shot in person but will it work for you? No…it will not. It is practice!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Grab your shag bag and bury your head in a bunker weekly!