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Post by lessthanbread on Jul 8, 2019 11:03:20 GMT -5
Hey guys,
I don't consider myself to be a terrible golfer. I can get around a course without being embarrassing. However, I usually shoot somewhere in the high 90's into the 100's. Mainly due to lost balls and 3-4 putts.
I have always been a fairly long hitter. I can get my drives 265-280 carry. 7-iron about 180 with a very high trajectory. More if I really let loose.
I believe a big problem with my game, apart from putting, is that I really like being a long hitter and I try to hit the ball as far as I can. That goes for on the tee as well as with irons. If I could swing an easy 6-iron or try to mash a 7-iron, I will usually go with the 7-iron. It just feels more natural for me to swing hard and explode through the ball. I think that stems from playing baseball all my life and my fast-twitch muscles are conditioned to fire that way.
Putting is an adventure for me. I think I am fairly good at reading break. But I am just god-awful at reading speed/distance.
The one aspect of my game that I am happy with is my short game.
You guys that are good golfers, what did you do to get good? Did it just come natural at a young age, did you get lessons to improve. Would like to especially hear from fellow long hitters that actually score well. How do you hit long but still stay within yourself to be accurate?
I would like to keep the power I have but find a way to improve accuracy, but if I have to dial it back to gain accuracy, that's fine too. I've just never tried it and it feels weird.
Bottom line, I would like to just start a thread for guys to discuss how they play in real life and what they do to get better.
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Post by catcherman22 on Jul 8, 2019 12:20:09 GMT -5
I hit the ball a long way... but I don't try and hit the ball a long way.. it just happens naturally? Does that make sense.. like I know if I swing properly, it goes... I don't need to do anything special. So while it looks like I am swinging hard at a ball, I am not putting any extra effort to hit it farther.
But in terms of how I got better.... it's 500% the short game. Being able to get up and down from spots and reducing putts per round took me from a 3-4 handicap to a +1 - 0 handicap...
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Post by lessthanbread on Jul 8, 2019 13:25:25 GMT -5
I hit the ball a long way... but I don't try and hit the ball a long way.. it just happens naturally? Does that make sense.. like I know if I swing properly, it goes... I don't need to do anything special. So while it looks like I am swinging hard at a ball, I am not putting any extra effort to hit it farther. But in terms of how I got better.... it's 500% the short game. Being able to get up and down from spots and reducing putts per round took me from a 3-4 handicap to a +1 - 0 handicap... Thanks for the reply. Pretty funny, for me the short game is the only thing that does work. I honestly might be better off missing the green to set up a pitch than hitting the green and having a 20+ foot putt. Putting is bad news bears for me |
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Post by jivesinator on Jul 8, 2019 14:02:19 GMT -5
I hit the ball a long way... but I don't try and hit the ball a long way.. it just happens naturally? Does that make sense.. like I know if I swing properly, it goes... I don't need to do anything special. So while it looks like I am swinging hard at a ball, I am not putting any extra effort to hit it farther. But in terms of how I got better.... it's 500% the short game. Being able to get up and down from spots and reducing putts per round took me from a 3-4 handicap to a +1 - 0 handicap... Thanks for the reply. Pretty funny, for me the short game is the only thing that does work. I honestly might be better off missing the green to set up a pitch than hitting the green and having a 20+ foot putt. Putting is bad news bears for me One of my favorite drills from playing on my high school team was to set up a tee 3 feet behind the hole and putt from incremental distances coming the other way, trying to get the ball to have the speed needed to go past the hole (in the hole's a bonus!) and short of the 3 ft tee. Did wonders for my lag putting. |
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Post by catcherman22 on Jul 8, 2019 14:39:33 GMT -5
Thanks for the reply. Pretty funny, for me the short game is the only thing that does work. I honestly might be better off missing the green to set up a pitch than hitting the green and having a 20+ foot putt. Putting is bad news bears for me One of my favorite drills from playing on my high school team was to set up a tee 3 feet behind the hole and putt from incremental distances coming the other way, trying to get the ball to have the speed needed to go past the hole (in the hole's a bonus!) and short of the 3 ft tee. Did wonders for my lag putting. Agreed... this was a focus of mine when I got better... to raise my scrambling stats, and reduce the number of 3 putts... |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 8, 2019 16:38:16 GMT -5
This is the least golf I have played in probably 10 years. A lot of rain and too busy with kids and work.
Putting tips that might help some.
Point your right index finger down the shaft. This helps stabilize the putter head. Lift up the putter head at a slight angle towards you. This helps free the club from the ground. It also helps swing the club a little to the inside. Then don't take such a big backswing. The farther you take it back the bigger chance for a pull or push. Think of it like a quick pop swing.
Another thing that helps is Mark a line down your ball. Use that everytime you putt to pick your line. Trust me it helps.
Finally try and have the same routine for every putt and don't move your head!
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Post by jacobkessler on Jul 8, 2019 17:06:57 GMT -5
Seems like I play less and less every year now. 10 years ago I played 5 times a week, now I play just once or twice a month  I’ve also seen my handicap get worse over the past couple years. Summer of 2016 I was a 6, now I’m at an 8 (best was a 2 back in 2010). I hit it decently far (270 yards would be my average driver) but my short game is not good, especially chipping. The biggest issue I’ve had this season is loss of control over my irons. I used to be able to hit accurate approaches, but when I’m missing greens from the middle of the fairway, it’s a domino effect that leads to more chips and longer putts. So while my score has definitely gotten worse, I think it looks worse than it is. The sacrifices I’ve made in my game are worth it, though. I have 3 kids with a 4th coming and my wife and I are happier than ever. So while I have less time golfing, I have more time with the family, which is always a good thing. Big thing I’m working on at the range is accuracy. I fully expect to lose some strokes chipping every round, but if I can limit the number of greens I miss, my score and handicap will drop. My goal is to get back to a 6 by the end of next summer. |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 8, 2019 17:53:44 GMT -5
I think I saw my peak come and go. 2 years ago I was breaking 80 a lot. But I did put the time in. A lot of practice and a lot of playing. I doubt I'll ever go back to those scores consistently again unless I sell my business or win the lottery. One thing that would help is if my two sons were more interested in golf. I have had the oldest playing since he was 2 . He could be good but never seems that interested. When I was his age I would get so excited to play. Couldn't wait to get out there. That's just not something you can teach though.
Another tip. Buy those yellow foam balls and hit them in your backyard. They can really help. I used a 8 iron and it would go about 80 yards or so.
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Post by cliffs on Jul 9, 2019 6:14:19 GMT -5
Funny thing this game of golf. Most want to hit it a country mile. A lot have a decent iron game. More have a real good short game...
Why is that?
One major reason is because when/if we go to the "driving" range, we work on our clubs for hitting those distances....or practice.
How many of you go to a course and ignore the range but go spend an hour or more just putting on the putting grid?
I go to a course, putt for about an hour, warm up my muscles on the driving range (without hitting any balls) and then grab my tee time.
I know, not everyone has that type of time but the only way to get better is practice and if putting is your downfall, then ...practice.
And the best part....putting greens don't cost anything to use as you have your own balls, not a bucket of range balls.
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Post by lessthanbread on Jul 9, 2019 6:58:27 GMT -5
Funny thing this game of golf. Most want to hit it a country mile. A lot have a decent iron game. More have a real good short game... Why is that? One major reason is because when/if we go to the "driving" range, we work on our clubs for hitting those distances....or practice. How many of you go to a course and ignore the range but go spend an hour or more just putting on the putting grid? I go to a course, putt for about an hour, warm up my muscles on the driving range (without hitting any balls) and then grab my tee time. I know, not everyone has that type of time but the only way to get better is practice and if putting is your downfall, then ...practice. And the best part....putting greens don't cost anything to use as you have your own balls, not a bucket of range balls. I’ll be the first to admit my putting game suffers because the only time I “work on it” is the few minutes I’m waiting for the first tee to clear |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 9, 2019 7:15:13 GMT -5
Practice is irrelevant if you don't know how to get better.
if you spend an hour on the putting green with same shitty putt mechanic then you will accomplish nada.
And don't do what pros do. You are not one. Drives me nuts when people take 5 practice swings, check the wind then hit it 10 feet.
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Post by HeMan1202 on Jul 9, 2019 8:16:29 GMT -5
Here is my golf tip for you;
Do NOT take golf advice from random people on the internet (I am not saying they are not good but most likely they are not instructors). Things can go from good/ok to very bad when you tinker not knowing what or why you are doing it. If you want to get better go get some lessons from a pro and practice.
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Post by cliffs on Jul 9, 2019 8:21:36 GMT -5
Here is my golf tip for you; Do NOT take golf advice from random people on the internet (I am not saying they are not good but most likely they are not instructors). Things can go from good/ok to very bad when you tinker not knowing what or why you are doing it. If you want to get better go get some lessons from a pro and practice. Contradict much? |
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Post by lessthanbread on Jul 9, 2019 8:32:31 GMT -5
Here is my golf tip for you; Do NOT take golf advice from random people on the internet (I am not saying they are not good but most likely they are not instructors). Things can go from good/ok to very bad when you tinker not knowing what or why you are doing it. If you want to get better go get some lessons from a pro and practice. Yeah but this advice is free  haha I guess I made this thread to get some advice but also just to start a real life golf discussion for anyone to discuss how they play the game |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 9, 2019 10:57:38 GMT -5
I agree you should not take random advice from the internet. Those tips work for me and will not help everyone obviously. The putting tips are solid though and have helped some friends of mine improve. Pros can be great but they can also be like bad therapists and make you worse.
What I do is take what I want from lessons or tips from other people then take that and make it my own. Pros tend to want you to swing like a pro. A lot of us are never going to be able to do that. My muscle memory is set to swing to the outside producing a fade. I will never be able to swing to the inside to hit a consistent draw. What has every pro I have ever had lessons from do? Try and get me to the inside. So I tell them I want eliminate the left side of the course. Then they get it and work on that. Like anything in life you have to tell people what you want out of their time. If not they will just do what they think is right.
Anyway I never said what HC I was. I am a 11 now but because I have not played at all this year probably more like a 20.
My boys are in golf camp next week so I brought them to range this morning (not so hot) and I figured out what I was doing wrong the last time I played. I was gripping the club to tight with my right hand. Which caused all sorts of issues. Loosened it and boom was hitting a nice high fade.
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haha I guess I made this thread to get some advice but also just to start a real life golf discussion for anyone to discuss how they play the game