E. H. Taylor

Since my daughter was born July 18th I have only been able to play 3 rounds. Understandably, I went from playing 2 times a week to 2 times per month. I'm getting ready to play a couple times this week while on vacation and because I'm quite rusty, it got me thinking. What do serious golfers (handicap not important) do when they get to play for the first time in a while to knock of the rust? I will have time to hit the range for 1 hour before each round and that's it. I think my short game is going to be terrible so I might try and work on chipping and 15 footers for 15 min each, also mid irons and driving for 10 min each. Thoughts?

I have gamed Pro 225s since last year as my first set of players distance irons, I've played 50 rounds with them. When I started with them I was a 15.5 trending better and thought they'd be a better fit than my Rogue X's that I still had. Turns out that was correct, as I've gotten better I appreciate the club change more than ever. To your question, I have noticed several times, when I will catch a serious flier that is further than my normal distance. When it happens I have struck the ball on the thin side, but rather than feeling shock in my hands it feels pure. Almost like that's how far the club is always supposed to go, but because I don't hit the perfect sweet spot that much my numbers are much less. I checked my Arccos for specifics. I average 140 with my 9i and 128 with my PW, total distances. Two instances I have hit in the last 20 rounds were a 9i uphill that went 181. I felt I needed to hit it firm for the distance so I freely stepped on one, but was blown away. Instead of hitting it 150 max I hit it 181. Another time a similar thing happened with my PW and it went 155. The middle was 130, pin in front, I swung normal and caught a flier from the fairway that went way long. Both times I was bewildered and just had to move on without an answer. I think it happens once every 10 rounds or even less, so I'm keeping mine for sure, I love them! If it were happening at a much higher rate I would have to consider changing as well. Yet it is concerning hitting a 5i 238 when I average 186.

I see how you'd think swing away means as hard, or nearly as hard, as possible. I'm comfortable at 108 mph but can full swing 110-115 mph all day so I feel like I'm at 95%. 108 mph feels natural and leads to 54% FIRs, at 110 mph I'd probably drop to 45% and 115mph around 15%. Based on what you said I feel like I might be doing about what you suggest, unless I understand what you're saying differently. I give up the same 7 mph as pros and hit the same 54% according to Arccos, albeit with 30 yards less distance and 1.5 penalty strokes off the tee per round. One of my conundrums is if I go down to 260 yards (85-90%) and hit .5 penalty strokes per round, for example, is that worth it? I've seen some of the data on strokes gained, but someone should create a strokes gained strategy calculator. Another for me to answer, is do I want to say I shoot 86 from the further back tees or 84 from closer?

I usually cheer myself up by realizing that if 4-5 things had gone differently I would have had a better than average day. That's usually how I have bad days, I don't get breaks, rim out a few putts, have a bad bunker hole. I try to keep expectations on the range so I don't put pressure on myself in the first place. That helps me remain ware that bad rounds happen.

I can hit what I call a "Baby Driver" reasonably accurate. I tee it normal and swing 80% resulting usually in a 5-10 yard faded 245 yard drive typically. When I take speed off my drives I hit more fairways and avoid penalties like anyone but with OB left and right on every hole I'd have to do it the whole round to eliminate OB. I swing away for 54% fairways and 271 yards. Would 245 yards and say 75% fairways lower my score more than 1 penalty and 20 yards?

I guess it's a little of all of the above. I have been hitting my long irons and 3H exceptionally well lately. I don't think moving back helps remove them but it may not make them occur more often, I'm not sure. The part of the book related to advancing without bringing penalties into play has long been part of my strategy. From these current tees I can hit driver potentially over water and through necks into some birdie opportunities. Doing so is only for scrambles though as I am likely to hit double.

I'm struggling to remove errant drives from my game, there's no doubt. Where I am landing the ball on a few holes is sometimes 50 yards past the widest part of the hole where things tighten up and contributes. If I don't decide to switch, I'm committing to pull driver less. I've noticed that some of the guys who are single digits and hit my distance, hit driving irons on 2-4 holes that I do not. I have a 4 driving iron that I need to get better with for sure.

That's a really good point, it made me really think about what you said. I think I would have to say in thinking about it, in the long run I'd rather of course just be better. I've played the further back tees 6-7 times on my own. It feels harder, obviously, but I haven't consistently played it enough to gauge how my scoring would average. I agree there's some course management strategy mixed in. I've been reading the Four Foundations of Golf, which is a strategy and stats based book using Arccos and ShotScope statistics. It's given me the mindset of taking more club, and being okay swinging within myself as opposed to swinging hard. In my last 20 rounds, I'm hitting .8 Birdies, 6.1 Pars, 6.7 Bogeys, and 4.4 Double or worse, 54% FIRs and 35% GIRs.

I'm trying to figure out if I can play at a "higher level" by teeing it up further back. I am an 11, Arccos shows I drive 271 average, 5i 180, PW 125. I've gotten comfortable in the last year playing combination tees that measure 6,200 because that's the commonly played tees at the course and in my group. I'm considering moving back to 6,600 tees permanently (the next are 7,100) but I'm hesitant due to widespread OB and my 1.5 penalty strokes per round off the box. There's OB both sides on every hole, it's not tight, although with my length I mishit one OB 2 out of 3 rounds. I'm forced to lay up on 3 holes because driving would bring water significantly into play with driver and even 3 wood. It was dry for my last round and I smoked a 5i 230 right up to a water hazard. There's another 2 holes that I am thinking of hitting hybrids or irons instead of Driver/3W just due to my landing spots being in tight areas. I think It may be hurting me more by teeing off with such short clubs and that I may be forced into lame risk/reward decisions. Here's my strategy question: Would moving back 400 yards or even 900 yards result in a difference in handicap to make up for scoring ability? Obviously no one will know for sure, but what do you all think? I'd like to get to single digits this year and hope switching tees may help just a little.

In reading the majority of the thread, I gather opinions are relative, which isn't a surprise. I think everyone who plays municipal courses should be able to do so without shirts tucked in, hats forward etc. and if you want to dress more formally do so at your own behest. I agree that the dress code at casual courses hurts the game significantly more than it helps it, that code needs changing at some courses. I think it's appropriate for private clubs to set a code that must be adhered to based on their memberships. I could see how Augusta National wouldn't allow hats, jeans, short, etc. in the clubhouse however at our course, all are fine. Relative to our membership, collard shirts are required to be tucked in, no jeans on the course, no cargo shorts and hats forward. It's very appropriate to our membership and was clearly presented when I joined. I specify to my guests the code before playing the first time.

Music helps me put it on cruise control and play my best golf. I don't seem to get into the Zone as often when not listening. I am considerate and play music heard only 10 or so feet out of my cart even when playing with my normal groups. If I wanted it louder they wouldn't care, I know because we play often and I know them well enough. If I am with someone new in my cart I ask if they mind if I play music that spans several decades and genres without rap. Based on their age and answer, I gage volume level and use one of 3 playlists. IF they specify that they're not into music I tell them I can quietly play an instrumental station on Pandora. Usually people are good with that, if they weren't I could go without, but respectfully compromising goes both ways. After that round I'd indirectly try to have them ride in the other cart for future rounds, because lack of music takes away from my round slightly. IF they told me I couldn't play music quietly in my cart and they in theirs, I'd just commit to playing it ultra low and keeping distance so they couldn't hear it during a shot. Luckily I've never been asked not to play music. I think I'm respectful enough with it, and the membership is relaxed enough that it's not been and won't ever be a problem.

I game the Mizuno Pro 225s with Project X LZ 120 shafts. I play Titliest -ProV1x balls which are not soft, it still feels like I'm hitting marshmallows, the Mizunos are buttery.

Hello Everyone, I've been all over MyGolfSpy for years but I'm just really starting to get into the forum. 1) I've golfed for 6 years, seriously for the last 5, prior to that it was 1-2 round per year. I played 55 full rounds last year and have already played 30 full this year. 2) I love the culture, the passion from many, the enjoyment from all. I love that no matter how deep I dive, I can't find all of the answers, and can only improve so much, perfection is impossible and the journey never ending. 3) I stumbled on MGS 5 years ago and immediately appreciated the non-biased information. The equipment reviews are top notch. 4) Louisville, KY - Lake Forest CC 5) Kentucky topography creates beautiful, challenging courses no matter where you play. There aren't enough Louisville area courses that are at a good price point and quality. I think it's a result of the city owning a dozen courses that are largely overcrowded and or underfunded. 6) I'm an Aircraft Dispatcher 7) Neat

Overpowered is essentially, driving 4 fours easily. Or laying up with long irons yet not having a mid or long in, having a wedge in. The easiest way is to look at mid and early 20th century US Open locations. Some of them have been able to add length but many have not. Obviously the logistics matter for hosting an event, but that’s a secondary issue to the course first qualifying as host based on layout. I agree that narrow and long roughs are helpful and almost the only thing for some of these courses. The why behind the historical courses could be because of a desire to relive history. Or it could just be a desire not to be able to relive a more current history. If the ball continued to improve, along with equipment, 330 yard drives may become the tour average. At that point most guys on a modern course can keep it well within play and would be going driver-wedge on every par 4. To an extent that watching it would become a little boring. Something, nobody wants either.

The rollback somewhat makes sense for the PGA tour. Much of the historical courses which measure under 6800 yards couldn't host an event today as scores would average in the mid 60s. Reducing the ball a 3% probably would be a good idea for the sport at a professional level. However, at the average club, the majority of the membership plays a single set of tees which is almost never the tips. So there seems to be a targeting of those with a 105+ mph swing speed with this rollback. Almost as if the USGA wishes for the handicap system to hold true even when steady Eddie and his 230 yard drives has to play from the tips with someone in the 270+ yard average drive distance.