westy

Whiskey, Yep had that lull - but I found it was linked in a general downturn in other things in my life. When things started to pick up I found my desire to play came with it. But if your happy - then no worries, it may be a bit of time off will help rekindle things.

I usually carry a couple of flapjack bars, because when I don't I start to lose concentration on the last 6. Chocolates ok, but the quick energy leads to a crash pretty quickly - same is true of energy drinks for me. So I stick to water, mind you I often have a coffee on the first tee which lasts a few holes. Not sure caffeine is a good idea but hey at 7 in the morning I need coffee.

Played Friday night in a club match, finished at 8.30pm. Back at our place at 7.20 the next morning on the first tee. I think ideally I need longer between rounds that 11 hours. First tee shot topped out of the heel, rolled along the cart path and hit the marshals hut and went out of bounds. Nice double to start, but from then on hit it smooth and got up and down on the last three to shoot 74. Made some nice putts, chipped nicely and held my nerve down the stretch. Had just popped up to 7 last week so this should get me back to 6. Just wish the weather would improve - may have to trade the sticks in for an ark soon.

Interesting start to the year, 87 then 84 then 77. Strangely I think I'm striking the ball worse as the scores get lower! But my word the chipping and putting is coming back nicely. Should have been better than 77 today really, but hey when don't we say that. The double at 17 hurt for sure, dumped the drive straight right into the cabbage and never saw it again. But holed a good 6 footer at the last to play to the handicap. Next round on Saturday and then first match of the season for the club on Thursday.

Unbelievably I've actually bought less equipment since I started reading this site and asking a few questions - and what I've bought has stayed in the bag longer! So in short you've saved me money and stopped my wife taking my credit card away...... Interestingly a more settled bag of sticks has, I'm sure, been part of the improvement in my game.

Erm so new handicap is 6 - was aiming for 8 this season! Been a good month. Wow, going to really have to practice to play to that consistently!

Winter golf really kicking in now; dark, wet and cold (not US cold of course!) So pretty damn pleased with 72 shots As always waiting for the computer to be updated but possibly down to 7.0 ; just holing puts from 5 to 10 feet that I never used to and what a difference 28 or 29 makes to having 37 or 38 which I've been used to throughout my 20 years of golf. Highlight came at the last, 25 footer that never looked anywhere else for my only birdie of the day. 3 bogies, 1 birdie and a whole load of pars. It's fun on the course at the moment

Cheers Matt

Finally finished off a good start today; made three good pars down 16, 17 and 18 for a 71. That should bring the handicap down to 7.8; which once confirmed (come on hcp secretary sort the computer out!) will be my lowest ever handicap. Had an awesome day with the short stick as well, 29 putts with the cut down belly (never compromise sub 30 - fitted with fatso grip). Treating myself to a large Irish whisky to celebrate.

Good luck with the new stick.....heavy headed putters can work well for some people. Took a very quick picture of my Frankenstein esque belly putters just now whilst venting at the death of cleveland (squares on a putter...) Sorry not great but it's late and I'm not getting the camera out when I've got the iPad to hand. Won't get asked to review much with that quality of picture! So that's a Nike Drone cut to 37.5 inches (waiting on new grip), Yes Sandy cut to 37.5 inches (fitted with Superstroke 17 inch grip) and lastly a Never Compromise Sub 30 Type 50 cut to 34.5 inch (fitted with a Superstroke fatso). The NC is going in the bag for a few weeks as the Yes has gone a bit cold on me.

Yep it did cost me a few £ - finished second by a shot! But my major annoyance is that i didn't get down to 8.....2 months of the year let to achieve my main goal for the season. Always frustrating when it happens, but it's helped me think about my club selection on 17 and 18 if I've got a decent round going in the future. I also came as close to a hole in one as I have since my only one so far, 4 hybrid into our 220 yard par 3 lipped out and finished 2 feet away. Only the second time in 7 years as a member of the course I've birdied the hole! Yep love to have a game Rev, geography not our friend.....but never say never. Any MGS folk get over to the UK and decide to head to Celtic Manor then drop me a line - only 30 miles from my front door.....

Whiskey, have you got a pipe cutter? I find that works great for shafts - as for fitting grips, well that's not the hardest - if I can do it then anyone can. Mind you a good repair shop should be able to do it in a couple of minutes and it gives piece of mind that you've lined the grip up properly.

43 finch putter you can grip without anchoring? You must be a giant! Anything over 38 inches anchors for me. But I am quite short.....

As Rick says obviously the putter can be impacted, I've so far cut down my Yes! sandy and my nike drone. I decided that I was happy to risk this with my collection on the grounds they'd become pretty much worthless (thanks r and a) and I needed to get away from anchoring. I've yet to re grip the nike, but what I've done is to cut the grip off just below where I want to cut the shaft so that I can play with weights before re gripping for good - so it's still got grip where I hold it. I've also cut a never compromise sub 30 down to 34 inches (it's a type 50 so centre shafted) and stuck on a fatso grip. Ultimately best bet is to take off small amounts of shaft at a time and see what works for you - but I'd recommend the Superstroke belly putter grip (the 17 inch one) for your project once your happy with length and weight. Will get some pictures online in the next day or so - got to be honest I think the Yes! Is as effective as anything I've had in the last 10 years.

Well I've been butchering my belly putters through this season, I've cut a Yes! sandy down from 43 inches to 37.5. I've then added a Superstroke belly putter. I'm gripping the putter at around 34.5 inches. The 3 inches out of the top balance the heavier putter head nicely (most belly putter heads are a bit heavier unless I'm mistaken). Oh and of course it's not anchored. Anyway try it without weight first, you might be pleasantly surprised.

Damn and possibly blast; shot 76 today - but finished bogey, double, double. Really frustrating, but no doubt I sniffed a really low score and stiffened up. Real shame as this would have got me down to 8.0 if I'd finished with 3 bogeys! As is I'll probably be down to 8.6.... Ah well, probably cost me a few pounds in winnings as well. Still, very pleased with ball striking for 15 holes. Particularly enjoyed hitting 13 of the first 15 greens in reg.

Sorry your all wrong . If this was the best blade today in the mainstream market then yep probably mizuno but of all time? Nope sorry. The greatest blades of all time are either the Maruman 41cx Conductor or the Hogan Apex; I'd put the Macgregor VIP's in there as well. I've played mizuno and Wilson blades in the past, cleveland and bridgestone more recently - none of them come close to the Marumans or Hogans. Mizuno in my very humble opinion are good but frankly a bit over priced and over rated.

Whisky thread - yay. I play off 3 when it comes to booze! It's great living in the uk; we have easy access to great whisky from Scotland, Wales, even England (we don't do it as well as I'd like though) and of course Ireland. Oh and many other countries as well. I like my whisky a little less dramatic than an Islay - fine and all that but I like my throat where it is - for me glenfiddichs, glenlivets, oban, glenmorangie and isle of Jura are my regular scotch whisky. But I'm at least if not more fond of irish and their blended is better hands down. As for their pot stilled - wow, try Redbreast 12 year old. From other countries I'm a huge fan of japanese and Yamazaki in particular, from the US I've liked the L and G Woodford reserve and gentleman Jack (cheaper end of the market but its harder to get US whisky - which is a shame) - this winter I'm hoping to get some more unusual stuff.....African? Taiwanese? My best bottle ever...Middleton very rare, a present from a friend and took me 6 months to drink but my god it was exceptional. To expensive to share with anyone!

Yesterday I won my second comp of the year and got cut a little bit; which is great......but Birdied 7, 8 and 9 - to go to 2 under. Was level stood in the middle of the 15th fairway and caught a huge nosebleed (metaphorically) ended up dropping 6 in the last 4 holes. Made some poor decisions and then backed those up with more poor decisions. Can only put it down to nerves. So yep playing well - hit first 12 greens in reg and in total hit 14 green out of 18. Chipping and putting feels better but the thing between my ears is letting me down a bit. Anyone got any tips for finishing it off?

This is the view from the patio (the 19th hole) at my course, across the Severn estuary to Wales. Taken on blackberry so not great, but hopefully you can see the bridge..... Probably the first day this year we could see Wales! No rain, snow, fog.....still windy though.

75 shots today; best ball striking day of the season by some margin. Best moment came at the hardest hole (CSS 1) hit an 8 iron out of the rough and lipped out for eagle, 1 inch tap in - my length! 3 birdies at par 4's. Anyway hit 16 greens, but of course it hides a few truths when you hit it 60 feet from the pin! Handicap back down to solid 9 - which is nice.

79 whacks on Wednesday night, lost the midweek comp on count back. Missed from 10 feet on the last for the winning birdie....ah well. First time in 6 weeks the ball striking felt half good, chipping a bit better, putting.......well it was ok. 5 weeks to club championship.....