Ryan Learns to Golf

Whenever pace of play permits, I count-walk off most chips/pitches of about 40 yards or less, and it helps me gauge my swing length much better than I could by eye. I don’t do that putting, as I don’t use backstroke length when putting, but I guess it could be effective.
As for putting stats, I keep track of number of putts on every hole with my Garmin Approach. However I only count putts on the green surface where I should probably count every time I use my putter (including just off the green surface).

Officially putting stats are only counted if you are on the putting green and not based on the club you use.  If you are off the green it isn't a putt even if you use the putter.  Would you count it as a putt if you were on the green and used a club besides the putter?  Think of that chip shot that is right next to the hole;  I know I often tap it in with a wedge.   That said,  you can count stats however you want but they may be misleading since you would be counting putts when you didn't hit a GIR.  
 
As most people have said, step off the distance.  For me two normal steps is about 5 feet.  Setup a tape measure and take normal strides to see how far your steps are apart.   If you want to be more accurate you can get a digital measure and shoot the pin.  

Those both seem like great choices. A little surprised your fitter didn’t have you try the Titliest TSi2 3W given you’re decision to buy the Titleist hybrid.
I think one thing to consider given the Titliest adjustability in your hybrid is to fit it for a specific distance and not for how far you can hit it. Figure out the gap yardage between the 5i & 3HL (say 190 yds) and dial in the hybrid adjustability on the SureFit hosel to that yardage regardless of what the number printed on the club says. If you can’t get it, go back and go up or down in stated loft until you reach your goal.
As for the 3HL (16.5) not surprised it goes a little further. That slight increase in launch angle combined with being a bit easier to hit off the deck often results in better face contact at impact keeping the ball in the air longer for more overall distance. Again, the Titleist SureFit adapter adjustability should have provided that option as well.

When I started golfing 3 years ago, my wife bought me a box set to get started, but I quickly got fitted for a driver, irons, wedges, and 3 hybrid. I decided to stop there until I got better and kept the 4-hybrid and 3-wood from the box set in the bag.  
I've mainly used my 3-hybrid as my longest club other than driver, and the gap between my 3-hybrid and 5-iron has always been filled with me trying to smash the 5 or hit a smooth 3-hybrid. I'd randomly hit the 3-wood and 4-hybrid when the situation really called for it, but results were not always promising so I've never trusted them completely.
My mother-in-law, in support of my golf addiction, decided to buy me a 4-hybrid as a birthday present. I went to Roger Dunn in Seal Beach (highly recommended! The staff there are super friendly and helpful) and went through a "fitting". I used the Mizuno Shaft Optimizer, and my fitter Jennifer recommended some shafts for me to try out. I was set on getting an adjustable hybrid so she had me test out the PING G425 and the Titleist TS2. I hit both solidly. Performance-wise, they were nearly identical with the TS2 having slightly smaller left-right dispersion. My decision came down to feel, and I settled on the TS2 with a Tensei Blue 70 shaft as it felt nearly automatic when swinging. I felt like I had to do little to no manipulation with my swing, and the weight helped me feel in control throughout the swing.
In my excitement in the moment, I decided to ask for a 3-wood fitting as well since we didn't take much time with the 4-hybrid. I told my fitter I was ok with trying something with a bit more loft like 16.5*. She handed me a few clubs, and I decided to test them blind. I knew one of that they were a Callaway, a Taylormade, and a PING but I didn't know which head and what loft. As I tested, I felt that the Callaway felt light, and I could swing fast, but the result was not as good as I felt that the strike was. I did not get good hits often with the PING, and I felt that I was struggling to swing properly and square the face. The Taylormade produced the best results with consistent carry and rollout numbers. The Callaway had a couple of longer carry distances, but they were few and far between. The Taylormade was the winner, and to my surprise it was a 16.5* while the Callaway and PING were both 15*. I wasn't completely convinced it was the wood for my, but I decided to buy it and try it out on the course given Roger Dunn's very generous return policy.
I've only tested the new clubs on the range (where the felt fantastic) and will do a 9-hole test today to see if these clubs plug the distance gaps I need them to. My main concern is that the TS2 goes too far, but with adjustability I should be able to dial it back a bit. I also need to see how comfortable I am with the 3-wood (*ahem* 4-wood) and see if I can build confidence standing over the ball with it.

When I started golfing 3 years ago, my wife bought me a box set to get started, but I quickly got fitted for a driver, irons, wedges, and 3 hybrid. I decided to stop there until I got better and kept the 4-hybrid and 3-wood from the box set in the bag.  
I've mainly used my 3-hybrid as my longest club other than driver, and the gap between my 3-hybrid and 5-iron has always been filled with me trying to smash the 5 or hit a smooth 3-hybrid. I'd randomly hit the 3-wood and 4-hybrid when the situation really called for it, but results were not always promising so I've never trusted them completely.
My mother-in-law, in support of my golf addiction, decided to buy me a 4-hybrid as a birthday present. I went to Roger Dunn in Seal Beach (highly recommended! The staff there are super friendly and helpful) and went through a "fitting". I used the Mizuno Shaft Optimizer, and my fitter Jennifer recommended some shafts for me to try out. I was set on getting an adjustable hybrid so she had me test out the PING G425 and the Titleist TS2. I hit both solidly. Performance-wise, they were nearly identical with the TS2 having slightly smaller left-right dispersion. My decision came down to feel, and I settled on the TS2 with a Tensei Blue 70 shaft as it felt nearly automatic when swinging. I felt like I had to do little to no manipulation with my swing, and the weight helped me feel in control throughout the swing.
In my excitement in the moment, I decided to ask for a 3-wood fitting as well since we didn't take much time with the 4-hybrid. I told my fitter I was ok with trying something with a bit more loft like 16.5*. She handed me a few clubs, and I decided to test them blind. I knew one of that they were a Callaway, a Taylormade, and a PING but I didn't know which head and what loft. As I tested, I felt that the Callaway felt light, and I could swing fast, but the result was not as good as I felt that the strike was. I did not get good hits often with the PING, and I felt that I was struggling to swing properly and square the face. The Taylormade produced the best results with consistent carry and rollout numbers. The Callaway had a couple of longer carry distances, but they were few and far between. The Taylormade was the winner, and to my surprise it was a 16.5* while the Callaway and PING were both 15*. I wasn't completely convinced it was the wood for my, but I decided to buy it and try it out on the course given Roger Dunn's very generous return policy.
I've only tested the new clubs on the range (where the felt fantastic) and will do a 9-hole test today to see if these clubs plug the distance gaps I need them to. My main concern is that the TS2 goes too far, but with adjustability I should be able to dial it back a bit. I also need to see how comfortable I am with the 3-wood (*ahem* 4-wood) and see if I can build confidence standing over the ball with it.

When I started golfing 3 years ago, my wife bought me a box set to get started, but I quickly got fitted for a driver, irons, wedges, and 3 hybrid. I decided to stop there until I got better and kept the 4-hybrid and 3-wood from the box set in the bag.  
I've mainly used my 3-hybrid as my longest club other than driver, and the gap between my 3-hybrid and 5-iron has always been filled with me trying to smash the 5 or hit a smooth 3-hybrid. I'd randomly hit the 3-wood and 4-hybrid when the situation really called for it, but results were not always promising so I've never trusted them completely.
My mother-in-law, in support of my golf addiction, decided to buy me a 4-hybrid as a birthday present. I went to Roger Dunn in Seal Beach (highly recommended! The staff there are super friendly and helpful) and went through a "fitting". I used the Mizuno Shaft Optimizer, and my fitter Jennifer recommended some shafts for me to try out. I was set on getting an adjustable hybrid so she had me test out the PING G425 and the Titleist TS2. I hit both solidly. Performance-wise, they were nearly identical with the TS2 having slightly smaller left-right dispersion. My decision came down to feel, and I settled on the TS2 with a Tensei Blue 70 shaft as it felt nearly automatic when swinging. I felt like I had to do little to no manipulation with my swing, and the weight helped me feel in control throughout the swing.
In my excitement in the moment, I decided to ask for a 3-wood fitting as well since we didn't take much time with the 4-hybrid. I told my fitter I was ok with trying something with a bit more loft like 16.5*. She handed me a few clubs, and I decided to test them blind. I knew one of that they were a Callaway, a Taylormade, and a PING but I didn't know which head and what loft. As I tested, I felt that the Callaway felt light, and I could swing fast, but the result was not as good as I felt that the strike was. I did not get good hits often with the PING, and I felt that I was struggling to swing properly and square the face. The Taylormade produced the best results with consistent carry and rollout numbers. The Callaway had a couple of longer carry distances, but they were few and far between. The Taylormade was the winner, and to my surprise it was a 16.5* while the Callaway and PING were both 15*. I wasn't completely convinced it was the wood for my, but I decided to buy it and try it out on the course given Roger Dunn's very generous return policy.
I've only tested the new clubs on the range (where the felt fantastic) and will do a 9-hole test today to see if these clubs plug the distance gaps I need them to. My main concern is that the TS2 goes too far, but with adjustability I should be able to dial it back a bit. I also need to see how comfortable I am with the 3-wood (*ahem* 4-wood) and see if I can build confidence standing over the ball with it.

Quick update on my purchase. I decided to spend less money and go with the faster option by purchasing the box set. I purchased the Wilson Profile Teen set.
Length-wise, these clubs are perfect for my height. They sit nicely at address, and I think the lie angle is actually perfect for me. I produce some pretty straight shots with them. Not sure if it's a change in my technique or anything like that. I have a feeling that my irons back home might be a degree or two flatter than these as I tend to produce a more noticeable fade with my Callaway Rogues. I have to say, I'm pretty confident when I'm holding a six iron or lower into a green. Story isn't the same with my Rogues, but I've been practicing a lot more in quarantine, so I'm excited to go back and give them a go.
I have difficulty swinging the wedges (PW, SW) with full swings. They seem to launch higher than I want, and not as far. I did get the closest I've been to a hole-in-one by hitting a PW from 105 yards to 2 feet. However, I feel like I struggle launching them lower and with more zip. Pitching and chipping with the wedges is actually really good. My feel with the SW from 40 yards and in is pretty on point. I can get the ball to the green on the landing spot I want. 
One of the previous posters here mentioned that he thought that the flex would be too soft for my swing speed, and he was 100% correct regarding the driver and fairway wood. They have a significant amount of give when I swing, which makes timing my swing feel a bit awkward. Hopefully it doesn't mess my with my swing when I go back home and use my M4. I feel like I only carry the driver 180-210 depending on strike. Not sure how much to attribute to myself or the club. I do struggle hitting the center of the face. I mostly hit towards the heel and produce SWOOPING slice...ehm...power fade....
I absolutely hate hitting the fairway wood. Back home I use a 3-wood I got in a different box set, and that one I hit wonderfully. I actually took this fairway wood out of play. So my long options are Driver and five hybrid. The five hybrid can be hit or miss - usually a hit, but I can at times hit an awkward, spinny ball that launches but then just takes a dive straight down. I think I only hit it about 5 to 8 yards beyond my 6 iron carry. I usually stick to 6 iron when I can because I feel more consistent with it.
So far, nothing has broken, and I don't think anything will. The clubs feel very sturdy. The paint job on them is not the best. They actually look they were painted by hand by a 10-year-old because there are occasional spots where the paint bleeds over to another section of the club where it's not supposed to be. Doesn't really matter to me though, the clubs themselves work fine.
Overall, the box set has accomplished what I needed it to: I'm able to go out and play golf. No regrets thus far.

So... I did a bit of practice in my backyard hitting my driver and seven iron into my golf net. I sprayed Dr. Scholl's on the club faces to get some strike location feedback. It appears that I let my practice session run a bit too long as there is some spray caked on to the toe area of my driver (where I tend not to hit), and high on the iron face and in the toe (again, where I tend not to hit). I usually wipe the faces with a wet towel when I change clubs at the range, but I just did a cursory wipe when changing clubs this time. This didn't happen to me the first five or six times I used the spray.
Has anyone else had this happen to them? Any tips on what to use to clean the faces without damaging them? I tried some soap and water and rubbed them with a towel but to no avail. Any help would be appreciated.
As an aside, this is one of the best feedback mechanisms for understanding how you can improve your strike, and I feel like most golfers should try it out. But learn from my experience and wipe your club face with a wet towel every five shots or so!

Word of caution, do not do this with foam balls and hit them into your white curtains..... my wife didn’t like the random marker spots all over the living room curtains lol.


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So... I did a bit of practice in my backyard hitting my driver and seven iron into my golf net. I sprayed Dr. Scholl's on the club faces to get some strike location feedback. It appears that I let my practice session run a bit too long as there is some spray caked on to the toe area of my driver (where I tend not to hit), and high on the iron face and in the toe (again, where I tend not to hit). I usually wipe the faces with a wet towel when I change clubs at the range, but I just did a cursory wipe when changing clubs this time. This didn't happen to me the first five or six times I used the spray.
Has anyone else had this happen to them? Any tips on what to use to clean the faces without damaging them? I tried some soap and water and rubbed them with a towel but to no avail. Any help would be appreciated.
As an aside, this is one of the best feedback mechanisms for understanding how you can improve your strike, and I feel like most golfers should try it out. But learn from my experience and wipe your club face with a wet towel every five shots or so!

I don't know if there's already a forum for this, but I've found a couple of great deals for Amazon's Prime Day specials. I picked up the Cobra Ultralight Cart Bag which was the runner up in this year's best cart bag buyer's guide for 30% off (not sure if it's still available). It's funny that I picked it up for a lot cheaper than the choice for Best Value cart bag (although I really wanted that one because I thought it looked nicer). I also bought MGS's choice for best spikeless shoe and the Puma runner up to compare - both for 30% off. The Puma runner-up this year was last year's choice for best spikeless shoe so I'm curious to see the difference. Use the MGS links to support them and see if these deals are still available.
 
https://mygolfspy.com/the-best-cart-bag-of-2019/
https://mygolfspy.com/best-spikeless-shoe-of-2019/
 
Post any other deals you find!

I like the idea but was always wary of putting a chemical on the face of my driver.
I just wipe with a damp cloth prior to hitting, very easy to see your strikes that way and no residue issues or spraying a smelly stuff into my lungs🙄😉

That's interesting. I've never had a problem with it not coming off. Maybe if you just put the driver into a bucket of warm soapy water and leave it there for a while it'll soften up. Like yourself I wouldn't want to use an abrasive pad or chemical - fearing that either one would take the finish off of the driver. 

So... I did a bit of practice in my backyard hitting my driver and seven iron into my golf net. I sprayed Dr. Scholl's on the club faces to get some strike location feedback. It appears that I let my practice session run a bit too long as there is some spray caked on to the toe area of my driver (where I tend not to hit), and high on the iron face and in the toe (again, where I tend not to hit). I usually wipe the faces with a wet towel when I change clubs at the range, but I just did a cursory wipe when changing clubs this time. This didn't happen to me the first five or six times I used the spray.
Has anyone else had this happen to them? Any tips on what to use to clean the faces without damaging them? I tried some soap and water and rubbed them with a towel but to no avail. Any help would be appreciated.
As an aside, this is one of the best feedback mechanisms for understanding how you can improve your strike, and I feel like most golfers should try it out. But learn from my experience and wipe your club face with a wet towel every five shots or so!

Let’s see, I started in my twenties and I’m currently 68. I’m still trying to get good. I take that back, I’m having fun now by not trying so hard, by not fretting over shooting under a certain number, and by putting more emphasis on leaving the course having enjoyed my day. I’m over getting good and into leaving happy!


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You guys are too modest!
 
How long did it take me to get "good"?
The minute I picked up a club!

 
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You're definitely onto something. I played a round the other week and my ball striking was better than it ever has been, but I lost a lot at least 5 strokes around and on the greens. Chunked chips, a bladed chip, and not understanding the speed of the green really hurt the round. But I was still pleased with how well I was doing off the tee and on the approach. Gotta keep working at it!

Welcome! I think everyone has hit the nail on the head in saying “good” is different for everyone. I would just say that golf, in my opinion, is arguably one of the hardest sports in the world to pick up and get good at. Set yourself small goals so you can have small victories as you continue to learn. I’ve played golf since I was 5 years old, but it wasn’t until I i started working at a course and could play 3-4 times a week that my game took off. With that being said, I know people who never practice and are better than me so it’s different for everyone. Golf is all muscle memory, and luckily for you, you’ve got a coach alongside you to build that muscle memory! Good luck on the golf improvement journey! Enjoy the process.
 
My biggest tip to save yourself strokes no matter what handicap, become a great chipper and putter. Strokes around the green are an EASY way to gain 4,5,6 strokes or lose those strokes. I play with a family friend who shoots mid to high 80s. He’s not a great driver of the ball or iron player, but he’s very good around and on the greens! And you can practice putting in your own home with makes it very achievable! Good luck!
 
 
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I think that, "good" can be a very different thing to different people.  For some, "good" means breaking 100, for others that might mean breaking 90, 80 or 70.
IMO, most of us never really feel that we ever are good at golf.  When people hear that Im a golfer and they ask me if Im good at it, I always tell them that Im just, "OK" and that if I really were any good at it, Id be playing golf for a living instead of working a normal job.
Anyways, to answer your question, it took me probably about 5 years to get where I felt like I knew what I was doing.  Much of it for me was my mental game and learning how to cope with the ups and downs that we all encounter on the course.  I started playing golf when I was in my late teens, so part of that was simply growing up, gaining self confidence and learning that having a bad round of golf isnt that big of a deal.

Thanks! I actually got fitted for clubs a few months after I started. And now I feel like a gearhead always looking for new thinks to buy. How did you find these much better golfers to play with? Did you join leagues or tournaments?

This is my first topic on the forum! I started golfing last August with a box set from Amazon and learning from Youtube videos. I first took a series of group lessons, tried out a few coaches, and then I started working weekly with a coach that I felt I clicked with. We've been making some great progress with my ball striking, but sometimes I feel like when we build in more feels or improve something else in the swing, some of the wheels start falling off again and I feel like I'm regressing. It can get quite frustrating. 
I just wanted to find out from some of the more experienced members of the forum how long it took them before they felt "good" at the game. I put "good" in quotes because I'm not really using an objective metric - more wondering about what your own opinions of "good" are and when did you all start feeling confident on the course. Was there an "Aha!" moment that lead to that confidence?

Regression is just part of progression sometimes I'm afraid. I know it can be frustrating, but sometimes you just have to trust that what you're working on will provide the end goal you're looking for. It's not at all uncommon for golfers to struggle with swing changes and hit a lot of awful shots as whatever change being made will likely be outside of their comfort zone initially. It sounds like you're doing everything right, although I would recommend that you invest in a quality (used) set with some input from your instructor - at least if you plan to continue playing for a long time. Box sets are great as an entry-level option to get you started, but they are composed of equipment designed to meet a specific price point rather than to meet specific performance criteria.
As for how long it took me to get "good". Well, I first made my way onto a golf course with my dad at the age of 10. I'm now 32 years old. Having said that, I didn't start putting a lot of effort into golf until about 25. Improvement was very gradual at first, but within the past few years, I've seen the pace of improvement pick up. Not sure why really other than I've spent a lot more time around much better golfers during that time period and began playing more competitive rounds. I still have a ways to go to get where I'd like to be, but I'm confident I can get there - even if I have to enlist some help (instructor, equipment, etc.). Results will always vary depending on available time to practice and whatever base you're working with (athletic vs. non-athletic build, experience in other sports, etc.).
Good luck!

Golf, especially in the beginning, is an exercise of one step forward, two steps back. Then three steps forward, one or more steps back. Rinse, repeat in assorted variations.

Embrace the journey, it'll make the ride all the more enjoyable and satisfying once you reach a semblance of virtual repeatability.

For me, it was probably 4-5 years before I could fairly frequently shoot in the 80's. The possibility for 100+ being ever present, of course.

Tough game, greatest game.

This is my first topic on the forum! I started golfing last August with a box set from Amazon and learning from Youtube videos. I first took a series of group lessons, tried out a few coaches, and then I started working weekly with a coach that I felt I clicked with. We've been making some great progress with my ball striking, but sometimes I feel like when we build in more feels or improve something else in the swing, some of the wheels start falling off again and I feel like I'm regressing. It can get quite frustrating. 
I just wanted to find out from some of the more experienced members of the forum how long it took them before they felt "good" at the game. I put "good" in quotes because I'm not really using an objective metric - more wondering about what your own opinions of "good" are and when did you all start feeling confident on the course. Was there an "Aha!" moment that lead to that confidence?

This is my first topic on the forum! I started golfing last August with a box set from Amazon and learning from Youtube videos. I first took a series of group lessons, tried out a few coaches, and then I started working weekly with a coach that I felt I clicked with. We've been making some great progress with my ball striking, but sometimes I feel like when we build in more feels or improve something else in the swing, some of the wheels start falling off again and I feel like I'm regressing. It can get quite frustrating. 
I just wanted to find out from some of the more experienced members of the forum how long it took them before they felt "good" at the game. I put "good" in quotes because I'm not really using an objective metric - more wondering about what your own opinions of "good" are and when did you all start feeling confident on the course. Was there an "Aha!" moment that lead to that confidence?