[Has YouTube made you better or worse?]

Yes! Parker McGlaughlin - ShortGameChef - opened my eyes. He demonstrates wedge technique, particularly chipping and sand play, very well. And he gives you reasons why you practically never see the pros on TV utilizing the "old school" bump-and-run technique. It made sense to me and I have been practicing and incorporating this into play. I went from a 5 to a 2 last year, primarily through more up and downs.

I watched him being interviewed on other people's channels. His website is ridiculously expensive.

[Planned 2030 Golf Ball Rollback]

It's past time they seriously addressed this. Elite players, professional and amateur, do play a different game than the rest of us. 

Please give these elite players a different ball. Restrict them from using equipment that flies the ball more than 300 yards (woods/hybrids).

Make/keep classic venues relevant again. Longer courses = longer rounds and higher costs. Isn't golf already expensive and time-consuming? 

I can't believe this reality has been punted down the road for so long.

[SEASON 2 - WEEK 9 MGS Forum Member Weekly Virtual Championship Tour (VCT)]

Date	05/29/2023
Course Name	Bayside
Gross Score	78
Course Handicap	6
Gross Strokes over/under par	6
Net Score to Par	0
Net Score	72
Net Birdies or better	3
Longest Drive	0

41/37. Started poorly, but finished strong. Bogeyed the first 3 holes plus the easy par 5 6th. Hit 12 GIR (7/9 on back), birdied 17, and made par 4 on the difficult (from member's tees) 18th.

[#ASKMYGOLFSPY]

For the past week, I've been listening to the 3-6 minute daily messages on an app called Imagine Golf, which focuses on the mental side of golf, including course management. I like the simplicity of it and the reviews are very positive. I'm going to try it for the next year. But it also got me to thinking: does the average golfer actually work on their mental games? My friends (3-15 hc) don't seem to.

Most of us can't afford to go to Bob Rotella. There are a ton of relatively inexpensive online programs out there promoting the mental game. There are a ton of books. What are the best resources for working on our mental games?

Seems to me, getting out of our own way, whether with a stronger mentality or better course strategy, would be the fastest way to lower our scores and hc.

[Spikes or spikless?]

For comfort, my favorite are Ecco Biom H4 BOA, but when it's wet, I go to my Sqairz (6 spikes).

[Does anyone walk anymore?]

As a former caddy, I always preferred walking to riding but carts were mandatory on weekends before I:00pm, so I finally purchased my first cart bag in 2019, a Ping Pioneer (based on MGS reviews). Then came covid and we were allowed to walk, so I purchased a Clicgear push cart based on an MGS review.

I've now moved to a walking-friendly course. Sometimes I use a Ping carry bag but prefer using the pushcart (even though I don't love pushing). The great thing about the Ping Pioneer bag is the cooler compartment works great as a sand bottle holder for non-replaceable divots. 

I'll ride when required, but last year that was maybe 20 rounds out of 175.

The walking exercise has been great for my health and I now almost always hit an elliptical machine for 5-6 miles when I don't play. My beer gut has almost disappeared. A pay a $150 trail fee for the year, compared to the yearly cart plan, which is $1800.

I may eventually get the Alphard rear wheels for the Clicgear. Seems like a bit of an extra hassle, but may be worth it not to feel all hunched over pushing.

When I hit the course in the evening, I use my carry bag.

No hate to people who ride in carts that are respectful to the course, especially those that let me sit while they are teeing off!

 

[Are Golfers Finally Starting to Balk At Driver Prices?]

I would venture to guess that most people would still be sporting the same handicap a year after their latest purchase of a new driver. Just sayin.

[What Have You Bought Lately? (CHA - Club Ho's Anonymous)]

Bought the Callaway Mavrik Pro 4 hybrid to go with the 3h I bought a year ago. Bye-bye 4 and 5 iron. These are the first hybrids I've been able to hit consistently well without toe-hooking the ball 50% of the time. Should have bought the 4h much sooner. It's a great utility club I can actually launch high in the air.

Next decision: Upgrade my 17/18 King Forged Tec's to the '22 model or go for the 21 Apex Pro? Leaning toward staying with Cobra.

[Fall/Winter Golf Pants!!]

Crazy as this might sound, BJ's sells pants branded OneDayAway for about $20. They work really well when the temperature drops into the 40's and 50's and the wind picks up (20-30 mph) here in the mid-Atlantic. They are not lined and more comfortable to walk in than rain pants, which, as others have mentioned, are another good option.

Under Armor ColdGear mock turtlenecks are indispensible in wind when temps go below 50.

[Putting - Negative Thoughts]

I can relate to the OP. My handicap has typically ranged between 4-6. As a kid who played almost daily, putting was a strength. As a working adult, weekend warrior who played an average of 50 times per year, my putting gradually became a real weakness. I could putt just fine (normal) on the practice green, but never really "worked" on my putting. So in matches, my poor putting usually showed up. Even though I knew my mis-hits were out on the toe, that's where I would hit most of my putts during a match.

I moved to a golf course community 10 months ago and started really working on my putting. Multiple nights per week, I hit the practice green for sometimes as much as 2 hours. I found working on 4-10 footers that break left to right or right to left, was the most efficient practice for me. It forced me to get the line and the speed just right, and that means stroking the ball in a consistent manner. I'll always do a bunch of difficult lag putts as well.

And I work on my chipping, trying to keep my lead arm staight and producing a similar tempo to my putting.

Only through all this "work", have I seen my short game improve. Its almost as if I've re-wired my brain. As others have said, it is about confidence, trusting your stroke, and having a consistent process. I've read all the "confidence" books, but nothing has worked as well for me as disciplined practice.

Before a round, I do a condensed version of my short game practice, usually for 15-20 minutes. Sometimes that means I'm only hitting 10-20 full warmup shots. 

Do I still freak out about 2-5 footers? At times, for sure. I can freeze. Still a lot of scar tissue. But I'm making most of them now. On 8-20 footers, I now feel like I have a decent chance to make them instead of worrying about not 3 putting. Results have led to more 1 putts (and birdies) and fewer 3 putts.

The results have encouraged me to think I can do even better.

[SQAIRZ Scores Its First PGA TOUR Win!]

2 hours ago, rvjimzhr said:

I've seen all the ads for Sqairz and have pretty much ignored them.  After seeing all the comments above I am now curious.   I walk most rounds and have had recent problems with flat feet and a disappearing arch.  I've had to go a size larger and from a "medium" to a "wide" in my Footjoys.   I saw a reference to a "wide toe" which is one thing I've had to look for (and found in ECCO shoes).   So, my questions:   Are Sqairz accurately sized?  Do they run small or large?  How heavy are they?   Has anyone out there (other than Straka) actually walked 18 holes and how did they feel?

Jim 

I think I'm a true size 10. Sometimes I need 10.5s. My Ecco shoes are all 43. My Sqairz are 10s. When I first put them on, I thought they might be a tad small. After walking a couple of rounds, I think they fit perfect. My feet (and legs) are happy.

As to the weight, I think they "look" heavy, but when compared to my high end Eccos, they seem about the same. I can tell you they don't feel heavy walking 18 holes.

I'm pretty sure the average golfer will not see distance improvement, but the grip is real. Check out the soles.

They are perhaps the best waterproof shoe I've worn. Love the non slip laces as well.

Downside - goose s*** will need to be rinsed from the soles after every use. Not sure air guns will do the trick!

[SQAIRZ Scores Its First PGA TOUR Win!]

I've played golf for over 40 years. Caddied for 10 years at an old US Open course north of Boston. I still walk when I play (300 rounds in last 2 years), so comfort is important. Until a few years ago, I was a brand loyalist to Footjoy. The FJ SL Pro was the most disappointing shoe purchase of my life. I gutted out maybe 10 rounds, having to remove the shoes at times to give my feet a break. That led me to try ECCOs. Have 4 pairs currently. Love the ECCOs.

Was curious more than skeptical on the Sqairz. NH based company (not too far from where I grew up), interesting claims, different looking shoe.

I now have a Grey/Blue pair of 20/20s. Love them. Totally waterproof. Very comfortable. Great traction. At almost 63, I don't find them to be to heavy. I've only played a few rounds with them, but these Sqairz seem extremely well built (like old school golf shoes), clean up easily, and my guess is they will last a long time with proper care.

Will likely buy another pair later this year or next to replace one of the ECCO pairs - assuming the 20/20s hold up as well as I expect them to.

I too appreciate @BobWtaking the time to jump on this forum.