What/How Did You Practice Today?

[Jim Shaw]

44 minutes ago, chisag said:

 

... I was comparing feel in any given sport, not other sports. Just take a look at Tiger or Rory swinging a club at 2 years old and they have amazing swings with zero thoughts about mechanics. We can go round and round on this forever so I will bow out as we have pretty much covered our opinions on this subject. 

ok

[edingc]

2 hours ago, Jim Shaw said:

it looks by your handicap you are a great golfer, is your area of opportunity your ball striking or short game?

Thanks!

Tee shots and putting tend to hold my game back. My miss is too much draw which is a nightmare when I can't control it. Getting less right-to-left movement has been the focus of basically my last two years of work. As you can tell based on my ShotScope stats, the left miss leads to 2+ strokes lost between position and penalties.

I have the advantage of distance, and my course tips out around 6,200 yards, so my scoring tends to go as my tee shots go. If I can stay out of the trees and in play, there's significantly less pressure on my short game. I've shot even par once each time in the last two years, hoping to break it this season. I'd love to shave another stroke off my handicap as well, but to get to a sub-5 I'd have to shoot 75 or better 8/20 times because of the rating/slope of where I play.

[Marty Reymann]

On 1/15/2023 at 3:05 PM, chisag said:

 

... I know several that employ Pro's as a model to compare. I have never liked it.   Unless they are Pros from a by gone era like Floyd, Rodrigues, Trevino and Palmer with swing flaws. Pro's are Pro's for a reason and the modern Pro grew up with high speed camera's, the time and the affluence to play everyday, usually under the watchful eye of a instructor from an early age and obviously tremendous physical skills. Most Am's had none of that. 

... I have always felt the instructors job is to just help their student play better. That is going to be radically different for an athlete in great shape that played multiple sports growing up and say an accountant that has been sitting for his job many, many years and is out of shape and played no other sport. And of course many somewhere in between. Every student is unique with both unique physical and mental skills. So a student with no reference of starting movement with the lower body that has little shoulder turn and basically lifts their arms and slaps at the ball, coming over the top producing a weak slice isn't gonna benefit being compared to a Pro. But a skilled instructor making slow changes can get that player to hit a more powerful fade while still doing everything they did before ... just do it better. There are certainly Pro's that come over the top with less than ideal technique but they make it work. 

... As always whatever works, works. If comparing your swing to a Pro makes sense to you and you feel you benefit from the comparison that is really all that matters. 

Well your wrong, pros do all the basics correctly and that's what  should be copied. 

[Jim Shaw]

44 minutes ago, edingc said:

Thanks!

Tee shots and putting tend to hold my game back. My miss is too much draw which is a nightmare when I can't control it. Getting less right-to-left movement has been the focus of basically my last two years of work. As you can tell based on my ShotScope stats, the left miss leads to 2+ strokes lost between position and penalties.

I have the advantage of distance, and my course tips out around 6,200 yards, so my scoring tends to go as my tee shots go. If I can stay out of the trees and in play, there's significantly less pressure on my short game. I've shot even par once each time in the last two years, hoping to break it this season. I'd love to shave another stroke off my handicap as well, but to get to a sub-5 I'd have to shoot 75 or better 8/20 times because of the rating/slope of where I play.

it is interesting to me with my game, as my driver goes so does my game, same as yours. I love my driver, favourite club in my bag, but sometimes it doesnt like me very much lol

[sirchunksalot]

 Gratuitous photo post

Foot spray on clubs

 I took a trip out to the range today and hit a small bucket of balls. The weather was a bit cool this morning and I had to go later, plus I had to vacuum out the wife's car to get it ready for inspection.

I started off with a few partial shots with the 56° aiming at some discolorations in the grass. I have a tendency to hit a bit left with wedges, and I had good contact with a little of my left bias. Contact on the first shot was good. 

Here's the pattern after 3 shots.

Moved on to some partial shots with my set GW, this has become one of my favorite clubs in the bag. I'm just a touch heel biased, I did hit one of the toe after the photo just to see if I could. 

First shot

Pattern

Next up, 8 iron. I hit some good playable shots with it near the target. 

First shot.

Pattern after a few.

I pulled the 6 iron next, and this is where I'm starting to see some inconsistencies with strike and more dispersion. I was also hitting some blocks with it and know what area of the bag I really need to focus on.

First shot.

 

Pattern (it's not pretty)

I could see the inconsistencies when I moved up to 5W, only 1/3 shots was playable.

I did hit the first one out of the center.

The other 2, not so much.

I finished off hitting some drivers. I was happy seeing some shots a little lower of the face than normal and it was nice to actually pick a couple off the tee. I usually have to chase them after every shot and it seems like I'm starting to figure out how to not have an extreme AOA on the down side.

First shot

A few more.

It was a fun day and I'm starting to feel like my game is going the right direction. I'll have to play to see where I'm at, but it was fun getting out and hitting some balls. 

 

[chisag]

9 minutes ago, sirchunksalot said:

I pulled the 6 iron next, and this is where I'm starting to see some inconsistencies with strike and more dispersion. I was also hitting some blocks with it and know what area of the bag I really need to focus on.

 

... Wow, you really continue to improve so good for you!  I am gonna offer a suggestion for your next session. Many players can't get past the idea that longer clubs should go farther so they need to be hit harder. Your strike pattern looks really good on your wedges and I imagine you aren't trying to hit them far and just put a good tempo swing on them. So next time hit several wedges, then hit your 6 trying to keep the same tempo and swing speed. Don't swing any different. Then go back to the wedges hitting several more and then hit the 6 again maintaining the same swing tempo. You can even imagine you are hitting your wedge ignoring the fact that it is a 6 iron. Pay close attention to any attempt to swing harder with the 6 than you did with the wedge. Most are surprised how far they can hit their 6 with a "wedge swing" ... the ole effortless power not powerless effort.

... Of course the same is true for your hybrids and woods, especially your driver. Love watching your journey! 

[sirchunksalot]

12 minutes ago, chisag said:

 

... Wow, you really continue to improve so good for you!  I am gonna offer a suggestion for your next session. Many players can't get past the idea that longer clubs should go farther so they need to be hit harder. Your strike pattern looks really good on your wedges and I imagine you aren't trying to hit them far and just put a good tempo swing on them. So next time hit several wedges, then hit your 6 trying to keep the same tempo and swing speed. Don't swing any different. Then go back to the wedges hitting several more and then hit the 6 again maintaining the same swing tempo. You can even imagine you are hitting your wedge ignoring the fact that it is a 6 iron. Pay close attention to any attempt to swing harder with the 6 than you did with the wedge. Most are surprised how far they can hit their 6 with a "wedge swing" ... the ole effortless power not powerless effort.

... Of course the same is true for your hybrids and woods, especially your driver. Love watching your journey! 

Thanks for the advice! I'll give that a try the next time I'm able to get out and practice. I made sure to take a screenshot of your advice so I can reference it the next time, it's always good to have a reminder. Plus, I believe you hit the nail on the head with that advice. I believe I do try to hit the ball harder with longer clubs and go for the powerless effort. 

[Rickp]

Definitely see improvement!!!

[cksurfdude]

On 1/14/2023 at 11:31 PM, Kenny B said:

OK... elaborate!  Who's the pro? Inquiring minds...

Interestingly, depending on the part of the swing we're working on .. and sometimes the face-on vs dtl view .. the instructor has used several different pros.

One I happen to see more often is Aaron Baddely (iron swing) but have also looked at both Lexi Thompson and a few Senior Tour pros for short game.

[chisag]

2 minutes ago, cksurfdude said:

but have also looked at both Lexi Thompson

 

... I hope it wasn't a putting video. 

[cksurfdude]

On 1/15/2023 at 3:05 PM, chisag said:

... As always whatever works, works. If comparing your swing to a Pro makes sense to you and you feel you benefit from the comparison that is really all that matters. 

Yep get what you said earlier - no it doesn't always make total sense to me but it's one more tool they use .. one more way to illustrate to the student a desired movement pattern to *try to* emulate.

My instructor (who knows my golf swing habits by now) will also grab a club, stand on the hitting mat and show me himself what he's trying to get me to do!

[RickyBobby_PR]

9 hours ago, Kevin McGrew said:

PS…one more important detail I forgot.  I noticed (from videos of my swing) that in my right leg loading motion, I still tended to sway a bit.  So…I now, at set up, make sure there is considerable pressure on the inside of my right foot at address, which I maintain in the backswing.  I’ve found that it makes me “post up” my right leg in a straighter fashion.  I think this produces some kind of physics thing that, when my hands are now “pushed high”, together requires my body to recenter to accommodate both the firmly posted right leg and new physical forces by higher hands.  It is hard to explain…but it seems those two movements, in combination, plus the pause, require my body to recenter without thinking…someone in biomechanics probably could explain why my body “needs” to recenter to protect itself or something.  I don’t care why…I’m just excited that by doing these three things together (right foot inside pressure to firmly posted right leg; pushing hands higher at apex of backswing; pausing briefly at the top) removes my need to think about moving hips, re-centering, etc.  It is magical…but also the result of studying my swing, staying with the basics (took first formal 1-1 private lessons two years ago), and simply using technology-based improvement and feedback tools.  

Recentering in the terms that instructors refer to is when the pressure shifts from trail side back to being split between both lead and trail side.

High hands probably aren’t what is causing it or what you are feeling. Without a video it would be hard to say what is happening and why

9 hours ago, Kevin McGrew said:

PS…one more important detail I forgot.  I noticed (from videos of my swing) that in my right leg loading motion, I still tended to sway a bit.  So…I now, at set up, make sure there is considerable pressure on the inside of my right foot at address, which I maintain in the backswing.  I’ve found that it makes me “post up” my right leg in a straighter fashion.  I think this produces some kind of physics thing that, when my hands are now “pushed high”, together requires my body to recenter to accommodate both the firmly posted right leg and new physical forces by higher hands.  It is hard to explain…but it seems those two movements, in combination, plus the pause, require my body to recenter without thinking…someone in biomechanics probably could explain why my body “needs” to recenter to protect itself or something.  I don’t care why…I’m just excited that by doing these three things together (right foot inside pressure to firmly posted right leg; pushing hands higher at apex of backswing; pausing briefly at the top) removes my need to think about moving hips, re-centering, etc.  It is magical…but also the result of studying my swing, staying with the basics (took first formal 1-1 private lessons two years ago), and simply using technology-based improvement and feedback tools.  

Recentering in the terms that instructors refer to is when the pressure shifts from trail side back to being split between both lead and trail side.

High hands probably aren’t what is causing it or what you are feeling. Without a video it would be hard to say what is happening and why

[cksurfdude]

5 hours ago, sirchunksalot said:

First shot.

...

Pattern after a few.

Ya know.... Each of those FIRST shots (up to driver, but we've seen good ones from you with it) is darn near spot on, dare I say, perfect!

But then.... I'd bet you started thinking.. well all I have to do is just repeat what i just did ...

And then.... you start trying ...

.. and the subsequent shots started to stray from that sweet spot....

(..or so I've been told by a friend )

@chisag thx for that "effortless power vs powerless effort" cue!

[cksurfdude]

1 hour ago, chisag said:

... I hope it wasn't a putting video. 

haha presumably you mean the one where she demonstrates how to mark your ball on the green during the final day of a major competition...

[GolfSpy_APH]

9 hours ago, sirchunksalot said:

 Gratuitous photo post

Foot spray on clubs

 I took a trip out to the range today and hit a small bucket of balls. The weather was a bit cool this morning and I had to go later, plus I had to vacuum out the wife's car to get it ready for inspection.

I started off with a few partial shots with the 56° aiming at some discolorations in the grass. I have a tendency to hit a bit left with wedges, and I had good contact with a little of my left bias. Contact on the first shot was good. 

Here's the pattern after 3 shots.

Moved on to some partial shots with my set GW, this has become one of my favorite clubs in the bag. I'm just a touch heel biased, I did hit one of the toe after the photo just to see if I could. 

First shot

Pattern

Next up, 8 iron. I hit some good playable shots with it near the target. 

First shot.

Pattern after a few.

I pulled the 6 iron next, and this is where I'm starting to see some inconsistencies with strike and more dispersion. I was also hitting some blocks with it and know what area of the bag I really need to focus on.

First shot.

 

Pattern (it's not pretty)

I could see the inconsistencies when I moved up to 5W, only 1/3 shots was playable.

I did hit the first one out of the center.

The other 2, not so much.

I finished off hitting some drivers. I was happy seeing some shots a little lower of the face than normal and it was nice to actually pick a couple off the tee. I usually have to chase them after every shot and it seems like I'm starting to figure out how to not have an extreme AOA on the down side.

First shot

A few more.

It was a fun day and I'm starting to feel like my game is going the right direction. I'll have to play to see where I'm at, but it was fun getting out and hitting some balls. 

 

 

Absolutely made my morning!

[JohnSmalls]

12 hours ago, chisag said:

 

... Wow, you really continue to improve so good for you!  I am gonna offer a suggestion for your next session. Many players can't get past the idea that longer clubs should go farther so they need to be hit harder. Your strike pattern looks really good on your wedges and I imagine you aren't trying to hit them far and just put a good tempo swing on them. So next time hit several wedges, then hit your 6 trying to keep the same tempo and swing speed. Don't swing any different. Then go back to the wedges hitting several more and then hit the 6 again maintaining the same swing tempo. You can even imagine you are hitting your wedge ignoring the fact that it is a 6 iron. Pay close attention to any attempt to swing harder with the 6 than you did with the wedge. Most are surprised how far they can hit their 6 with a "wedge swing" ... the ole effortless power not powerless effort.

... Of course the same is true for your hybrids and woods, especially your driver. Love watching your journey! 

 

12 hours ago, sirchunksalot said:

Thanks for the advice! I'll give that a try the next time I'm able to get out and practice. I made sure to take a screenshot of your advice so I can reference it the next time, it's always good to have a reminder. Plus, I believe you hit the nail on the head with that advice. I believe I do try to hit the ball harder with longer clubs and go for the powerless effort. 

^^ When I get in a rut @chisag's post describes me to a "t".  My coach frequently reminds me to swing my long clubs with my wedge or my 7 iron swing.  Highly recommend trying his advice.  Keep up the great work, results are lookin good!

[sirchunksalot]

4 hours ago, JohnSmalls said:

 

^^ When I get in a rut @chisag's post describes me to a "t".  My coach frequently reminds me to swing my long clubs with my wedge or my 7 iron swing.  Highly recommend trying his advice.  Keep up the great work, results are lookin good!

I agree, all of my lower lofted irons I got pretty much the way Sam described until I get into the longer one. I just have a tendency to want to kill them. I really don't know why. I appreciate all the positive comments, guys!

[cnosil]

Just now, sirchunksalot said:

. I just have a tendency to want to kill them. I really don't know why. 

Because we want to hit them far.

[TR1PTIK]

Walked 6 holes at the Tierra Verde Mastery Course with a friend yesterday. Didn't really "work" on anything, just trying to hit some different shots in an environment much more akin to an actual round of golf. Hit some good shots, putted really well - been working a lot on distance control of late and it showed. Took 3-iron and hybrid off one tee to make sure I have some comfort level with them before playing Texas Star on Friday - I'll be using both off the tee a fair bit. I also hit a couple of short-sided bunker shots to test my confidence around the green as that's something I've struggled with for several years. Not only did I hit my two balls out without issue, but I kept them short of the hole and both were almost identical for distance and line. Overall, I'd call it a success. Lots of promise from what I was seeing and I was able to give my friend a few pointers as well. He has a lot of natural ability but lacks any sort of golf IQ so I helped him with setup on a couple shots and let him rip. Hoping I can get out with him a bit more and really help him improve.

[Josh Ross]

Spent the last week doing a lot of chipping and putting in the house, preparing to make a return to the golf course. Weather has been insane here for a while. In the past month, we've had more rain than I can remember, wind chills down to -9, snow, tornado warnings, and straight line winds causing damage through the area. Pretty sure we've experienced it all recently, hoping the local courses can get dried out soon and we can get back out there! I don't think I've played since November and that was after a near three month hiatus due to injury. To say I have an itch that needs to be scratched is an understatement!

[MrBandit]

After switching by Putter back to my StrokeLab 7, notice that my stoke was back to normal.  Sometimes switching back and forth helps when you loose your feel on your putts. 
Played some fast green over the weekend (I think the pavement might have been slower). But I like the lines , I wasn't lost like I was 4 rounds ago.
So back to practicing my chipping and putting to keep my consistency and throw in some Iron work to work the kinks out of the new set.


 

[Jim Shaw]

13 minutes ago, MrBandit said:

After switching by Putter back to my StrokeLab 7, notice that my stoke was back to normal.  Sometimes switching back and forth helps when you loose your feel on your putts. 
Played some fast green over the weekend (I think the pavement might have been slower). But I like the lines , I wasn't lost like I was 4 rounds ago.
So back to practicing my chipping and putting to keep my consistency and throw in some Iron work to work the kinks out of the new set.


 

i agree, sometimes just a change of putter to look at is good for a "spark"

[sirchunksalot]

5 hours ago, cnosil said:

Because we want to hit them far.

I think you hit it on the nose. I started playing during the "grip it and rip it" era of Daly and that is just a hard mindset to get rid of. Although with me it's more like grip it and dink it. 

[MichaelC_81]

I got a Putt Out mat and trainer for Christmas, so I've been practicing my short putts and speed lately. Definitely have noticed a difference.

[WaffleHouseTour]

Sat down w my Skillest coach over zoom and hashed out a "winter" plan.  For now it does not involve speed - thought that may be added later.  (there goes my entry in the speed contest...). We are working at improving the swing and posture to improve contact before adding speed.

Three night a week in my hotel room I have three tasks... 1) involves my head against a wall and "swinging" with an elastic band held down by my lead foot to ingrain keeping a proper spine angle and stretch in the backswing without coming out of the spine angle; 2) swinging a club with my TourAim on the ground a stick at an angle to prevent an inside takeaway; 3) finishing off with 100 three foot putts. 

[cksurfdude]

Had a decent range session .. 50s in the middle of Jan, although a bit of cool NW breeze had other ideas .. comfortable in the sun though!

Working on things from my lessons and from the Monte NTC video; when I start to do it (closer to..) properly I'm starting to get solid contact and a nice ball flight.

Still have a tendency to either pull the ball left, or get a little too quick with the longer clubs and block-fade it right.

But when I'm careful I'm starting to hit the longer clubs kinda straightish - including the driver! That's a huge gain for me there, with that club!

Fingers crossed that I'm not turning into a Range Hero / Course Zero

[sirchunksalot]

1 hour ago, cksurfdude said:

Had a decent range session .. 50s in the middle of Jan, although a bit of cool NW breeze had other ideas .. comfortable in the sun though!

Working on things from my lessons and from the Monte NTC video; when I start to do it (closer to..) properly I'm starting to get solid contact and a nice ball flight.

Still have a tendency to either pull the ball left, or get a little too quick with the longer clubs and block-fade it right.

But when I'm careful I'm starting to hit the longer clubs kinda straightish - including the driver! That's a huge gain for me there, with that club!

Fingers crossed that I'm not turning into a Range Hero / Course Zero

It's good to hear you got some really nice weather for this time of year and was able to get out and hit some balls. Sounds like you were hitting them pretty good, too. That's awesome!

The range hero/course zero cracked me up! I sometimes worry about that happening. Hey, at least if it's going to happen a lot of people on the range will think we're good, right? 

[cksurfdude]

2 hours ago, sirchunksalot said:

It's good to hear you got some really nice weather for this time of year and was able to get out and hit some balls. Sounds like you were hitting them pretty good, too. That's awesome!

The range hero/course zero cracked me up! I sometimes worry about that happening. Hey, at least if it's going to happen a lot of people on the range will think we're good, right? 

Haha right .. we like to tell ourselves: duuude! you got this! 

..and then.. ..all of a sudden we go to the course and we have to hit the ball a specific distance to a very specific target 

Thx .. good luck with your practice .. and we'll see what the Spring brings!

[Tom the Golf Nut]

I took a few minutes at lunch to go hit some birdie balls in the yard. The goal was to hit a tree trunk  from 30 yards away using my gap wedge. Having minimal practice or play since the middle of November due to moving, I was surprised at how well the task went. I only have 3 birdie balls so the first round was 1 for 3. The other 2 would have been easy 3 to 4 foot putts. Round two was 2 out of three. Round 3 was 2 out of three. Then back to work. 

The simulator is now fully assembled and ready to play. So tomorrow's lunch time will be to play 9 holes. Friday and Saturday weather permitting, out to the new course to play and put the Cobalt Q6 through some testing.

[Tom the Golf Nut]

Just spent an hour on the golf simulator. Only the driving range portion to work on mid iron distance. Six, seven and eight irons. Overall a good workout and it was better than the actual range. Windy with a little drizzle here today. But a least it is warm out at 72 degrees.