What shot do you need to quit trying?

[cnosil 25,175]

I have always been told to aim more to the right (for rightys) because the ball is supposed to go left.  For me... sometimes it does, sometimes it doesn't, so I just aim straight.

Heard a couple of schools of thought on this and even a test you are supposed to take to help determine how you deliver the club. Ball above my feet is my nemesis in general; just inconsistent when I am in this position.

[silver & black 6,410]

I'll try any shot. I don't do well with the ball above my feet...lol. I choke down, but I still manage to excavate a lot of land...lol.

[Kenny B 33,349]

9 hours ago, MattF said:

All of them...

So, when are you quitting golf?  

[MattF 14,532]

10 hours ago, Kenny B said:

So, when are you quitting golf?  

As my FIL says, I'll take two weeks off then quit...

[revkev 25,404]

The 300 yard drive - it hurts my back and still only goes 235 when I catch it on the screws just like when I take a normal swing.


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[sixcat 4,051]

On 4/27/2020 at 11:42 AM, sixcat said:

A 4-iron draw off the 18th tee at my home club!!!!!  The past year of my life has been spent pitching out of the left trees. 

Great news!  I set up on the far left side of the 18th tee last night and hit a power-fade into the right side of the fairway.  Worked to perfection.  Not a freakin clue why I haven't tried this approach before.  Probably speaks to my stubbornness.

[ZenGolfer 928]

While I am it, add the hero shot out of the rough to the list.  It used to be, when I was in light rough I would just pull out a 5-iron or 5-wood and bash the ball but I would usually either duff it or top the ball and it would go about 50 yards.  Now, I plan a shot that gets me back into the fairway, even if that means I only hit a wedge.

Lately what Ive been doing is if Im in light rough I will hit a 7-iron and plan something that advances the ball 150ish yards and ends up back in the fairway and if its heavy rough, I may just pitch it back into the fairway with a sand wedge or gap wedge.  Ive found that its better off to just get back in the fairway and regroup, rather than trying to be a hero.

Another is driver off the tee on every single hole.  Ive realized recently that if its a 350 yard par-4, I dont need to hit driver.  Why hit driver, trying to get within 100 yards of the hole and put the rough in play when I can just hit a 5-wood, get it to 120-140 yards in the fairway and hit a 9-iron or an easy 7-iron.  To me, thats a lower stress shot than trying to hit a wedge out of the rough from 100-130 yards, which can be a difficult shot the judge and a difficult shot to put spin on.

[YYCRed 22]

Any shot with my lob wedge. It either goes 10 yards or 75 - nothing in between, and I never know which distance it's going to be. I have started using my 56 degree wedge with much better success, but my ego still makes me want to try that 60. 

[twolfe57 22]

Forcing a three wood off of a bad lie!  Take your punishment and hit the 6 iron and get it back in play!

[Dragon3 75]

The shot over the water...Sorry to say it's generally too long to carry over for me...Oh well, a lost ball for me...a gain for someone else

[daviddvm 3,084]

18 hours ago, revkev said:

The 300 yard drive - it hurts my back and still only goes 235 when I catch it on the screws just like when I take a normal swing.


Sent from my iPhone using MyGolfSpy

Yup Yup Yup   that's me to a tee!

 

[sirchunksalot 16,285]

19 hours ago, revkev said:

The 300 yard drive - it hurts my back and still only goes 235 when I catch it on the screws just like when I take a normal swing.


Sent from my iPhone using MyGolfSpy

Might be those 17 flights of stairs, I get winded thinking about that. 

[blackngold_blood 6,873]

I gotta stop trying to hit the crazy par saving shot that 95% of the time brings double into play. Just need to take my medicine and be okay with bogey.

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[MaxEntropy 8,209]

On 4/27/2020 at 8:23 AM, Pingistheanser said:

Flop shot. 

I'm in a similar boat. I can't tell you how many times I try to get too cute when I short-side myself. I really need to learn to get it on the green and two putt rather than trying to land a little flop shot in exactly the right spot, coming up short, leading to a second chip.

[jaybeemaestro 28]

On 4/27/2020 at 3:27 AM, sirchunksalot said:

I was thinking about this the other morning and thought I would see if anyone else had the same problem. Is there a shot you just need to tell yourself "Don't do it!" and go for the safer, more sensible route?

For me, it's hitting 3 wood when the ball is above my feet. It never turns out good, I usually hit a low hooky shot that might go 120. I know better, but if I'm on a par 5 I'm usually grabbing the 3 and trying to advance it as far as I can, no matter the lie. I can't help myself, even though I could pull a shorter iron and probably be in better position for my third shot. 

 

This is a tricky shot so there's no shame here. I have a bag-full of ludicrous shots I attempt. For me it's a mental deficiency and not accepting where I have put myself on the course. 

As for this 3wood shot, this would be my tip sheet;

1) Choke down on the 3 wood.

b) The practice swing must be a choke-down practice on as close a lie as you can. I would forget to do this and chunk it sometimes. It gives you the feeling of the shot you're going to play. Make your practice swings as close to the real thing as possible. Keep swinging until your brushing the top of the ground the way you want to. Don't get embarrassed and lose your mental focus if you take a divot with a practice swing. 

iii) Finally, and this is just for me. I find ball position is one of the over-riding elements to shot shape for me with my 3 wood. Further forward promotes the draw and further back promotes the fade. In this case a little further back might help so you're catching the ball before the face has closed which may lead to the low duck hook. Again, incorporate the ball position into your practice swing.

 I wouldn't give up on this shot yet. If you can get it right,  and be able to trust it, you could lower your scores. 

Keep the faith Dude. 

[ZenGolfer 928]

10 hours ago, MaxEntropy said:

I'm in a similar boat. I can't tell you how many times I try to get too cute when I short-side myself. I really need to learn to get it on the green and two putt rather than trying to land a little flop shot in exactly the right spot, coming up short, leading to a second chip.

Its tough.  I started watching a lot of Golfsidekick's Youtube videos lately and learned a lot from that.  He talks a lot about playing holes from the green back and planning your shots to get you into an approach shot range that your comfortable with and always playing full shots into greens.

Its made me realize that I dont always need to hit driver on a par-4 and on par-5s I dont need to try to hit the green in 2.  I can lay up to 100-150 yards for my 3rd shot and hit an easy wedge or short iron onto the green.

Since Ive stopped trying to play the hero shot and playing smarter golf instead, Im now to the point of shooting in the 80s on a regular basis, even on days when Im feeling like I dont swing the club very well.

[BelowParGolf 34]

On 4/27/2020 at 10:59 AM, Tsmithjr9 said:

Advice for everyone- don't stop trying any of your shots.

However, practice them before you take it to the course. If you never practice a draw, why try to hit it on the course? Practice downhill or side hill lies to gain the confidence. Would Drew Brees call a play they never practice? Practice leads to confidence and then the confidence conquers the fear.

I agree wholeheartedly with this however I am always 100% confident in every shot and more often then not I do not execute! LOL I do need to practice more real life scenarios instead of just blasting away at the range. I feel this is a common problem with average golfers. When you have limited time to play I think the tendency is to want to see and feel yourself hitting good shots so its hard to buckle down and have a few disappointing sessions where you work on shots you are terrible at to improve long term. 

For me I need to stop trying any shot that I stand over the ball and say " This is a terrible idea"  

[DiscipleofPenick 4,023]

Confidence is key and you have that. You're a lot further along than most.

Take Dead Aim

[ParFore74x 1,390]

For me it's trying to punch out of the rough on the right side of the fairway on a par 5. I always want to go too aggressive with a long iron and gain some yardage when I should just play it smart and use a short iron to get into good position on the fairway. Less aggressive shots and more smart, safe shots.

[Brian A 1,399]

The miracle recovery shot to make up for one bad shot. When I try "that" (hybrid through trees, flopping over tree, low stinger, etc) shot it usually ends up taking 2 or 3 more shots to get where I needed vs taking the smart shot (low punch in to the fairway) which cost me 1 extra