What is/isn't going well for you in your 2021 golf season?

[MaxEntropy]

30 minutes ago, edingc said:

I wish it worked the same way for other parts of my physical conditioning!

Agreed, and it gets worse with age

[RDel90]

2021 has been a mess for me so pretty much all ugly. Biggest reason, lack of practice time due to personal family reasons. Went from playing/practicing 3-4 times a week to lucky if I can play or hit balls in my yard yet once every 3-4 weeks. My swing has completely broke the last 3 months. I was previously playing in the high 80s and fell back to mid/high 90s. Too many thoughts and focus on technique as well as loss of tempo. But maybe not a bad thing. Since I can't get out, I've become that guy that when walking around the house, stops and takes a practice swing with my trusty ol imaginary 7 iron (ocassionally pull out the imaginary driver). I finally was able hit 100 balls or so in my net with my Mevo and some foot spray to identify strike location. Found my tempo swing thought again ("(takeaway) Pull the...(slight pause at transition)...chain (downswing)".... which also guides me on keeping lead arm straight and dropping hands down in downswing like pulling a chain light switch). Mevo data showed more consistency and better distance and spray showed getting more impact towards center of club face. Figured out my balance was off leading to bigger hooks and more hosel rockets as I was falling a little forward in the downswing. Just getting my butt back helped provide the balance stability and feel like I can fully rotate now. Feel like I'm about to turn a corner and get my game back on track. Round wise was struggling out of the tee box averaging 5-6 penalties/round. Recently just got my driver back up to about 240-250 carry with less hooks, and more in play balls. So looking to see tee box penalties drop.

The bad: Approach game. Arccos tells me I lose about 4.5 strokes a round here. Lucky to get 1-2 GIR a round. Approach shots just haven't been hitting the green. My short irons and pitches inside 100 got too steep for a period leading to a lot of duffed fat shots. Again a setup and balance issue. Hopefully got that figured out and and start to see GIR on the rise. When I have been able to hit the green, lots of long lag putts but still usually just 2 putting which leads into....

The good: Chipping and putting. Really feel confident here since I can practice this the most in my yard and inside. Actually holed a few chips from 1-2 yards off the green this year. Ditched my TM Spider Tour Black for a new PXG Gen 2 Spitfire Armlock (reviewed here https://forum.mygolfspy.com/topic/44225-unofficial-review-pxg-putter-fitting-spitfire-armlock-configuration/). I love the feel of the milled face vs insert and now feel deadly within 6ft. I've dropped 2-3 putts/round so far with the putter change and couldn't tell you the last time I actually 3 putt. 

 

[sirchunksalot]

On 6/24/2021 at 12:52 PM, edingc said:

I forget - do you carry any hybrids? I dropped my fairway woods and don't miss them in the least bit, and for me the hybrids are easier to hit.

I don't currently have any hybrids, I used to carry some old Nickent's in 3, 4, and 5, but they became hook machines. I'm currently loaning them out to a friend of mine who has consistency issues with his longer irons. I may need to eventually replace them with something newer and see how they work. 

[RDel90]

31 minutes ago, sirchunksalot said:

I don't currently have any hybrids, I used to carry some old Nickent's in 3, 4, and 5, but they became hook machines. I'm currently loaning them out to a friend of mine who has consistency issues with his longer irons. I may need to eventually replace them with something newer and see how they work. 

Biggest fix I found for hybrids is that for too long I played them like fairway woods (people see the head shape and associate that with woods) and was a little too far forward with ball. Need to think of hybrids the same as long irons which what they are really meant to replace. You still want to hit slightly down on the ball. Ball position should be about a club head inside lead heel straight down from lead ear/shirt logo. 

[fixyurdivot]

The Good

• My driving distance has increased with the new KBS shaft.  Using my SC200 over a handful of range visits, I'm seeing almost 9 yards more carry.  Being that I'm now 60 and into that part of life where distance loss is more the norm, I'll take it.
• The committment I made to myself when I resumed the game in earnest, following retirement, to never again let the desire for improvement override the pure enjoyment of playing has remained strong.  Yes, I get a wee hacked now and then, but I shake it quickly.
• My recent switch to LHL putting grip is proving positive.  I'm much more on-line to target and feel lots more confident on those short putts
• Smoother, slower tempo has finally become more the norm and I'm quick to catch myself going the wrong direction and correct.
• Full bag fitting completed and new irons and first ever composite shafts in work. The numbers are better across the board and, while I certainly hope that transfers to play, I'll be just as happy to get nothing but less wear n' tear on my left shoulder.

The Bad

• No significant reduction in my handicap - getting closer to 11 than 12 but still not reaching my goal of sub 10.  I do feel like the change in putting grip is going to pay dividends on that front... I just feel more confident and that is never a negative in this game.
• Despite employing some routine stretching exercises aimed at helping my rotation, the left shoulder just dosen't choose to play along. I probably should go see a specialist and possibly get some of that muscle scrapping therapy some have told me about... but I hate doing medical stuff... cuts into my golf and fishing time .
• Still no standout golf ball identified... but I suppose one could argue that isn't necessarily a bad thing.

The Ugly

• Wasted the better part of 4 months on the order for the new irons that went down the proverbial crapper, and now 5 weeks into the re-order through another source (their estimate 6-8 weeks).  

[sirchunksalot]

Golf is such a funny game. Wednesday I'm complaining about not being able to hit fairways, today I hit them well. I'm not saying I was crushing them, but I didn't top a single one. I've been working on exiting left with my irons and wedges and took that thought to the course today with the woods. 

I think a lot of my problems with my swing deal with not getting weight transferred on to my lead foot and by rotating left, I do. My left ankle has been operated on three times and is prone to hurting and my body guards against it. Funny thing is, if I can get to my left heel, it doesn't bother me. I just need to convince my subconscious of it.

I'm planning on going to the range tomorrow to see how well this new thought holds up. 

 

[Headhammer]

Started out the season hitting my driver and woods better than I have in years, I almost had confidence with my driver regardless of the hole layout. Now I'm hitting my irons great and struggling with the driver and woods. Ugh!

[RDel90]

1 hour ago, Headhammer said:

Started out the season hitting my driver and woods better than I have in years, I almost had confidence with my driver regardless of the hole layout. Now I'm hitting my irons great and struggling with the driver and woods. Ugh!

I know that pain. One or the other is on…never both. Personally for me I feel like I was trying too much for one swing/plane for all clubs. Based on length of club/distance from the ball I had to tell myself as the club gets longer the swing plane slightly shallows and vice versa depending if woods or irons are on that day. 

[BigUrsus]

The Good: With lessons i found a solution to my accuracy issues that have hurt me for years if not decades. 

The bad: I hurt my hand and cant play for a few weeks because i was pushing myself too fast to learn this new solution.