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Joined: Aug 2020
Posts: 20
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Greetings all!
With a couple of golf lessons under my belt with some improvement showing, consistency still seems to plague me. After an enjoyable afternoon at the driving range, I’ve discovered a few things.
My slice is going away with still a tendency of the ball wanting to go right. But for the most part my shots are going straight which I’m glad of. With that said, I play at the course the driving range is attached to on Thursdays in the senior league.
The course itself is a 9 hole with narrow fairways and not much forgiveness for errant shots. It’s either the fairway or dense bush.
So, my question is, do I play the course to the left of the fairways and if there is a ball that goes right it lands in the middle of the fairway. Is this a logical way to play ? I’m usually averaging the loss of 3 to 4 balls a round which I hope to stop doing.
thanks
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Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,955
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Just be a little more conservative on some holes
Disregard nonsense about putting clubs on eBay.
Learning to use the contents of your bag is half the fun of golf
The driver is no different to any other club . Just save it in the early stages of your learning for the wider fairways with less chance of finding trouble
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Greg Butler
Handicap: 18
Essex
Pro Member
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 77
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Hi Shawn.
I frequently forget to do it myself but I believe good course management is where most mid to high handicap golfers go wrong.
Always play within your limits and if there's a slight doubt in your mind about a shot, don't attempt it.
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Paul Houghton
Handicap: 16
Essex
Pro Member
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 136
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Good advice from both Greg’s, play within your own capabilities.
Look at your worst miss and play away from it. Work out which holes are your problem, then go out and practice on them. Best way to gain confidence.
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'JB' John Barbe...
Handicap: 15
Bedfordshire
Pro Member
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 275
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And if you have a club in your bag that continually causes you trouble (driver!) leave it at home until the little voice inside your head says 'let's give it a go' 'if it doesn't work, leave it at home again.
Do no carry temptation in your bag!
jbð
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Ian Mullins
Handicap: 20
Essex
Pro Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 378
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Hi Shawn,
You've described my game perfectly. However, after 25 years of golf I still struggle with a fade, at times a slice! However, I do not think your idea of playing more to the left to compensate the fade will help, in fact it will amplify it.
I think this is something you should discuss with you coach. I could tell you to adjust your grip or to take half a step back with your right foot (its worked for me) but I would ask someone who knows your game better.
As for taking the driver out of the bag? I agree with John. Leave it at home for now and come back to it once you feel you are in control of your shots more.
#GoodLuck
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Joined: Aug 2020
Posts: 20
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Hi All !
Just as an addition to my original post, I realized I neglected to pull out the 3 wood to try and see how it behaves when I was on the driving range the other day so I’ll give it a try today and see what becomes of it.
As far as the course is concerned it consists of 6 Par 4’s 2 Par 3’s and 1 Par 5. Next lesson Saturday ! Can’t wait !!
Many thanks for all of the suggestions and please keep them coming !
I will keep you posted on my progress.
Many Thanks Again ! âģïļðïļ
Shawn
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Steve 'The Powe...
Handicap: 21
Essex
Pro Member
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 288
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Focus on easy swing, if you don't try to hit the ball too hard you can enjoy more control. Also see what each day brings and play accordingly, but play within your capabilities. I think you could get around most courses with a bit of a fade, I might disagree a bit with Ian, if your tendency is to fade, then consider aiming left a bit to end up in the middle of the fairway... Persist and remember no two days are ever the same
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Brigitte Lockwo...
Handicap: 30
Middlesex
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 574
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 Hello,
Your topic is about Course Management & many golfers have responded trying to help you but none have asked an elimentary question :
"have you been fitted fir the clubs you are using ?"
Have you got the correct loft, shaft, grip etc. for your personal height, swing etc?
A very important part to take into consideration when starting golf. You may have been handed down clubs, you may have bought them on line or just off the shelves.
A professional advice from a reliable Pro whom you trust & like would be beneficial and may pay dividends into curing your problem/problems.
Regards
Brigitte
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Joined: Aug 2020
Posts: 20
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Hi All,
Keeping my promise of keeping posted, I’m very happy to inform you I won with my foursome by two strokes.
There ! I said it....I won.
Just thinking I wasn’t going to go because of weather and look what happens.
The practice at the driving range helped tremendously with my ball control.
My putting was on fire too !
Cheers !
Shawn
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Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,955
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What is so ridiculous about my comment Mr Harvey?
Why are you the authority on hitting drivers??
And who are you to be telling me that I am ridiculous??
My driver is one of the clubs in my bag that I most enjoy hitting so your comment falls on deaf ears regarding my game.
And telling players to stick there drivers on ebay?
Let's just hope it was a whimsical comment possibly due to your lack of ability to hit one!!!
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Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,955
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It isn't wrong at all
If you have it in your bag learn to use it
And if you can't or won't use .... Then take it out!!
You shouldn't be frightened of clubs and to infer that the best place for it is on eBay is about as destructive as incessantly doing something wrong with a club and hoping it will come good without getting help.
The advice should be if you want to hit a driver then seek help if you are struggling not creating an advert for its impending sale!!!
Come on create a bit of positivity rather than banishing to the eBay dustbin
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'JB' John Barbe...
Handicap: 15
Bedfordshire
Pro Member
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 275
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John Barber wrote:And if you have a club in your bag that continually causes you trouble (driver!) leave it at home until the little voice inside your head says 'let's give it a go' 'if it doesn't work, leave it at home again.
Do no carry temptation in your bag!
jbð
Gents, stop getting carried away with this - I refer you to what I said before. No don't put it on eBay, if you don't like the sand wedge, should you put that on eBay as well? No, of course not.
Horses for courses, if it doesn't work for you today, doesn't mean it will not work in 6 months....
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'JB' John Barbe...
Handicap: 15
Bedfordshire
Pro Member
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 275
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Gary
You play differently to me, as you do to all other players. Get the 'sell it on eBay' out of your head. The man will learn which clubs are good for him - it's part of the learning process. He, like the rest of us doesn't need a continual stream of the same information. We all learn, let him.
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Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,955
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Wise words Mr B
Got any clubs for eBay?ðððððïļðïļ
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Joined: Aug 2020
Posts: 20
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Hi Folks !
I did fail to mention due to my excitement with the win did I say I won lol ðĪĢ yesterday that yes with your suggestions, I resisted the temptation to use the driver and went with the 3 wood off the tee. My control was better and the drives were straight as a pin left which may be an alignment issue.
I will be addressing the driver issue on my next lesson with my instructor.
This is a great conversation to keep moving.
Keep it up !!
Cheers ! âģïļðïļ
Shawn
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Joined: Aug 2020
Posts: 20
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Hi All,
As it turns out due to the ball going right with the driver, my instructor informs me that the timing on my release is somewhat late at point of impact.
I also addressed the abbreviated backswing he has put me on and I asked him what the reason was. His answer was that it’s related to an issue of dispersement. That being the longer the swing the more chance of less control. My longest drive is somewhere in the area of 225 yds. My thoughts were the more backswing I have the more distance I can get. So I was hoping out of these lessons was to obtain a full and proper swing but it appears he’s not having any of it.
Im already looking for another instructor to get a second opinion.
Any thoughts are welcome !
cheers
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Steve 'The Powe...
Handicap: 21
Essex
Pro Member
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 288
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I tend to agree, 3/4 swing does allow for more control, and 200 yards on the fairway is better than 300 in the trees. I find 3/4 swing more manageable and on occasion do try a bigger swing. 80% power works as well. You can manage most courses with a 200 yard drive...
And take the time to find a club that suits you...it may not be the most expensive...
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Joined: Aug 2020
Posts: 20
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Well now that the driver issue seems to be resolved, it was time to tackle the irons. Shots are nice and straight off the tee but I’m my opinion that’s sort of cheating on the practice range in a way. So my instructor has helped with it the other day, however today on the practice range it was well, in a word, a disaster.
I’m topping my iron shots on a chronic regularity.
I try to check all the boxes. Grip, stance, alignment and once the backswing starts, all hell breaks loose. Off I go topping the ball. I hit a few good ones but for the most part it was a royal mess. I tried every iron in the bag and the same damn thing happens. I fixate on the blade of grass behind the ball for correct contact as my instructor mentioned but something is going out of axis. I can only determine that my spine angle changes at the backswing a habit that needs fixing I’m hoping.
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Tony Moss
Handicap: 6
West Sussex
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Try moving your blade of grass forward, pick a point 4 inches in front of your ball and to focus on driving the blade of your club squarely through that point.
A good drill if you have access to a grass driving range is to press a tee into the ground 4" in front of the ball with just the tip protruding and try and take the tee out of the ground as you drive the club face through. It is then easier to visualise this when you go out to the course to play.
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Joined: Aug 2020
Posts: 20
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Hi All,
Well Just imagine, after 11 rounds of golf this year, I have managed to establish a handicap of 28.5.
The season isn’t quite over just yet here in Central Ontario so there may be hope to lower it before the snow flies.
I cant tell you how much the lessons are helping. My new instructor is a god send. The visits to the driving range have been fruitful and my shots are straight as a pin now. My short game has been crazy good as well. I can’t wait for next year already. My goodness am I hooked. ðĪŠ
Cheers !
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TSG
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