Thought I would share my struggles in golf with you guys and see what you thought.
Basically, I struggle with this myself. I live hours from my golf pro and can only get down to see him every 3-4 months. I struggled for a long while with my practice, not really understanding the concept of discipline. I had to work out some way so that I could see the transition from basic to acquired motion. To be disciplined I came up with this system I only take 5 balls with me.
I have to hit 2 perfect shots from each of the chip shots... all 4 chips have to be perfect before I allow myself to attempt the acquired motion. If I screw a chip up I miss out on getting to hit the acquired motion.
I like this because I can see the progression from that basic motion and its alignments to the acquired motion. When I go to a range I do the same thing but put balls in groups of 7's and hit 2 perfect acquired motions before trying a full shot.
I have come to view basic and acquired motion as productive practice and wailing balls in my net as just exercise.
Its the only way I could discipline myself to persist with the basic motion
because I could see the connectedness.
If this is how you work on your game, well then you should be seeing some big time improvements. I would continue with type of practice for along time, hmm like the rest of your life.
If this is how you work on your game, well then you should be seeing some big time improvements. I would continue with type of practice for along time, hmm like the rest of your life.
My irons have improved out of sight. Unfortunately, I suck with a driver. I am not sure if its cause I have no place to practice with one or if I swing differently with one. I was hoping things would filter down to the driver, but not as of yet.
My irons have improved out of sight. Unfortunately, I suck with a driver. I am not sure if its cause I have no place to practice with one or if I swing differently with one. I was hoping things would filter down to the driver, but not as of yet.
How long have you been going through the above practice routine? What is your handicap? What are the vital statistics of you driver? How far and high do you hit your 3 iron?
__________________
"In my experience, if you stay with the essentials you WILL build a repeatable swing undoubtedly. If you can master the Imperatives you have a champion" (Vikram).
The reason you can't sustain the lag is because you are so eager to make the club move fast (a reaction to the intent of "hitting it far"). So on a full shot you throw it away too early, which doesn't happen for your short chip. (bts)
How long have you been going through the above practice routine? What is your handicap? What are the vital statistics of you driver? How far and high do you hit your 3 iron?
With variations - 6 months. I have not been using a 3iron. From 150m (not yards) I would pull a 6 iron and carry it that far.
No handicap ATM. I only get to play 9 about once every 2 weeks, but I play consistant bogey golf now. A huge drop. A year ago I could not break 100. Bogey golf is not too bad when you do not get off the T well. Yesterday I played 9 - 3 bogeys, 3 doubles, and 3 pars. Only hit 2 fairways with my driver, so after taking my medicine, the bogeys were not too bad. At least I can chip!
Oh, Cobra SS427, 10.5 loft, Reg flex.
Been thinking of doing some basic motion with my driver to improve my hand action (into a net), but the ground around here is all dry and I don't want to ruin my driver.
Last edited by solarbear : 02-27-2007 at 09:37 PM.
I'll have to let you know when I'm coming to Nashville. My best friend lives there and is a member at the Legends in Franklin.
We should hit the links together sometime when you are in town! I haven't made it out to Legends yet, but my course is pretty fun, very tough around the greens, but you and I shouldn't have to worry about missing many
Very interesting stuff. My guess is you pull and slice with the driver? It is entirely possible that you do not have the mechanical break-down until you get to the driver. For me, as a 3 handicap, I can be hitting everything great but I have a tendency to go over the top with the longer clubs and when my timing isn't so great I hit some big pulls and slices. For me it's just a matter of getting better at getting my right shoulder working down-plane in the downswing and hitting a lot of basic motion shots will not help a lot with that. But the basic and acquired motion will undoubtedly help a lot with a host of other issues.
By the way, do you have enough loft on the driver? Do you maybe have to scoop to get it high enough in the air?
Matt
Originally Posted by solarbear
With variations - 6 months. I have not been using a 3iron. From 150m (not yards) I would pull a 6 iron and carry it that far.
No handicap ATM. I only get to play 9 about once every 2 weeks, but I play consistant bogey golf now. A huge drop. A year ago I could not break 100. Bogey golf is not too bad when you do not get off the T well. Yesterday I played 9 - 3 bogeys, 3 doubles, and 3 pars. Only hit 2 fairways with my driver, so after taking my medicine, the bogeys were not too bad. At least I can chip!
Oh, Cobra SS427, 10.5 loft, Reg flex.
Been thinking of doing some basic motion with my driver to improve my hand action (into a net), but the ground around here is all dry and I don't want to ruin my driver.
__________________
"In my experience, if you stay with the essentials you WILL build a repeatable swing undoubtedly. If you can master the Imperatives you have a champion" (Vikram).
The reason you can't sustain the lag is because you are so eager to make the club move fast (a reaction to the intent of "hitting it far"). So on a full shot you throw it away too early, which doesn't happen for your short chip. (bts)
Very interesting stuff. My guess is you pull and slice with the driver? It is entirely possible that you do not have the mechanical break-down until you get to the driver. For me, as a 3 handicap, I can be hitting everything great but I have a tendency to go over the top with the longer clubs and when my timing isn't so great I hit some big pulls and slices. For me it's just a matter of getting better at getting my right shoulder working down-plane in the downswing and hitting a lot of basic motion shots will not help a lot with that. But the basic and acquired motion will undoubtedly help a lot with a host of other issues.
By the way, do you have enough loft on the driver? Do you maybe have to scoop to get it high enough in the air?
Matt
I wish it was that simple. I generally push or hook ATM. Sometimes I might slice but last round push or hook only.
I think the cobras actually play a bit higher than they list on the face.
I think this is the case with me. I don't feel like I am using the same release with my driver as I do with my good iron shots. Not necessarily scoop but an unnecessary flip to close the clubface or sweep to close the clubface.
Yesterday I started doing basic motion with my driver in hopes I can improve the conditions of my hands through impact. But the driver is such a different beast its hard to know if you are doing it properly. Its a waste of time to practice a wrong motion IMHO.
During the summer I got to play quite a bit more and actually hit it quite well. But lately, I seem to have lost the plot.
Last edited by solarbear : 02-28-2007 at 08:48 PM.
It could also be more of a bending the plane line issue. Sometimes you compensate well and hit it pretty straight, sometimes push, sometimes hook.
If you can get a video up of a 6 iron and a driver I bet the heavy hitters would be willing to weigh in and give you some ideas for what to work on. Otherwise TGM instruction might be what you need at this point.
Matt
__________________
"In my experience, if you stay with the essentials you WILL build a repeatable swing undoubtedly. If you can master the Imperatives you have a champion" (Vikram).
The reason you can't sustain the lag is because you are so eager to make the club move fast (a reaction to the intent of "hitting it far"). So on a full shot you throw it away too early, which doesn't happen for your short chip. (bts)