Hitting observations + thanks
 

Guys,
Have been working with hitting pattern and WOW I'm liking this. Couple observations from a newbie hitter.

PP#1 seems to be my key. As long as I'm actively pushing that fictional penny with the trail hand heel pad, i know extensor action is working and i ain't gonna flip it. I also feel PP#3 but it's secondary.

Rotating trail shoulder down along plane line in DS is key. Feels much more "under" but that's simply because i was OTT up until I figured this out. Helps me not run out of trail arm.

Short game pitches and 1/2 to 3/4 punch shots are pure bliss. It's to the point now where I can take my 60-deg on a muny practice green and NOT worry about blading one into the guys practicing on the green. Again, PP#1. Cut lobs, vertical hinging...what a joy.

I've had to rotate my practice sessions across multiple grass driving ranges. I completely obliterate my grass hitting stations. After 2 jumbo buckets and 2 destroyed stations I got the evil eye from a local range owner yesterday. I am running out of options so maybe I need to start wearing disguises.

I can actually hit a 1 iron off turf, and it does what it's supposed to do. Penetrating flight with slight fade. (I prefer hitting hybrids, but now I can put a 1-iron in the bag during a practice round just to say "hey Joe, hand me the butter knife" on a short par 4...LOL, always wanted to do that)

By following advice in the thread further down the page I gained 20 yards on my driver simply by putting ball forward and inside...past low point. Geometry is wonderful, ain't it?

Really looking forward to this season. Thanks for all the great posts on this fourm.

wicker1000

"by putting ball forward and inside...past low point" - wicker1000

Hey man, just wanted to say thanks for your post.

Since turning into a hitter, my driver swing just didn't really match up with the same swing I use on all my other clubs. I was manipulating it, trying to thrust upwards and outwards, while all the swing I use on all my other clubs were downwards and outwards.

I remembered what you said in this post, about the ball being inside, and about geometry, and thought to myself ... he's right, I'm should still be swinging in an arc/circle.

My hit on the way down/level swing was okay, as I was only thinking about getting to low point. For the upwards hit, by teeing the ball slightly higher, making my low point slightly more behind the ball, and putting the ball slightly more inside, towards the heel, I was able to use my regular swing and focus only on low point, and it's excellent.

Again, man, thanks a ton, and may you frequently shoot birdies, pars, and eagles. :)

Great stuff guys, we all have to experiment and find what works best for us. I was a little stubborn, making sure I was hitting down on the driver. I moved it up in my stance a little so I could catch it just shy of low point, and it solved several problems I was having and gave me a little more zip as well.

Thanks for the ideas!

Kevin

Thanks. I tried it too, just short of low point and my club champ saw I was only 15 yards behind him, and he gave a puzzled look! I was using a Precept he had a Titleist!

Patrick

Go get some Titleists or I'm afraid we can't be friends anymore. :laughing9
:golf:
Kevin

Don't be silly, Big Guy.
Patrick, you can do like I do: Play what you find. Kevin has a never ending well of Pro-V's. I think he uses at least 6 balls a season. He hits it so straight he can't lose it. I sometimes lose it just standing up.

Uhmmm, is there a secret Titleist decoder PGA discount TGMAA members?
 

I might be able to be a BIG TITLEIST supporter for the right
uhm, encouragement.

Perhaps, that company could be featured in all my lyrics and posts?:think:


For example...

"Please come to Boston in the springtime
I'm tgm'ing here with friends and we have lots of TITLEISTs
We play at a club that looks out over the ocean
And watch our TITLEISTS fade and bite onto the greens
Please do geometry with me;she said no
But you enjoy the TITLEISTS from me..."


Patrick

Uh, Patrick. I'll shill for LBG, TGM, and maybe Summit Brewery, but that's about it. My favorite hat has nothing on it and my bag has duct tape over the brand.
Do you really play by the ocean? We sometimes have standing water at our course, but not for long.

Patrick,

When Jerry, Roger and I head to Cuscawillo, we're picking up O.B. on the way, and you will be right on our way from his place. We will have a blast. Start saving your sheckles!!!

Kevin

Im....waiting....

"standing on the corner, 12 th street and vine". (Hit it City)


Where the heck are you guys?

Kev have you tried an aiming point several inches in front of the ball for the driver? Several inches after (target side) for a wedge? I really love it for the driver, really. When Im hitting, 12-1, with a driver I tend to get some fades which are in play but not as long as a draw. With the aiming point deal I release it better. Blammo. It gives the longer lever a chance to square up and vice versa for the shorter lever , wedge. For me I just look at that spot, aiming point , as opposed to staring at the ball, like I would in a bunker say. For balls played forward , at or in front of low point with a driver, I keep the clubhead aligned to my feet or low point as per usual, move the ball forward a tad and aim at the Aiming Point which is just in front of the clubface. For some reason I get all out a whack when I address a ball forward of low point with the clubhead right beside it. Like Im going to fat the ground on the way back and through or something. If the clubhead is forward of low point too and laying on the ground as opposed to hovered, it must bottom out in both directions, right? Maybe it wouldnt be a problem if I hovered it? I dunno.


The Aiming Point concept has an anti steering aspect to it as well , I think, as the ball starts to become like Homer's dandelion. Im really starting to think the ball doesnt like to be looked at directly. Im trying to sneak up on it when its not watching. Sort of whistling and talking about other stuff and then blam. Trevino style. The ball doesnt have a clue what just happened. It works really nicely with The Three Stations.