The OS Golfer's Thread!

[CC]

Well... it's starting to get cold again here after a week of awesome weather. It was in the 70s and 80s most of last week here, but I only managed to get out twice. Shot a 77 on the easier of the two courses here at State, and then shot my best round since HS on the harder West course here (a 74). I was Even until I hit a heavy 4-iron into the pond in front of the 18th green going for the GUR and then lipped out twice. Yep, I always choke.

I'm quite the inconsistent golfer so I hope I don't lose my game with this time off due to the weather.

[CASEYBRAD15]

looking to get some new left handed clubs.whats the best ones i can get at a reasonable price guys?

[Matt10]

Quote: Originally Posted by orthostud23

Just received my C510 Forged irons from GigaGolf. I also got one of the golf bags (free because my total order was over $300) and a milled putter. Putted around the rug a bit. Putter has a nice feel to it. Feels a little bit heavier than my Taylor Made Roosa. The weather was not great here today in Mass. and since the clubs didn't get here til 630pm I was unable to hit them. Hopefully the weather is nice this week so I can get swinging.

Awesome man - can't wait to hear how your next range session goes. I'm considering selling my Titleist ZMs bc I want everything gigagolf. I have those wedges, putter - now just want the bag, 3-PW and woods,hybrid and driver.

Damn, I should've asked for more presents on my bday

[st0rmb11]

Went out yesterday at the course I now work at, and what a rough front 9.

It was a very impromptu outing. I was enjoying my day off hanging out at this girl's house, and my buddy called when he got off work and asked if I wanted to play 18 with him and our course pro, so I headed over there. The problem - while I did have my clubs in my car, I didn't have shoes, so I had to play in flip flops, and I didn't have my glove, so after about 8 holes, my hand was getting ravaged.

I managed to scramble around on the front, and shoot a 47, but it wasn't pretty; I was saved by some solid chips.

The pro was trying to help me a little with an apparently bad habit I have, but have never had "diagnosed". I had asked him about how he hits these low risers, whereas my ball just goes way up in the air. Turns out, I dip my back shoulder pretty drastically in my down swing. He tried to offer a few tips, but it was tough to adjust on the fly.

He left after the front 9, and my buddy and I made the turn. I was little looser (I had been playing a little uptight with the pro), and ended up shooting a 43 on the front, to finish at 90, but man, it was a rough day.


Do you guys have any advice or tips on the shoulder dipping thing? I seem to lose a lot of distance because of it. Rather than having the ball gradually rise when I hit it, it pops straight up, and gets no roll when it lands. I still drive the ball as far as most guys I play with, but this just tells me how much further I could be hitting the ball. It also explains my loss in yardage over the past year or so; I assume I hadn't been doing this for too long because the loss in yardage is fairly recent, and I hadn't ever had anyone bring it up before.

[Matt10]

Quote: Originally Posted by st0rmb11

Went out yesterday at the course I now work at, and what a rough front 9. It was a very impromptu outing. I was enjoying my day off hanging out at this girl's house, and my buddy called when he got off work and asked if I wanted to play 18 with him and our course pro, so I headed over there. The problem - while I did have my clubs in my car, I didn't have shoes, so I had to play in flip flops, and I didn't have my glove, so after about 8 holes, my hand was getting ravaged. I managed to scramble around on the front, and shoot a 47, but it wasn't pretty; I was saved by some solid chips. The pro was trying to help me a little with an apparently bad habit I have, but have never had "diagnosed". I had asked him about how he hits these low risers, whereas my ball just goes way up in the air. Turns out, I dip my back shoulder pretty drastically in my down swing. He tried to offer a few tips, but it was tough to adjust on the fly. He left after the front 9, and my buddy and I made the turn. I was little looser (I had been playing a little uptight with the pro), and ended up shooting a 43 on the front, to finish at 90, but man, it was a rough day. Do you guys have any advice or tips on the shoulder dipping thing? I seem to lose a lot of distance because of it. Rather than having the ball gradually rise when I hit it, it pops straight up, and gets no roll when it lands. I still drive the ball as far as most guys I play with, but this just tells me how much further I could be hitting the ball. It also explains my loss in yardage over the past year or so; I assume I hadn't been doing this for too long because the loss in yardage is fairly recent, and I hadn't ever had anyone bring it up before.

It depends on how you want your stock shots to go. I personally like the high ball. It allows the ball to quickly stop on the green faster, and more backspin as well if needed.

As far as the shoulder dipping though, it means you're either not transferring your weight to your right (right handed) and not turning correctly.

Try this drill.

Set up to the ball normally and just turn your shoulders so your back is facing the target.

Extend your arms out on your backswing, once that's done fold your arms towards you so the shaft of the club lays on your right shoulder. This builds the perfect backswing. If you are dipping, the club's shaft will hit more on your outer shoulder to even off of it.

This will help you maintain your spine angle a lot more.

A good set up tip that I use, and is just part of my routine is:

Set up to the ball with just your left arm aligned to the target (no right arm yet).

Instead of just placing your right hand on the club, let the arm just hang freely from your shoulder sockets. If you were to just reach for the club, you're already setting up open and chances are your back shoulder is going to take over.

So instead of just reaching for the club, kick your right knee in - this will naturally put your right arm/shoulder and hand in the perfect spot for your grip. The best part as well is that it will improve your set up to be more tilted - which when you do your backswing - there's less of a chance of your shoulder dipping.

Try those out - and let me know. I've done my tinkering with every golf method out there. I've found these two are the best ways to improve your set up for a great swing.

[st0rmb11]

Quote: Originally Posted by Matt10

It depends on how you want your stock shots to go. I personally like the high ball. It allows the ball to quickly stop on the green faster, and more backspin as well if needed. As far as the shoulder dipping though, it means you're either not transferring your weight to your right (right handed) and not turning correctly. Try this drill. Set up to the ball normally and just turn your shoulders so your back is facing the target. Extend your arms out on your backswing, once that's done fold your arms towards you so the shaft of the club lays on your right shoulder. This builds the perfect backswing. If you are dipping, the club's shaft will hit more on your outer shoulder to even off of it. This will help you maintain your spine angle a lot more. A good set up tip that I use, and is just part of my routine is: Set up to the ball with just your left arm aligned to the target (no right arm yet). Instead of just placing your right hand on the club, let the arm just hang freely from your shoulder sockets. If you were to just reach for the club, you're already setting up open and chances are your back shoulder is going to take over. So instead of just reaching for the club, kick your right knee in - this will naturally put your right arm/shoulder and hand in the perfect spot for your grip. The best part as well is that it will improve your set up to be more tilted - which when you do your backswing - there's less of a chance of your shoulder dipping. Try those out - and let me know. I've done my tinkering with every golf method out there. I've found these two are the best ways to improve your set up for a great swing.

Yeah, I hear you on the underlined part. Hitting the ball high comes in great handy when I'm hitting an approach shot, with an iron. Usually, all I have to do is execute a solid shot, on target, and the ball ends up 2 or 3 feet from where it lands because of the height the ball.

But, with my driver, and fairway woods (from the tee and from the fairway), I'd like to hit the ball a little lower, so I can get more roll on the shots.

I'll definitely give those tips and drills a try.

The pro even suggested investing in a lower degree driver (mine is 10.5). He suggested looking into a 9 or 9.5 degree driver.

[Matt10]

Quote: Originally Posted by st0rmb11

Yeah, I hear you on the underlined part. Hitting the ball high comes in great handy when I'm hitting an approach shot, with an iron. Usually, all I have to do is execute a solid shot, on target, and the ball ends up 2 or 3 feet from where it lands because of the height the ball. But, with my driver, and fairway woods (from the tee and from the fairway), I'd like to hit the ball a little lower, so I can get more roll on the shots. I'll definitely give those tips and drills a try. The pro even suggested investing in a lower degree driver (mine is 10.5). He suggested looking into a 9 or 9.5 degree driver.

Definitely could be the degree. The higher the swing speed (mine is 105) the less the degree. Get your swing speed, and assess correctly what driver would be correct. Shaft is important as well, I hit a stiff shaft - anything by diamana or proforce is good.

But yeah - definitely find what your swing speed is. I hit a 9 right now, drive on average about 270-280 with roll - I'm only 5'7, but like I've said on here - I incorporate a great swing method by Mike Austin.

[st0rmb11]

Quote: Originally Posted by Matt10

Definitely could be the degree. The higher the swing speed (mine is 105) the less the degree. Get your swing speed, and assess correctly what driver would be correct. Shaft is important as well, I hit a stiff shaft - anything by diamana or proforce is good. But yeah - definitely find what your swing speed is. I hit a 9 right now, drive on average about 270-280 with roll - I'm only 5'7, but like I've said on here - I incorporate a great swing method by Mike Austin.

I may go back to my old driver - a 9 degree, extra stiff shaft that I got custom made. As far as swing speed, I've never had that looked at. Working at a course now, I may see about these things.

[Skyboxer]

Quote: Originally Posted by Matt10

It depends on how you want your stock shots to go. I personally like the high ball. It allows the ball to quickly stop on the green faster, and more backspin as well if needed. As far as the shoulder dipping though, it means you're either not transferring your weight to your right (right handed) and not turning correctly. Try this drill. Set up to the ball normally and just turn your shoulders so your back is facing the target. Extend your arms out on your backswing, once that's done fold your arms towards you so the shaft of the club lays on your right shoulder. This builds the perfect backswing. If you are dipping, the club's shaft will hit more on your outer shoulder to even off of it. This will help you maintain your spine angle a lot more. A good set up tip that I use, and is just part of my routine is: Set up to the ball with just your left arm aligned to the target (no right arm yet). Instead of just placing your right hand on the club, let the arm just hang freely from your shoulder sockets. If you were to just reach for the club, you're already setting up open and chances are your back shoulder is going to take over. So instead of just reaching for the club, kick your right knee in - this will naturally put your right arm/shoulder and hand in the perfect spot for your grip. The best part as well is that it will improve your set up to be more tilted - which when you do your backswing - there's less of a chance of your shoulder dipping. Try those out - and let me know. I've done my tinkering with every golf method out there. I've found these two are the best ways to improve your set up for a great swing.

Also to add to what Matt said (Great points BTW).... st0rmb11 make sure you aren't teeing the ball up too high. On higher trajectory shots (I use a 9.5 driver) I'll tee it up to roughly 1/3 of the ball is above the club head. When I want a lower flight will more roll I tee it up even with top of club head.

[DonkeyJote]

Last summer, I lost distance on pretty much all my clubs. It was kinda weird. About two or three months after I first started playing regularly, I was probably averaging 240 or so with my driver, the 20 yd into a tree shots off the heel notwithstanding, and could occasionally hit 275 or so. Last summer, it dropped off, a lot. I lost distance on all my clubs it seemed. So far this year, especially in the three rounds I played last week, I've gotten my distance back. I could be a little more accurate, but I've been pretty straight and have been getting more distance with every club - except my driver. I'm still slicing it really bad, and only getting about 220 on a good hit - about the same as my 5 wood seems to be going now.

I'm probably golfing with some friends on Sunday (it'll actually be the first time in 6 months I haven't played alone). I'm probably going to go to the range on Saturday and try and work on my driver. It's driving me nuts. I know I would play better if I just put the club away, but I want it to do well. On my last round, I only used it on 8 holes and shot a bogey or better on one of them (and it took a nice punch shot from the trees 180 yards out onto the green to get the one par). But I'd rather fix the problem than put it away.