2020 Golf Thread of Disappoint Yourself

[Lurch 5922]

Never mind. They ruined it.

[The Earl of Texas 3132]

Bummer

Edited January 15, 2020 by The Earl of Texas

[Lurch 5922]

Unfamiliar but I’ll look into it tonight.

Probably better solutions now. It was great but now is expensive

[Lurch 5922]

Hole 14, Par 5. Nailed the drive, nailed a 3-wood , 30 foot putt. Couldn’t believe it!

Nice! Getting that 3-wood on the green is such a rush

[pops 6980]

6 minutes ago, The Earl of Texas said:

Last year I took my first putting lesson and took a swing lesson with the camera.

Putting is an no-brainer and I should’ve done it years ago. 2 or 3 strokes off the game right there.

But the swing/camera but was a revelation. I could’ve had someone tell me a hundred times what I was doing ‘wrong’ but until I saw it on camera, it didn’t register. So cool. Left arm straight, hands out and away from the body. Good shit.

Hate seeing myself on camera. But you're right, it's a whole new ballgame when you can actually see what you're doing even when it doesn't feel like that is what you're doing. At all. 

[Lurch 5922]

Hate seeing myself on camera. But you're right, it's a whole new ballgame when you can actually see what you're doing even when it doesn't feel like that is what you're doing. At all. 

Yep. I’d be POSITIVE my arms didn’t break down at the top, and then sure enough...

[heso 2785]

I have two goals for 2020: get both GIR and up & down percentage north of 30%. Right now both are below 20%. The GIR has been so frustrating because I’ve been pretty good at hitting the fairway. 56% FIR average last two seasons. I had multiple rounds last season where my FIR was 70+% and GIR less than 15%.

my standard hole is a drive into the fairway, miss the green, wedge on, 2 putts. 

The big problem is my iron play. I’d bet I have a better shot dispersion with a 3 wood from 235 as I do with a 9 iron from 135. Par 5 GIR 54% par 4 GIR 17%. 

I have every kind of miss possible with an iron in my hand, from a 45 degree push to a hard snap hook. Fat, like 2 inches behind the ball fat. Thin skulls that roll 20 yards. 

To resolve that, I’m starting lessons in a couple weeks because it’s the only part of my game I have no clue where to begin. Lessons and as much practice as I can fit in. Trying to figure out how I can set up any sort of hitting area at home so I can maximize practice. 

To improve my u&d % I need to work a bump and run into my short game. Right now I struggle with chipping to deep pins. The only wedge I use around the green is my 60* and I consistently find myself struggling with distance control on medium to long pins. 

Additionally, improving my iron accuracy should lead to closer missed greens, leaving me with easier up & downs. 

[StruggleBus 3922]

On 1/12/2020 at 8:32 PM, Lurch said:

6 handicap and shanks?!? Did not think that was possible! When I was at an 8 I was playing what seemed to be nearly flawless for me. I don’t know how you low handicappers do it.

Oh, it's definitely possible. I played competitively in high school and caught a case of the shanks for a month. Talk about a confidence destroyer. 

[Lurch 5922]

Par 5 1 handy does a 19handi max at 9?

[Gen. Applewhite 226]

Heso, your game and goals sound similar to mine. What makes or breaks my rounds is about 20% whether or not I get lucky and find a couple greens with the woods I am hitting into longer holes, and 80% about how many 6-8 foot putts I am able to sink after a serviceable chip. I assume that simply practicing more will hone my short game, so my primary goal is to get more consistent with irons (mostly w/r/t distance). I probably should have signed up for a series of lessons, but I took the fun route instead and bought some new game improvement irons.

[HouTex 1866]

Par 5 1 handy does a 19handi max at 9?

If you get two strokes on that hole, then yes. Max score=par + 2 + strokes given. It should be somewhat rare for true 19 handicappers unless there are penalty areas to increase the score.

[HouTex 1866]

I have two goals for 2020: get both GIR and up & down percentage north of 30%. Right now both are below 20%. The GIR has been so frustrating because I’ve been pretty good at hitting the fairway. 56% FIR average last two seasons. I had multiple rounds last season where my FIR was 70+% and GIR less than 15%.
my standard hole is a drive into the fairway, miss the green, wedge on, 2 putts. 
The big problem is my iron play. I’d bet I have a better shot dispersion with a 3 wood from 235 as I do with a 9 iron from 135. Par 5 GIR 54% par 4 GIR 17%. 
I have every kind of miss possible with an iron in my hand, from a 45 degree push to a hard snap hook. Fat, like 2 inches behind the ball fat. Thin skulls that roll 20 yards. 
To resolve that, I’m starting lessons in a couple weeks because it’s the only part of my game I have no clue where to begin. Lessons and as much practice as I can fit in. Trying to figure out how I can set up any sort of hitting area at home so I can maximize practice. 
To improve my u&d % I need to work a bump and run into my short game. Right now I struggle with chipping to deep pins. The only wedge I use around the green is my 60* and I consistently find myself struggling with distance control on medium to long pins. 
Additionally, improving my iron accuracy should lead to closer missed greens, leaving me with easier up & downs. 

I’m having a similar problem with my short irons/wedges. I took a lesson and I saw the video. I couldn’t believe what I was doing. I was raising my upper body in the backswing and bending my left arm. So in the downswing I had to dip way down to hit the ball. If everything was timed right I was ok. But it made me horribly inconsistent. You should take a lesson from a good pro.

[heso 2785]

43 minutes ago, Gen. Applewhite said:

Heso, your game and goals sound similar to mine. What makes or breaks my rounds is about 20% whether or not I get lucky and find a couple greens with the woods I am hitting into longer holes, and 80% about how many 6-8 foot putts I am able to sink after a serviceable chip. I assume that simply practicing more will hone my short game, so my primary goal is to get more consistent with irons (mostly w/r/t distance). I probably should have signed up for a series of lessons, but I took the fun route instead and bought some new game improvement irons.

Pga tour leader from 5-10’ was 66% last year. Last place was 40%. The entire tour was better than 94% inside of 5 feet. 

the best putters in the world are only draining half of their 5-10 footers. 

Get your chips/pitches inside of 5’ and drain everything inside of that. 

if you want to practice your short game, take 10 balls to a practice green and chip 10 each to a short, medium, and long pin from 1, 5, and 10 yards off the green. Set up some tees at 1 and two club lengths from the hole. Keep score: 1 point inside 2 club lengths, 2 points inside of 1 club lengths. Use that score to identify your weakest areas then practice just that one distance until it isn’t your weakest area. 

the next game is par 18. Pick 9 spots around the green and drop a ball. Each one is a par 2. Keep score.

Edited January 15, 2020 by heso

[heso 2785]

10 minutes ago, HouTex said:

I’m having a similar problem with my short irons/wedges. I took a lesson and I saw the video. I couldn’t believe what I was doing. I was raising my upper body in the backswing and bending my left arm. So in the downswing I had to dip way down to hit the ball. If everything was timed right I was ok. But it made me horribly inconsistent. You should take a lesson from a good pro.

I have a suspicion something similar is leading to my wildly inconsistent iron play. Definitely taking a series of lessons. 

[DDD Dad 14324]

I’d just like to have fewer than 36 putts per round.

[DDD Dad 14324]

I’d just like to have fewer than 36 putts per round.

[Lurch 5922]

I’d just like to have fewer than 36 putts per round.

Miss more greens imo

[StruggleBus 3922]

It ain't a three putt if your second putt is from the fringe

[DDD Dad 14324]

18 minutes ago, Lurch said:

 

Miss more greens imo

 

Actually my putting numbers have gone up as a result of more GIR, which was a result of me being more consistent with my irons. 

I'm still a better putter than @longhorn10

[pops 6980]

Spanish bay today. What a fun little course. Won't even tell you fucks what I shot because no one cares. But honestly, might have been the best ballstriking day of my life. 

And lunch at the taproom after. 

[Lurch 5922]

Actually my putting numbers have gone up as a result of more GIR, which was a result of me being more consistent with my irons. 
I'm still a better putter than [mention=5]longhorn10[/mention]

That’s the joke .gif

[DDD Dad 14324]

Just now, Lurch said:

 

That’s the joke .gif

 

I know, I know.  

[DDD Dad 14324]

20 minutes ago, pops said:

Spanish bay today. What a fun little course. Won't even tell you fucks what I shot because no one cares. But honestly, might have been the best ballstriking day of my life. 

And lunch at the taproom after. 

Looks like you got some spectacular weather.

 

I'm still working on getting out there for the first time.  One of my Bandon group's FIL is a member at Cypress, but I haven't scored an invite yet.

[conVINCEd 21469]

24 minutes ago, DDD Dad said:

Looks like you got some spectacular weather.

 

I'm still working on getting out there for the first time.  One of my Bandon group's FIL is a member at Cypress, but I haven't scored an invite yet.

You should start working on that.  Stay in good health though.  I received a last minute invitation many years ago due to somebody bailing.  Unfortunately that happened a week after I broke my  wrist skiing.  The member was a friend of a friend’s grandfather who died prior to me receiving another invite.

[DDD Dad 14324]

5 minutes ago, conVINCEd said:

You should start working on that.  Stay in good health though.  I received a last minute invitation many years ago due to somebody bailing.  Unfortunately that happened a week after I broke my  wrist skiing.  The member was a friend of a friend’s grandfather who died prior to me receiving another invite.

Oh, I figure it will happen at some point.  But I'm not going to push or work on it.  He's a really good guy (Sooner notwithstanding), and I expect he gets worked on by everyone who knows he has a connection.  In fact some of us speculate that he might already be a member himself.  He doesn't need me bugging him.  I'm sure he knows I'd jump at the chance if offered.

Edited January 15, 2020 by DDD Dad

[longhorn10 31]

2 hours ago, DDD Dad said:

Actually my putting numbers have gone up as a result of more GIR, which was a result of me being more consistent with my irons. 

I'm still a better putter than @longhorn10

You wish, bitch.

[DDD Dad 14324]

2 minutes ago, longhorn10 said:

You wish, bitch.

Isn't there a bet outstanding on this?  Wait.  That was tennis.

Or was it both?  I can't remember anymore.  

@capnamerca, @chitwood help me out here.

[HouTex 1866]

I’ve played MPCC once and it’s pretty much next to Cypress. I’d love to get on there. I know a guy who has played it a couple times—as recently as last summer/early fall. Apparently you can be unaccompanied by the member, which is rare for such an exclusive club, but you can’t hang around the facilities. They get you on and pretty much when you finish the round they politely escort you out. But that would be ok with me.

[chitwood 155]

4 minutes ago, DDD Dad said:

Isn't there a bet outstanding on this?  Wait.  That was tennis.

Or was it both?  I can't remember anymore.  

@capnamerca, @chitwood help me out here.

I offered to back you in a match against @longhorn10 at Lakewood.

[DDD Dad 14324]

Just now, chitwood said:

I offered to back you in a match against @longhorn10 at Lakewood.

And there it is.

[capnamerca 571]

15 hours ago, chitwood said:

I offered to back you in a match against @longhorn10 at Lakewood.

I'll back DDD too. And then I"ll back myself on the tennis court after.

[DDD Dad 14324]

I'll back DDD too. And then I"ll back myself on the tennis court after.

Hahahahaha done.

I will ace you at least twice per set.

[capnamerca 571]

2 hours ago, DDD Dad said:

Hahahahaha done.

I will ace you at least twice per set.

I know something you don't know ... I am not left-handed.

[DDD Dad 14324]

[huge 3793]

On 1/15/2020 at 5:29 PM, HouTex said:

 But that would be ok with me.

No shit.  Just driving through is incredible.

[pops 6980]

Sandpiper today. I can't over-state how good this course is. Went through some hiccups for a while but the beanie baby guy bought it and is getting it back into shape. 

 

Edited January 23, 2020 by pops

[DDD Dad 14324]

21 hours ago, pops said:

Sandpiper today. I can't over-state how good this course is. Went through some hiccups for a while but the beanie baby guy bought it and is getting it back into shape. 

 

That is a beautiful location.  Santa Barbara?

[pops 6980]

3 hours ago, DDD Dad said:

That is a beautiful location.  Santa Barbara?

Yeah. Just north of town a bit up past Goleta.  And the rates don't even make sense. Paid 85 bucks twilight at noon. Greens were in better shape than spyglass or Spanish. 

[ousuxndallas 65]

Let's talk Scotland. Courses played, rankings, hidden gems, food recs. Headed there in July with a group. Hitting Golf Coast, then Ayrshire, then dipping into England to play some Rota courses.

[Jhawk 1075]

Alright... taking some clients to Scottsdale in a week.  What should we play monday?

Troon North

GrayHawk (specify Talon or Raptor)

Boulders

Other (please specify)

I've played all but boulders.  Quintero is too far away for me to have a monday meeting and then make an 11:30am tee time.  Not worried about price at all.  Clients have played all courses listed.  Please help.

[pops 6980]

I'd do talking Stick over any of those. But that's just me. 

[Lurch 5922]

Did a 4 day tourney at GreyHawk and Talking Stick maybe 5 years ago. GreyHawk courses were several levels of quality better than the Talking Stick courses imo

[huge 3793]

I'd say you can't go wrong with those 3 options.  They also happen to be the only ones I have played in the area.

For me it was Troon then TS then Raptor.  

[Jhawk 1075]

Appreciate it.  I looked back and I've played the Talon course at GrayHawk.  Should probably just play the Raptor and get the facility knocked out.  I play Troon North every time I'm in the area so I'd personally like a little bit of variety.  We're set up on the Faldo course at desert ridge on Sunday before the SB.  Have waste management set up for saturday's event.  Going to be a nice little week. Clients head out on Tuesday, I'm playing tuesday and wednesday then headed out.

For the record, this trip will get me to 6 rounds before the 2nd weekend in february assuming I don't play again this week.  Checks off one of my goals.  Won $50 yesterday in a game.  Played great until hole 15.  Absolutely blew up and went 10 over in the last 4 holes.  Won the game for my team on hole 1 in overtime with an absolutely striped 3 wood, out driving everyone by 25 yards to 71 out.  Little abbreviated 53* wedge to 12 feet for an easy par, net bird.  The redemption felt nice but I need to really figure out how to chill when you have a team dormie with 4 left to play.

[drewlaws 126]

17 hours ago, Jhawk said:

Alright... taking some clients to Scottsdale in a week.  What should we play monday?

Troon North

GrayHawk (specify Talon or Raptor)

Boulders

Other (please specify)

I've played all but boulders.  Quintero is too far away for me to have a monday meeting and then make an 11:30am tee time.  Not worried about price at all.  Clients have played all courses listed.  Please help.

I've only been to Scottsdale once, but I enjoyed We-Ko-Pa Saguaro more than the Troon course I played. I haven't played the others.

[Gen. Applewhite 226]

So I have fought a pretty extreme over the top motion for my entire golfing life, which no amount of swing thought standing over the ball could seemingly cure. In the best of times, it was just a reliable fade that would get me around the course, hitting fairways and throwing the occasional dart into a green. As I started to play more this last year and got my short game back in shape, my scores kept dropping. But even though I was consistently hitting fairways, I was bleeding distance with every club but my driver, which is an absolute killer on my home course where I end up hitting woods or laying up on long par 4s, and rarely have less than a 7 iron into even the shortest ones.

I am only 39. I am big, strong, coordinated, and powerful at pretty much everything else I do (e.g., tennis, throwing). I get decent distance off the tee, but should probably hit it even farther. Moving up to the senior tees might put a bandaid over the fact that I was only hitting my 7 iron ~125 yards, but I didn't really like that option, especially since my 67 year old father (and most likely playing partner) is still going from the men's tees.

When the shanks showed up a month ago, and persisted, even if less severe, for a few weeks, I decided it was time for a complete swing overhaul. I have never been able to fix my over the top action with any amount of practice. I probably should have gotten a lesson years ago, but I like the fact that I am "self taught." Anyways, after hacking my way around the course last Saturday, I watched some internet videos that clicked with my mind. I knew my grip was too weak, but it never occurred to me that my over the top swing was my subliminal correction for an open club face, which coupled together could produce a relatively straight ball flight if synced perfectly, but was robbing me of distance and consistency. 

What clicked was the advice in one such video to simply strengthen the grip as much as possible, so that you could not physically have an open club face at impact. Then just realize that you're going to be hitting horrible pull hooks that dart off the left edge of the practice range until your mind and body naturally bring your club path back in line with, and eventually to the right of, the target.

I put this plan into motion on Sunday, and the initial grip adjustment felt like such a severe change from what I had been doing that I could barely take the club back. Once I did get it back, my wrists were only flexible enough to get the club vertical, much less horizontal, and I'm sure both the swing and the results looked like somebody swinging a club for the first time. That first bucket was so weird, I imagine I would have felt more comfortable trying to swing left handed. But each disgusting rope hook was actually reassuring in its own way.

I stuck with it and just started hitting little quarter swing shots, trying like hell to push the ball to the right of my line. Since I'm afraid there is no going back, I am totally fucked if I don't fully commit to this, so I have left the office to go hit a bucket of balls at lunch each day this week. Starting with my gap wedge, and adding the 9 iron and 7 iron the last couple days, today felt like a massive breakthrough in that I know feel comfortable at address.

Although I am only giving it half swings because of my inflexibility, five range sessions in and I am already hitting shots just beyond my old full swing distances for those clubs. Despite hitting into a wind that is quartering from left to right (previously a worst case scenario for me), I don't recall a single shot that moved right since making the change, save for the early shanks or dribblers off the toe when I could barely make contact. About 10% of my shots the last couple days were legit misses to the left (although I've moved past the rope hooks), but the vast majority are now starting online, and falling off a few yards left at the end.

No doubt that this stronger grip is going to temporarily wreak havoc on my close in pitching game, but I will get to that in due time. I am interested to see what happens when I start working in my driver and longer clubs. But for now, watching those balls work right to left feels like I've unlocked a super power.

[Lurch 5922]

That was my big change about 5 years ago. It took its toll on my scores for a while, but I’m so glad I did it. Not only distance, but quality of iron shots and the feel of actually compressing a golf ball.

Good luck!

[pops 6980]

Nothing tougher than a grip change. Feels like you are playing left handed. 

Sounds like you were so worried about the over the top move that you were basically hitting a pull with a wide open face to keep it straight. The dreaded slap shot. Goes nowhere. 

Sounds like you are figuring some shit out but I would look into the secret in the dirt videos Ellington did. There are a bunch of free ones, but the actual video that you can buy and download is some of the best stuff I've ever watched. And could completely change how you feel power in the swing. 

[Gen. Applewhite 226]

1 hour ago, pops said:

 the secret in the dirt videos Ellington did 

I just googled that and after poking around the site for a minute I see videos about what to do with your left toe on the downswing and all sorts of insane shit like that. I couldn't close out of that window fast enough. I am trying to simplify things here. Part of the reason I never committed to a lesson is because I think I have terrible body awareness, but decent natural athleticism. I'll take all the grip, alignment and posture tips, but when it's time to swing I just want to grip it (correctly) and rip it.

[pops 6980]

14 hours ago, Gen. Applewhite said:

I just googled that and after poking around the site for a minute I see videos about what to do with your left toe on the downswing and all sorts of insane shit like that. I couldn't close out of that window fast enough. I am trying to simplify things here. Part of the reason I never committed to a lesson is because I think I have terrible body awareness, but decent natural athleticism. I'll take all the grip, alignment and posture tips, but when it's time to swing I just want to grip it (correctly) and rip it.

Yeah, that's why I said the real video is worth it. Very simple concepts. And the most anti over the top move possible. I haven't been on the site in a few years so no clue what things are on there now. But the overriding concepts are very simple. And make a lot of sense intuitively. At least for me. 

Edit to add:

I think it's all about finding one or two things to focus on in the swing. It might be the feeling of standing on the ball of your left foot on the downswing. It might be tucking your left arm under your shoulder going back. Might be pulling with your left hip a hard as you can going down. 

You can really get paralysis by analysis and go so far into your head that you're fucked. 

But I think the great thing about this game is it's fleeting. No matter how good you're hitting it (or how bad) it won't last. It's a fun puzzle to figure out. 

I will also say every time I've been in a funk and had a buddy take a look, 95% of the time it's alignment or grip. But you can't see that from your own two eyes. At least get your phone on a tripod and see what you can't see. 

Edited January 31, 2020 by pops