Very similar shots. It's all touch from the sand (once technique is second nature) as it is on flops and you're basically trying to accomplish the same thing, sliding the club under the ball with an accelerating blow and flatter trajectory swing.
2015 SoSH Golf Thread
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I played Waverly yesterday and had a great round. 87, with numerous three putts. My putting is complete garbage. What is a good way to get good feel for long putts? I seem okay from about 5-10, at least to keep close for an easy tap in. But long putts i have no feel for at all and often leave way off.
That's funny, I've been told that before. Many times. I should probably start listening, but I love me some silver bullet solutions.
Ignoring the first 25 percent or so of the breaks works well for me...barring extreme down or uphill. Balls going to be going too fast to really be effected until the last 10ft or so.
southshoresoxfan said:
This seems pretty helpful. I have a really tough time on both reads and speed on long putts. Probably is just a lot more practice.
I saw one of the LPGA pros do a pre-shot routine where they lined up behind the ball, facing the cup, and while looking at the cup practiced the swing that felt like right stroke for the distance and then tried to keep that feeling while lining up for the putt. I've used it a few times and still go to it when I start to have issues with lags. It's not a silver bullet or anything but it doesn't cost you anything to try.
Any suggestions on where to play in Vegas that's not insanely expensive? My brother and I will be there in early October, staying on the strip. I have no use for Vegas in general and have played Bali Hai and other courses like it in near the strip so I'm really just looking for a nice, fun course that's more for the locals than the high rollers.
Any suggestions on where to play in Vegas that's not insanely expensive? My brother and I will be there in early October, staying on the strip. I have no use for Vegas in general and have played Bali Hai and other courses like it in near the strip so I'm really just looking for a nice, fun course that's more for the locals than the high rollers.
Remember, what works for touring professionals will work for you and your 15 handicap. And maybe your playing partners will learn something from you when you repeat the same brutally long pre-shot routine before every putt, chip, or whatever else you don't want to actually invest the time in to learn to hit properly.
A guy i play with regularly is like this. He could be in the rough on a 500 yd par 5, ~ 300 yds away - address, back off, visualize, address, back off, re-align, practice swing... All with his 7 iron in-hand that he's only hoping to get to within 130 anyhow.Comfortably Lomb said:
Sounds like the guy who insists on playing from the back tee then averages ~220 with the "Big Dawg" because he only hits maybe 1-2 straight all round. Definitely measures the one drive he actually launches and announces the distance to the group too. You're a hell of a player, guy, and we're all very impressed.steveluck7 said:
And the guy who, every time he plays with anyone else, "shot 81 last week." Then when you get to the 1st tee... snap hook followed by "how many mulligans we getting today?"Comfortably Lomb said:
Well, in fairness, that pre-putt routine doesn't sound all that time consuming - he's not talking about plumb-bobbing from both sides of the cup and going into full Furyk back-away mode. Of course practice is important, but that seems like a pretty good routine to take to the practice green to help develop feel for the pace of a putt.
I despise slow golf. Waiting to take a shot makes me insane and is the one thing I really don't like about the game. That said, my rush to get going probably affects me a bit and I seemed to putt a lot better when I took 5 more seconds and really concentrated on how I wanted the putter head to go through the ball.
I played behind some guy last week that actually looked full on Furyk, like head to toe Furyk golf attire, same height, build, age, baldness. Then would get up to the tee and literally take 8 practice swings, back off, take three more, then hook it into the water. It was amazing. Happily, his playing partners were actively trying to move him along and it wasn't that awful.
I played behind some guy last week that actually looked full on Furyk, like head to toe Furyk golf attire, same height, build, age, baldness. Then would get up to the tee and literally take 8 practice swings, back off, take three more, then hook it into the water. It was amazing. Happily, his playing partners were actively trying to move him along and it wasn't that awful.
Yeah, totally, never try anything you see a pro do because you're not a pro so it won't work. Sound logic. What a dumb reaction to a post attempting to help someone. It takes about 5 seconds to do the pre-shot routine I mentioned and it can be very helpful with something all about feel like lag putts. It can be done while others are putting and should add no time to the round total.Comfortably Lomb said:
I hope I always get to play behind you. Sounds like you're shooting in the 60s from the white tees every Sunday.
Nothing irritates me more than people complaining about someone's slow routine. Slow play is annoying, but not everyone is a single digit handicap and has the time to practice. They've paid their $70 to play and are trying to get as much enjoyment out of the round as possible. Hitting shanks all over the course is not enjoyable and if it takes someone 10 extra seconds before their shot to feel comfortable, then so be it.
Now looking for balls for 10 minutes on each hole, that's a different story. Slow play is usually attributed to a few things: a) the course packs the tee times too close b) players in carts don't understand they don't have to wait for the guy in their cart to hit and then bring them to their ball to then hit c) looking for balls too long.
Now looking for balls for 10 minutes on each hole, that's a different story. Slow play is usually attributed to a few things: a) the course packs the tee times too close b) players in carts don't understand they don't have to wait for the guy in their cart to hit and then bring them to their ball to then hit c) looking for balls too long.
No, I'm shooting in the 90s and hopefully in four hours. Edit (sorry my phone is brutal to type on and loves to submit randomly): my point is mostly that I think a routine is relatively worthless is there is no basis for it. If you do that on the practice green, put the hours in, and bring it to the course then I'm sure it is great. Making different shots feel like ones you've hit before can be powerful. Just eyeballing a 40-footer, standing behind the ball a while and taking a few practice swings in a particular manner, and stepping up without actually know how hard to hit the ball because the last 40-footer you attempted was in a round two weeks ago? I don't buy that as anything but snake oil. I think it's a disservice to the guy you're giving advice to as well. Lag putting is one area of the game that I think most players can get very good no matter your inherent talent but it requires actual work. Band aids won't cut it.jercra said:
So your premise is that nearly every pro and nearly every teacher is wrong? A pre-shot routine is recommended almost universally and it doesn't need to have any basis to it. If you scratch your ass before every good shot, you should scratch your ass before every shot. But I'd love to hear how to "actually know how hard to hit the ball". Is there a formula that lets you know how hard to hit it? What's that measured in? To say that you can't get a sense of how hard to swing by looking at the object is silly. I do a demo sometimes with people who struggle with pace where I have them throw the ball to me, then back up 10 feet and throw it again. I'll then ask them how they knew how much harder to throw it the second time. The answer is never that there's a conscious calculation that you need to swing your arm 2 inches further back. Your brain makes those calculations subconsciously. The same is true for putting. There's technique involved for sure, but just like the flop and sand discussions above, it's mostly about feel. Looking at the putt from behind the ball and focusing on pace takes line out of the calculation and lets you be free to focus on pace. Give it shot, maybe you'll start shooting in the 80s 
On a related topic, I've started using the Spieth method for looking at the hole for all my putts within 6 feet and it's done wonders. I think I hit 8 out of 9 of those in my last round, despite being pretty bad before that (using a crappy putter right now). It feels weird, but it's successful. There's something about looking at the target and taking the rest out of your brain for the shorter putts that works for me.
I haven't tried it except once or twice on a practice green, but there is a clear benefit to it: It takes away that possibility that you will look up too soon, jerking your head up and having that affect the line of the putt. I'm interested to hear that it's working for you. Maybe I'll practice it some more and see if I can get past the weirdness of it.
Done it on the prac green w good success. It feels so odd tho. Not quite ready to try it during a real round yet.
Angel park is a decent layout and priced great. I think when we played it during March madness it was 85 bucks for 18, club rental, carts 6 balls and transportation to and from.
jercra said:
I really like Desert Pines. More near downtown than the Strip and always reasonable, relatively speaking. I usually play for less than 80 bucks during the week when I am in Vegas.jercra said:
Thanks. I played there last winter. It's a nice course. Nothing spectacular but a generally nice course, Right now I'm playing Rio Secco on day one for just north of $100. Still undecided on day 2.patinorange said:
If you are looking cheap, Angel Park is pretty nice in Vegas. The course at Aliante used to be nice, but got taken over about 2 years before I left and fell into a bit of disrepair, though that was 4 years ago.
The Paiute courses have pretty good sundown rates as well, and are really nice courses.
The Paiute courses have pretty good sundown rates as well, and are really nice courses.
Leaving in the morning for four days of golf and debauchery in Phoenix. Don't know where we are playing yet, as my friends are cheapskates, but it should still be a good fucking time.
I have played over 100 rounds this summer, taken lessons, spent a ton of time on the range, on the chipping and putting greens. I have new irons this year so I needed time to get used to them. My game has come together since the start of August. Consistently in the low 80's with now three rounds in the 70's since the start of September. Today was my best round of the year. 40 going out and 36 coming in.
Oh and...
My first one. 152 Yards with a 9 iron. I had no idea it went in as I hit into the sun. I looked all around the green and then in the bunker and couldn't find it. I finally saw the divot and followed the line. I may have fist pumped and shrieked a few times. Fortunately, the group in front saw it from the next tee. I'm pretty happy about it.
Unfortunate the calendar reads October.
Oh and...
My first one. 152 Yards with a 9 iron. I had no idea it went in as I hit into the sun. I looked all around the green and then in the bunker and couldn't find it. I finally saw the divot and followed the line. I may have fist pumped and shrieked a few times. Fortunately, the group in front saw it from the next tee. I'm pretty happy about it.
Unfortunate the calendar reads October.
Congrats man! I like when people who play a lot finally get a hole in one. My cousin's husband plays maybe once every year and only uses golf as an excuse to get hammered hit one this year... kinda annoyed me as someone who's been playing for 10+ years and has come within a foot or so a few times.
And I echo FL4W's question... that's some serious roll for a 9 iron, esp. with that crater you left!
And I echo FL4W's question... that's some serious roll for a 9 iron, esp. with that crater you left!
Thanks all.
The roll looks much further in the picture than it actually was. Honestly, I didn't measure it and probably should have. I typically play low punch shots with my short irons in the fall and don't take a full swing. It usually reduces my spin a good deal so I can play a little bit longer. Like I said, I looked up after swinging through and saw nothing but sun.
This shot cost me nothing. Clubhouse closes at 7 on Sundays after Labor Day and I finished about 7:30. I did tag the course on FB and they reached out to me today and asked me to stop in. I think they would have anyways as I stopped in the pro shop as he was closing up to let him know. I'll get back in tomorrow afternoon and see what's up. I'd be happy to buy a round.
The roll looks much further in the picture than it actually was. Honestly, I didn't measure it and probably should have. I typically play low punch shots with my short irons in the fall and don't take a full swing. It usually reduces my spin a good deal so I can play a little bit longer. Like I said, I looked up after swinging through and saw nothing but sun.
This shot cost me nothing. Clubhouse closes at 7 on Sundays after Labor Day and I finished about 7:30. I did tag the course on FB and they reached out to me today and asked me to stop in. I think they would have anyways as I stopped in the pro shop as he was closing up to let him know. I'll get back in tomorrow afternoon and see what's up. I'd be happy to buy a round.
Congrats! When I got mine the put in the paper and on their hole in one plaque. Could be that the club just wants you back for those types of things.Dogman2 said:
Played Paiute Wolf course for $89 and it was just spectacular. One of my favorite courses I've ever played and I've played a LOT of courses. It's now my brother's favorite course since he mad his first ace when we played it 2 days ago.LogansDad said:
Rio Secco was just ok. It's all through the houses, totally tricked out (149 from the Blues, really?) , far from pristine conditions and $30 more than Paiute. It was fun but I'll take the Paiute course any day of the week.
Thanks for all the suggestions.
I'm glad you liked it. The one time I got to play was the day after Christmas and it was like 38 degrees out and windy and raining, but it was still awesome.jercra said:
I'm going to be out in Tucson, AZ next week for USTA Nationals. I'm looking to get a round or two in. Anyone ever play out there and have a recommendation?
Anyone want to recommend a course in Miami? I have a couple free days down here and would love to get in a round or two. Two duffers who enjoy a well-kept course, a couple drinks, and interesting layout.
Anyone have any gift ideas for a golfer/cigar smoker in the $50 to $100 range? Last year was a lighter and humidor. I have literally no ideas this year. This is the type of guy who just buys whatever he needs so there's not really anything he needs.
Thanks for the suggestion but the problem with that is that he's a vendor of mine so he always expenses golf when we play. I ended up being fairly lame and finding a 5 pack of the top rated cigar of 2015. He loves cigars so while it's lame from a creative standpoint it would be like someone giving me a nice bottle of bourbon. I'd never be upset with that as a gift.
I'm going to apologize in advance if this comes off as spam (and dopes obviously feel free to delete if it does), but I just recently set up a golf simulator in an exercise studio I own in Chelmsford. If any SoSHer in the Merrimack Valley/Southern NH area is interested in checking it out, I'd be happy to offer a free round in exchange for helping me spread the word to fellow golfers if you find the experience enjoyable. PM me if you're interested...
This is a video of the set-up. It's not as accurate as a Trackman or a GC2 Launch Monitor, but it's also $10k cheaper. It's the Optishot 2 system and will measure swing speed, swing path, temp, and face angle. The putting is the farthest away from the real thing, since you obviously can't replicate contours of greens indoors, but there is a setting which you allow you to manual enter the number of putts. What I've done is automated the process a bit, and anything 25+ feet away is a 3-putt, 10-25 feet away is a 2-putt and within 10 feet is a 1-putt. I've found that a vast majority of players so far are within a few shots of their handicap in either direction at the end of 18 holes using that method.
Not sure if any of you ever poke around buying clubs but I am almost an addict at this point messing around with equipment. I will tell you that I swung the Callaway Apex CF 16 clubs last week and they're the best clubs I have ever swung. I swung the Parsons (PXG) irons the same time and the Callaways were better. For anyone out there who might be looking, I'd swing these. Was blown away by the performance. They were literally a club longer than my mizunos, which I really like, and I bought them before I could talk myself out of them. Cannot wait to swing them on the course.