SoSH Golf, 2023
- Thread starter Gunca
- Start date
My son wants to take some golf lessons this summer before he goes off to college. Anyone with suggestions in and around New York City? He's never picked up a club (not for real anyways).
I have the G400s, KBS Tour S shafts. They're fantastic. They won't work miracles but will help bail you out on less than perfect contact. If you're looking for GI/SGI irons I don't think you can go wrong with them. I love my set and have no desire to replace them.
I'm not familiar with the Callaway irons but you might see some distance gain because the G series stock lofts are absurdly strong. Every manufacturer seems to be strengthening their GI/SGI iron lofts but these are really aggressive. The stock 430 PW is 41 degrees. It's a bit absurd (for comparison's sake the 2017/18 G400 PW is 44.5 degrees).
This is my son at just before 6 years old. He and his older sister decided to use headcovers as boxing gloves between holes. Must have been a quiet day out on the course - lol
This same kid almost qualified for the USGA JR. Am yesterday. Ended up in 5 way playoff for 3 spots and 2 alternates at even par 72 (T2) in the CT qualifier. Alas, did not do well on first playoff hole, and ended up second alternate. Very very little chance he’d get in as second alternate, but we had planned a family trip to Ireland the week before. This was the one tourney we’d let mess up that trip, never expecting he’d qualify for it, but he almost pulled it off.
This same kid almost qualified for the USGA JR. Am yesterday. Ended up in 5 way playoff for 3 spots and 2 alternates at even par 72 (T2) in the CT qualifier. Alas, did not do well on first playoff hole, and ended up second alternate. Very very little chance he’d get in as second alternate, but we had planned a family trip to Ireland the week before. This was the one tourney we’d let mess up that trip, never expecting he’d qualify for it, but he almost pulled it off.
That's fucking awesome.
Not sure if I want to root for the kid to get in as an alternate or root for the trip to Ireland though. Both are amazing.
Thanks, DOTB!
The Ireland trip is a graduation present for both kids (daughter from college). There’re a scenario he and I could cut off trip early if two kids out of 4 who qualified withdrew, but two withdrawals happening is highly highly unlikely. And would be chaos to figure out. We will plan as thought it’s not gonna happen. But if he gets in, I guess we’d have to try to make it work.
We are playing in Ireland a couple times with rentals on our 10 day trip. This isn’t a pure golf trip, but he didn’t want to go 10 days without picking up a club.
The Ireland trip is a graduation present for both kids (daughter from college). There’re a scenario he and I could cut off trip early if two kids out of 4 who qualified withdrew, but two withdrawals happening is highly highly unlikely. And would be chaos to figure out. We will plan as thought it’s not gonna happen. But if he gets in, I guess we’d have to try to make it work.
We are playing in Ireland a couple times with rentals on our 10 day trip. This isn’t a pure golf trip, but he didn’t want to go 10 days without picking up a club.
if you happen to be in the Southeast and want to try to play Old Head, let me know.
I'm heading for Scotland later today. Big thanks to @Conigliaro's Potential on course recommendations, I'm very excited for our itinerary. Starting the golf off with a round at his home course (Dunbar) on Sunday.
Something happened to my swing.
I started going to golf tec and about 15 lessons in (2 or so months ago) we had a third driver lesson in a row. Since then, I can't fucking hit the ball. Something in swing or grip changed so much that I literally can hit 100 balls at the range and will not make good contact with half of them. All of my other clubs are great but my driver is unhittable right now.
I just ordered a planemate, the MLM2PRO, and a net for my yard. I need to fix this.
I started going to golf tec and about 15 lessons in (2 or so months ago) we had a third driver lesson in a row. Since then, I can't fucking hit the ball. Something in swing or grip changed so much that I literally can hit 100 balls at the range and will not make good contact with half of them. All of my other clubs are great but my driver is unhittable right now.
I just ordered a planemate, the MLM2PRO, and a net for my yard. I need to fix this.
Watch out if his putter gets hot! Dunbar is very fun and I'm really jealous of your trip. Someday I'm going back and going for 2 weeks.
Thanks much! I don't think we will be getting to that area, unfortunately. We are starting on west coast (Galway is first town we go to), doing Dingle and Kerry areas, and then shooting over to Dublin for a few days. We are playing Lahinch and Portmarnock.
I do hope to go back and do a full on golf trip at some point.
First senior event for me today. Day 1 of our Sr. Club Championship. My round had a bit of everything. First shot was yanked OB. Tee shot on 2 just barely missed being in the woods way right and required a 200 yard punch slice. Yanked one deep into a lake on 4. Drop is stymied behind trees so I decided to punch out and topped it 6 feet into a worse place. Missed an 18" par putt on 12. Missed a 3 footer for birdie on 13. Blew an approach OB right on 16. 3-jacked for par on 18. Shit 74 and am 2 off the lead.
GolfTec is almost universally terrible. The technology is good and there are a handful of decent instructors but most people who walk in there end up taking lessons from someone with little teaching experience making $15/hour. I went in to one as a 12 handicap looking to get into single digits and after about a half dozen consecutive lessons of being told to “hold the lag” I left with such a bad case of toe shanks that I almost quit golf. Run away from GolfTec as fast as you can and find a good instructor - if you’re comfortable with online lessons, Dan Carraher, Monte Scheinblum, and the guys at Athletic Motion Golf are all fantastic.
Holy shit, what did you have, like 9 birdies? That's a crazy 74.
I played at the 3 day member guest at Walpole this past week/weekend. I couldn't play much better, basically went 82/82/83, but my partner had a really rough go of it, so we missed our flight by 1.5 points.
Playing Salem CC on Wednesday.
Got the 2 day member member for 4th of July this weekend.
Just got the call that I'm needed as a last minute fill in for the 5 day, international Member guest at Old Head. Flight leaves Monday, July 10th, come back on Sunday the 16th. This would be my 5th time playing in it, and I'm already booked for next year's tournament. My wife is away from the 14th-16th, daughter is at camp, so I'm currently scrambling to find someone to take in my son and my dog for 2 nights, and then I can officially make it work.
From there, come back home on Sunday, and immediately roll into the 3 day member guest at my course (Andover).
By the end of July, I might be a 5 handicap, and I might be divorced.
I've made some major changes to my game since the start of last season and the results are outstanding.
Swing: I'm taking a 3/4 swing maximum (Rahmesque) and making solid contact on all but my 4i, 5i. I've worked on rotational exercises and doing lots of squats and deadlifts for leg strength and core so I'm far more balanced and centered with this shorter backswing. I'm generating decent spin rates, ball speed in the upper 150s and low 160s, and swing speed around 110MPH.
Course Management: I no longer try and stripe it and just muscle the ball as far as I can. I'm averaging about 265 with driver and hitting a ton more fairways. This season I'm hitting 64% of fairways. This certainly helps put my best clubs in my hand (8i, 9i, PW, 52 or 58) for a second/third shot. I'm not aiming for the pin any longer, just middle of the green and get a putter in my hand. I'm averaging 66% GIR and 35 putts/round. I rarely go for the green on a par 5 any more (although I did yesterday, more on that in a moment) . Now it's a layup and a wedge for a birdie opportunity (said differently, no doubles on Par 5s).
Clubs: Stealth Driver, 3W, 4-PW TaylorMade Tour Preferred Cavity Back. 52, 56, 58 Vokey Wedges, Scotty Newport Select 40g (thanks Jerca). Just a few weeks ago, I bought a TaylorMade 4 Hydrid 23 degree and all but stopped hitting my 4i, 5i. This new club is my 195-225 club and it has changed my approach on some longer Par 4s and a great rescue club for those missed fairways and deeper rough.
Yesterday: My best round ever. 12/14 fairways, 11/18 greens and 32 putts. Chipped in for bird from 35 yards on the toughest hole on the course. Went for the green on a par 5 because I had the wind behind me on the tee and caught all of it for a 310 stripe. Hit the 4 hybrid on my second (196 out, uphill, and need to fly 2 fairway bunkers on approach) and took a shit bounce. Chip went past hole and missed the bird. Anyway, shot 73. Played the Black/Silver Combo tees.
Oh, and I lost. My buddy shot his best round ever and finished with a -2 round of 70. He bogeyed the par 5 18th. We also had a rain delay of 45 minutes after 11. The fucking bogeys after the wait.
I'm Jeff on the card. Dumb and Dumber reference.
Swing: I'm taking a 3/4 swing maximum (Rahmesque) and making solid contact on all but my 4i, 5i. I've worked on rotational exercises and doing lots of squats and deadlifts for leg strength and core so I'm far more balanced and centered with this shorter backswing. I'm generating decent spin rates, ball speed in the upper 150s and low 160s, and swing speed around 110MPH.
Course Management: I no longer try and stripe it and just muscle the ball as far as I can. I'm averaging about 265 with driver and hitting a ton more fairways. This season I'm hitting 64% of fairways. This certainly helps put my best clubs in my hand (8i, 9i, PW, 52 or 58) for a second/third shot. I'm not aiming for the pin any longer, just middle of the green and get a putter in my hand. I'm averaging 66% GIR and 35 putts/round. I rarely go for the green on a par 5 any more (although I did yesterday, more on that in a moment) . Now it's a layup and a wedge for a birdie opportunity (said differently, no doubles on Par 5s).
Clubs: Stealth Driver, 3W, 4-PW TaylorMade Tour Preferred Cavity Back. 52, 56, 58 Vokey Wedges, Scotty Newport Select 40g (thanks Jerca). Just a few weeks ago, I bought a TaylorMade 4 Hydrid 23 degree and all but stopped hitting my 4i, 5i. This new club is my 195-225 club and it has changed my approach on some longer Par 4s and a great rescue club for those missed fairways and deeper rough.
Yesterday: My best round ever. 12/14 fairways, 11/18 greens and 32 putts. Chipped in for bird from 35 yards on the toughest hole on the course. Went for the green on a par 5 because I had the wind behind me on the tee and caught all of it for a 310 stripe. Hit the 4 hybrid on my second (196 out, uphill, and need to fly 2 fairway bunkers on approach) and took a shit bounce. Chip went past hole and missed the bird. Anyway, shot 73. Played the Black/Silver Combo tees.
Oh, and I lost. My buddy shot his best round ever and finished with a -2 round of 70. He bogeyed the par 5 18th. We also had a rain delay of 45 minutes after 11. The fucking bogeys after the wait.
I'm Jeff on the card. Dumb and Dumber reference.
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Is it just me, or does anyone else have a swing thought/key that always seems to work, yet one always seems to get away from? For me, it is "finish the backswing". It allows my body to start moving forward ahead of my arms. But for 15 holes I fight my swing until I remember that swing thought. Maybe it is just me and my ADH...ooh, squirrel!!
Mine is with the putter. I need to remind myself to "follow through" because sometimes, I'll jab at it. I wish I reminded myself all the time.
I've been pretty consistent this year even though I haven't played a ton. My rounds so far:
85
87
81
84
93 (yuck)
84
87
86
86
85.9 average round. Not too bad.
Last year my rounds were:
87
90
86
90
86
86
84
85
83
80
84
85.5 average round. So I guess what I'm saying is that I shoot in the mid-80s. LOL.
2021 was interesting. My variance was much larger. My best round in 2021 was a 79 and my worst was a 98. Ideally (well, ideally I'm a scratch golfer but let's not go crazy here) I'm shooting between 79-84 every round. Not quite there yet.
85
87
81
84
93 (yuck)
84
87
86
86
85.9 average round. Not too bad.
Last year my rounds were:
87
90
86
90
86
86
84
85
83
80
84
85.5 average round. So I guess what I'm saying is that I shoot in the mid-80s. LOL.
2021 was interesting. My variance was much larger. My best round in 2021 was a 79 and my worst was a 98. Ideally (well, ideally I'm a scratch golfer but let's not go crazy here) I'm shooting between 79-84 every round. Not quite there yet.
For me, its turning the shoulders with the arms on the backswing. It's as much a timing thing as a distance thing, as I'll top shots when I'm don't do that, or best case is a body ahead of arms induced slice. Just some real stupidity I don't always have that locked in as part of the swing.
Whenever my driver gets erratic, i tell myself swing like an old person (i am not that young btw), but it slows my tempo down and usually results in straight flight and better contact
Yah- that is I think what my thought does for me... gets me into a good temp. Otherwise I get really quick and AFLAK/Duck Hooky.
This post really got me thinking.
I have to say, I think the coach knows what he is talking about but...at the same time, I really can't seem to fix what he broke. The rain is killing me this week because I just want to practice. That said, I'm done with them. Thanks for the advice.
Down near me (Princeton area) I can recommend some great teaching pros, but that is a hike for you.
If anyone is near or on the Outer Cape the week of July 8th - 15 I will be playing Highland every morning and am always happy to meet up with SoSHers. I am playing mid-90s golf right now, but I make no promises. I do know that course like the back of my hand, which may or may not be useful.
If I wasn't going to be in Scotland playing absurd amounts of golf - I'd have joined you. Alas.
Being forced to golf arrowhead tomorrow in Littleton, CO. Last minute invite to a tournament. I guess I'll have to push back meetings to next week. It's a tough job, but I'll get through it. It's usually windy as hell
I played at Redhawk in castle pines earlier this week. Played like dog shit but managed to eagle a par 5.
I played at Redhawk in castle pines earlier this week. Played like dog shit but managed to eagle a par 5.
I hope it's a scramble. That's an incredibly beautiful but stupid golf course that's amazing for scrambles. If you haven't, play Perry Park down there if you get a chance. They have a day or 2 every year that you can play without being a member.
Yes it's a scramble. I play a few scrambled here every year. Haven't played Perry but I played ravena few years ago. That's my favorite course in Colorado.
I've been playing golf for almost 3 years now and am able to get into the low 90's consistently. yay me.....but I cannot for the life of me hit my driver. 2 things....I think I'm stuck in my head with my iron swing (which is coming along nicely) and I don't think I'm hitting up on the ball (mostly line drives and grounders and even a nasty pop up here and there.). Im trying a little shoulder tilt but it feels odd and almost uncomfortable on my takeaway. I'm also trying a wider backswing.
any driver advice out there?
any driver advice out there?
Ball forward your stance, shoulder tilt, wide takeaway are the common tips for that. It took me a while to get used to it though, I used to suffer from the same thing.
I massively struggled with the driver for a long time. I didn’t carry one for several years. The swing should be basically the same with the difference really all in your setup. As TFP said, ball forward and shoulders tilted. I have a habit letting the ball creep back, so on the range I almost always use alignment sticks to make sure ball position it right. It’s gonna feel weird, but try not to fight that - if it doesn’t feel weird it means you’re still doing the same thing that isn’t working for you.
Don't go nuts with how far forward the ball is though. Just play around with that position a bit. Mine is still inside the front heel. At the end of the day, you don't fundamentally swing differently with the different clubs. They might have different planes and such, but the construction of the clubs themselves is what accomplishes that, not anything that you actively do.
In addition to what others are saying, tee the ball up so its equator is at the top of your clubface if you're not doing that already. I think that a lot of folks tee the ball too low, especially for the big modern drivers.
I think tempo is a little underrated here, too. My worst drives (which include tops and duck hooks) are when my transition at the top is too quick, too sloppy. If you go back nice and smooth w/o rushing, it makes it much easier to create clean contact.
I can’t emphasize how much taking a smooth, balanced swing helps. Even if some of the moves in the swing are suboptimal, if your grip, set up, and takeaway are sound and the swing is smooth and balanced, you’re going to like the outcome.
A great drill on the range to practice is swings with both feet together. Start with a short iron just taking half swings and build up from there. The goal is a half decent ball flight keeping your balance. That balanced feeling carries over to the course well.
Make sure you breathe through your eyelids and swing as hard as you possibly can.
Speaking of drivers, today I played my first round with a Stealth driver, which replaced my Rogue. I got the “high draw” version of last years model because I have massive right spin due to an outside-in swing. Only one round but I gained 10-20 yards on the drives I didn’t screw up and they seemed straighter too. I also replaced my 3 hybrid with a Stealth fairway 5 and I was hitting that thing 180-205. Way better than I ever hit that 3 hybrid.
First round in a month this afternoon and I played poorly. But as always, had enough really nice shots to stay optimistic. 11:20 tomorrow I’m back at it!
Please don't listen to me lol
I mean, I can give some decent advice, but everyone is so unique that blanket advice rarely works. Could be a setup or alignment issue and people are giving bandaid swing or setup advice. Go get a lesson or find some YouTube instructor and self diagnose.
The quickest way to get bad golf advice is to ask for it. Don't get one lesson, get a series of lessons. Online, in person, whatever but it's not likely something someone will fix with a small tweak to your grip or something like that.
Yesterday was an interesting golf day for me. Played 36 at my club. In the morning, I straight shanked it 3 times, pulled every approach shit and lipped out a bunch of putts to a 77 (par 71). In the afternoon, hit 6/13 fairways, 13/18 greens for a 68. Not much different from round to round swing-wise, just no penalty strokes and didn't pull my approach shots. Funny game.
Yesterday was an interesting golf day for me. Played 36 at my club. In the morning, I straight shanked it 3 times, pulled every approach shit and lipped out a bunch of putts to a 77 (par 71). In the afternoon, hit 6/13 fairways, 13/18 greens for a 68. Not much different from round to round swing-wise, just no penalty strokes and didn't pull my approach shots. Funny game.