[Rithlilky]

I always buy Golf Pride. The last ones I put on look like this



In looking up that picture I see golfsmith has them for 3 dollars each where I paid 6 dollars each at the golf course.

I saw that last night when I was checking out Golfsmith, grips are pretty cheap until you look at the putter grips. I am going to have to hit up a proshop when I can.

If you ever do play a round with DGF over here in MD, I would take the trip up.

[Alkanyadela]

speaking of hitting drivers, i have a question. i was watching the buick open yesterday and woody austin his a ball off the tee box without a tee. his method was one i had never seen before. it basically looked like he slammed his driver into the ground, then placed the ball the the high side above the indent the club left in the ground. i can't remember what it was called. does anyone know the history or strategy behind this?

Laura Davies used to do it. I think it's ignorant.

I played in the Oldsmobile Scramble years ago at a regional event after we won the local.

The pro we were with would do that on the fairway to create the semblence of a tee on long par fives or other holes when he wanted to hit it off the deck. Then he would just bump the ball to the top of the mound he created.

[PWRichard]

I played in the Oldsmobile Scramble years ago at a regional event after we won the local.

The pro we were with would do that on the fairway to create the semblence of a tee on long par fives or other holes when he wanted to hit it off the deck. Then he would just bump the ball to the top of the mound he created.

That's cheating.

Damn cheating pros.

We qualified to go one year in the net division, then the owner of the course (not the one I play at now) decided there wouldn't be a net division representative.
Only gross division which his team won. He never did like us.

I heard a story about a pro who used his shot which was in a water hazard, pulled it out and sat it on dry land with no penalty at the Olds regionals.

[CiccoineFed]

That's cheating.

Damn cheating pros.

We qualified to go one year in the net division, then the owner of the course (not the one I play at now) decided there wouldn't be a net division representative.
Only gross division which his team won. He never did like us.

I heard a story about a pro who used his shot which was in a water hazard, pulled it out and sat it on dry land with no penalty at the Olds regionals.

Interesting, huh? Who's to say one of his practice swings wasn't accidently hit into the turf?

Or, that he was near a divot and he bumped his ball just in front of it?

Improving your lie, or not?

[Phlkxkbh]

Want to cure a slice and hit it long with your driver?

First the things before you swing the club.

1) Get a driver with a lot of loft (at least 10.5 degrees). Forget the crap from all the so-called animals that profess to 7 degree lofts and extra stiff shafts "because I swing so hard". Low lofts, excessively stiff shafts and "swinging hard" are the key ingredients to a poor swing for most amateurs.

2) Tee the ball high. Even with the largest of driver heads you want half the ball above the head while sitting on the tee. Today's drivers are designed for a slightly ascending blow off the tee. In other words, you must be teed up as to allow for striking the ball on the upswing. In conjunction with the design of today's better balls, the ascending blow to the ball will get you the kind of launch you're looking for to have a long ball flight that carries for remarkable distances with incredibly minimal effort. Who hasn't experienced one of their finest drives when taking an almost casual but well-timed swings through the ball?

Now the swing. And remember, the swing happens so fast you can't really be thinking about more than one thing going back and one thing going forward, and even that can sometimes be too much thinking. A good golf swing is something you can almost just let happen, after you've made the proper setup with the proper grip.

1) Basic setup and stance is simple but critical to a good swing. ANYONE can have Tiger Wood's setup. Remarkably his setup/stance is fundamental to every good golfer. It's nothing magical, nothing difficult. There are a zillion instruction sources online where you can learn the basics of a good setup/stance. You'll never hit consistent shots without a consistent setup to the ball. Pick a reputable instruction site and learn what you need to do to set up to the ball correctly, and while you're at it do the same as it applies to the grip. You're going to need to understand the various grips and how hand placement on the club affects your swing. This is really simple stuff, but it's key to making the actual swing a thing of beauty.

2) To cure a bad slice and hit the ball where you want, it really helps to understand what causes the ball to slice. Most slices (banana balls that curve excessively from left to right for right handed golfers) are the result of a clubhead swing path where, rather than straight down the target line, the clubhead traces a path from outside to inside the target line, cutting a path of out to in across the ball. This imparts a right to left sidespin on the ball. A right to left "English" so-to-speak, that causes the ball to curve right to left while in the air. The more excessive your swing cuts across the ball, from out to in at impact, the more excessive your slice will be. AND if you add an open clubface at impact, you'll magnify your slice even more. The proper grip can easily cure that aspect of a slice. In fact, the first step to curing a slice is to utilizing a stronger grip, which will help to close the clubface at impact. Once you know you aren't imparting left to right sidespin because of your grip, you can move on to correct your swing path.

Note that I've seen guys take on a stronger grip and suddenly find a decent swing they could rely on. I once told a friend having problems off the tee to "aim left, swing right, walk straight" and he started blasting balls into the tightest fairways at will. He kicked my ass for the first time that day. Boy was he giddy (for lack of a better description).

3) Tempo, tempo, tempo. It's the real secret to consistently striking the ball well, and what enables you to establish the timing needed to generate clubhead speed, while on the correct path, with effortless grace. Want an oily, smooth swing that looks like you're just turning almost casually back and through the ball, yet blasting it to best ever distances? Tempo is what gives you this. Ask any pro what he works on most in his golf swing and he'll tell you it's "tempo". If it's that important to them it better be pretty high on our list as well. If there ever was a swing to study, known for it's smooth and greasy tempo, it's the swing of Sam Snead. You'll come away with the understanding that swinging with good rhythm and tempo is much more conducive to a sound golf swing than brute force could ever be. Trying to "kill the ball" is the quickest way to sabatage a good swing, and usually causes a person to release the clubhead too soon and actually lose clubhead speed through the ball. Timing is everything, and you can't have it without good tempo.

A herky jerky swing, with all sorts of bad things happening, is the result of poor tempo. When you start back slowly away from the ball into your backswing, it helps you establish a good tempo. When you rush the club back your problems will only compound from there, and you'll never be able to feel where the clubhead is throughout your swing. If you aren't swinging with the proper smooth tempo you'll never be able to correct a bad slice swing path, simply because you won't be able to feel the path your clubhead is traveling on. I've rarely seen a golfer make too slow of a backswing, but virtually every golfer I've seen with a bad slice has had an excessively fast backswing. Just remember... You don't strike the ball on your backswing, so why destroy the tempo of building speed on your forward swing by racing the club fack so quickly? A good golf swing will always start back slow and slowly transition to the forward swing. The club must be allowed to literally drop at the speed of gravity into the proper down-the-line swing path. Otherwise you aren't able to feel the swing path you want. The last thing you want is to rush down from the top of your backswing and lose your feel and timing. You have to allow the club to build speed naturally, almost on it's own. And if you've never done it, you'll be amazed at how much effortless speed you'll actually generate if you just let it happen.

There are a boatload of potential swing thoughts as they apply to the various aspects of golfswing mechanics, but swing thoughts should mostly be saved to work on specifics at the practice range. A golfer needs a swing he can rely on while on the golf course that doesn't require a lot of thought to keep on track. A slice is something you can't work with, but a slight right to left fade is a something you can. Jack Nicklaus was known for his long power fade. He hit it consistently. He knew where to start it off to get it to land where it wanted it. A perfectly straight ball path is almost impossible to consistently replicate shot after shot. The power fade is Tiger's choice as well, and it's simply because it allows for a margin of error. This is where the terminology of "taking one side of the course out of play" is associated with. It allows you to play away from potential trouble, or at least the worst trouble. However, you'll never develop a reliable power fade, or a slight right to left draw (right handed players) if that's your natural tendancy, unless you have smooth tempo in your swing that allows natural timing to take place.

I could discuss mechanics such as maintaining your swing axis, weight transfer, and a number of other things, but if you're at the stage where you're just needing to understand why you're slicing, then all this other stuff will only take you further away from what you need most. And that's the basics.

Follow the basics I've listed here and you'll be on the right foot to not only correcting a slice but also developing a swing for a lifetime of fun. There's a lot to be said about smacking a golf ball respectable distances and having it land where you want it to go.

Here's my on-course swing thought on every swing, and it has everything to do with letting my swing happen with good tempo and timing.

"Smooth and finish through"

It keys me to start back slowly, let the club drop into the proper swing path slot coming down, and consequently swinging through the ball to a full finish past the ball.

Hopefully you can take something from this to help you. I've had quite a few lessons over the years from a few very good instructors, and this is the stuff I've found to make the most impact. Golf is a difficult game. If it were easy we'd all be Tiger Woods. But even the worst of us can have a lot of fun once we grasp some basics, and on occasion we can even hit a Tiger kind a shot that keeps bringing us back.

[BgpOoGI2]

went out yesterday and played 9, second time this year I have been able toget out there.

I can't hit my driver. Too much of a slice/hook (left to right, forget which it is) and I can't control it. Have to pull outt he 3W and have at it.

The ball goes almost as far with the 3, but I wanna be able to hit my driver. I think I may need to go to the range and try out a couple new ones.

Damn expensive sport.

[NADALA]

If I go through 4 holes and the driver is at piss me off stage, I park it for the rest of the round.

[FrassyLap]

I hit it once and played the slice perfectly.

Pulled it out on the 7th, hit a house...then I did it again.

Finally gave up and used the 3.

[Franchise]

anyone know how much it costs to regrip a set of clubs?

[Cxcvvfbgtr]

anyone know how much it costs to regrip a set of clubs?

I gave 6 dollars a grip and put them on myself a few weeks ago. You also need grip tape and lighter fluid or mineral spirits.

Mr. Shanksalot shouldn't be giving advice, but you're slicing because your path is inside to out and your clubface is open.

[Madjostok]

speaking of hitting drivers, i have a question. i was watching the buick open yesterday and woody austin his a ball off the tee box without a tee. his method was one i had never seen before. it basically looked like he slammed his driver into the ground, then placed the ball the the high side above the indent the club left in the ground. i can't remember what it was called. does anyone know the history or strategy behind this?

[Cnbaapuy]

I gave 6 dollars a grip and put them on myself a few weeks ago. You also need grip tape and lighter fluid or mineral spirits.

Mr. Shanksalot shouldn't be giving advice, but you're slicing because your path is inside to out and your clubface is open.

Or because you are quitting on the ball, especially if you aren't hitting it as far as you think you should. Make sure you have a straight path and follow through strong.

[Sopsneork]

speaking of hitting drivers, i have a question. i was watching the buick open yesterday and woody austin his a ball off the tee box without a tee. his method was one i had never seen before. it basically looked like he slammed his driver into the ground, then placed the ball the the high side above the indent the club left in the ground. i can't remember what it was called. does anyone know the history or strategy behind this?

Laura Davies used to do it. I think it's ignorant.

[Imihooniump]

Laura Davies used to do it. I think it's ignorant.

they said it took the left side out of play...i honestly don't see how, i could've hit it left.

[Annewsded]

they said it took the left side out of play...i honestly don't see how, i could've hit it left.

When I hit my driver off the deck I tend to hook it, so I don't understand that either. Whatever works for him.

[Indidockobeni]

When I hit my driver off the deck I tend to hook it, so I don't understand that either. Whatever works for him.

i always hook it when i do that as well. i just hadn't seen it done off the box with the ball raised on the top of a depression like that.

whatever works as well. i'm guessing if i try it for shits and giggles i'll hit a groundball to short.

[SkHukV3N]

Holy hell -- I thought it was bad enough that I don't use a tee with my irons off the box.

Never seen that before. I'd definitely groundout if I tried that.

[xT0U3UGh]

went out yesterday and played 9, second time this year I have been able toget out there.

I can't hit my driver. Too much of a slice/hook (left to right, forget which it is) and I can't control it. Have to pull outt he 3W and have at it.

The ball goes almost as far with the 3, but I wanna be able to hit my driver. I think I may need to go to the range and try out a couple new ones.

Damn expensive sport.

Whats the angel on the driver?..I use a 10.5..I swing had so I stay away from anything under 10.5...Also what the shaft? I cant swing a graphite shaft..I have bought them all..What it sounds like to me is your face is open and you are swinging so hard that your hands are crossing the tee before the club..BTW most of the time I tee off a par 5 is with a 5 wood..270 yards..lol

[joanasevilyboaz]

Any advice for a guy who can hit his 5 wood further than his driver? My driver always comes out way low almost like a punch and run type hit. My 3 wood is very similar but a better flight, and my 5 looks like a drive.

[AgowlSown]

Any advice for a guy who can hit his 5 wood further than his driver? My driver always comes out way low almost like a punch and run type hit. My 3 wood is very similar but a better flight, and my 5 looks like a drive.

Lessons or a higher lofted driver.