Monday, August 31, 2009
Monday, August 17, 2009
Sunday, August 16, 2009
What In God's Name....?
The first pic, to someone well-acquainted with Hackers, is at least partially decipherable.
However, this second one remains a jaw-dropping enigma:
He's left-handed, right? That club is a putter - yet it's seemingly spun around AND inverted.
And WhyTF are his knees bent so?
It is true though. Seventeen years ago a guy I know who's fluent in such matters pointed out to me that non-white golfers bend their left (lead) knee through impact.
But still, even that ethnic insight can't begin to explain the full-body spasm captured above.
Cross posted at Marginalizing Morons.
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Choosing The Right Club....
Even though I was up at 4:30 am on Saturday....I decided not to play a round.
Instead, I went down to my course a bit later and practiced for a couple hours. Then I did the same on Sunday.
At the range I hit 90% wedges and 9-irons - both days.
At the putting green I just used my Putting Track from about 10 feet away.
And when chipping, I just used my 8-iron from the rough - to make the session difficult.
My full swing is taking giant leaps this year. After Sunday's buckets, I was pumping the ball straighter and more consistently than ever - even with my driver. I've discovered a whole new feeling to strive for in my left hand (at the top, and through impact) that's been easier to attain, and sustain, each week these last couple of months.
One thing I JUST realized is that with my new, BIGGER swing, I have been finally able to keep my left arm straight at the top of my backswing. This ideal position has been elusive throughout my career. Up until now I had just assumed that I couldn't do it on account of my bad back (I've had invasive surgery for TOS).
But just this week I realized that I couldn't keep the left arm straight because my left hand was too *floaty*. So it wasn't my BIGGER swing that did anything great....it was my fixed left hand grip that not only allowed it, but IMPROVED it.
This makes some sense as I pore over the most comprehensive advice I've ever gotten:
From what i see from Face on....you got one hell of a swing. I wouldn't mess with it too much. The "faults" you have described (in my opinion) are idiosyncrasies...not really faults. With that being said, your left arm clearly bends because...
-your middle does not move correctly
-your lack of wrist set (leverage)
As a result, your left arm bends to create a secondary leverage source (energy). Therefore, your left arm has to bend to make the backswing feel powerful. This is a short answer.
Now...your wrists do not set properly because of your grip
-left hand
-palmy
-lack of pressure points
-lack of trigger finger
-Right hand
-lack of dish angle
-lack of pressure points
-lack of trigger finger.
Your middle does not wind properly because...
-your right hip is a bit high at address
-lack ground pressure (you could be flat footed) so there isn't much to wind against.
You see, there would be quite a few things you would have to do to remedy the bent left arm and still have your swing feel powerful. You have a great impact and deliver the club on a good angle so I wouldn't get caught up in in what you don't like about your swing....look at what you do right......there is a hell of a lot of good things going on there. Great job.
You see? That guy there pointed out some things about my left hand that could be making my left arm bend. I guess the problem was that I couldn't comprehend *precisely* what he was saying: palmly, lack of pressure points, lack of trigger finger.
Read the funny story behind that analysis on my other blog - Help, Please.
Now, one note on my chipping.
I already mentioned that I was using short irons from the rough to make my practice more interesting. I have a golfing buddy who's always advised what he calls *goof-around-golf* where one goes out and practices all sorts of unconventional shots with unconventional clubs. His reasoning, "You learn a lot about your swing this way."
So what have I learned?
Well, before I practiced this shot I would have thought it IMPOSSIBLE to make short pitch shots from buried lies in the rough to tight pins on fast greens....with an 8-iron!
I was wrong. But how would I have known? For 20 years I've been cheating on these shots with highly lofted clubs. Cheating myself that is....with easy practice.
Something that really helped my rhythm when chipping this past weekend was soley focusing on the length of my backswing. I guess it reduces handsiness because both hands *know* where to stop moving. It gave me a better a pause, better tempo, and produced solid shots.
This week I will skip the course again and practice some more.
Why Tee Times Are Made Online Now
ACTUAL CALLS RECEIVED AT THE PUBLIC GOLF COURSE ( Amherst , Mass. )
Staff: Golf course, may I help you?
Caller: What are your green fees?
Staff: 38 dollars.
Caller: Does that include golf?
Staff: Golf course, may I help you?
Caller: Yes, I need to get some information from you. First, is this your correct phone number?
Staff: Golf course, may I help you?
Caller: Yes, we have a tee time for two weeks from Friday. What's the weather going to be like that day?
Staff: Golf course, may I help you?
Caller: Yes, I had a tee time for this afternoon but I'm running late. Can you still get me out early?
Staff: Golf course, may I help you?
Caller: Yes, do you have one of those areas where you can buy a bucket of golf balls and hit them for practice?
Staff: You mean a driving range?
Caller: No, that's not it..,,,
Staff: Golf course, may I help you?
Caller: Yes, I'd like to get a tee time tomorrow between 12 o'clock and noon.
Staff: Between 12 o'clock and noon?
Caller: Yes.
Staff: We'll try to squeeze you in.
Staff: Golf course, may I help you?
Caller: Do you have any open tee times around 10 o'clock?
Staff: Yes, we have one at 10:15.
Caller: What's the next time after that?
Staff: We have one at 10:22.
Caller: We'll take that one. It will be a bit warmer.
Staff: Golf course, may I help you?
Caller: How much to play golf today?
Staff: 25 to walk, 38 with a cart.
Caller: 38 dollars?
Staff: No, 38 yen.
Staff: Golf course, may I help you?
Caller: What do you have for tee times tomorrow?
Staff: What time would you like?
Caller: What times do you have?
Staff: What time of the day?
Caller: Any time.
Staff: Morning or afternoon?
Caller: Whenever.
Staff: We have 16 times open in the morning and 20 open in the afternoon. Would you like me to read the whole list?
Caller: No, I don't think any of those times will work for me.
Staff: Golf course, may I help you?
Caller: Do you have a dress code?
Staff: Yes, we do. We require soft spikes.
Caller: How about clothes?
Staff: Yes, you have to wear clothes.
Staff: Golf course, may I help you?
Caller: Yes, do you have a driving range there?
Staff: Yes.
Caller: How much for a bucket of large balls?
Staff: Sorry, we're all out of large balls. But we can give you twice as many small balls for the same price.
Staff: Golf course, may I help you?
Caller: Can I get a tee time for tomorrow?
Staff: Sure, what time would you like?
Caller: Something between 9 o'clock and 10 o'clock. In the morning, if possible.
Staff: Golf course, may I help you?
Caller: Do you rent golf clubs there?
Staff: Yes, they're 25 dollars.
Caller: How much to rent a bag?
Staff: Golf course, may I help you?
Caller: Yes, my husband just called me on his cell phone and told me he's on the 15th hole. How many more holes does he have to play before he gets to the 18th?
Staff: Golf course, may I help you?
Caller: Yes, do you have a driving range there?
Staff: Yes.
Caller: How much for a large bucket?
Staff: Four dollars.
Caller: Does that include the balls?
Staff: Golf course, may I help you?
Caller: Do you have a twilight rate?
Staff: Yes, it's 15 dollars after 2 o'clock.
Caller: And what time does that start?
Staff: Golf course, may I help you?
Caller: Yes, I'd like some info about your golf course.
Staff: OK, what would you like to know?
Caller: I don't know, that's why I called.
Staff: Golf course, may I help you?
Caller: My kids just came home with pockets full of range balls and said they stole them from your driving range. Would you like to buy them back?
Obviously the smart ass answering the phone kept a notebook nearby....
The worst *question* I ever got in the 9 years I technically worked at a golf course was this:
How big is your 9-inch pizza?
Had that layup thrown at me three separate times!
The most memorable time was when some dude asked me with his girlfriend beside him. I told him *....about 11 inches* or something and she keeled over laughing - and probably never trusted him with measurements again.
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