TGC Tour - Sony Open (wind enabled)

[Boerdoc]

Keith, as a lefty I was afraid of what I might see. I looked up the course and saw all the water, ugh. Then I saw the names of the holes. This might require a practice round before playing in the tournament.

PGA West Palmer course hole names.

Beginnings, Breakaway, Lite Touch, Rembrandt, Intimidator, Palmer’s Runway, Brutal, Trapper, Tyrant, Monster, Breather, Stretch, Challenger, Venice, Confusion, Double-Cross, Panoramic View, Temptation.

BTW keither5150 Great rounds in the last tournament. I think I had you as a ghost once. Are you driving it 300 or more?? That is what I remember seeing. I cannot compete against that.

[keither5150]

Thanks.

I can occasionally hit the ball over 300. I am tracking my ball speed now. For me to hit 300, I have to have my ball speed over 170mph. Depends on the hole and now even the wind. I top out at around 185mph ball speed. If I swing any faster, I have trouble hitting the sweet spot. I probably average 165-175 mph ball speed with my driver. I have made some big improvements in my game since November. Last year I was not using the sim at all. I got it up and running this past summer after my doctor fixed my shoulder. I think that I have played 117 rounds since buying TGC in August. So one would hope that I would see big improvement over the first few months. Maybe not so big of improvement from here on out. Thanks ProTee for organizing the tour. It's a lot of fun.

[goatbarn]

Wow 185 ball speed is Bubba's average ball speed. That's crazy

[keither5150]

I average around 165 and that is not 300 yards for me. More like 280-290 ish. 185 is swinging out of my shoes. Golftown had my swing speed between 110 and 118 recently when I tried the new Callaway. At 118 it carried 290ish. My swing is a little embarrassing though. I bend my arms way too much. A golf pro once said to me that he has no idea how I can square up the club at impact. Every time I try to hit with straighter arms, I start spraying them all over the place. I don't know what to say. I usually hit last IRL and until I hit a few, people wonder what I am waiting for. It does suck when you wait and you don't connect. Hopefully this year that happens less.

[goatbarn]

Hah been there many times. Wait for a drivable par 4 green to clear only to toe hook it into the crap.

I used to bend my trail elbow past 90* too. After working with an instructor I've eliminated it and I can say that I've gained roughly 4 more fairways a round aND did not lose any distance. My old swing required a lot of timing/practice. Now I don't have to maintain nearly as much.

But swing changes take months of concious effort on every swing.

[keither5150]

Hmmmm You may have a point there. Lots of timing and practice sounds about right. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_mj1QhYO5U on the 10 hole which is driveable I smash it into the creek 100 yards away. I put that round on YouTube so my buddies could see how accurate the sim is. If I swing too hard, bad things happen.

I have a friend who goes into those long drive competitions. He sometimes waits for people to get off of a 365 yard hole. Then when he tees up, it may be 50 yards left or right of the green. His launch angle is way higher than mine. I have about 7 degrees or so and he hits it into orbit. He is kind of my swing coach. He has given me all kinds of stretching exercises to increase shoulder and hip turn. That has helped a lot. The ball goes farther with what seems like less effort.

[goatbarn]

Yeah, it depends on what your goals are. Do you want to shoot lower scores or drive the ball as far as you can? The two do not usually coincide with each other.

That said, usually, once you improve your mechanics and ingrain the changes, your swing speed most likely will be the same, and hopefully launch conditions improved, meaning more distance and better dispersion.

I'm working on reducing my positive AOA with driver (+4-5*) in order to increase accuracy. But I know that I may end up shorter without the added benefit of high launch/low spin. But I'll take lower scores anytime. The AOA I have now does allow me to carry 260-270 with only about 160 mph ball speed. But hitting up 4-5*, and only spinning it 2000 rpm or less is tough to control.

It just depends what you're after.

[keither5150]

We are all after low scores. My short game is what needs work. The long drive really only helps me on par 5's Getting there in two or close in two helps. But for par 4's I am just as good with my 7, 8,9, as I am with my wedges. Actually my toughest distance is 35-80 yards out. I have been practicing that distance a lot lately. I really want to be more flexible before I go and take lessons. Right now, lessons may be painful.

[goatbarn]

Seeing as your toughest distance is less than full wedges, it only emphasizes the need to get rid of the extra arm swing.

Another plus of not overrunning your pivot with the arms is that less than full swings don't require some special timing. It's just the same swing, shorter.

[keither5150]

So true, My friend has me at about a 3/4 swing on all irons since December. ( still full on woods and driver) I am hitting them straighter with more control. Instead of smashing a 8 iron, I now hit an easy 7. I have seen my scores drop nicely since then.
Seems like you have had a few lessons. If you lived closer, you could give me lessons and I would pay you in beer. I would pay you until the lessons no longer made any sense. Seriously.... thanks for the free advice. A shorter swing on my irons is a big help.

[goatbarn]

Haha I'm just obsessed with everything golf. But yes I've had many lessons. If you're not against video lessons (about $25 a lesson) I know 2 of the best to recommend.

[aja]

All ears! I'm interested in your recommendations.

[goatbarn]

Well since I'm a golfWRX guy, I would highly recommend both Monte and iTeach (Dan Carraher).

Both guys are on Athlete Nation. Just look them up.

They have different styles of teaching. IMO, in general terms, Monte is more of a laymen term type teacher and Dan comes off to me as more technical.

Both of them know more about the swing than I will ever know, and I think I know a lot. I've had lesson packages with both, and still have 2 lessons with Dan that I plan on using closer to outdoor golf season.

You need to send them (slow motion if possible) video of face on and down the line video. Read up on proper camera position first, I recommend, as trying to display the 3d swing in 2d accurately, it makes it all the more important to get this right. It makes their analysis easier too, which then provides them with the best information to help you correctly.