Conference 7.286::golf

    Just watch Curtis Strange. He slowly but more pronounced than other
    pros "tempos" his slow weight shift from left to right, then sets,
    then moves his hip turn and weight shift to a strong right to
    left movement. All the pros do it , but Strange really shows it
    "off". Like a slow " playground swing" move. Ooooneee....Ttwwwoo..
    
      Hope it helps,Angelo
    

    or watch Fred Couples...now that is smooth and long
    but as you watch couples think of the agressiveness of Calcavecchia(?
    sp)

    Bob jones is supposed to have used this drill to work on his tempo.
    Hit shots with both feet together. It also improves the balance.

    
    jj,
    
    I am very surprised that the driver you made had a swingweight of
    D6 (without having to add any weight)...! Did you make it longer
    than standard (43 inches)...? Normally you have to add a fair amount
    of weight to clubs that are built with graphite shafts to get them
    to equal the same swingweight as they would be on a heavier metal
    shaft... Do you know what the spec weight was on the shaft? If
    infact you made the driver to standard length and did not add
    any weight and the swingweight is D6, I would give Golfsmith a
    call cause something is wrong....!!!!
    
    
    Gene

    Hi Gene,
    
    Sorry I was so long getting this in, I was out of town, and then when I
    got back, the presssure of work forbade all but readonly participation.
    And the final touch, now there is something bugging my ACP file quota
    cause I can receive mail but I can't send it. Well the big club.....
    we had two problems (I finally broke down after your note alerted me to
    the possibility that something was amiss, and called in a friend of
    mine who is the teaching pro at my driving range) One, I had cut the
    shaft incorrectly, and the length was 43 3/4. Two, I either misread 
    or totally blew the swing weight measurement (my eyes ain't what they
    wuz, and sometimes my brain ain't either)  After recutting the shaft 
    and regripping, dave put it on his scale and we got between a D1 and
    a D2.  I am still tinkering with it (lead tape) to find the combination
    I really like.  
    
    The club still feels a lot more whippy than a steel shafted one and
    even flexier than a black graphite shaft/head driver I built last
    winter. (Also built a 3 wood in the black, love the 3, hate the driver,
    go figure!) Practicing swinging the gold shafted driver has literally
    forced me to slow down my swing and concentrate on rythm and tempo. As 
    a result I am swinging ALL my clubs considerably better! An unlooked
    for  benefit belive me, but I'll take it, know what I mean? ;-{
    

    
    jj,
    
    Glad to hear that you were able to figure out the swingweight problem.
    
    As for the shaft feeling like it is whippier than one of the same
    flex in a metal shaft, there are a few possible reasons for this.
    The most probable is that you may not have tip trimmed the shaft
    enough for insertion into a metal head (they have to be trimmed
    about 2 inches more to be used in a metal wood than in a wood wood,
    due to the fact that the shaft does not go as far into the hosel
    on a metal wood), if the swingweight is heavier on this club than
    that of a metal shafted wood (or any wood for that matter) it will
    feel whippier, another reason could simply be that there are definatley
    differences between various companies ratings on flexes (X companies
    R flex may in fact be the same flex as Y companies S flex)...!
    
    Gene

    
    
    Hi everyone,
    
    	Speaking of tempo... I haven't been playing much lately (for me)
    averaging 2 times per week over the last three weeks. My golf swing
    and mechanics are pretty sound, but lately my game has become very
    erratic... birdieing one hole, triple bogieing the next. The reason
    I have played so poorly of late is that I completely lost the tempo
    of my swing. Golf is a game you play at 85% of your maximum and
    stay in control. The problem is, I forgot how hard to swing to make
    my 8 iron go 150 yds. , right now... I could hit an 8 either 140 or
    170 . Makes scoring very difficult. I found my putting running into
    the same type of problem causing too many three putts.
    
    	The fix is to hit about a billion 8 irons, until the last million
    or so land at the 150 marker. Same with putting, only reduce the
    distance ;) . So if you see some jamoke with a LARGE bucket of balls
    next to you hitting just an 8 iron... by him a beer   !
    
    
    	see you at the range,
    
    	Walta

    Hi Walta,
       I read a great article in last months GOlf Illustrated by Mike
    Hebron concerning connection. He used the analogy of three dots
    on a record all moving at different speeds but staying in-line
    with each other. I have been practicing with this thought in my
    mind and I have been getting my long lost tempo back and also
    distance control is returning. These dots represent (for me)
    hip turn, shoulder turn, and hand position.
    
    
        Mad Hacker

    
    Reply -1
    
    	Hi Mad,
    
    	I would think the "three dots" idea would syncronize the swing, but
    	not keep you from getting too quick? There has to be a relative
    	time/speed to base your tempo on... like the "one , two" count
    	discussed earlier. Is there some way , that by timing three
        sections of the swing to come together at impact, will force a
    	certain swing speed because of a physical demand?
    
    		After just hitting a bucket at the new Kimballs driving
    	range in Littleton Ma. (which by the way is excellent) . I found
    	I could repeat a distance often, by letting my arms swing down
    	at the top, by not pulling down the club. I simply let my
        arms/hands fall , being sure they remained along the swing arc.
    	Then as I got closer to the ball would begin to drive through 
    	the ball. Often I "yank" the club, and generate some unpredictable
    	direction and distance ;( .
    
    	It's funny ... just about everytime they interview the pro's
    	at the driving range prior to a tourny, 90% of them are working
    	on tempo. So when the moment arises and the caddy says "It 180
    	to the stick, 172 will carry the trap, you need to air it out
    	176 and you'll be perfect" the pro simply dials in his 176 yard
    	swing and presto ... birdie time !
    
    
    		Walta
    		

    Yea Walta ,
        That's the secret !! How fast to turn . If you have the same
    swing pace all the time it seems that you hit the ball pretty much 
    the same distance. Hebron said that by increasing or decreasing the
    rotation speed, but keeping everything in sync, you vary the distance.
    His theories are somewhat controversial !! I have been trying to swing
    at about 75% of my max speed and seem to have great control. If I try
    to swing as fast as I can turn, my hips get out in front and then I 
    come outside-in and hit some mammoth slices. I tried 4 balls the other
    day on one hole and hit 3 down the middle Each about 10 yards farther
    until the 4th and it was a real cranker. As you would figure, way out
    to the right !!!!!!! I just kept turning a little quicker to find
    my maximum in-control swing speed. I won't use it often but glad to 
    know where it is. The thing about "yanking the club down"? I do that
    sometimes too and it always screws me up.
    
    Mad Hacker

    To a large extent I believe tempo is a function of the exactness of the
    shoulder turn leading the torso turn. If you simply swing slow and
    methodically with poor technique you do not get the club head speed but
    if you swing with good technique then with few exceptions your tempo
    will be smooth. Some of the exceptions are Chi Chi and others who seem
    to lunge at it - You can't argue with success - Chi Chi obviously
    develops a good coiling action at a very fast pace. 
    
    Phil

    
    
    re; .7
    
    Walta ....    buddy  .....   you got married   !!!!
    
    it's all over  !!   your done   !!   that's it  !!!
    
    
    
    
    only kidding  Euwana      ;^)
    
    I've been married 12 years and having my best year ever  !!
    
    ace
    

    
    Reply -1
    
    	Thanks Ace for the laugh ;)  you had me worried at first !
    
    	By the way , you win,  that's the best mispelling of Eunhwa yet ...
    	I got a good laugh. Being that Eunhwa is pronounced "You-na"
    	Euwana = You wanna?  :)
    
    	Boy would that make married life tough !  
    
    		Hi I'd like you to meet my wife... You wanna?
    
    	Walta
    
    	

    re. -1
    
    That's a good one Walta!
    
    
    			-Paul
    

    
    oh well !  at least it got some laughs !!  8*)
    
    I used to know an Eunwha Lee when I worked in Westfield ...
    
    jeez I hope I didn't mis-spell it again !!  8*{
    
    ace
    

    Hi Ace,
    
    	Sorry, but you did mis-spell my name again.  I used to be
    	Eunhwa Lee and did work in Westfield.  What is your first
    	name, I can't quite remember who Ace Stuart is.  See what
    	marriage does, losing my memory already. ;)
    
    	Eunhwa
    

    I have been attempting to play golf now for approximately three
    years, and have yet to break 100 consistently, but I got a feeling
    that things are about to change.
    
    Last night after work, I went to the driving range.  You know the
    feeling you get when everything is in perfect sinc on your swing and
    you start hitting the ball consistently decent to good?  That's what
    happened to me last night.  The best thing is, I figured out what it
    was, and have harnessed it.
    
    I have been spending to much focus on mechanics, and not enough focus
    on tempo.  I feel that the mechanics are a vital part to the golf
    swing,  BUT the most important key ingredient in a consistent good golf
    swing is TEMPO!  
    
    I watched a Fred Couples video on tempo, and it was good.  I have been
    trying to hard on tempo.  So when I went to the range, I was just
    messing around with different tempos, taking the club back only 3/4
    the way back, and keeping my eye on the ball.  
    
    The results were extremely different.  I am looking forward to my next
    trip to the range to verify that I have "unlocked" the secret to MY
    swing, and didn't just get lucky last time.  Also looking forward to my
    next round of golf, in Orlando!
    
    Bob
    aka Hacker McDuff
    

    I got a real chuckle from your "tempo" note.  (.17)  I'm very happy for
    you and hope you have "harnessed" whatever you needed to.  A simple
    caution though, GOLF is a notorious spirit tester, don't give up if you
    loose whatever it was you found.  It comes and goes ALL the time!!!!!
    
    Rick

    RE: .18
    
    That's why - when my game goes south on me - I kick my feet up and
    watch the Sybervision tape of Al Geiberger.  There's no talking, no
    analysis.  Just soothing music and the image of smoothness and tempo. 
    It takes my mind off all the details of mechanics and helps me get my
    feel back.
    
    Good Luck....
    
    Steve

    re:17
    
    You will be wearing the harness unless you can discover and change your
    tempo during a round.  Tempo is very important, and it is not always
    the same for us ocassional golfers.  The key is to get everything lined
    up and back square to the ball each time, or at least, if not square,
    in the same positon so you can predict the outcome...slice, fade, hook
    etc.
    
    I often find myself pushing or mis-hitting, and I have a saying..."put
    the ball down and hit it before it moves"  This tells me to turn the
    mechanics off, relax and swing with a quicker tempo to re-synch my body
    parts.  Funny, but it works, and it keeps me from trying to hit the
    ball too hard.
    
    SCD

    Well, I took my swing on the course on Saturday.  Let me tell you about
    my game.  I have been playing only two years.  I was shooting 18 holes
    in a disgusting score of 115-120.
    
    Well, I took the new concept on the same course I play, and shot a 49
    for nine holes.  The big problem was, since I am hitting the ball so
    good now, my iron play is getting much more distance than before.  I
    would be about 175 yds away from the green, and that's usually a seven
    iron for me.  Well, I hit it perfect, except I flew the green.  Lost
    the ball, took a drop.  That hurts.  My tee shots with a three wood
    have been going about 240+.  I have to now adjust my distance per each
    club than it was before.  I guess next time I get 175 yds to go, maybe
    an 8 iron.  There isn't ANYTHING in this world like the sensation you 
    get when you hit the ball so sweet and EFFORTLESSLY!.
    
    Hacker McDuff
    Should I get a new name now?  How about the flyboy.  Like to fly the
    greens now.
    

    Wow, 175 with a seven when you weren't hitting the ball well ?? 240+
    with a 3-wood ? You better head for Q school with that distance. I
    thought I was a long hitter but you've got me beat by far. Exactly
    what were those changes to your swing ? I better implement them now !!!
    
    Mad Hacker

    Last night, I got in the mail, a golf video.  I have renewed my
    subscription to golf digest, and with your paid subscription, you get
    the video,"Ten easy lessons from tee to green."  What a killer video.
    They show ten different drills that you can do at the range, or in your
    house, and these improve your skillsets for the game.  I personally
    think that it is one of the better videos for golfers who already have
    an established swing.  This video does not teach so much as the
    mechanics, as it does certain drills to improve chipping, pitching,
    driving, putting, sand play, playing hooks and intentional slices, and
    of course the best was how to make your swing more smooth, accurate,
    and how to consistently hit the ball with CENTER of club face.  An
    excellent video.
    
    Anyway, the big difference in my swing to massivly lower my score to a
    more workable level, was the tempo.  I still have alot refining to do,
    but Tempo has had the most significant impact on my game.  Now I can
    really consider it a game, instead of work.  I also think that my
    mindset along with skillset is a key factor in the game.  Tempo and
    attitude, hand in hand.
    
    I LOVE GOLF!!!!!!!!!
    
    Bob "Hooked for life" Harris
    

    re; Hacker Mcduff
    
    Common... 175 yards with a 7 iron... hitting um bad huh? 
    
    240+ 3 wood..
    
    What course do you play.... Logan Airport  :^) I've seen/played with 
    guys who hit 115+... but they simply cannot make enough contact to
    to go 200 yards... with ANY club.
    
    Where are/were you losing all your strokes? I would love to be able
    to hit an 8 iron 175...
    
    Keep it up... Sounds like your going to bet a lot better!
    
    		Smitty

    
    As I was butchering another 9 holes of golf last night, I was getting
    more and more upset at how poorly I was hitting the ball, sure it was
    going along ways, but not as long as usual and not anyplace near
    where I aimed it. Then while walking along my partner suggested that
    I go play a tighter course (the league plays at Passaconoway, though 
    fairly long from the blue tees, it is wide open, it used to be a farm 
    and the trees won't be usefull for about 15 more years). This 
    made me think:
    
    1) I have been trying to kill the ball
    2) the 2 times I thought I had, plenty if not to much club, I hit great
       shots (3 iron to 2 feet and my best drive of the year), I then 
       tried to remember tempo and swing smooth.
    
    Well you guessed it, I started to hit better shots, to bad it was on
    the 8th tee that this all doned on me.  I hit 2 of my best tee shots
    of the year on the last 2 holes.
    
    --Bob
    

    
>    Where are/were you losing all your strokes? I would love to be able
>    to hit an 8 iron 175...
    

       No you wouldn't.  That is not how that club was designed to be used.
    If a player (amateur) hits the 8 175 yards, then they are hitting it
    wrong!  Perhaps they are hooding the clubface with a big forward press
    with the hands, causing the 8 to become a 5-6 iron.  More than likely,
    they really aren't hitting (averaging) it 175 yards afterall.  Maybe
    one shot with a big following wind made it 175, but on average, the 8
    iron should travel 120-150 yards, as it was designed to do btw.

       Place your emphasis on shot-making, tempo (as the subject of this
    note suggests), hitting fairways and greens in regulation, chipping
    and putting.  Forget distance.  It's importance is greatly exaggerated 
    as is most player's estimates as to how far they claim to hit the ball. 
          ;^)

-rick
    

    re. 26
    
    Rick,
    
    Couldn't agree with you more. There is a big thing in golf about
    hitting the ball a long way. It's because the person who hits it big is
    seen as having a great gift or something. But golf is a game where
    accuracy is rewarded more than length.
    
    martin

    re Rick...
    
    I don't really wish I could hit an 8 iron 175+ yards... I was tring
    to be *very* nice.... I'll take my 140 any day... thanks.
    
    When I want have to go 175 a five... maybe 4 iron will do.
    
    Those distances just sound outreageous to me anyway. Anyone
    who is hitting 115+ for 18 holes has bigger problems than
    distance. 
    
    What I want to do get up/down from 50 yards in TWO.... CONSISTANTLY!
    Boy... I could save some strokes there. I'm working on it, and have
    some days better than others...
    
    	Smitty

    175 yard 8 iron....ya, the woods are full of long ball knockers...
    
    and there is ALWAYS someone who can hit it farther than YOU...
    
    ;^)