Is it me or my clubs.

[HILLY]

OK lets see if you guys can shed some light on my problems.

 

My history as a golfer is as follows.

 

Club golf in the UK for 20 years but never took the game seriously. Handicap went down to 20 many years ago but gradually crept back up to 27 a few years later as the only time I ever seemed to pick up a club was in competitions. The odd flash of brilliance (well for me that is) every now and then but nowadays they happen once in a blue moon.

 

My biggest problem all through my golfing career was hitting the ball any reasonable distance. Even with good contact my drives rarely got much over 160 yards and to be honest I feel more comfortable taking a five iron off the tee as I can hit this more consistently and further than I can my driver. In fact my driver and 3 wood which Petrons are in nearly new condition.

 

OK I am not expecting to get a quick fix from anyone but I do think it is time to buy some new clubs to see if that might have so meting to do with it. Yes I know you can not buy your game but I might have had this wrong for years.

 

I have only ever owned one set of clubs that I purchased from the pro shop at Orange County Lake golf course near Orlando in Florida when on holiday in about 1985.

They were cheap and cheerful and are a full set of Wilson GE's heel and toe steel shafts. The pro recommended them to me as good beginner clubs.

 

The woods long since fell to pieces and hence the 2 Petrons were added. Anyone who has seen the Petron will know it is a tiny headed club.

 

My irons are now rattling with the accumulated rust inside the shafts although one of them was repaired a few years ago after the club head traveled further than the ball one day. The once sparkling chrome plated shafts are now pitted with rust also.

 

Ok I hear you all ask why the fuck have I not invested in some new ones. Well it is because I was scared that I would not be able to hit the ball even as badly as I do now with my old ones. I have tried a few taped up clubs on the driving range but always decided I was better off with the devil I knew. I might have been wrong here.

 

At Laem Chabang the other day we were stood on the 18th tee after I had just had one of the worst rounds in years. To say that I did not get one drive properly away would not be untrue. The 18th is the ravine hole with a 140 yard drive to reach the fairway and a very narrow opening onto the fairway through the trees on the other side of the ravine. I had about as much hope of making the carry as fly in the air.

Rappongi had been using Brian's driver through the round. Its a Calloway Big Bertha and I asked to try it just for a laugh. As my ball was going to be lost anyway what the fuck. I even suggested 100 Baht a corner for the hole which was gratefully accepted by the other three. I was driving last.

 

Callum smashed his ball into the trees. Hehehehe

Brian's ball went violently to the left although he made the carry straight into more trees on the side of the fairway.

Rappongi hit a cracker well up the fairway.

I stood looking at this huge hunk of steel and thought what the fuck as I took a big poke at the ball. Then there was the sweet sound of metal on the ball and a beautiful reverberation as the club made contact. The ball soared straight as a die through the middle of the opening to the fairway ending up a few yards from Rappongi's. That feeling of elation welled up inside me as I received praise from my mentors. I had not hit the ball so far for a long time and never have I hit a driver straight or without massive fade. (OK I know that is an in to out thing)

 

I wont bore you with the rest of the hole but suffice to say I was happy with a 6 and Rappongi won the dosh.

 

Now the point of this rambling is that it set me thinking that maybe the time has come to make the change. Wilson GE's are not around in Pty so I have to change to something else. The whole point is what do I change to and still keep fairly safe that I am not going to ruin what little game I still have left. Going down the range with taped up clubs does not appeal to much. I want to just go out and buy a set from the shops.

 

Any advice will be gratefully received and thanks.

[steveo]

Hilly,

Not sure of the situation in LOS but over the past few months I have developed a bug for internet auction sites and there are some real bargains to be had.

My golf game is well past help from any sort of new equipment but I have noticed some excellent gear being offered on the best known auction site (E Bay) and some other local auction sites over here. Steering clear of the individual sellers, a lot of the golf discount joints here also offer their wares on E Bay at much reduced starting bid prices from their warehouses prices.

I cannot offer any advice on what to buy but could suggest that a look at your local E Bay offerings may be worth a try.

See you in November for the Cup

Steveo

[jfg]

Sorry you need to test clubs your only chance,so driving range try out friends new user friendly culbs, would suggest something like Cobra driver, 5wood maybe dont bother with 3 wood also Callaway good. If you find what you want maybe you can get from Hong Kong where you can get cheap esp snids.

A few lessons and your on your way

[ashboy]

Hilly

 

For what its worth, I used to play pennant and have known a few professionals. Don't know if that gives me an insight or not. Yes, you can buy cheap clubs on E-bay. There is a particularly good seller at the army base in Sydney. Don't know how you'd go with freight. Whats important is that you get clubs that suit your body type and swing. You can't play a good game with crappy clubs, but I'm thinking youd be happy to hit consistently a reasonable distance and more or less on the short grass.

 

Dont be conned into spending a fortune on clubs, a few dollars/pounds spent on lessons will be a much better investment.

 

I always found my practice rounds were 5-6 shots better than my comp rounds. That's because the biggest handicap in golf is that big hazard between the ears. Relax and enjoy the game, no point playing otherwise.

 

And there's always that final hole...

 

Ash

[Emil]

I probably shouldn't be posting here because I've only played a few rounds of golf in my life, but I am a sports fan and have many friends that play the game. In the past 30 years I 've heard all the claims about all the improvements in the golf balls that appear every few years and all the improvements in the clubs. These improvements always seem to cost more than the current equipment. If all these claims were true, then if Bobby Jones would have had access to them when he played he would have been shooting rounds in the high 40's.

 

Emil

[ff29]

Hilly,

 

IMHO, I would suggest a few lessons from a USGA golf pro or equivalent and have him or her straighten out your swing mechanics. Then have him or her suggest a set and style of golf clubs suited to you and your skill level. Worked wonders for my wife’s game.

 

However, one further suggestion: Don't go until after the RideHer Cup III. It sounds like to me your in great form for the event from my point of view.

 

See you and AM in Pattaya soon. BTW, Hilly, it is most likely you and not so much you're clubs. Lessons really do help one to correct their errors. As for the pros, it's said they can pick up a set of rental clubs at the course and shoot scratch golf or less without a problem. Of course we're (I'm) not a pro and just go out to play and have a good time. . . like in the RideHer Cup III.

 

Just 38 days 20 hours 21 minutes 53 seconds then wheels-up and off to LOS, Thailand. . .buts who's counting?

 

Regards,

ff29

[Emil]

Hub,

 

As you mentioned the balls go much further now than in the 30's so that would take up some of the slack for the longer courses. Also which greens would you have preffered to putt on, the ones back then or the ones today that cost in the tens of thousands. Again I'm not much of a player, but I would think the width of the fairways are more important than the length.

 

Emil

[Eneukman]

Hilly, as someone who is an even worse player than you - on a good day a 36 handicap might just about have seen me equal par - I was never able to use my driver and have also had the experience of the club head of my 2 - wood travelling almost as far as the ball! Thus being forced to tee of with my 3 wood, I skied it into a gale force wind. It went about 100 yards towards the hole before being blown BACK 50 yards towards me!

 

The clubs I used all belonged to my parents and were rather a mixture of different makes. I could hit the 4, 6, and 8 irons with absolute confidence but I simply dod not feel comfortable with my 5 and 7 irons.

 

Regardless of which club I used, I had a hook that varied from (at best) manageable to at worst totally wild. In a 20 - 30 mph left to right wind I could still make the ball move some distance from right to left. I was so confident of this at times that playing with a strong left to right wind I was able to aim along the gorse bushes on the right with the absolute certainty that the ball wouldn't get lost amongst them. It did, of course, get lost in the gorse bushes on the other side of the course!

 

I did once, however, manage a dead straight drive of some 275 yards with my 2 wood. OK It was down wind, slightly downhill and on a fairly hard fairway.

 

Interested though in the comments about new clubs. Anything that can help correct my wayward shots would be most welcome.

 

Alan

[Babepecker]

I've played golf exactly once in my life, so no knowledge on the subject, really - still, from my experience with the other sports which need a tool that I've indulged in:

 

yes, take a few lessons and ask your coach for an advice on clubs afterwards.

 

Then, after you've bought the clubs, take a few more lessons - this should work wonders (it did for my tennis game ).

 

Cheers

 

 

[ashboy]

I'm guessing this could become a long thread. Hell, not even the pro's can settle on a swing without getting some witchdoctor like Leadbetter to screw with it (What happened to Baker-Finch? Why can't Tiger drive? Why did Feherty and Ogle quit?)

 

Babepecker, you nailed it. Lessons, even a few, are the key. Hopefully from a pro who understands not to change your swing too much, just sort out your grip, teach some course management skills, get you playing consistent golf.

 

Alan, I read in earlier posts you might take the game up when you retire. No place like your current home to get some lessons in preparation. Might even get you playing like Mrs Doubtfire.

[duece]

Hey Hilly don't change clubs just change courses

 

Try this one out, it will improve your scores big time

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

No seriouse, get a a few lessons and ask the pro.

Get some cavity back, oversize irons.

Get it sorted for the cup

I need my partner on top form

Cheers

Duece

[ff29]

Did I mention GPS guided golf balls. That might work for those of us who get off track. Only $200 USD each or $1,999 USD for a box of a dozen. Put in your orders now and we can bring them along with us when we pick up Hilly's smokes. No exta charge for all my friends in Thailand for transportation.

 

Hope this helps you guys out a little bit.

 

Just 38 day 16 hours 40 minutes 8 seconds then wheels-up and off to LOS, Thailand. . .but who's counting?

 

Regards,

ff29

 

PS They are programable from a 390 yard drive down to a mere 3 foot putt.

[ff29]

Hey Duce,

 

I may be able to get an up an down on that green. See ya in Pattaya.

 

 

Just 38 days 16 hours 15 minutes and 14 seconds then wheels-up and off to LOS, Thailand. . . but who's counting?

 

Regards,

ff29

[HILLY]

Cheers guys and bit of food for thought there. Unfortunatelly no time to do them justice this morning as we are now off to Bkk for a stag night. Poor old Shaun.

 

Thanks for that offer Hub and if I have not already done the deed I will take you up on it.

 

On another board it has been sugested that oversized irons might help and that does sound good to me.

 

Tally ho I am outa here.

[wobbly_1]

Hilly

 

Best advice I can give is go and play a couple of rounds at Phoenix and hire some clubs off them. Their hire clubs are Taylor Made RAC irons and R580 woods - these are amongst the best 'game improver' clubs on the market.

 

Play with those a couple of times and it should show you how far things have come since you Petrons. You can play with the latest equipment, without having to splash out on new stuff yourself - I believe Phoenix charge 600 baht for hire clubs but it may be more.

 

Lastly, there is a case for saying that anyone who plays off more than 14 should' nt have a driver in the bag anyway as it is by far the most difficult club to try and hit.

[Eneukman]

Ashnoy, you're right about getting some lessons over here but unfortunately since I decided to opt out of the rat race I was in and back into a different much lower paid one, I can't really afford these AND come back to Pattaya in November. Also most of my clubs must be well over 40 years old now though a couple of them have newer heads on them though.

 

I do like Wobbly's suggestion of playing a couple of rounds at the Phoenix and hiring a set of clubs BEFORE I splash out on a new set, which might never get used if my game is even worse than previously.

 

If I do go for new clubs, my thinking at the moment is to buy 3 woods - 2, 4 and 5 plus 2, 3, 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 8, and 9 irons, a pitching wedge and a sand wedge. I might bring my trusty old putter out with me though. The club cost me all of £1 some 30 years ago!

 

Alan

[Eneukman]

Now these GPS guided balls could save me a small fortune if I take up golf again. Only question is - how accurate is the GPS here? though $200 is a bit expensive especially when I am more than capable of putting a nice cut in the ball with my first shot

 

Alan

[gp2002]

Hey Hilly...

 

As most of the guys said.....the technology over the last number of years is outstanding. There is no doubt that some new irons would help. Not only when you hit the ball but psychologically as well. I remember the old Wilson 1200 GE's very well. I would much rather be standing over the ball with a newer club in my hand than the smaller Wilson. At the time they were one of the few "cavity back" irons and they did have a bigger sweet spot. Now....you have so many to choose from it's scary!!

 

If you do decide to buy new ones, don't just go to a shop and pick some without hitting them first. And I don't mean just hitting them into a net 10 yards in front of you. Go to a driving range so you can see how they fly.

 

I was in the golf business prior to moving to Asia 3 and a half years ago. Unfortunately, I haven't kept up to speed with all the new clubs that have come out.

 

One other thing (and no disrespect intended)....a little practice wouldn't hurt. I don't mean 4 or 5 times a week. Just hitting a few balls once a week can make a huge difference!! Believe me.....I have a hard time playing once or twice a week. I can't imagine playing less than that!!

 

If you need a personal coach....give me a call . I'd be happy to help!!

 

Good luck with your search...

 

Cheers.....gp

[HILLY]

OK thanks guys and lots to think about there.

 

As for the lessons I know they help and had two a week for months the year before last here. Got better but it was still with the old Wilson clubs.

 

Reckon I am now more confused but have a direction. Phoenix and the hire clubs is a deffinate for this week. Oversize perimeter irons and big woods sounds like a plan as well.

 

Deuce dont worry about my game partner. Callum is keeping score. hehehehe

[duece]

Hi Hilly

Not worried about your game at all mate. Looking forward to you keeping me right again

Cheers

Duece

[bigmofo]

hilly.i had the same symptoms as yourself.my freind who plays of plus 2 works in a pro shop,and extended my clubs an extra 2 inches,because of my size (tall not fat) it looked like they were junior clubs and when i adressed the ball in my comfortable stance,he noticed that the club head was way of sitting perfect for a sweet spot strike if you like.so i was hunched over the ball and trying to change my comfortable stance and swing to ensure the bottom edge of the club sat flat to the ground rather than the bottom edge pointing up.it did defo improve my shots of the tee and elswhere. i hope you are still with me as i have lost myself of course this is only of use if you are a big guy.my freind also wanted to bend the heads downwards so that the club head would sit even better for my stance.but could not because he said they are old clubs they dont give like new ones and could snap if he tried.as for the driving i only use a 7 wood and can easily strike over 220 yards with it.but this is because of my swing my freiend thinks it is because at moment of contact the face of club is more like a driver than a 7 wood.i think a seven wood is the same in distance as a 5 iron but i can hit the wood a lot further.if you have got plenty of money get custom fitted clubs as they will be perfect for your stance etc.my freind gets ping clubs free and they renew them every six months or so, i asked him for old ones but they take them when they give him new ones.he says the custom fitting has improved his game,but he is at a different level to the likes of us.this probably does not help but good luck in solving it,i think golf is harder to work out than the tgs.