Conference 7.286::golf

    
    I follow a very similar practice routine... can't think of one thing
    I'd change with your routine. I would highly encourage others to
    follow your routine.
    
    This winter I added one thing, at lunchtime I putt. I found an unused
    aisleway that I use ... putting to salt/pepper shakers. I've been
    working on setup grip etc. ... first time out this year, I ended
    up with nothing worse than a two putt. I plan on getting in at least
    15 minutes a day.
    
    Walt

    A couple of thoughts about practice.
    Always have a specific goal. Only one per practice. Such as hit the
    entire bucket with your eyes closed for balance and clubhead feel.
    Never practice when you are tired. You are more likely to get sloppy.
    Always go through your set up routine for every shot as if you were
    on the course.
    The purpose of practice is to get comfortable and confident with the
    shot before you do it on the course.
    Rich

    I guess I'd have to agree with Rich in .2, be specific on the range.
    Last year I picked 3 things I wanted to work on with my swing,
    alignment, shoulder turn and body position at impact.  During a
    practice session I'd pick one.  The one that I picked was determined
    how I was swinging at any given point in time.  I found this to be
    quite effective and although my scoring didn't change very much, I felt
    that I was striking the ball better.  Certainly the fairways and GIR
    stats were improved but the putting.......  (Now we know what to
    practice this year).
    
    						KO
    

    re .2 & .3
    
    Yeah, I'll buy the "one objective" guideline. I guess my "one
    objective" in a normal practice session is to groove that relaxed 
    tempo and rythm I was talking about.  If I had a particular problem
    the last time I played, then I'll make correcting THAT my objective.
    
    Like if I've started to see my slice coming back, I'll work on the
    "thru the gate" drill and/or the feet together drill. As I've mentioned
    in another note, I worked for a couple of sessions on shortening my
    backswing. But even tho' I've got that objective in mind, I still like
    to add a little variety to the drudgery and hit different clubs to
    different targets and play point games with myself, It keeps me
    interested and my concentration high. 

    I wish I could have the displine to pratice like you guys, you make
    very good points. I've been doing alot of thinking about how to pratice
    this year to be more productive, there has been some interesting
    articles in Golf World by Peter Kostis (famous teacher of the pro's for
    those of you that don't know the name). My biggest problem during
    pratice is that I'm too quick in pratice.
    
    I spend alot of time at the range and I always have to laugh to my self
    to see people's routines:
    
    buy large bucket
    take out driver and hit 100 drives in 10 minutes
    wipe sweat off and get in car and leave
    
    I would say 75% of people I see at the range go through this routine.
    
    My routine is that I usually hit off mats, that way I always have an
    excellent lie, and usually I'll hit 70% of my shots with 6 or 7 iron.
    Then work the other clubs. I can only hit about 5 drivers in a row,
    otherwise I get too tired and sloppy.
    
    This year I'm going to:
    
    warm up by hitting about 10-20 half to 3/4 wedges
    then go through the bag and hit a few shots with each club
    then play a game like i'm on my home course, hit driver, then
    7-iron..etc
    
    always aiming at a target
    i need to also go through a pre-shot routine on every shot (which i
    havn't done in the past)
    
    peter

	Re: -.1

	It sounds like everything you want to accomplish while at the
	range will cost you 2-3 buckets a trip! ;-)

	Larry

    The suggestions are excellent.  I try to start the practice session
    with each round I play, by analyzing what is the weakest part of my
    game in that round.  This results in helping me set the goal for the
    practice session and ensures that I don't concentrate on hitting the
    driver when in my last three rounds I hit all the fairways and my 
    short drive was 245 yds., but I hooked or pulled five short irons.
    
    I do things a little different in the seqe
    sequence, I put first to get the feel of the club in my hands.  Then, 
    when I go to the tee, I always tee the first ball up and hit the driver
    for one drive after imaging the U.S. Open and hearing "From Rancho Park
    Country Club, winner of the Digital Open, all time Nassau Money Winner,
    all around "Tom Terrific",  Daryl McClusky!!!" followed by the roar of
    1500 fans straining to see my drive.  Then I hit the appropriate second
    shot to the 430yd green, guarded by water on the right with a large
    trap left, both front and back.  Then I start my tempo swings(I use a
    seven) and practice much as you do.  I left out that I stretch between
    my putting practice and playing the opening of the Open.  You've got
    good habits - make sure your imaging is ACCURATE.
                                 Big Mac
    

    Larry,
    
    gee, you're probally right, i'd probally go broke buying all those
    buckets, better rethink my pratice stragaty (sp?). not only that, i'd
    probally lose my job because i'd be taking 3 hour lunches.
    
    thanks
    peter                           

    re .7
    
    Gee Mac, I can't practice with you, your "course" is too hard. Can't we
    move that water a little bit, and do away witha few of those traps?
    
    ;^{

    One of these days I'm gonna hit that green...

         Spent another 4 bucks last night at the range just
    to drive myself crazy some more. As ususal the short clubs
    were right on and then as i progressed from 5-iron on up
    slice city returned. Tried working on this gate drill that a 
    couple of people mentioned and it seems that I swing inside-out
    but still "BIG BANANA".  Then the pro came strolling by and
    casually mentioned "do you always roll your weight to the
    outside of your right foot during your backswing?" He went off
    down the line and I started looking at my knee and foot action
    and realized that I wasn,t keeping weight on the inside of my
    foot. Made this my key swing thought and viola' !! The flight
    path straightened out and I felt much more comfortable swinging
    the long clubs. Guess I had gotten a little sloppy again in the
    fundamentals. Thanks for all the tips and advice, it feels like
    I'm back on track again !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
     
    Mad Hacker

    re .11
    
    I'll be Damned!  There's a lesson there for all of us, hacker. When in
    trouble, see the pro.

    I AGREE WITH YOU, IT IS VERY HARD TO PRACTICE.. I GO TO THE DRIVING
    RANGE AS MANY TIMES AS POSSIBLE..HOWEVER; I HAVE FOUND THAT THE BEST
    THING THAT HAS HELPED ME IS A "PRO" I RECOMMEND THAT YOU TAKE A FEW
    LESSIONS FROM A REAL PRO GOLER. THIS HAS REALLY HELPED ME..
    
    THEN GO BACK  AND TRY WHAT THE PRO RECOMMENDED.. IT WORKS..
    IT ONLY COST ME $25 FOR THE FIRST LESSION..
    BELEIVE ME IT WORKS..
    
    HIT THEM GOOD...
    
    DR. J..
    

    
    Has anyone ever used the practice drill where you seperate your
    hands on the grip?
    
    I just got back from the driving range, and I'm more confused and
    frustrated now than ever.  
    
    As reported in another note, I've been struggling with distance and
    the balls comming off the club dead right!  I went and worked for an
    hour with the guy who I've always had good results with before, and he
    pointed out the following flaws:
    
    1) CLub was too flant (hands behind shoulder) at the top of the 
       back swing.
    2) Hands too fast (Stabbing at the ball) 
    
    3) Wrist were not releasing (This seems to be getting a little better)
    
    During the lesson the only club I could hit was my 9 iron.  So as not
    to get myseld too frustrated I took only the 9 and PW to the range 
    today.
    
    Every shot that was straight went 40-50 yds at the most.  All others
    dead right off the club.  Divots were straight and not too fat.
    
    So I tried the drill with my hands seperated.  I hit 3 in a row 
    straight and almost my normal distance.  Put my hands back to my
    normal grip, dead right off the club.
    
    It's getting so bad that during a round of golf I've taken to hitting
    knowck down 3/4 shots with my 5 & 7 wood, where I would normally hit
    a 6,7 or 8 iron.  Where I would usually hit a 9 or a PW, I'm turbo
    chipping to get the ball close.
    
    If this doesn't go away soon I might be the latest former golfer!
    
    Can't afford anymore lessons so I have to try and work it out on
    what he told me from the last time.
    
    Shane_who_no_longer_qualifies_as_even_a_hacker!
    

Last year I had my wife bring a camcorder to the driving range while I
hit practice shots.  The recordings were taken from behind me and from
in front of the ball facing my swing.  It was interesting to bring it home
and slow it down on the VCR and then watch a video of Jack Nicklaus.

I learned a lot of subtle things about my swing.  I can't say this works
for everyone.  I realize camcorders are fairly expensive and it takes
a good eye to watch the tape in slow motion to pick things up.

Mike

Sounds like a flat swing. Do you feel a pinch on your finger tips? Try having
your shoulder turn in keeping with your mid section as it turns (IE. they 
should turn in unison) initially. Don't have the arms fling back or get ahead
of the mid section.

Good luck and keep the faith!

Phil

Shane,

	This sounds familiar, exactly what I've been doing.  Of course
my excuse 
is I don't play golf anymore.  Anyway, the direction of the ball and the 
direction of the divot tell you that the club is on line, but the face is open.
The question is why?  Well most of the time it's caused by the
shoulders going by the ball, before the clubhead makes contact. 
"Stabbing" at the ball can sometimes be a misdiagnosis of lunging. 
Keep your head BEHIND THE BALL until you've hit it.  Take your 9 iron
to the range, plant your feet FIRMLY on the
ground, and SWING THE CLUB.  Try to turn your hands over as you go through the
shot.  You should find that your right shoulder brings your head up.  Weak
sister fades/pushes are always caused by fighting it going right.  Don't worry
about where it goes (you don't have to fetch it at the range), just hit it.
The other check point Ilike to look for is keeping my left knee flexed though
the shot.  Try it out tonight on the way home and give us a status report in
the morning.  Pay closee attention to the flight of the ball (in case
it doesn't
work) and your alignment.  If it does work, then you owe me 2, one for this and
the other for my silence. :-)


						KO

    Another place to check is ....
    
    I remember from my set of lessons and I see it a lot in people I golf
    with.  They start with an open club face at address.  Especially with
    the perimeter weighted clubs with a slight offset, it is easy to set up
    open.  I remember the pro telling me to keep closing the face until I
    thought it was abnormally closed...and he said it was now straight on
    line to my target.  It is much harder to use your hands to close the
    blade or square it up during the swing.  It requires you to have your
    swing at a different point at the bottom of the swing than you started
    in.  The grip, the set up all will resist you getting the club face
    square if it isn't square at set up.
    
    Results in less distance, balls hit good tend to drift or stay right or
    you get the pull lefts because you have over compensated.  You will
    usually get a higher shot as well.
    
    SCD

    
    KO,
    
    Well i won't be able to make it to the range tonight, it's raining
    big time, but I have been working on a couple of things that seem to
    be giving me a glimmer of hope!
    
    The other night I went a played in the evening, so no one was around 
    to slow down.  I've always been a little uncomfortable in the 145 - 165
    yd range.  So I've been working on two shots.  One with my 5 wood, the
    other with my 7 wood.  If I have to fly it in I use the 7 wood, If I
    can run it to the green I use the 5 woods.  Both shots have worked
    great my last two rounds, which have helped me relax quite a bit more.
    
    Also, I've been working on a practice technique that I saw once on
    ESPN.  You split your hands apart on the grip, and swing away. It
    really helps to keep everythin on line, and get that feel of the 
    shoulder brining your head up.
    
    I used it 4 times with my 8 iron, all good swings with good results.
    Then I repeated the swing with a normal grip, 3 out of 4 good swings
    with good results.  Tried it twice with the 6 iron, Yek!  But it's a
    start in the right direction.
    
    By the way.  My wife came with me for the first time.  I had her play
    from about the 150 yd markers and she did great.  Not much air time
    but the ball ran along the ground nice and straight.  I hope she 
    catches the bug!
    
    Shane
    

KO,

> Keep your head BEHIND THE BALL until you've hit it.

Actually, regardless of whether you keep your head behind the ball or not before
you hit it, you should have your head behind the ball after you hit it -
providing you make satisfactory contact of course ;-)

Sorry, just couldn't resist.

I actually couldn't tell you in practice whether I do this or not. Except that I
usually have my head about 230m behind the ball after I hit it with my 1 iron
;-) The dilemma is which direction it has travelled in...

Lindsay

    Reminds of the old saying " Your problem is: Your too close to the ball
    ...After you hit it"
    
    Ken

RE: Lindsay & Ken,

	Your right, I guess my choice of wording was weak at best.  I'd
 like to have a snappy come back for you but you guys are too quick.  I owe
you both a 'pop' at the 19th, now you just have to come here to collect it!

					KO

> I owe you both a 'pop' at the 19th, now you just have to come here to 
> collect it!

Believe me Kevin, if I can get Digital to fly me from Auckland to the US East
coast (presuming that's where you are), I'll be there for that beer.

Now, in three weeks time I'll be visiting San Francisco, New York, and Honolulu
on holiday, you are more than welcome to meet me in any of those places for a
beer.

Cheers,

Lindsay

    Where do you go to practice you short game? You can practice you swing
    and 1st and second shots at a driving range. You can practice putting
    on a putting green. But where do you go to practice what, next to
    putting, puts the most strokes on the score? Most practice greens don't
    have much room to practice chipping and very few if any have sand
    traps. ???
    
    JS

    
    Hi JS,
    
    	The Stow Acres driving range has an area next to the driving range
    	for chipping, pitching and sand play.
    
    	Other than that , I'll stay late at my home course and practice
    	hitting shots ... provided the mosquitos don't carry me away!
    
    	Walta

    
    
    	Saddle Hill in Hopkington has quite a bit of space and a sand trap
    	around the practice green.  I believe that there is a new range 
    	near the course.
    
    	Beaches and parks (if they will let you practice there) provide
    	and alternative scenery while working on the short game.  I just 
    	love those tan men in bathing suits...;-)
    
    	laura
    
    
    

 Berlin C.C. Show up there with 4 clubs  5,9,W and putter. Hit the 5iron
off all par 4 tees (6 of them) then hit your 9 or W to the green. The
par 3's are all Wedges for me, but some may need a 9.

 Should help your short game tremendously.

 - Dave

    I practice  my short irons either in my backyard with wiffle balls or
    just a short swing or in an open field like the school play fields.
    
    When I take my  son  to  his soccer games and when he is on the bench
    and there is enough room, I go to the side with a wedge an hit 2 or 3
    balls to a predetermined target, it  really  helps building touch for
    less than full swings.
    
    As for sand shots, I need more practice (who doesn't :-).  Stow Acres
    is on my way  home,  so  I  stop  there at least once a week when its
    open, but  I  do mostly the driving range.  The practice bunkers have
    very little sand or it is very compacted.  But I guess is better than
    nothing.
    
    Tavo

    I practice bunker shots in my back garden by hitting golf balls from 
    the inside of an old car tyre.This really helps you hit down on the 
    ball.
    
    Dav...

    I'm pretty lucky, in that Crumpin-Fox has great practice facilities.
    There is a driving range that has tees at both ends (back end is used
    exclusively for teaching, and has a large sand trap and practice green
    adjacent to it), two practice putting greens (for those of you who play
    there, the putting green behind the pro shop is similar to the greens
    on the front 9, while tha smaller putting green near the 1st tee is
    like the greens on the back 9. These are the kinds of details my pal
    Rich O'Connor loves...), and a separate green with two sand bunkers
    used exclusively for bunker practice. The bunkers are very much like
    the types you encounter on the course.
    
     It always amazes me that many of the great, older courses have little
    or no practice facilities. Worcester just built a range a few years
    back (FAR away from the club), Longmeadow has probably the sorriest
    excuse for a range you have ever seen, Kittansett doesn't seem to have
    anything, and Taconic has a range that uses Williams College track
    facilities (and is almost always unusable), and Winged Foot has a
    small, crummy range with a big net about 210 - 220 (tops...) away and
    uses mats in places. 
     Things are different in the MidWest - turf on the practice tees is
    terrific (Scioto has the best turf I've ever hit off of - on or off the
    course), and Muirfield has a horseshoe shaped area with tons of target
    greens that would make you salivate. You go to the practice tee and
    they have rows of huge baskets filled with hundreds of good balls, and
    you "bop 'til you drop." Then you go to the golf course totally arm
    weary and discover that you're playing a nightmare - and you're already
    tired. Nice bar....
    
    __Jack
    MidWest

    Jack,
    
    Thanks for the tip. Never knew that. I'll remember that one!
    
    Rich

RE: -.2

Jock Hopkins, the pro at Concord C.C., told me that the old courses 
have little or no practice area because, to the old Scots, practice 
was considered CHEATING. I liked that explanation. Fits my image of 
the stoical, take-what's-given-to-you-and-quit-complaining founders of 
this most relentless test of character we call "golf."

Tom

A vacant baseball field is perfect for practicing 50-75 yard wedge shots.
Usually I dump by shag bag out in center field and try to hit the pitcher's
mound.  Those that wind up in other places in the infield provide practice
for the short chips and pitches.  The other nice thing about baseball fields
is the backstop which catches the thin shots nicely so you don't have to go
far to chase them down.

For sand shots, the beach is great.

d

    I've used baseball fields in the off season, which is brief here -
    maybe August to September or the start of Winter League.  For short sand 
    shot practice, I go to an elementary school and use the sand box.
    
    Big Mac

    Mac's idea is great because you can pretend the kids in the sand box or
    on the play ground are obstacles...or targets.  The sand toys become
    immovable obstructions in a hazard.  The yelling and screaming can
    simulate a gallery.  Heck with August, what about during recess?  Might
    be a way for schools to increase revenue.  
    
    SCD