I am a newbie here. I only discovered this forum a few months ago. After lurking for some time, I have decided to introduce myself. Why? I am very intrigued by the all the information here. I am at a crossroads, of sorts. Hopefully you can help shed some light for me. I'd advise you to make yourself comfortable as I am rather long-winded. 
I first picked up a club in Oct. of 98. Each year it has gotten progressively more addictive. How addictive? Well, I haven't tallyed it up, but I played a ton of rounds this year. Best guess? 140-150. Somewhere in that neighborhood. I think I had more last year.
The difference this year has been one of discovery. Namely, discovering my game. A glimpse of my true potential. This has truly encouraged me to keep working at it even moreso.
I can honestly say that each year I have played has shown progress. It sure hasn't come easy though. NOTHING about this game has come naturally to me. I have had to work like a dog at every aspect of it. But you know what? I've enjoyed every second of it. The good and the bad.
Let me first say that I'm not an ultra competitive type. I play golf to play. It's just that. I play to enjoy the course, the setting, the outdoors, the people, etc. It's a stress reliever for me. I play this game to get away from life's everyday problems. If only for a few hours. It is more recreation for me.
As a result, I rarely keep score. Sometimes with friends. Other times with certain people that I meet. It all depends on the situation. More often than not I head to the course with the intention of knocking the pellet around and enjoying my free time and leave it at that. When things are firing on all cylinders it can be a different story. That is my opportunity to find out the state of my game.
That being said, I still compete against myself. As does everyone, I believe. Maybe not in the same way, but fairly similar. I enjoy the challenge of the shot, but not the pressure of a bet. Does that make sense?
This past season has taught me what scoring is all about. I can honestly say to myself that "I played well". How well? I set my personal best of 74 back in late May. Highly unusual for me to do that early in the season. I later tied it on a much tougher track. Slope of around 140. 2 under par on the back no less.
I have since held onto that level of play. I have broken par for 9 holes several times since my tied PB. Broken 80 a number of times. Heck, I played 2 weeks ago in some real crap and played well. 47 degrees, wind, rain. Started out (with no warm-up) par, birdie, birdie, par. Course was soaked. Got a little loose in the middle of the round when the wet and cold started to get to me. Still managed to shoot around 80 (just a guess).
I am a range rat. I absolutely love practicing. This past season was no different. A minimum of one bucket (75 balls) every day. All summer. And it's not just beating balls. I work on controlling the ball. I work on my alignment, stance, grip, posture, etc. Short game too. Putting is my weakest part of the game and I've made a concentrated effort to improve that. Still working out a putting style that I'm truly comfortable with. I have never felt comfortable with ANY putter/style that I have used. It is something I have to work through. I know that. And I will succeed at it. I guarantee it. Why? Because I will never give up.
My determination to improve is only slowed by one thing. Winter. Living here in Wisconsin is not the best state for working on a golf game. I am also working to change that. My goal is to move south/southwest. But that's another story. For now my winters are regulated to the dome.
This is the reason I created this thread. I want to make the most of my time in the dome. The problem being... the dome. I hate hitting off mats for one. I hate hitting balls inside is the other problem. Other than that it's great.
Regardless of where I'm practicing, my end goal is to improve. Someday I will be scratch. Not hope, not pray, not wish. I ~will~ do it. Whatever is necessary to achieve my goal.
For the record, I am self taught. By that I mean no lessons (until 3 weeks ago). I have read a number of swing books. Hogan, Toski, Els, etc. The swing I have now is what has evolved from whatever my natural swing was to begin with. Technically, over time it has become more accurate. Part of the joy of beating balls for me is the discovery. How changing things affect the ball flight. I really enjoy this aspect. One of the reasons I have kept things in the "self-taught" mode. I have been blessed with good tempo. This has never been an issue regardless of what swing changes I have tried to adopt.
Right now I'm just trying to figure out how to achieve my goal. I need to take the next step and I'm unsure of where or how to do it. What is the best road for me to take to accomplish my goal? What do I need to improve/alter to achieve my goal? Is the road I'm on (my current swing) the right road for me? Will it be enough to get me to my goal?
I'm hoping this thread can shine some light on decisions I need to make. Your input is fuel for my decisions. Please keep contributing to this thread. I really do appreciate it. Thanks.
Added after thinking for a few minutes:
For the first time in my short golfing career (5 years), I started taking swing lessons about 3 weeks ago. I was excited by the newness of it. The direction led with experience. I wanted to learn and absorb. I've done that. With much, much more to come.
What is frustrating are the decisions. I have spent so much time perusing the various golf forums on swing theory and swing technique. Way too much time probably.
I'm really no closer to figuring out what direction I want to go. Is method x better than method y? Is it more for a hitter or swinger? Is it better for me? How hard will it be to adapt to it? Those and a million more thoughts have been floating through my mind.
My pro has recommended this:
"I would like to see you refine the technique you have developed yourself. You can go low with it, as you've explained to me. (2 rounds of 74 this past season) What I would like you to add is the technique I recommend (which is more or less Hogan's technique mixed with TGM method)."
What he is saying is he is a proponent of a flat left wrist/hands leading/powerfully active right side type of swing. Right now I am much more of a swinger. I tend to follow the Fred Couples/Ernie Els type of swing. A slow, smooth tempo where I try to take it deep and "whip" the club through impact. I consistently carry my 5 iron 180-185 yds with a slight draw.
My focus right now is to eliminate one side of the golf course. My misses tend to be left, but I have visitied the right side of the course my fair share of the time too. My pro thinks that by staying with the swing I have now, it will be tough to do.
I can see the benefits of developing a Hogan style of swing. I would love to be an extremely consistent ball striker. It is something I would pride myself on. I'm certainly not afraid of working at it. In fact, I welcome the challenge.
I guess my question is: Is it possible to swing like Hogan with a smooth, soft, care-free tempo?
Please share your thoughts/ideas/opinions/recommendations?
So, is anyone still reading?
I first picked up a club in Oct. of 98. Each year it has gotten progressively more addictive. How addictive? Well, I haven't tallyed it up, but I played a ton of rounds this year. Best guess? 140-150. Somewhere in that neighborhood. I think I had more last year.
The difference this year has been one of discovery. Namely, discovering my game. A glimpse of my true potential. This has truly encouraged me to keep working at it even moreso.
I can honestly say that each year I have played has shown progress. It sure hasn't come easy though. NOTHING about this game has come naturally to me. I have had to work like a dog at every aspect of it. But you know what? I've enjoyed every second of it. The good and the bad.
Let me first say that I'm not an ultra competitive type. I play golf to play. It's just that. I play to enjoy the course, the setting, the outdoors, the people, etc. It's a stress reliever for me. I play this game to get away from life's everyday problems. If only for a few hours. It is more recreation for me.
As a result, I rarely keep score. Sometimes with friends. Other times with certain people that I meet. It all depends on the situation. More often than not I head to the course with the intention of knocking the pellet around and enjoying my free time and leave it at that. When things are firing on all cylinders it can be a different story. That is my opportunity to find out the state of my game.
That being said, I still compete against myself. As does everyone, I believe. Maybe not in the same way, but fairly similar. I enjoy the challenge of the shot, but not the pressure of a bet. Does that make sense?
This past season has taught me what scoring is all about. I can honestly say to myself that "I played well". How well? I set my personal best of 74 back in late May. Highly unusual for me to do that early in the season. I later tied it on a much tougher track. Slope of around 140. 2 under par on the back no less.
I have since held onto that level of play. I have broken par for 9 holes several times since my tied PB. Broken 80 a number of times. Heck, I played 2 weeks ago in some real crap and played well. 47 degrees, wind, rain. Started out (with no warm-up) par, birdie, birdie, par. Course was soaked. Got a little loose in the middle of the round when the wet and cold started to get to me. Still managed to shoot around 80 (just a guess).
I am a range rat. I absolutely love practicing. This past season was no different. A minimum of one bucket (75 balls) every day. All summer. And it's not just beating balls. I work on controlling the ball. I work on my alignment, stance, grip, posture, etc. Short game too. Putting is my weakest part of the game and I've made a concentrated effort to improve that. Still working out a putting style that I'm truly comfortable with. I have never felt comfortable with ANY putter/style that I have used. It is something I have to work through. I know that. And I will succeed at it. I guarantee it. Why? Because I will never give up.
My determination to improve is only slowed by one thing. Winter. Living here in Wisconsin is not the best state for working on a golf game.
I am also working to change that. My goal is to move south/southwest. But that's another story. For now my winters are regulated to the dome. This is the reason I created this thread. I want to make the most of my time in the dome. The problem being... the dome. I hate hitting off mats for one. I hate hitting balls inside is the other problem. Other than that it's great.
Regardless of where I'm practicing, my end goal is to improve. Someday I will be scratch. Not hope, not pray, not wish. I ~will~ do it. Whatever is necessary to achieve my goal.
For the record, I am self taught. By that I mean no lessons (until 3 weeks ago). I have read a number of swing books. Hogan, Toski, Els, etc. The swing I have now is what has evolved from whatever my natural swing was to begin with. Technically, over time it has become more accurate. Part of the joy of beating balls for me is the discovery. How changing things affect the ball flight. I really enjoy this aspect. One of the reasons I have kept things in the "self-taught" mode. I have been blessed with good tempo. This has never been an issue regardless of what swing changes I have tried to adopt.
Right now I'm just trying to figure out how to achieve my goal. I need to take the next step and I'm unsure of where or how to do it. What is the best road for me to take to accomplish my goal? What do I need to improve/alter to achieve my goal? Is the road I'm on (my current swing) the right road for me? Will it be enough to get me to my goal?
I'm hoping this thread can shine some light on decisions I need to make. Your input is fuel for my decisions. Please keep contributing to this thread. I really do appreciate it. Thanks.
Added after thinking for a few minutes:
For the first time in my short golfing career (5 years), I started taking swing lessons about 3 weeks ago. I was excited by the newness of it. The direction led with experience. I wanted to learn and absorb. I've done that. With much, much more to come.
What is frustrating are the decisions. I have spent so much time perusing the various golf forums on swing theory and swing technique. Way too much time probably.
I'm really no closer to figuring out what direction I want to go. Is method x better than method y? Is it more for a hitter or swinger? Is it better for me? How hard will it be to adapt to it? Those and a million more thoughts have been floating through my mind.
My pro has recommended this:
"I would like to see you refine the technique you have developed yourself. You can go low with it, as you've explained to me. (2 rounds of 74 this past season) What I would like you to add is the technique I recommend (which is more or less Hogan's technique mixed with TGM method)."
What he is saying is he is a proponent of a flat left wrist/hands leading/powerfully active right side type of swing. Right now I am much more of a swinger. I tend to follow the Fred Couples/Ernie Els type of swing. A slow, smooth tempo where I try to take it deep and "whip" the club through impact. I consistently carry my 5 iron 180-185 yds with a slight draw.
My focus right now is to eliminate one side of the golf course. My misses tend to be left, but I have visitied the right side of the course my fair share of the time too. My pro thinks that by staying with the swing I have now, it will be tough to do.
I can see the benefits of developing a Hogan style of swing. I would love to be an extremely consistent ball striker. It is something I would pride myself on. I'm certainly not afraid of working at it. In fact, I welcome the challenge.
I guess my question is: Is it possible to swing like Hogan with a smooth, soft, care-free tempo?
Please share your thoughts/ideas/opinions/recommendations?
So, is anyone still reading?
