[BrianL99]

Originally Posted by SHIBUMI

When we get teamed up, I play blues, and at 74 I can still hit it 270 with the driver
:

If I could hit it 270, I'd be playing the Champion's Tour.

I can carry it 220 with a good swing, usually 210-215.

I’ve played with 1 over 70 year old in TV, that can hit 250+. He hits balls at Palmer, most every day (name begins with “Ca”). He can hit it 50 yards past me … I stilled cleaned his clock when we’ve been paired up.

[Bay Kid]

I put my 3 wood on time out.

[Tyson]

Im 78 and have been playing 48 inch drivers for over 35 years. Thats the only thing i disagree with.

[tophcfa]

Originally Posted by Rwirish

There is no doubt stretching helps tremendously. To think otherwise is foolish.

I try to swim for at least 30 minutes before a round of golf. Swimming every stroke for a few minutes is like a complete body stretch. I almost never play well when I can’t fit in a swim before a round. Practically all of my best scores are posted after a good swim.

Also, the only wood I carry is a driver. The next longest club in my bag is a 3 hybrid and I carry 3-6 hybrids.

[lawgolfer]

Originally Posted by Firebuffette

I don’t know anything about golf. I’m taking lessons in August for the first time. My husband has been playing for 50 years. He can’t help me.
That being said, I’m thoroughly enjoying the banter between all of you. Thank you
Happy 4th of July.

Excellent plan! I doubt that golf lessons by your husband will harm your marriage. At the same time, I'm pretty certain that they will not help your golf game.

When you search for an instructor, look for one who uses a video camera so you can see what he/she is saying you are doing wrong or right. Golf instructors speak a language that they understand, but is unintelligible to other humans (i.e."you need to drop the club into the slot on the downswing"). Most beginners are embarrassed to question the instructor to learn what he/she means so that they understand what they are to do.

The learning rate/retention rate from seeing something is much higher than only being told something.

Subject to my own advice about the language, make sure that you come away from the instruction with four things that are the keys to a good golf swing.

1. Have a strong grip. The "V's formed by the thumb and forefinger of each hand should point to your right shoulder when the clubhead is behind the ball and you are ready to swing.

2. Keep your left arm/left elbow straight. When you let your left elbow bend, you change the radius of the swing and make it harder to get the head of the club back to where it needs to be to hit the ball squarely. Also, a stiff left elbow is the key to a powerful swing. The language which you will not understand is that you "collapse your left side" when you bend your left elbow during the swing.

3. Learn to "shift your weight" (strange language) from your left side to your right side (for right-handed players) during the backswing and downswing. For some players, this comes naturally. They are a small minority!

4. Learn to have a smooth, controlled swing so you make solid, square, contact with the ball.

If your instructor doesn't teach you these four things, look for another instructor.

[Hape2Bhr]

[QUOTE

I’ve played with 1 over 70 year old in TV, that can hit 250+. He hits balls at Palmer, most every day (name begins with “Ca”). He can hit it 50 yards past me … I stilled cleaned his clock when we’ve been paired up.[/QUOTE]

The grass on Palmer's range was so thin I have been going to Glenview's range (much prefer grass to mats at either). Has the grass condition improved on Palmer's range in the last 5/6 weeks?

[SHIBUMI]

Flexibility is important unless your a hands and wrist player. They can be very effective and don't need much flexibility. For the body hitters, even the swimmer, here are some stretching tips,

1. stretch your hands, squeeze a rubber ball daily-you can only swing the club as fast as your grip allows

lie on your bed:

1. without a pillow turn your head as far right as you can and hold for 2 minutes
then turn it left as far as can hold for 2 minutes( 1minute if first time)
this stretches your neck muscles, very important

2. take your right arm and reach left as far as you can over the top of your chest, hold for 2 minutes repeat with left arm, this stretches your shoulder muscles, very important

3. bring you right leg up bent at the knee, wrap your left leg over it and pull it down left as far as you can, hold for 2 minutes, repeat with left knee pulling it right, hold for 2 minutes

Your goal is to do 3 routines of the above 3 for a total of 18 minutes or cut it in half for 1 minute of holding or a total of 9 minutes

Do this before every round, not time consuming, and do it before you hit golf balls on the range or take a golf lesson.

Let's call this dry land swimming...........your strengthening your grip, your stretching your neck muscles, your stretching your shoulder muscles and your stretching your hip flexors, thats what happens when you swim as well.........do this before every round of golf and you will swing better
important muscles not tight, scoring is a whole other issue as the OP recommends

with compliments, Shibumi

Originally Posted by tophcfa

I try to swim for at least 30 minutes before a round of golf. Swimming every stroke for a few minutes is like a complete body stretch. I almost never play well when I can’t fit in a swim before a round. Practically all of my best scores are posted after a good swim.

Also, the only wood I carry is a driver. The next longest club in my bag is a 3 hybrid and I carry 3-6 hybrids.

[SHIBUMI]

Lessons from your husband WILL hurt your game and relationship. As soon as you learn he doesn't know what he is doing you will get mad. They don't call scotch doubles tournaments the Divorce Open for nothing.

All pro's like teachers have different methods. Find one you understand and learn the basics first. Stay away from video at the beginning, you will only notice your hair, your weight, and your clothing co-ordination. Too depressing a way to start.

Do not take group lessons, you will learn at a very very slow pace. One on One with a teacher you can relate to.

Also, don't listen to other golfers, they have a different feel system and thought system than you. Learn your own and you will have it forever, use theirs, and you will find another in a short period of time.

Whats good for the goose aint good for the gander. Get one on one lessons unless you are lonely!

compliments, Shibumi.

Remember how you had bad teachers in school, you just couldn't relate to them. Teachers are not good or bad you either communicate with them or you don't. If you don't then keep searching.


QUOTE=lawgolfer;2443283]Excellent plan! I doubt that golf lessons by your husband will harm your marriage. At the same time, I'm pretty certain that they will not help your golf game.

When you search for an instructor, look for one who uses a video camera so you can see what he/she is saying you are doing wrong or right. Golf instructors speak a language that they understand, but is unintelligible to other humans (i.e."you need to drop the club into the slot on the downswing"). Most beginners are embarrassed to question the instructor to learn what he/she means so that they understand what they are to do.

The learning rate/retention rate from seeing something is much higher than only being told something.

Subject to my own advice about the language, make sure that you come away from the instruction with four things that are the keys to a good golf swing.

1. Have a strong grip. The "V's formed by the thumb and forefinger of each hand should point to your right shoulder when the clubhead is behind the ball and you are ready to swing.

2. Keep your left arm/left elbow straight. When you let your left elbow bend, you change the radius of the swing and make it harder to get the head of the club back to where it needs to be to hit the ball squarely. Also, a stiff left elbow is the key to a powerful swing. The language which you will not understand is that you "collapse your left side" when you bend your left elbow during the swing.

3. Learn to "shift your weight" (strange language) from your left side to your right side (for right-handed players) during the backswing and downswing. For some players, this comes naturally. They are a small minority!

4. Learn to have a smooth, controlled swing so you make solid, square, contact with the ball.

If your instructor doesn't teach you these four things, look for another instructor.[/QUOTE]

[SHIBUMI]

The older you get and the slower your swing speed the harder it is to hit a 3- wood off the ground. Even tougher for women even though their 3 woods are actually the loft of 5 wood. You need speed. Unless you hit it off the tee, let is grow cobwebs.

compliments, Shibumi.

Originally Posted by Bay Kid

I put my 3 wood on time out.

[SHIBUMI]

used to be called Boom Boom because of his long drives. Today they just call him boom. Hybrids are the answer to a decrease in swing speed.

Originally Posted by BrianL99

I replaced my 5 Iron with a Hybrid, today!

I've had both in my bag for the last month or so and today I took out the 5 Iron. Hit once today and hit it awful.

I didn't play with any hybrids (or a 3 wood), until up 10-12 years ago. 1st I added a 3 wood, got rid of my 1 Iron and replaced my 3 iron with a hybrid. About 5 years ago, replaced my 4 iron with a hybrid. Today, I replaced my 5 Iron.

I keep hearing about guys on Tour using 7 Woods, but I opted for a very small hybrid, that I can get at the ball when it's in deep rough.

I've read that Freddy Couples is playing with all Hybrids, up to his 6 Iron. Probably the most famous Hybrid user, was Dana Quigley. Dana made about $13M on the Senior Tour and by the time he quit playing, he was using Hybrids up to 7 Iron. (Your browser is not supported | usatoday.com)

I'm now carrying 3 hybrids ... a 19 degree, 22 degree & 25 degree.

I think anyone who's not carrying a couple of hybrids or high-lofted woods, is unnecessarily handicapping himself.

[SHIBUMI]

is an important part of the equation and many good thoughts here.

However, it assumes you can control the golf ball, thats called a golf swing.

Put the two together and you have utopia.

Originally Posted by BrianL99

Really?

Show me once piece of independent data that confirms "stretching" improves course management.

[BrianL99]

Originally Posted by Tyson

Im 78 and have been playing 48 inch drivers for over 35 years. Thats the only thing i disagree with.

Good for you, if you can swing it!

I'm sure most of the players you play with, have trouble with a Driver. Up north I play regularly with a guy who's 75 and can hit it 40-50 yards past me, with his 48" Driver. You have to be silky smooth to do it.

[BrianL99]

Originally Posted by Hape2Bhr

[QUOTE

I’ve played with 1 over 70 year old in TV, that can hit 250+. He hits balls at Palmer, most every day (name begins with “Ca”). He can hit it 50 yards past me … I stilled cleaned his clock when we’ve been paired up.

The grass on Palmer's range was so thin I have been going to Glenview's range (much prefer grass to mats at either). Has the grass condition improved on Palmer's range in the last 5/6 weeks?[/QUOTE]

I'm up north, so I haven't been to either in a couple of months. Glenview is always in much better condition than Palmer. I obviously don't know the number, but I'd bet that Palmer does 5 times the ranger business, that Glenview does. In season, the Palmer range is 100% full, all day every day. I only play Glenview once a week, but I've never seen it "full" since I've been in The Villages.

[Bay Kid]

Get "Harvey Penick's The Little Red Book". Great mental lessons.

[1golfergal]

she'd better be posting those score if you all ever compete in anything!!!!