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United States24600 Posts
Can't really think of a more creative title for this blog...
Since I've been having so much trouble with tearing my fingers up, my pro suggested I try the overlapping grip instead of the interlocking grip. Since then I've gone to the range twice and played 18 holes and have no had any significant problem with my hands! Problem #1 seems to be solved for now.
Problem #2 however, the fact that the golf ball doesn't go where I want it to, still lingers. Check out the scorecard for 18 holes I played today:
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/b2Qk9.jpg)
I'm not too happy with this round, although to be fair I did change my grip 2 days ago...
I was kind of on tilt on the front 9 and couldn't do anything right. I calmed down on the back and got my focus back (including putting decently) until around 16-17 when I ran out of gas (there was no snack bar on the course and I was walking).
People always tell me "spend the majority of your practice time on the short game." While it's true I could have shaved about 3-4 strokes off my round with better putting, my chipping and pitching was pretty good.
I was struggling a bit with dealing with a slice (with my woods) that I developed when I changed my grip... what seems to happen is if I try to adjust my swing to not slice it, I either pull or hook it instead :/ I just need more days on the range to fix this I think... I finally feel like I'll have my woods under control soon.
My irons were very hot and cold. I hit a few good shots, and a bunch of terrible ones. I should be able to hit short to middle irons off the fairway without much difficulty, but that just never seems to become a reality for me.
I did something very brave: took a 5 wood off the deck for my second shot on a par 5. For whatever reason I've always had lots of difficulty taking woods off the grass instead of a tee. I was pleasantly surprised when I actually got a decent result (the trajectory was lower than I wanted but it was a solid hit and the hold was downhill so it worked out fine).
I had one hole (the X) where I picked up. What seems to happen with me is I sometimes have a bad tee shot (let's say I hit it OB) followed by a slightly less bad second shot from the tee leaving me in a crappy lie behind a tree and under branches and god knows what else... even if I cheat a bit and move it to a better position to try to take the edge off, it's still a bad place to be. And because it's a tricky shot and I'm already frustrated with my first two shots I mess up and hit a shot that goes let's say 30 yards and in the wrong direction. Now I'm in tall rough and decide I'll just do a 40 yard punch shot to an accessible part of the fairway rather than far around with some crazy hero shot through 50 trees, but I'm already so messed up by all the previous shots that I duff it and am still in rough. By this point no matter how impatient I've been I can't contain my frustration/anger any more and there becomes a 100% chance that my next shot won't be successful. So.... when this starts to happen I just pick up and give myself whatever the max score is that I'm allowed per equitable stroke control...not exactly how golf is supposed to work but it makes me feel better. I really don't know what to do when bad shots cause me to be unable to hit shots anymore... even if I completely put whatever is bothering me out of my mind and just focus on doing my usual swing and not worrying about the result/etc I still end up with a bad result almost every time. Oh, this game...
But anything that went poorly I'll just chalk up (once again) to playing with a new grip. Funny enough, I still use my interlocking grip when I putt :D I assume that isn't a big problem...
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What Happened on number 6?
Ive been really strugling with my game. Last year i was avging in the low 90's now im unplayable again.
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United States24600 Posts
On August 27 2011 05:19 Darkdeath3 wrote:
What Happened on number 6?
Ive been really strugling with my game. Last year i was avging in the low 90's now im unplayable again.
I explain it in the paragraph that starts with "I had one hole..."
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I actually used to have the exactly same problem, almost tore the skin off my palms whenever I hit. Then I switched from interlocking to overlapping and no more problems.
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United States24600 Posts
On August 27 2011 05:24 Blondinbengt wrote:
I actually used to have the exactly same problem, almost tore the skin off my palms whenever I hit. Then I switched from interlocking to overlapping and no more problems.
My palms weren't that bad... my problem was my fingers (where they can rub together).
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United States24600 Posts
On August 27 2011 05:32 Chill wrote:What's overlapping versus interlocking grip? I hook my pinky between my middle and index fingers and align my thumbs down the club. Is that interlocking? I love that grip 
![[image loading]](http://www.dublinevents.com/images/golf/golf-grips-tips-tricks.jpg)
^For a rightie
My game is pretty bad this year. Driver is working, long irons (>150) are working. Anything 110-140 range is terrible and 80-50 is also terrible. Chipping is terrible. 100 yard approach and bump and run are working very well.
If I could switch my long game skill with my short game skill I'd drop 10 strokes easily.
Man how can your long irons work and your mid/short irons not work LOL that's weird to me. Usually the longer the iron the less likely I'll hit it right. I think it's easier to fix difficulty with shorter irons than difficulty with longer irons so you might be in good shape.
Also, image hosting is blocked at work so I can't see your scorecard 
Do you golf with good friends? Do you drink while you golf? That could help take the edge off. I have about 5-6 different groups of people who I golf with sometimes, but nobody regularly. I usually am walking when I play golf, and it's pretty hot, so I stick to water and sports-drinks. Maybe in cooler weather I'd slip some rum into my coke or something XD
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Well, on the plus side you aren't getting injured anymore, so thats a good thing.
It sounds from your post like the grip change thing was fairly recent, and I know in my case anytime I make a big change like that it takes quite awhile before I start to feel comfortable with it on the course.
As a random aside I played a round recently with some dude that had nothing but hybrids...and a putter. Seriously, this guy had like the hybrid equivalent of a 60. Also played a fun round recently where I caught up to another group and they just invited me to join them. Needless to say it was an entertaining experience, they were all drinking; and to top ot off had brought a boombox with them they had set in the cart,so the entire round we were listening to System of a Down and shit while playing golf, it was quite fun to be honest. Good thing there weren't many people on the course though.
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Ahh my short game is whats holding me back too. Whenever I put an approach within 30 feet and 3 putt, I rage pretty hard. I can hit my driver 260-280 no problem and can Hit a 3 iron 210. I still need to buy some fairway woods so I can fill in the ~230 yard range. My 8 iron - Wedges are bad too, I try to drive through the ball too much and they come off the club flat. My putting, chipping and bunker play really hurt me though, as well as having one hole where I triple bogey or worse. I average about 94-95 for 18 holes. I could easily be in the high 80's if I fixed my short game, maybe mid 80s if I really worked on it.
If I could switch my long game skill with my short game skill I'd drop 10 strokes easily.
If I could take 50 yards off my drive and have Phil Mickelson short game, I'd do it in a heartbeat lol.
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when I'm struggling with my mindset and pissed off (happens a lot I tell you) I just run up to my next tee and just mash the ball. Nothing feels better than hitting that perfect shot although if I hit a terrible shot I just get more pissed >.< lol. But for the swing changes yeah those things are tough, I'm currently trying to adjust my grip and change my swing to be a little wider throughout and taller at the top and I'm really struggling with my ball striking. I'm averaging about 87-88 when before I was down at the 80-82 range. I just decided to give up and just play for fun not caring about making myself "better" and just try to have fun
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Calgary25967 Posts
I shot a legit 88 last week, which is the best score of my life. Golf is so random. I played 36 holes of miniputt between that round and the previous 100+ round, and I think at least 10 of those strokes were putts. The other ~5 were 3-5 irons working finally. And with that, the season is basically over -_-. Good timing, golf.
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Perhaps I just missed it but where on your hands did you get blisters with the interlocking grip? The only place I have issues is on my right thumb on the inside part right on the knuckle. I usually have to tape the hell out of it after 4 or 5 holes so if this can save me I'd be up for trying it at the range.
Edit - I'm right handed
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Scratch golfer here. The short game can't be emphasized enough. That is the part of the game that you see results out of practicing, if you want lower scores, you need to be able to get up and down with a pretty good regularity.
I've always felt like the long game is mostly just natural athletic talent. Try and get your swing as standard and on plane as possible, it's really all you can do.
edit: Also, if you're getting blisters, your grip is incorrect. Try keeping the club in the palm of your left hand and the fingers of your right. (for righties). Grip pressure should be 3 or 4 out of 10 (being squeezing as hard as you can). Hold it as you would a bird.
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On September 21 2011 00:28 Chill wrote:
I shot a legit 88 last week, which is the best score of my life. Golf is so random. I played 36 holes of miniputt between that round and the previous 100+ round, and I think at least 10 of those strokes were putts. The other ~5 were 3-5 irons working finally. And with that, the season is basically over -_-. Good timing, golf.
There a reason why you always do well on the 18th hole. They just want to pull you back for more torture.
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I've played golf once. It's something I want to get into but I'm terrible at aiming.
I was probably 3-4 over par on every hole except for the last, which strangely I got a hole in one on. I attribute that to using a tee someone else left.
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On September 21 2011 02:36 Serejai wrote:
I've played golf once. It's something I want to get into but I'm terrible at aiming.
I was probably 3-4 over par on every hole except for the last, which strangely I got a hole in one on. I attribute that to using a tee someone else left.
You got a hole in one your first time golfing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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On September 21 2011 02:36 Serejai wrote:
I've played golf once. It's something I want to get into but I'm terrible at aiming.
I was probably 3-4 over par on every hole except for the last, which strangely I got a hole in one on. I attribute that to using a tee someone else left.
Pssshaw that's nothing. Kim Jong Il had 4 in his first round.
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On September 21 2011 01:35 Zorkmid wrote:
Scratch golfer here. The short game can't be emphasized enough. That is the part of the game that you see results out of practicing, if you want lower scores, you need to be able to get up and down with a pretty good regularity.
I've always felt like the long game is mostly just natural athletic talent. Try and get your swing as standard and on plane as possible, it's really all you can do.
edit: Also, if you're getting blisters, your grip is incorrect. Try keeping the club in the palm of your left hand and the fingers of your right. (for righties). Grip pressure should be 3 or 4 out of 10 (being squeezing as hard as you can). Hold it as you would a bird.
Hmm thanks for the tip. My grip is really similar to the pics posted above (middle pic), my hands get sweaty and my non glove hand just slips around on my grip a little as I swing. It's possible I have been holding too tight though, hadn't ever thought about that.
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On September 21 2011 04:28 Charger wrote:Show nested quote +On September 21 2011 01:35 Zorkmid wrote:
Scratch golfer here. The short game can't be emphasized enough. That is the part of the game that you see results out of practicing, if you want lower scores, you need to be able to get up and down with a pretty good regularity.
I've always felt like the long game is mostly just natural athletic talent. Try and get your swing as standard and on plane as possible, it's really all you can do.
edit: Also, if you're getting blisters, your grip is incorrect. Try keeping the club in the palm of your left hand and the fingers of your right. (for righties). Grip pressure should be 3 or 4 out of 10 (being squeezing as hard as you can). Hold it as you would a bird. Hmm thanks for the tip. My grip is really similar to the pics posted above (middle pic), my hands get sweaty and my non glove hand just slips around on my grip a little as I swing. It's possible I have been holding too tight though, hadn't ever thought about that.
The other thing that holding a club with a light pressure is that it frees up your wrists and shoulder muscles allowing for much more clubhead speed and power. It's a bit counter-intuitive, but the harder you swing, the slower the clubhead and less the power.
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On September 21 2011 04:36 Zorkmid wrote:Show nested quote +On September 21 2011 04:28 Charger wrote:On September 21 2011 01:35 Zorkmid wrote:
Scratch golfer here. The short game can't be emphasized enough. That is the part of the game that you see results out of practicing, if you want lower scores, you need to be able to get up and down with a pretty good regularity.
I've always felt like the long game is mostly just natural athletic talent. Try and get your swing as standard and on plane as possible, it's really all you can do.
edit: Also, if you're getting blisters, your grip is incorrect. Try keeping the club in the palm of your left hand and the fingers of your right. (for righties). Grip pressure should be 3 or 4 out of 10 (being squeezing as hard as you can). Hold it as you would a bird. Hmm thanks for the tip. My grip is really similar to the pics posted above (middle pic), my hands get sweaty and my non glove hand just slips around on my grip a little as I swing. It's possible I have been holding too tight though, hadn't ever thought about that. The other thing that holding a club with a light pressure is that it frees up your wrists and shoulder muscles allowing for much more clubhead speed and power. It's a bit counter-intuitive, but the harder you swing, the slower the clubhead and less the power.
I do feel quite 'tight' when I swing long irons or drives, this could kill two birds with one stone actually. I blame my damn baseball swing, shit's hard to get rid of completely.
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I feel your pain man, I was at the top of my game the a month ago, could hit any approach shot,10 through 50 yds on the dime. I went to my monday class yesterday after vacation (skiing) and being sick and I can´t hit an approach shot to save my goddamn life. FML
It is the way of golf.
EDIT: I actually want to make you feel better. This summer (6 months ago approx.) I went golfing with my friend, his father and a friend. I had been practicing the aforementioned 50 yard approach shot with my 60 degree wedge and it worked like a charm. Lo and behold I am behind a pond, 50 yards from the flag. Up to that point I had been playing badly and was on full tilt, but I was sure that shot was going to change the round, I had hit it hundreds of times on the range and on the course. I bladed it straight into the water. The next thing I remember is me holding one half of my wedge while the other one lay on the grass next to me. I then proceded to throw both halves into the pond. My friend later informed me that I did not have to buy a new club; you can change the shaft.
Me waddling into the pond without my shoes/socks to fish out my wedge was the single most humilliating and illuminating moment of my golf career. It is simply not worth it to get really invested into the game. You play better if you are not. But you are not alone.
Keep walking.
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god golf has got to be one of the most frustrating games ever. it takes so long to get to a point where you arent just purely awful. and then you come to expect more of yourself and so you get even more frustrated about that one fucking 3putt or missed GIR that was super easy. ugh. havent played in so long.
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I've had nothing but golf ads after clicking this blog .
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On September 21 2011 04:36 Zorkmid wrote:
The other thing that holding a club with a light pressure is that it frees up your wrists and shoulder muscles allowing for much more clubhead speed and power. It's a bit counter-intuitive, but the harder you swing, the slower the clubhead and less the power.
This is so true. The problem I have is that for short approach shots (10 - 25 yds) I tend to not follow through the swing and just stop inmediately after contact and I have thus very little control .
The main thing with this is once I get it ironed out and go focus on other aspects of my game I seem to lose the "feeling" and have to iron it all over again. Do you have any advice for not loosing "feel", especially on the short game?
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Calgary25967 Posts
On September 21 2011 05:10 Ganjamaster wrote:Show nested quote +On September 21 2011 04:36 Zorkmid wrote:
The other thing that holding a club with a light pressure is that it frees up your wrists and shoulder muscles allowing for much more clubhead speed and power. It's a bit counter-intuitive, but the harder you swing, the slower the clubhead and less the power. This is so true. The problem I have is that for short approach shots (10 - 25 yds) I tend to not follow through the swing and just stop inmediately after contact and I have thus very little control .
I call this 'The Stub', and it was the bane of my approach game for 4 years.
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Ahh golf blogs, how I wish I could golf all year round here. I only got out once this year and shot a 116(I was golfing with my 91 year old grandpa so the score did not matter)! I usually like to get out around 15-20 times a season. I think my best score was in the mid or low 90's last year. I had bought a new set just before the end of the season, I would have loved to use them more this year.
I love your golf blogs Micronesia, always shows that I am not the only person who stuggles on the lynx time to time mostly all of the time for me.
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On September 21 2011 05:13 Chill wrote:Show nested quote +On September 21 2011 05:10 Ganjamaster wrote:On September 21 2011 04:36 Zorkmid wrote:
The other thing that holding a club with a light pressure is that it frees up your wrists and shoulder muscles allowing for much more clubhead speed and power. It's a bit counter-intuitive, but the harder you swing, the slower the clubhead and less the power. This is so true. The problem I have is that for short approach shots (10 - 25 yds) I tend to not follow through the swing and just stop inmediately after contact and I have thus very little control . I call this 'The Stub', and it was the bane of my approach game for 4 years.
What you want is all your weight forward, and to hit down and through the ball, NEVER breaking the wrists.
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On September 21 2011 05:10 Ganjamaster wrote:Show nested quote +On September 21 2011 04:36 Zorkmid wrote:
The other thing that holding a club with a light pressure is that it frees up your wrists and shoulder muscles allowing for much more clubhead speed and power. It's a bit counter-intuitive, but the harder you swing, the slower the clubhead and less the power. This is so true. The problem I have is that for short approach shots (10 - 25 yds) I tend to not follow through the swing and just stop inmediately after contact and I have thus very little control . The main thing with this is once I get it ironed out and go focus on other aspects of my game I seem to lose the "feeling" and have to iron it all over again. Do you have any advice for not loosing "feel", especially on the short game?
The only way to keep your feel is to practice. Lots and lots.
Also, before you go and and play, practice those little short shots on the range too. They are worth more than drivers !
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On September 21 2011 05:31 Zorkmid wrote:Show nested quote +On September 21 2011 05:10 Ganjamaster wrote:On September 21 2011 04:36 Zorkmid wrote:
The other thing that holding a club with a light pressure is that it frees up your wrists and shoulder muscles allowing for much more clubhead speed and power. It's a bit counter-intuitive, but the harder you swing, the slower the clubhead and less the power. This is so true. The problem I have is that for short approach shots (10 - 25 yds) I tend to not follow through the swing and just stop inmediately after contact and I have thus very little control . The main thing with this is once I get it ironed out and go focus on other aspects of my game I seem to lose the "feeling" and have to iron it all over again. Do you have any advice for not loosing "feel", especially on the short game? The only way to keep your feel is to practice. Lots and lots. Also, before you go and and play, practice those little short shots on the range too. They are worth more than drivers !
Absolutely, lately that is all I have been doing on the range and I have noticed the short game has a more significant impact on my scorecard than longer shots. The weird thing is that my strong suit is my 3 wood off the grass as opposed to my short irons, which are by far my most drilled shots.
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On September 21 2011 05:10 Ganjamaster wrote:Show nested quote +On September 21 2011 04:36 Zorkmid wrote:
The other thing that holding a club with a light pressure is that it frees up your wrists and shoulder muscles allowing for much more clubhead speed and power. It's a bit counter-intuitive, but the harder you swing, the slower the clubhead and less the power. This is so true. The problem I have is that for short approach shots (10 - 25 yds) I tend to not follow through the swing and just stop inmediately after contact and I have thus very little control . The main thing with this is once I get it ironed out and go focus on other aspects of my game I seem to lose the "feeling" and have to iron it all over again. Do you have any advice for not loosing "feel", especially on the short game?
Im not sure how good you are, but if you are in the 90-110 range, its most likely worth it for you to just get your ball on the green. you really shouldnt have it in your mind to hit the sweet lobbing shot that stops on a dime near the hole.
I just take a pitching wedge, open my stance abit, bring my feet closer together(more like putting) and use a very putting-like shoulder motion. it gets a very consistent stroke which allows you to gauge distance abit better after futzing around with it for a couple rounds.
its prolly not the best way to execute the shot(especially the open stance, close feet thing. i forgot where i got that from but it stuck and works for me) but its a heck of alot better than just swinging with your arms at it like you are shovelling the ground. just played a round with my dad after not playing golf in like 2 yrs. 5th hole i do that, look up and it rolls in the hole for a bird.
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On September 21 2011 05:45 Orpheos wrote:Show nested quote +On September 21 2011 05:10 Ganjamaster wrote:On September 21 2011 04:36 Zorkmid wrote:
The other thing that holding a club with a light pressure is that it frees up your wrists and shoulder muscles allowing for much more clubhead speed and power. It's a bit counter-intuitive, but the harder you swing, the slower the clubhead and less the power. This is so true. The problem I have is that for short approach shots (10 - 25 yds) I tend to not follow through the swing and just stop inmediately after contact and I have thus very little control . The main thing with this is once I get it ironed out and go focus on other aspects of my game I seem to lose the "feeling" and have to iron it all over again. Do you have any advice for not loosing "feel", especially on the short game? Im not sure how good you are, but if you are in the 90-110 range, its most likely worth it for you to just get your ball on the green. you really shouldnt have it in your mind to hit the sweet lobbing shot that stops on a dime near the hole. I just take a pitching wedge, open my stance abit, bring my feet closer together(more like putting) and use a very putting-like shoulder motion. it gets a very consistent stroke which allows you to gauge distance abit better after futzing around with it for a couple rounds. its prolly not the best way to execute the shot(especially the open stance, close feet thing. i forgot where i got that from but it stuck and works for me) but its a heck of alot better than just swinging with your arms at it like you are shovelling the ground. just played a round with my dad after not playing golf in like 2 yrs. 5th hole i do that, look up and it rolls in the hole for a bird.
I get what you mean. I do not try to hit the pin from farther out, but if I am 25 yards from the pin on the edge of the green I expect it to be at least within 10 yards of the hole and this sweet lob is what is required to do that haha. I would normally try to hit a run up but sometimes the terrain (Bunker, hill) requires the sweet lob and it makes me so mad not to be able to hit it after so much practice.
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United States24600 Posts
In my experience a lob is rarely a necessary shot... my pitching right now (not that I've had time to play since work started a few weeks ago haha) is the strongest part of my game and all I do is hit the ball square with my 56 degree wedge (unless it's a long run in which case I use pw). The longer carry I need, the further I bring it back. The longer run I need, the further back in my stance... simple as that. No need for anything fancy. It's only once every several rounds that I find myself with a shot where I need a long carry and virtually zero run.
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I still cant get out of this rut ive been in all summer. Last year i was shooting in the low 90's. Now i cant even finish a round.
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EPT
