Golf forum

I would like to say to everyone on here what a true gent John Pettitt is.

I PM'd him late last week to see if he would come over to my course and have a look at my swing.  Things had been going wrong with it and I didn't know what to do about it.

John gave me a choice of days and said he was only too willing to come over and see if he could help me.

He arrived at my golf club at 10am this morning, after a two hour drive from his home.

We went onto the practice ground and John was happy with my swing.  To be honest my last three rounds (Friday, Saturday and Sunday) were good ones and my swing was back to it's best.

After some lunch we went over to the Priors course and had 18 holes of golf.

John had played on the Priors course about ten years ago and he was looking forward to playing there again.

On the course John spotted one thing that I need to work on.  I don't complete my swing on some of my shots.  When I do a full swing I hit the ball well and where I'm aiming (give or miss a few yards), when I don't do a full swing I tend to push/fade the ball.  I'll be working on this over the next few weeks.

Our fourball all scored well and the weather was very good.

John didn't leave the golf course until 6:45pm, so as you can see he had a full day.

I'd just like to say a big 'Thank you' to John for putting himself out to help me, and at at a cost to himself.

Russ 

Golfshake at its best!

Some nice sentiments gents.

So much for giving your arm a rest! Ah John.

Fair play to you though, Its a shame a lot of members don't get to see the real John P. They would all then understand why your so loved and respected.

Paul.

I would like to copy the sentiments on here about John!

I have been to the range and played a few rounds with him now and although I am only just starting out, John is very patient and helpful!

He does get some bad press on here but honestly guys he does know what he is talking about!

Everyone who has asked for advice on this forum will know that my method is only about the basic fundamentals required for a ball to be hit nice and straight down the range. I never attempt to alter anyones swing, just tweak what they have onto the correct plane etc.

Russell yesterday on the range at Stapleford Abbotts had a swing with all the basic fundamentals correct and there was little I could have done to improve on it, This is most unusual to find such a good method in a handicap golfer.

His problem is that he does not do his range swing on the golf course all of the time and therefore although he has the potential to play every hole in par, because of his natural power and good basic swing, it breaks down, for various reasons.

The very first hole, a par five he had a nice drive an easy lay up iron and with 80 yards to go, failed to complete the swing and it fell short into the water, Mistake number two was doing exactly the same with the next dropped ball. Starting with an 8 does not inspire confidence, yet it was tragic and should not have happened.

Basically he swings the club through the ball on the range but hits  and stops on the course. This is caused by tension in an attempt to steer the ball to the target instead of lining up and swinging with his natural pace through to a nice finish, something he did on every shot on the range.

Where abouts in the country are you John?

Would like the opertunity to join you on the course and get some of your game improvement help.

PS. I have ordered some of those Top flight Gamers you told me about.

"Always remember, Chris, that if the gamesmanship starts then you have got the opponents worried."

See, you're at it again and we aren't even playing!!!

John, I live near Winchester so about a 15 min drive from Basingstoke. Fancy a game some time?

I echo all of the above sentiments. I asked for 10 minutes of John's time at the SW Qualifer and he obliged, even gulping down his profiteroles to give me some range time!

Got to agree. He's a lovely guy..

Now. What I wanna know is..

When are we going to play at South Winchester or Sherfield Oaks, again?

How many fancy playing too?

The decent weather is finally here. So let's go for it

Anytime, from next week onwards, is fine by me.

But we need to get as many people involved as possible.

I'm not going down the 'Golfshake Organised Event' route again.

So what we need to do is PM the usual suspects, and find out what dates suit.

No doubt some will show their willingness here and now. Hopefully!

Work! Drew, that is a four letter word and one that is not conducive to playing golf.

It will be a week-day as I don't play at week-ends.

I wish I didnt have to do the dreaded "W" word but unfortunately my house wasnt free and that bloody lotto win keeps alluding me.

Looks like I wont be able to benefit from your coaching :-(

Drew..Surely you get some time off, for good behaviour?

A Friday it is then. Unless others want a Monday

Like John, I don't do weekends. Too many people, too slow a round. No fun at all.

Chris. Does 12pm consitute afternoon to you? Wouldn't want to tee off too late

I'm supposed to finish at 12, but I have an understanding boss who lets me leave at 11 on Fridays on the odd occaison as long as I make the time up.  It'll take me about 30 mins to Sherfield and about 45 mins to South Winchester so if the first tee off is 12 I should be fine. 

Can we NOT make it 10th July as I have the West Mids qualifier that weekend and the earache from the wife won't be worth it!

I do get time off David but im saving it for the arrival of my first child, the wife is already annoyed that ive taken a day off to play at a golf day on the 8th July on the downs course at Goodwood(really pooping my pants since I looked at there web site)

Unfortunately I will struggle to get a round in with you guys.

"Basically he swings the club through the ball on the range but hits  and stops on the course. This is caused by tension in an attempt to steer the ball to the target instead of lining up and swinging with his natural pace through to a nice finish, something he did on every shot on the range."

John

I seem to do the same on the course causing my shots to draw/hook left, is there any routines that i could do to help avoid doing it, as it is costing me shots as well as russ

thanks for any advice

Darren

Darren, having seen you hit a golf ball, I would say that at the moment you are a very fine player. like your brother.

When on the range everyone is relaxed and the follow through happens automatically. I am just the same in being guilty of not completing the swing to its finish.

This is most important, because in order to finish in a nice balanced position at the end of the swing the swing through the ball has to be correct. One cannot finish in a good position by going through the ball badly.

How do we stop these little faults, not easy, I know, but perhaps the answer lies in thinking of the finish rather than the action of hitting the ball, which is what causes tension and wayward shots.

Russ is the first player who has asked  me to take a look at his swing that has given me no room to offer any advice because he had all the basics correct. I could have changed one little thing but that would have been nitpicking, as it was minor.

Bad shots are usually caused because the player quits on the shot, be it a long iron or a short chip. Once a decision has been made as to how the shot is going to be played, then commitment is the name of the game. Indecision has no place on a golf course.

No John..That's James and my prerogative to take the money.

Looks like we have 5 players, within 3 hours of the initial idea.

How does Friday 17th July at 12pm, suit?

Chris, If your up these parts and travelling down, how about going halves on the fuel??

Paul.

Cheers David,

I didn't mean literally, just sort of a self invite. Bloody cheeky i know

John,

I'm relatively new to the forum and have followed your posts with interest.  I occasionally travel to Theale for work meetings (though these are increasingly rare as we're tightening our belts), next time I know of one do you mind if I contact you to see how you are fixed?  I could book a day off and travel earlier/stay later and expose you to the horror that is my version of this wonderful game.

If I'm in any way imposing, then please feel free to say so- I'm just being opportunistic!  And thanks for considering it either way,

Ian

Suppose i better go and cut the lawns (get in her good books before i take up the diary space ).

Trouble is i'm to bloody knackered after this mornings round just wanna crash out in the garden with a pint!

Sorry mate,

i read it that you were off that week. No probs, she cam good use off one of her many buggies.

I don't think there is much that will stop John playing golf.

With a dodgy arm in the golfshake.com Open South West qualifier he still came in with 29 points and had the 3rd best back 9 out of the whole field with 18 points !!

http://www.golfshake.com/news/view/1134/Golfshake_com_Open_SW_Qual_results.htm
l

Do you know what? Im in!

And for once I am not going to cancel - They can sack me, the wife can leave me, the world can  stop - I AM PLAYING!!!!

Ya reckon??

What if I say you can't?

I'd love to come. Not sure I can get another Friday off.

John I'll have to get you down to Pedham. Played last week, and it's playing lovely.

I thougnt you said my swing had nothing to improve.

You have a very good swing, Danny, you just have a small problem with a feel for weight and distance.

Let me know when you are playing Pedham next and if free I will pop down for a game.

David

If you say I cant, I'll just go down there, book a tee time of 11.55hrs and play a six hour round refusing to let anyone through......

I'll stop you getting to the course before you get chance to do that Dennis

is that £5 in the post now David

Paul / Chris,

you 2 will have a lot of creeping to do then, have you forgot the YMCA game is on the 15th July???

I don't do creeping John!!!!

 Just make sure the balance is fair on the other half! Oh and i have it in writing "If i let her by the last buggy(No-7 for the year) i can play golf when ever i want!".

Its great, like a get out of jail card.

I've been told I can play whenever I want John, as long as I let her have a moan about it.  I think it makes her feel like she's in charge.  I told her you and Paul were playing Handsworth on Sunday afternoon after I got off the phone to him mid-morning and 30 minutes later out of the blue she said "You can go and play golf this afternoon if you want". 

YMCA is looking unlikely for me as I'm likely to have a CDR that day for one of the projects I'm running

Call me a Brummie again Hawkins and me and a 5 iron will be paying you a non to friendly visit......

Not rising to the bait, Hawkins!!!

Mr Perry is not a brummie!!!!

He's a WANNNA-BE Brummie!!

Yorkshireman, proud of it.  Not rising because I'm in a two day CDR.  Now if you'll excuse me, it's sunny outside and I think I shall have a game of golf. 

Chris,

If you don't turn up it might mean the other team may stand a chance of winning

Why didn't you turn up on Sunday?