Forum > Technique, Tips & Tuition

Alex Turner

i was just wondering how it can get more spin coming into the greens because

at the minute  i am having to land the ball on the front to let it roll on

Paul Everett

David Marshall

And...What make of clubs, and, more importantly, are the grooves clean and sharp?

Also...Are the greens well watered and receptive.

Cause without all of the above...You ain't got no hope of spinning a ball

Dennis Visser

I dont know about spin but Im happy with well watered greens that are receptive. That way I can at least start aiming for the greens rather than before them.

Sherfield Oaks' greens are quite hard and I find I have to play before them. Pine Ridge was medium but today at Blue Mountain the greens were lovely and stopped the ball within a few feet after landing (with my gap wedge).

David Marshall

Dennis..

When am I finally going to meet you and get a game with you at Sherfield?

John has told me all about you...But personally I can't think you are that bad. So I wanna find out for myself.

Paul Williams

Dennis Visser

 David, it can be anytime (with a little notice) Mon - Thu now. Personal life is more stable and I have a pretty flexible job.

I would say though that as a 28 handicapper the last thing you need to worry about is trying to get spin in the ball - I would concentrate on consistency and accuracy!

Alex Turner

yes i no and now i think about it

it was stupid question to ask anyway because

i use hard balls

the green are never well watered or recptive

but i do keep my groves clean

i do not know how to keep them sharp though

David Marshall

Paul Everett

No question is stupid Alex.

With the equipment and course setup you have, you can still get the ball to stop on the green by playing short (where possible) and allowing for the ball to roll.

With a handicap of 28, you have shots on all holes, so why not play short / safe and have an easy bump and run onto the green for a possible par or easy bogie? No need to pitch / lob and hope for some bite if there is nothing to go over

Darren Ramowski

David, good link.

Grove sharpner recently featured on golfshake.com for only £19.95 inc p&p plus includes free soft shot ball worth £3.50 - ebay not always the cheapest

http://www.golfshake.com/news/view/1207/CozmoSports_Soft_shot_ball_Groove_Cleane
r_STX_Putter.html

Direct link to Coszmo Sports - http://www.cozmosports.co.uk/golfgroovesharpener.html

Chris Perry

Dennis Visser

Steven Watmore

Patrick Bourke

 That groove sharpener? use one of those pins that you find on letter boards and save 2000%

 I'd agree with Dennis here, if you're off 28 then you've got a long way to go before you need to consider this. Practice with a higher lofted club and you wont get as much run. I find the harder I hit a ball the more spin imparted but it's always a risky shot. Learn how to bump and run, as a high handicapper you'll see the difference fairly quickly.    

Dennis Visser

Steve Shaw

I Found I Could Lower My Handicap By Simply Having Better Course Management. Instead Of Trying To Hit All Greens In Regulation Just Simply Back Off And Allow An Extra Shot On Each With Just Better Position On The Course And Better Lines Into The Green. You Should See Your Scores Improving.

And As For Spin, I Found Striking More Downwards On The Ball Squeezes The Ball Between The Clubface And Fairway Creating The Spin And You Need A Quick Hand Speed Through The Ball To Get Most Spin. You Also Need A Soft Ball And Receptive Greens As Previously Stated By Others.

Darren Ramowski

Steve this is a very interesting thought and something I've discussed on several occasions with another member on the site, hey Tim

I see nothing wrong in this  'Simply Back Off And Allow An Extra Shot On Each' and something I will shortly do more to try and drop my handicap.

But, using this philosophy, will your handicap ever drop below 18 ie the bogey golfer ? would be interested in others thoughts on this.  Does it matter or are you holding back your true potentially and limiting your handicap ?

Steve Shaw

I know where your coming from on this one Darren but as your handicap drops and you become alot more consistent with your swing and accuracy then you go for the green. What i was trying to say was dont try and run before you can walk, you dont have to hit the green in regulation everytime when you've got a high handicap, just simply drop it bit by bit and dont try and turn pro overnight. Does that make abit more sense? Thats just what ive been doing and ive dropped my handicap by 6 in about 3 months just playing once a week. Im now more consistent with my swing and dont try and knock the dimples off it and it seems to have worked especially with the driver. A good straight drive leaves a shorter iron to the green etc. I would like other thoughts on this along with Darren from some others?

Steve Cowle

In the winter of 06 I practised left handed, I was teaching at the time and thought I would get a better understanding of what golf felt like to the beginner. When I took it to the course for the first time I hit the front nine in 8 over. Although I was only hitting the driver about 180 yards I plotted my way around. My short game was the thing that kept my score down.

Because I have a greater imagination for shots around the green and by keeping the chipping and pitching technique simple I was still hitting it close and taking pressure of my putting. I think I made 3 triples on the back and still played to an 18 hcap.

What I am trying to get at is the more shots you have in your armoury within 70 yards the lower your score is going to be, but to get your handicap down you definately need to hit it further and that takes practice.

If I practised left handed regularly I think I could get my hcap down to 12 within a year purely from good course management, short game and a knowledge of how to score.

If you ever get the chance to play with good low handicappers you can always pick up little pointers to help with your own game.

David Lythgoe

Thats a good one Steve,

I used to play games One-handed (R/H). I couldn't hit anything longer than a 5iron, but was still able to break 80 at times.

Over the years I have also played with only an 8iron. It was interesting how easy it was to plot my way around the course. Some of the guys on here should try it.

TheLyth