Forum > Technique, Tips & Tuition

Steve Cowle

This was great, and not the first time it has happened. Great to do it in that pressure situation though. Fast forward to 5.26.

John Pettitt

Lee Butler

I watched this when SKy Sports aired it.. Very nice..

Steve, if you don't mind sharing, I'm interested to know what your yardages are for each club in your bag?

The reason I ask is because your swing looks effortless and not what would I consider fast.  I know timing and having everything work together is vital, and that is what interests me about the yardages you hit.

Cheers.

Steve Cowle

Hi Lee

All these yardages are carry distance, my driver swing is around 110mph my irons 90. This is about 75% of full potential so I have a little in the tank if needs be.

Driver 270, 3wood 245, 19 rescue 235,

Irons 3 - PW

215, 203, 192, 180, 168, 157, 145, 130

GW, SW, LW

115, 100, 80

I generally don't carry a 3 iron as I get more use out of my 4 wedges.

I also have 2 xtra swings with my 4 wedges to give me another 8 yardages between 60 & 120 yds.

I have an article going out in Golf International Mag this month explaining a little about these distance control swings.

Generally my iron distances have not changed since I turned pro, however i am always searching for a few xtra yards with the big stick. I seriously recommend getting custom fitted, you need to know if your equipment fits you and not the other way around.

Hope this helps

Colin Astbury

Lovely shot Steve and to be caught on camera what more could you ask for.

Colin

Lee Butler

Thanks, I just wanted an insight really.. What is an average swing speed? Or does it really depend on each individual?

Is there a particular reason as to why you don't swing at 100%?

John Pettitt

Is there a particular reason as to why you don't swing at 100%?

I always used to swing with plenty to spare, it certainly helps the balance as well as giving more control.

Christopher Watmore

I would struggle to swing at 100% for every shot as I'm sure it'd be quite fatiguing and also at 100% difficult to control the swing and keep everything in sync.

I probably swing at about 80% which equates to about an 80mph swing these days. I've got used to the yardage drop now, and enjoy the benefits of greater control. Though sometimes with Driver in hand and a wide open fairway I sometimes crank it up a bit to get some more distance.

Patrick Bourke

Steve Cowle

Hi Patrick,

I used a 60* for that shot with one of my distance control swings, it apperared to fly low because it was slightly uphill so I didn't see it go in. Also when you swing shorter and slower the ball stays on the clubface longer producing more spin and a lower flight.

I purposely laid back to that yardage to give me a fuller shot with more control, i could have got within 20-30yds of the green but it would have left an ackward pitch to that green as there is a huge tier running through it.

Course management is vital, I probably make more up and downs on par 5's by laying back to 60 - 70yds than I do getting to within 20 - 30yds. My decision will be dictated by pin position and danger around the greens.

Wayne Santorini

Great shot Steve and agree with you on Course Management, something I've learned a lot about over the last 6 months.

Don't have sky so can you tell me if you went on to win it??

Danny Brant

Nice one Steve.

Are you signing up for the South?

Lee Butler

Wayne Santorini

David Marshall

Danny Brant

Tim Hawkins

Steve Cowle

I'm open to the highest bidder ha ha.

when and where is it?

Patrick Bourke

Chris Brannon

Steve, it's on Monday 12th April and being held at The Abbey golf club in Redditch...

http://www.golfshake.com/news/northvsouth/2010/

any news on the full package yet Darren? (practice round/stop over/meal etc) 

Darren Ramowski

Yes full info now on the respective pages:

North - http://www.golfshake.com/golf/view/5798/

South - http://www.golfshake.com/golf/view/5797/

The Sunday night dinner will more than likely be in a private dining areaso will also include the quiz like last year plus we will also try and sort something out for the Masters coverage that evening.

Chris Brannon

Darren Ramowski

Chris see my reply here and sorry for the confusion -

http://www.golfshake.com/forums/view/5288/North_V_South_question.html

Darren Ramowski

Back on track this is the article to average distances for Amateurs

http://www.golfshake.com/news/view/1327/How_far_should_you_hit_each_golf
_club.html

Christopher Watmore

Here is a couple of videos I posted in another thread which show you how to master your wedge play:

Here is a couple of videos which may teach you how to control your short game shots:

2nd Video - 30 & 50 Yard shots and The fine art of Flop Shots

Steve Cowle

Totally gutted about the 12th April for the N v S, it's my anniversary otherwise I would have definately been out to kick some northern butt. And yes I am under the thumb :-)

Wayne Santorini

That's fighting talk Steve (well appreciated where the NvS is concerned)

Patrick Bourke

Wayne Santorini

David Homer

Darren Ramowski

Wayne Santorini

Darren Ramowski

Technically 2-0 but everyone will argue my matchplay format today was a load of rubbish!

John Flood

John Pettitt

David Marshall

John Pettitt.  Wondered if we should get a few of us Southern Softies up to the Abbey in March? I would like to see and play the course. But as I'm a typical Southerner I don't do playing in the cold and damp

And if any Northerners want to come along, you would be welcome.

John Pettitt

John Flood

Wayne Santorini

John Flood

Wayne Santorini

How can you say "Lucky", he set himself up to go for it and got it!!!!!!!! no luck there mate.

That's like saying every 180 a dart player hits is lucky!!!!!!!

John Flood

Paul Williams

He's a question for you regarding wedge play.

If your 30-40 yards from the green and you walk up and have a read of the green, take your shot with the intention of stopping the ball "ANYWHERE" within the "dustbin" target area of the pin and you hole it. Is that luck or skill?

Discuss.....

John Pettitt

Paul, I was talking to David Ley last night and he mentioned to me how impressed he was with your short game, which leads me to believe that you have realised the importance of this part of the game enough to have  studied it more closely than you ever did before. Well done.

Luck can play a part, of course, but usually only skill will consistently put you in a position to make ones par from anywhere within the 150 yard mark. That is the distance I only work on in trying to get  down in 2 and at the most 3. It is this ability that keeps me in the game with my poor driving skills.

Not so easy on a strange course but on ones own, where all the slopes are embedded within the brain then playing shots to leave the easy putt are the order of the day.

It is often beneficial when one is confident of getting up and down to even miss the green on the safe side.

To score really well then greens have to be hit in regulation but that does not mean that a good score cannot be made if one has the ability to consistently chip the ball close all the time. I am not so good now but at one time I considered that part of the game a formality. Success breeds confidence and confidence, as we all know, is vital to play this game well.

The scoring part of this game is the short game and is the most important.

Wayne Santorini

Darren Ramowski

Topic just for the discussion on Paul's question on skill or luck

http://www.golfshake.com/forums/view/5398/Discussion_needed.html