Forum > General golf topics

Jason Vickers

Been practising a lot over winter to sort out my swing faults.

In the past i had a problem with fatting my iron shots on a regular basis.

Played today and didnt fat a single shot only problem is now i cannot hit my woods off the deck and my putting as gone up to 3 putts a hole.

This is so frustrating as putting and using my woods off the deck was a strong part of my game.

Seems i am taking 1 step forward and 2 back at the moment. Might be that i am that focused on lowering my handicap other parts of my game are being affected.

All i know is its so annoying. 

Lewis Gladstone-buchanan

Jason,

what has helped me is to not worry about my h/c.....I don't even total up untill the end of a round. Taking the pressure off yourself at our stage is a good thing. When we get our basic skills to a good consistant level- then I think you can 'target' improvement with real vigour.

I'm not saying don't look to improve.....just don't put too much pressure on yourself just yet

Jason Vickers

I know what your saying Lewis its just so annoying when i could of carded a good score today if it was not for my putting.

My problem is i have not got the time to go out on the course as much as i would like i only get out once a week if im lucky.

My irons have always been my week part of my game and with trying to correct this i have ignored the rest of my game of which putting was my strong part.

Nice to see your handicap coming down wish mine was too lol. 

Wayne Santorini

Jason Vickers

Wayne Santorini

If you've been practising on your own then that's part of the problem because you won't see where your going wrong (unless you know what your doing and why).

The problem with most amateurs is they believe that 1 lesson can sort out it out and I'm afraid to say that there are no quick fixes, unfortunately a lot of the current PGA Teaching Pro's don't do themselves a favour as most of them aren't worth the time of day where coaching is concerned, there are very few "VERY GOOD" PGA coaches. This explains why the WGTF & EGTF are coming more onto the scene.

Couple this with the fact that we as a country don't have the same feelings towards coaching as other country's do, most amateurs are happy for their mates to help them out (funny really as their mates are probably as bad as them so know buggar all to pass on ). It is a shame that players will moan at paying £40 an hour to be taught correctly yet will spend hundreds on clubs that are of no use to them and subsequently still complain to all and sundry that 3 years down the line they are still in the 20's where handicap is concerned.

The PGA have, since time began had a monopoly where teaching has been concerned (certainly at courses) and they are failing to come up with the goods on a consistant basis, as groups like those mentioned above are getting into courses and driving ranges more and more, the PGA are going to have to sit up and start smelling the coffee.

Let me point out I'm not knocking the PGA teaching ethos (their courses are good and worth their weight in gold) I'm knocking the Pro's personally that fail to continue those techniques and skills learned and let a lot of the amateur players down in this country.

If you were closer Jason I could assist your ambition to get your handicap down in a structured way and with purpose.

This wasn't a knock at you by the way , it just grieves me that the PGA teaching pros are not doing what they should. (mmm I feel better now )

Russell Middleton

I think that spending so much time on the range over the winter months will affect your short game/putting.

Now that the days are getting longer maybe it would help out if you got down to your club and practice your putting.  You said that your putting was a good part of your game, so it shouldn't take too long to get it going again.

If you are now striking your irons well then I would suggest the next time you go to the driving range to alternate your clubs.  Hit a driver, then your three wood (both off a tee), then hit your wood off the mat, then go through your irons, say 3, 6, 9.

I often go to the range and play my local course in my mind.  Stand on the mat and take the club you would normally play on the first tee.  Then play the shot you would normally take to the green, etc.

Practice, practice, practice and all will be good.

Russ

John Pettitt

I know quite a few exceptional PGA coaches, who really take in interest in what one is trying to achieve, but, as Wayne has pointed out, a lot are simply not capable of imparting their knowledge in a form that is understood by the pupil.

I played five holes the other afternoon with a young man who told me that he had been having lessons and I was amazed that he was still swinging on an out to in path, with the resultant sliced ball flight.

Five holes was as much as I could do walking but in that short time I had him hitting a ball flight that will stand him in good stead, assuming he will persevere in checking/absorbing what knowledge I gave him.

Wayne Santorini

Perseverance is the key John if players want to get better, I've no doubt that those 5 holes that lad had will (on reflection) be the key to his continual improvement.

Russell for some, that sort of mental approach to range work (which you find easy) would be hard for them to get, but agree there must be a purpose with EVERY shot, no point just going down the range and banging 100 balls.

When you've hit a shot you must learn to learn!!! look at the ball flight what does it tell you!!! How did it feel!!!! did you hit the ball correctly!!!! did it go where you were aiming!!! were you comfortable!!! did you maintain your finishing posture!!!! all these sort of things have a purpose.

When you know why you did it wrong your on the way to knowing how you should have done it right.

Kevin Hewitt

David Lythgoe

Like Wayne, I too have a problem with the workings of the PGA.

I am PGA Qualified, but can I use it now, no. When a PGA Pro is "unattached" (no home club) for a year, they are suspended and thrown on the scrapheap. This is why the WGTF & EGTF are getting bigger.

The young lads are taught that the Golf swing is like a house, "You can't put a roof on before you build the walls". Or "you need a solid foundation before you build a wall". So they take all pupils back to basics and won't go to the next step until they see that they have a solid grasp of the first step.

The older they get, and wiser, they begin to see that this is not the best way. Not everyone can turn 90* and put pressure on their legs and knees. They need help WITHIN their able movement.

 TheLyth

Wayne Santorini

Jason Vickers

The conservatory floor is now the new home for my putting mat.

Practice time no more 3 putting is the target for next weeks game. 

John Pettitt

David Marshall

He's just confused, John.

Knowing that he has to hold a seminar on 11th February, and help Lewis with Par 3's.

The pressure is getting to him, knowing that the North is gonna lose..AGAIN..He can't bear it..So he's bound to get his worms mixed up..And as for his grandma.  Well, he's from upt North..Innit... 

James Illsley

He, he, he - I love it when people criticise others for their "grammer". 

Kevin and John are correct by the way, in this case it is "you're" as it is an abbreviation of "you are".

Lewis Gladstone-buchanan

David Marshall

Or...

Hello Northeners..Y'all gonna lose the N v S this year.

You are...

No..Really... your gonna lose..No question

You're deffo gonna lose 

Lewis Gladstone-buchanan

David Marshall

Lewis Gladstone-buchanan

Mr Marshall....I haven't won anything yet.....in fact the N'v'S will be my first comp

It has gotten alittle like my new baby in that I had never held one when I found out that my wife was pregnant......so I then turned down all chances to hold one leading up to the birth of Monty (our child), so that he would be the first.

So the N'v'S will be my first - and if it goes anything like how holding my little son has gone so far.......well I haven't dropped him yet !

David Marshall

My reply wasn't aimed at you, Mr Gladstone-Buchanan..I'm sure you will do just fine..

It's the others who won't win no more...

And, congratulations on the baby. I'm a Grandad now and getting him ready for playing golf

Lewis Gladstone-buchanan

Darren Ramowski

Congrats Lewis.

Your, generally relates to a possession.

Lewis Gladstone-buchanan

Wayne Santorini

Jim Dorrington

Jason, stick with it and the improvement will happen.  Certainly try and make range time more structured as mentioned, far better off really concentrating and hitting a bucket of say 40 balls whilst doing a full pre-shot routine & analysis of shot - rather than rattling through a bucket of 80 with barely any thinking between shots.  As also mentioned I'm sure your putting will improve back to what you were experiencing before once you manage to spend a bit more time on that again.   You've probably heard this before but you should certainly spend the vast majority of any practice time on your short game as that is where most shots are taken within a round.  I still need to force myself to do that more to be honest.

As Lewis said also when playing try to totally ignore your score during your round (apart from a quick jot down on card between holes) - write it down and immediately forget about it, just concentrate on the next hole.  The first time I broke 90 I did just that, missed a shortish putt on the 18th and was convinced I'd blown my chance of breaking 90.  Tallied up the scorecard and had hit an 84.  I know for sure I would have taken even more shots on the last if I had known I was on for shooting my best ever score!!

Lewis - congratulations on baby Monty, I have a 3 year old boy so can associate with your new found fun and lack of sleep!!  I'm sure South Captain Dave Ley will happily help you wet the babies head on the Sunday night before the NvS - he's shown the Northern team good hospitality in the past comps (purely out of joy for you and don't let any of your Northern teammates tell you that it's a tactic) 

Lewis Gladstone-buchanan