What you learned about golf this year?

[msg]

I have been playing for 10 straight seasons after a long break from golf and it's funny that I am just learning new things lately. 😅

 

1. Golf is hard. Like really hard. Why did I not realize that early on?

2. I am not as good as I think I am.

3. Why do I have so much expectations from myself and my game? I only play once a week and this is my hobby not my livelihood.

4. The perfect game does not exist. 

5. Mistakes are part of the green fee. Deal with it. 

6. It's all about minimizing the blow up holes. 

7. I should shoot or beat my handicap 1 out of 5 games, not every time I play. 

8. Every time I have the chance to play, I should be thankful regardless the outcome or the score.

9. I need to focus my efforts and energy on the things I can control. 

10. After learning and doing all those I wrote above, I have learned that golf is more fun this way. 

[Robert L.]

4 hours ago, msg said:

I have been playing for 10 straight seasons after a long break from golf and it's funny that I am just learning new things lately. 😅

 

1. Golf is hard. Like really hard. Why did I not realize that early on?

2. I am not as good as I think I am.

3. Why do I have so much expectations from myself and my game? I only play once a week and this is my hobby not my livelihood.

4. The perfect game does not exist. 

5. Mistakes are part of the green fee. Deal with it. 

6. It's all about minimizing the blow up holes. 

7. I should shoot or beat my handicap 1 out of 5 games, not every time I play. 

8. Every time I have the chance to play, I should be thankful regardless the outcome or the score.

9. I need to focus my efforts and energy on the things I can control. 

10. After learning and doing all those I wrote above, I have learned that golf is more fun this way. 

I agree with everything here. This past season was my second coming back from a 15 year hiatus. One thing that I would add to this list is that I really need to stop spending so much money on clubs. I also need to practice a little more.

[RichieHunt]

I learned more about the pivot action and how I cheat the pivot by tilting too much and making a 'heave-ho' motion instead of actually pivoting.

I learned a lot more about the arm swing and the takeaway and how Tour players prevent their trail arm from over-folding.

I re-learned much of my old putting stroke from listening to Crenshaw and Faxon speak.  

I learned a way to putt to incorporate part of what Sasho Mackenzie teaches (looking at the hole while putting) without actually looking at the hole while putting.

 

I finally learned to stop worrying about where the putter head travels in the backstroke.  Stop worrying about moderating the arc of the stroke.  

 

I learned from the Edel wedges how the weight distribution and matching it up with your swing is HUGELY important.

 

I learned that the putter shaft is more important than I ever realized.

 

I *think* I learned more accurately why slowing the rate of closure on full swings is better and important

 

I developed a better understanding of the ground reaction forces from watching Dr. Scott Lynn's work

 

I learned that better putters hit putts too hard and play too much break and worse putters are more likely to miss short and low.

 

I learned some more important factors as to what separates the good iron players on Tour from the rest.

 

I learned some matchups in the golf swing, particularly dealing with early pelvis rotation in the backswing and how that alone can create a whole different chain of motion.

 

I learned that the Pro V1x is actually the higher spinning ball.

 

I learned that softer golf balls generate less speed (in general), but less spin with the driver.

 

I learned that trying to hit approach shots 'below the cup' is pointless for most golfers, particularly from anything longer than 150 yards.

 

I think I learned about how important grip strength is to generating speed.

 

 

 

 

 

RH

[Soloman1]

There is a lot of good stuff in your post Richie. I’ve always respected the depth of thought you have.

[msg]

16 hours ago, Robert L. said:

I agree with everything here. This past season was my second coming back from a 15 year hiatus. One thing that I would add to this list is that I really need to stop spending so much money on clubs. I also need to practice a little more.

I just realized that this season as well. In the last ten years I have spent so much money on clubs. I was chasing my own shadow. The feeling of having new and shiny clubs was just secondary for me. But this time around, for next season, I will stick with what I have because I know it works and being familiar with my clubs is a huge advantage. 

[elsie451]

Stop trying to reach the green with a 3 iron out of the deep rough or in the trees.  Just take your medicine and lay up.  (But of course that's not going to happen, since this is golf and that 1 shot out of 20 that works keeps you coming back for more...)