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Post by bentshaft on Jul 27, 2010 13:29:40 GMT -5
I have thought about a golf blog/journal for quite some time, and with the recent heatwave actually keeping me off the course for a day or two, now seemed like a good time to start.
Just as a quick introduction, I am your typical middle aged (plus a little) golf obsessed male, trying to improve my game. I have read a ton of golf books, taken more than my share of lessons, joined ABS, etc. I still suck...
I hope to update regularly with stories of improvement, but golf being golf, I will probably write about quitting too, at least until the next day!
I have a few funny stories I have been thinking about putting to paper as well, and if they are entertaining to others, so much the better. Getting bit by a snake awhile back is one for the books!!
I hope you enjoy my golf journey...
bent
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Post by Richie3Jack on Jul 27, 2010 14:11:31 GMT -5
Sounds great!
Sometimes writing about this stuff is therapy for the golfer's soul.
3JACK
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Post by bentshaft on Jul 28, 2010 22:16:41 GMT -5
Thanks Richie...
Today was a golf day...In other words, I was on the course as opposed to the range. A very slow afternoon on the course (I may have been the only one out there); pretty damn hot...hot enough for me to get a cart (very unusual for me)... So I played 2 balls...1 ball from the tips (regular bag), and 1 ball from the whites using only 7 iron, PW and putter. The 7 iron wins again!! I'm sure any good golfers reading this are LOL, but that's the way it is in high handicap land!!
Once a week, I close my eyes and grab a club out of the bag, get the PW and putter and off I go. I picked a 3 iron 2 weeks ago, and that was interesting, but NOT pretty!!
Today was a lot of fun actually, as I hit a bunch of pretty good approach shots, chipped OK, putted OK... Pulled a few shots way left (my latest miss---it was a slice last week)
I guess I will have to keep score more often if I want to write a golf blog, so---7 iron score was a 48...I have no idea from the tips, but I will try to pay more attention from now on. BTW, I use a 3 wood off the tee (tips); Of course I have a driver, but seems silly to walk farther and not find a ball...
a fun day overall...
bent
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Post by cloran on Jul 29, 2010 6:18:40 GMT -5
What mod are you up to, Bent?
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Post by bentshaft on Jul 29, 2010 13:53:54 GMT -5
I am on Mod 2.
I have been stagnant with ABS for quite some time, as a tendinitis issue has pretty much stopped the bag work. I do know that Mod 3 is not "on the bag", so we shall see... I am slowly getting back into it. Needless to say, the price increase dampened my enthusiasm as well, and I am not sure about continuing. Part of me really wants to, as I think Lag has a lot to offer, and Richie's experience seems to back that up. At the end of the day, it may come down to finances.
I must admit the idea of "letting it seep into your swing DNA" sounds great on paper, but even the relatively simple idea of the 4:30 line has yet to seep in to my swing. I believe it was "Teddy Irons" responding to a post of yours, saying he still has problems putting it all together and he is on Mod 6 or 7 (or 8?). I guess the bottom line is all this learning takes a helluva lot longer than we want!
Lest anyone think my comments are in any way disparaging regarding JE or ABS, they are wrong. There are few if any writers/bloggers who do a better job of conveying thoughts, feelings and opinions in an even handed fashion than JE.
Did I mention I was still on mod 2? LOL ;D
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Post by cloran on Jul 29, 2010 14:56:34 GMT -5
I too am continuing w/ ABS as it has moved me along my journey, but it certainly has its challenges. There are a lot of low HC ABSers and it seems that the small changes in their swings may have dramatic effects... I need a sledge hammer taken to my swing!
3jack wants to go from 11/12 GIR to 14/15... um, I want to go from 1/2 GIR to ANYTHING HIGHER THAN THAT, LOL!!!
Where exactly does something seep into the swing of a 25 HC?
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Post by bentshaft on Aug 6, 2010 14:05:26 GMT -5
A short story made long...
I love to read and I love golf, so I read a lot about golf. It was over a year ago that I discovered Richie's blog and really enjoyed his writing. Once I find a blog of interest, I tend to "try to get to know" the writer, so I went back to the beginning, and read. And read. Yes I read every post...One day I saw a link on the sidebar to ABS (lagpressure) and checked it out. I e-mailed R3J and asked his opinion of the modules. He wasn't all that familiar with the modules at that time, and gave a rather noncommittal response but at the same time saying he had a lot of respect for John Erickson. So, I signed up anyway, rather liking the idea of online instruction
I then googled "lagpressure" and found Lag's well known thread at "iseekgolf" and read EVERY post over there (It took awhile!). During that reading session, I was very impressed by other posts and responses from BPGS1 who, as it turns out is Jim Waldron, owner of Balance Point Golf Schools. I then did a search for Jim, found his website and thought his school sounded intriguing. The school was too much money and too far away, but I really liked what Waldron had to say. By reading and thinking about all this stuff, (and hitting shitload of balls) I finally started to understand what THE PIVOT was all about. Even if I couldn't do it all the time, I finally understood the pivot---that was a great day!
I then read a recent Jim Waldron post at "golfwrx", and checked out his website again. For the first time, he had some training manuals for sale, so I called in to order. Jim answers the phone and we proceed to have a wonderful 45 minute conversation---all about golf, golf instruction, Lag (they are friends and respect each other) etc etc. In the course of the conversation, he mentions a few books that he wants all his students to read before attending one of his clinics.
One of the books was Dante's "Four Magic Moves"...and pages 54 ,55, 56 and 57 have changed my life!! I tended to fan the club face open on the takeaway, while this book promotes an early wrist cock, with what "feels" like a closed club face...Amazing difference for me, and an amazing journey just learning how to take the club back. Not that long ago, I was wide open with a huge cupped wrist, then add in being too upright at the top, there is only one place for the ball to go!! I think the book cost me 5 bucks on Ebay!
I am still too upright at the top, and still over the line a bit ( not as bad as before) so as always in golf, it's a work in progress...
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carland
'88 Apex Redlines
Posts: 152
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Post by carland on Aug 6, 2010 17:32:23 GMT -5
Out of curiosity, what were the other books that he recommended to you? I have been taking lessons at GolfTec outside Chicago. My instructor recommends that I hinge the wrists upward in the backswing while bringing the hands back inside. On video, my clubhead stays on the clubshaft plane all the way to P2 from the down the line view, but my bad shot with the driver is still a push-fade. It's a lousy feeling. When I tried the Dante wrist move, I was pulling the club way to the inside and under the clubshaft plane, resulting in some bad straight hooks and bad pull hooks.
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Post by siegler on Aug 6, 2010 18:25:32 GMT -5
I'll have to check out the "Four Magic Moves" book again. I own it, have read it, and liked it. But I've never really put any of the instruction into practice.
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Post by bentshaft on Aug 7, 2010 22:49:13 GMT -5
Thanks for reading, guys...
I think perhaps the Dante "takeaway" was so helpful to me is because it was opposite of what I was doing...just a thought...
Jim Waldron's recommended books are---
Dante-Four Magic Moves Percy Boomer-On Learning Golf The Golf Swing-Leadbetter Essentials of the Swing-Haney
It was my impression that that he doesn't want anyone to follow any one of these books page by page, but it seems there is enough good stuff in each one to take the time to read. This is MY take...
I will forward this post to Jim to make sure I am not out of line with my comments
bent bob
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Post by bentshaft on Aug 8, 2010 18:26:23 GMT -5
This just in from Jim Waldron via E mail
Hi Bob - add to that list "The Golf of Your Dreams" by Rotella for learning and practice strategies, "The Impact Zone" by Bobby Clampett, "Golf Swing Secrets and Lies" by Mike Hebron, and Steve Elkingtons book as well. Yeah, not every idea in these books matches our model, but probably 90% of the info in each does match, so it is a good way to prepare for our boot camp golf school in terms of some basic swing theory. Cheers, Jim
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Post by cloran on Aug 9, 2010 20:29:25 GMT -5
Haney and Lead-poisoning? Yikes!
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Post by bentshaft on Aug 13, 2010 15:15:26 GMT -5
In the equipment section, we were having a chat about "C" flex shafts...I cannot hit them (way too whippy), but they are attached these beauties...I have the 1-3-4...all of them are lovely specimens...I have some X200's to re-shaft with when I find the time... bent Attachments:
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Post by bentshaft on Aug 21, 2010 23:15:33 GMT -5
Welcome to Golfing Hell
Eleven days ago, I was out on the range hitting my usual basket of balls. Striping each and every ball. 9 irons going 140-145 aimed 3 yards right of the target and dropping no more than 2 yards left. My weekend playing partner happened to be there, watched about 5 swings, said they are all perfect and left. The next day was the same...I actually had people stop and watch for a bit...I get a little nervous in front of people, but this time, it didin't bother me a bit. I lose a lttle disatnce the higher up we go, but my 5 iron was 175+ and straight as a string...I was very happy, even though the my tee shots are always questionable.
Fast forward a few days...
I could NOT HIT A BALL! Fat, thin, left, right, with no clue about anything, no feel, no nothing.
Silly damn game...
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Post by bentshaft on Sept 5, 2010 9:40:40 GMT -5
I guess it's time... After 3 years, 8 sets of spikes, 350+ rounds of golf and well over 100,000 range balls, they finally wore out!! Attachments:
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