Sent you a PM ***

Either know the rules about dropping your ball, or get to fighting. Would love to know more details here.

If everyone who had a bout of the shanks quit, then there may be no golfers left.


There are some good tips on here for quick fixes, but here is one thing that you should keep in mind about shanks. If they remain a problem don't take any advise from anyone who is not qualified to assess your swing. There is no one reason for the shanks, and your pro or instructor can only help you if he watches your swing.

My friend and I had shanks at same time and were lucky to access the course pro and we were both shanking for different reasons. My friend was throwing/pushing club from inside and not getting his weight to his left side. I, on the other hand, was coming over the top with a cast in my swing and a tempo that was way to fast.

Same problem but two causes that had nothing in common.

If the don't go away see a pro..

I called my instructor yesterday, and told him I need an emergency lesson tonight. Going to see him tonight and see what happens. I will say I did have a family situation that was weighing on me before that round and wondering if subconsciously I was thinking about that.

Can we have a quick discussion about golf balls? I used to just play any old ball because I was losing them all the time, but now that I have some semblance of ability, I'm wondering if there's really a difference between the top tier balls and the rest. If so, what are the tangible differences?

What do you play? Why?

As the CTO from Taylor Made puts it, either play the top of the line ball from each manufacturer or play "ammunition". It's really not worth paying for middle tier golf balls.

Biggest difference is around the greens, you lose a lot of control/spin with everything but the top tier balls bc the covers on the non top tier balls are basically plastic.

Callaway Hex Chrome for me. I've always used Callaways and I guess it's become my ball that I use. The people I golf with always know I'm the one using Callaways. Plus I like how the logo lines up for my putts. I bet 90% of this thread use ProV1's.

Haved used Pro V1xs my entire golf career and dont see myself switching anytime soon

Prov1

I am not long off the tee (220 carry; 230-240 total). I am sure that I could get 10 more yards with a cheap, hard cover distance ball off the tee.

On the course I play, my hybrids will stay anywhere from 1 foot to 10 feet from their ball mark when I land on the green. An 8 iron will usually be within 3 feet of ball mark. I have tried some midrange balls and they also bite the greens ok. (Nxt Tour, for example)

Where I find the difference is on pitches and chips with a sandwedge or lob wedge. If I am nipping a ball from 30 yards off a tight fairway I know my ProV1 will hit, bounce, land again and come to a quick stop. I find even the mid range balls wont do this. They try to check but then roll out 10 feet or so.

Other thing is that if you find yourself short-sided without much green to work with from 10 to 40 yards away, you have more options with a very good ball.

Final point is from light rough I can sometimes hold green with Prov1 where a mid range ball just wont hold.


I am only about a 12 handicap but if I generally hit my 8 iron about 140 and I have 138 to a back pin I want to know that I can go for the flag and if I get it crisp and straight I will have a short putt. I don't want to play a cheap ball that doesn't bite (or sometimes does!!) and have to hit a 9 iron (bring a front bunker into play) and then guess how much roll it will get after it lands.

I would gladly try a cheaper ball that plays close to a ProV1.

Played the ProVx for a long time.

Hit a ball in right trees yesterday that ran parallel to another hole. The group playing that hole was in the trees as we approached. They hit their shots and disappeared.

I looked everywhere and couldn't find my ball and found a regular Pro V1 in my own fairway (right edge, so closest point to the other hole but in our fairway). There wasn't any underbrush, so my conclusion was that someone from that group played my Pro Vx (which ironically says Low Asian on it for identification purposes).

Anyways, I played that regular Pro V the rest of the way in and started spraying the driver a bit. Likely completely unrelated but still enough of a correlation to make me go Hmm. . .

unless your swing speed is high enough to compress a three piece ball, you are likely much better off with a two piece.

so what, about 100-105 mph swing speed to properly compress a prov1 and 105+ to properly compress a prov1x sound about right?

Compression is meaningless

from Titleist
"While there is no performance benefit to choosing a specific compression, many golfers (regardless of swing speed) do have feel preferences. Golfers who prefer softer feel may prefer lower compression golf balls."

LOL at your entire career.... you've got a lot to learn whippersnapper!

And keep them off my lawn.

BO

is that from their marketing division?

All 10 years of it BO! Guess I should have said in all my playing because it certainly hasnt been a career lol

If you only knew all the different models of Titleists I've been through over the years. Back then we played in snow all the time and all 18 holes played uphill.

FWIW, I use the X at least 95% of the time. Might use the softer one on a firm shorter course on occasion.

As a 12-year old my favorite was the Pinnacle 100 compression, loved the black lettering and number. Just looked like a manly ball at the time.

BO

Jim Nantz says Pro V1s are for all levels of competition and golfers in the commercials, so it must be right

I play the ProV1 for the feel around the greens.

The Ultra were really long as well.

Grown man almost in tears at the driving range. Could not hit anything resembling an iron. Really frustrating. So all of a sudden I forgot how to strike a golf ball.

The sky is falling! The sky is falling!

Dude, stop freaking out over one day of bad golf. Happens to everybody.

BO

I'm worried that shanks are like herpes and will always be there popping up at the wrong time.

I've had days like this too and one thing I can suggest is to keep practicing but stay away from the driving range for a while. Go to a course or range that has a good short game area and try a bunch of ****. Do the ultimate practice routine (there's a thread), or just experiment with playing different greenside shots; hit 'em high, hit 'em low, get in a bunker, do putting drills, etc.

good luck!

Hey guys, just introducing myself. Live in New Zealand and been around 2+2 for a few years but not a super active poster. I only just discovered this golf forum which is handy since I'm new to the game this year. Bit of background, I'm 37, 6"1" and a pretty athletic guy though I hate running. My main sport since I was 18 is rock climbing and I climb at a high level (I guess equivalent to scratch in golf compared to most people). I played a bit of golf back in high school for a few months but otherwise hadn't so much as picked up a club for almost 20 years ( damn that makes me sound old!) I sell wine and had an event at www.kauricliffs.com last year which is just an outrageous spot! Drove a cart around the course just to check it (and the incredible views) out and it made me wish I played! So over Christmas (Summer) holidays in January my girlfriend and I borrowed her parents clubs and started up. She was the same as me, played a tiny bit as a teenager but nothing since. So obviously since then I'm now totally obsessed with golf and improving. I have that sort of personality where I will read and watch and practise as much as I can, I love things which are me against myself, needing constant self improvement. Read my way through this entire thread over the past week and picked up some good tips thanks guys. Been having a lesson a month since March from a pro friend of mine (so maybe 6 lessons), I'm going to the range two to three times a week and playing rounds as much as I can. Its winter here now, it doesn't get cold but it rains a lot and is dark at 5pm so it's hard to get on the course much. Right now my goal is the ol' break 100. Since March when I started keeping track using the www.swingbyswing.com iPhone app (anyone else use this?) it has me as a 27.8 hdcp. I've played 10x 9 hole rounds (Av 53.4 with range 46-62) and 11x 18 hole rounds (Av 113.5 with range 101-128). How long did it take you guys to break 100 when you first started? (Assuming you weren't kids). I'm definitely finding it harder to 'master' than I thought I would, tough game ha! But that's the fun part. Look forward to more interaction on here and would love any assistance/ advice on my game. I'll post some stats later so you can see where I'm at, but it's definitely still at the 'working on how to swing' stage. Cheers guys!