Yeah that was my guess. Good to know even if unintentional.

Someone at my club does this. I always questioned the legality of it.

You can do this on the tee box. But otherwise you can’t mess with the ground other than to remove loose impediments. You definitely can’t step behind the ball to “tee up” your ball. Nor can you do so in the rough to mat down the grass behind your ball.

Stuff like this always reminds me of the stories I used to hear about when high stakes poker players went golfing and played for a lot of cash.

Putting vaseline on your driver was one of the most used tricks.

It also reminds me of buying a 3-wood years ago - it worked so well for me, and then after 2-3 rounds I realized the plastic on the head was still on.

I removed it and it never worked anywhere near as well ever again...

Ping just puts plastic on the face and it’s hard to see. I once hit a bunch of balls on the range with a new hybrid and after getting strange launches did I closely examine the face and discover the plastic.

Embarrassing but funny.

that is hilarious

Yes, my 3-wood was (still is) a Ping too!

Makes me feel better to know even good golfers didn't notice for a while - though it took me a lot longer and when I finally did and removed it, I wish I hadn't

Just add some Vaseline

I have a guy at my club who will be in the knee high rough it's not super thick but it tangles your club up a lot so basically at most you're hitting a 9 iron out of it but most likely a wedge. Anyway I see this guy in the rough taking practice swings hacking it all away, it's pretty funny to watch

Rain here but not on cape cod. Got ready to go play. Remembered its labor day. Probably 80 bucks to walk a decent course today. No Ty. Getting ice cream instead.

I know this is complete insanity talking but I'm kicking around the idea of having two very different bags.

The two courses I play the most often are not a lot alike. One is firm, relatively fast, little to no rough, lots of sand, true and consistent greens that roll between 10 and 11. The other is wide open, all grass, shaggy fairways and diabolical thick rough, inconsistent bumpy greens that could be anywhere from 8 to 12.

On course A I end up putting a lot from off the green. On course B it makes no sense to even putt from the fringe as you won't get a predictable roll.

I tried using a chipping method that was quite effective on other courses this weekend at course B yesterday and it was completely useless -- it appears to be necessary to have a lot more speed to get through the thick grass. Even on the fringes.

On course A I'm fine using an Anser style putter. On course B I frequently wish I had a heavier mallet in the bag.

I'm sure none of this would be an issue if I had any speed, or talent, or good technique, or .... yeah, I should take a lesson. Or ten.

Callaway changed their name to Topgolf Callaway Brands. Topgolf accounted for 35% of the company's revenue last year. It's the reason why revenue soared 97% last year, even though organic growth itself was up a respectable 29%. Golf equipment accounted for just 39% of the revenue mix last year. The balance of the revenue mix outside of Topgolf and golf equipment is the active lifestyle category that includes apparel, gear, and other merchandise that appeals to more than just the golfing community.

That’s some awesome sound bites.

And to the uninitiated, that’s exactly what it sounds like on most golf courses.

I was playing in a comp last week with a friend and a low hcap player we didn't know. There was no swearing from him until I hit a chip that seemed to be going close but then rolled on and on and I said "stop you little f-ing c" as it was doing so. He then realised what company he was in and the air was blue thereafter.

In the early 90's I went to the Disney tour event on a Thursday. It was Thursday and the players were spread out over 3 courses, so there was almost no one watching any particular group. I remember Payne Stewart and Robert Gomez cussing up a storm when I was the only person within earshot.

Decided to try and get my driver to work again. Been hitting it on the range over the past week. It's just so hard to hit the ball in the air with my combo. I feel like I am swinging up on it like 6* (although in theory I'm probably 2* max). Current apex is somewhere in the neighborhood of 50-60 feet.

As I'm sure you are aware, a driver is supposed to be fit to your swing. Not fit your swing to your driver.

Yep, and I'm absolutely convinced that I had a **** fitting to get me into this. TrueSpec at Pelican Golf Club in Bellair, FL

I’d call them up and say you’re not satisfied and would like to come in and recheck the numbers with a different fitter and perhaps reevaluate.

That’s the problem with chain fitting stores, while some fitters know their stuff, others are terrible.

When you wait for the par 4 green to clear because it's right at limits of your range, and you pull off a decent shot in front of the group behind you is both satisfying and relieving. I didn't hit the 280 yard green, but I was about even with the front lip in the right greenside rough 10 paces off the right edge. Went dead straight too which pleased my ocd.

Has anyone read the Ben Hogan Five lessons book?

If so how is it and is it still good advice? If possible could you give me a brief summary of it.

Hogans book is full of solid advice and good info about fundamentals, but some of the swing dynamics he describes are specific to his swing and athleticism and it was written before the modern ball flight laws were understood. It’s worth picking up especially for newish golfers.

My swing is built on my recall of studying hogans book between 2001 and 2006. The one issue I have is the description of leading hip initiating the downswing. While slow motion may reveal such hip motion at the very moment the downswing begins, I find that any conscious awareness of left hip motion is going to lead to swing problems and or injury. Now my only thought for my left leg from toe to hip is strength and stability needed to withstand the oncoming weight of my body through the swing to a nice balanced finish.

I later heard a quote that I really like. Went something like this:

Blah blah blah grooves?

Hogan: a well struck golf shot doesnt need grooves.

His theory of hitting hard right from the start is apt imo.

The grip is perfect, except my right thumb found a secure place tight against the club and my first index finger knuckle.

The one thing left out (reportedly intentionally) is perhaps the most singular and unique portion of the swing. Laying off the club , or rather repeated repetition and incorporation of such, was essential for me as previous injury causes a somewhat vertical backswing(above plane). I *can* use a backswing thats more plane neutral, but it causes sensation ranging from mild discomfort to outright pain.

The longer the club, the longer I must pause before initiating downswing, and the more I must consciously straighten and strengthen my left wrist position. Some may recall hearing that Bobby Jones would regrip the club at the top of backswing. I believe this was his way of laying off at the top. What we refer to as "dropping into the slot."

Once long ago I heard tiger talking about hitting a fade, yet still hitting the inside of the ball. At the time he was using only alterations in follow through to control flight. Seems this could never be accomplished at a high level of results without finding that slot that allowed him to hit from the inside, as a draw will not behave if performed as an over the top move pull hook.

The stack and tilt swing effectively took away a need to straighten the leading wrist at the top, by setting the wrist at address and minimizing weight shift.

Other than that can of worms, I think the fundamentals remain just that. Fundamental. Straight left arm through impact to full extension beyond impact. Right elbow points down at top. Right leg may straighten slightly to accommodate weight shift during backswing, but there is no lateral shift. I like to engage the described "inside muscles" at address(groin, pecs, auxiliary shoulder stabilizers). My theory is that its impossible to fire sleeping muscles as the swing progresses. So I turn them on at address. Waggle. Keep your head down. Hit it hard.

interesting cheers guys for the info.

I fight a draw with my wedges. If I address the ball with any clubface position other than (slightly closed), I almost invariably blade skull or chunk it. I think it may be due to improper lie angles, but in trying to control the ball on the course with what I have to work with, I found myself adding a page from Lee trevinos book. I watched replays of his wedge shots in both instructional vids and competition. Looking back, I dont recall a single instance of Lee hitting a wedge with any follow through that ends with his hands above his chest. Seems it was right in front of me all along. Watch his wedge follow through. The club never turns over. His hands seem to pull the butt of the club directly next to his left pocket, perhaps somewhat higher for longer shots. If been incorporating this move and have improved steadily as it becomes muscle memory. Distance control will likely always be an issue for me as only one of my eyes works, but the trajectory control and direction continue to improve by incorporating this move.