I'll do my best not to be a prick but I will be honest. Although I can't give firsthand PGA Tour experience like JTrout can.

BO

favourite ball and clubs and why is a good start

Got a little bit of everything and most of it is old.

Recently got a Taylor Made R9 9.5 with a Tour Preferred shaft S flex 65 grams(set neutral/neutral for now). TM V-steel 3-wood 15*(Fujikura graphite 95 grams), TM 200 series 5-wood 19*(steel shaft). Adams 21* hybrid (steel shaft replacing the 3-iron). Ping Eye 3 irons 4-9, black dot(steel shaft). Titleist Vokey wedges 48* 54* 60*. The 3-wood is an X-flex, all the others are S. Odyssey long putter. Titleist ProV1x (have played Titleist for 20 years now without fail) and always use high numbers (5-8) because hardly anybody else does. Titleist Players glove (small). And a worn pair of Nike slip on shoes that I bought for $28 about 4 years ago. In my playing days I always wore black Foot Joy Classics though.

If I start playing more tournaments, I'll look into replacing quite a few of my clubs. Have to make sure I get 2010 conforming grooves on my wedges of course. I'd stick with Vokeys and probably newer Ping irons. As far as fairway metals go, I'd try the Taylor Made models first.

BO

If you were to instruct a mid-handicaper today with all your experience: what would you have him focus on to progress as fast as possible? I'm guessing short game is most important, what drills would you stress? Would you advise getting a lesson once a week+? How would you divide your time between the driving range, short game and playing rounds? Thanks!

Golf life story plz (standard start for a well).

Opinions on Dave Pelz, Stan Utley, Harvey Penick, Hank Haney, Butch Harmon, Rick Smith, David Ledbetter, and any other golf instructor/author?

Depends on the golfer of course, but standard would be something like 75% short game 25% long game.

Drills can vary, but it's whatever holds the golfer's interest. One of my favorites is to throw down five balls and you have to get all five up and down in a row to the same hole. This forces concentration and pressure if you already have gotten four up and down.

As far as playing, don't go out on the golf course until you're fairly comfortable with whatever changes you may be making. Not totally comfortable, that occurs eventually on the course. But there's no reason to go play if you have no idea where it's going.


Lessons are totally dependent on the golfer's improvement cycle.

BO

Started when I was 5 or so, got pretty good, won some junior tournaments, did well in high school, got a spot on a major D1 team where I lettered all four years playing the #1 spot the final two. Best finish was 2nd.

Worked in the golf shop after graduation until spring rolled around, moved to Texas and the mini-tours. Played for quite a few years with moderate success. Quit for about a year to get away and worked a computer job, good pay with little stress especially compared to golf. During that stretch I won my money on WWTBAM and eventually decided to give it another try.

Spent two days with Dr. Bob Rotella in his home to help get out of my own way mentally and it helped a lot. Next season did fairly well even though my physical game didn't change. But never really found the magic and again got tired of getting crushed so walked away from the grind. And it is a grind, don't kid yourself. While not as fulfilling, most any 9-5 job is cake compared to the world of competitive golf. If I could compete to win, I would get back out there pronto.

BO

I know Utley personally as we went to the same college, although he was a few years ahead of me I played two years with his brother. Always had a great short game, one day playing with him he said we had to intentionally miss every green and then get up and down. Great practice. He knows his stuff but more importantly is a class act. Was very happy to see his successes. He won one PGA Tour event (1989 Chattanooga Classic) and I was one of the first to know as he immediately called his brother who lived next door and he came running into my apartment to tell me the news.

I respect Pelz and Penick, not so much Haney and Leadbetter because they treat so many golfers like sheep. Decent opinions of Harmon and Smith.

As far as authors, I've read every John Feinstein Golf book and enjoy those a lot.

BO

1) Who would be in your dream foursome for a friendly round, and what course? You can pick anyone, alive or dead, famous or not.

2) Similarly, if you were playing a competitive match (alternate shot) at the course you just picked in question #1 and you could have any golfer of any era teaming up with you, who would you pick?

Probably Jack, Arnie, and my Dad at Augusta National. Pretty standard I know, but still that's pretty hard to top. My Dad and I have already played together at The Old Course.

Probably Hogan just to be near the intensity of him in a competitive setting. Bobby Jones would be high on the list as well. It wasn't Augusta National I'd be tempted to pick Moe Norman, but he never could putt Augusta's greens.

Now, if I could spend a complete day with anybody it would probably be Tiger just to go through once what he goes through every day with him. It would be great to practice with him and discuss various methods and tactics. Elin notwithstanding.

BO

Top 5 courses you've played, and top 5 courses you would want to play.

Haven't gotten to play as many classic courses as you'd think.

Top 5 would be something like The Old Course, Cruden Bay, Champions, Colonial, and Cog Hill. The last two could easily be replaced by some others I've played like Butler National, Bellreive, Old Warson, etc., but the first three are solid.

Top 5 I haven't played obviously Augusta National, Pebble Beach, Pine Valley, Royal Dornoch, and Muirfield.

BO

Utley or Pelz for putting? Short game?

Well, since I've known Stan for 20 years I'm biased, of course I'd choose him. But you can't go wrong with either.

BO

Did everyone already know this about BO? I am curious to hear more about this specifically.

Are those Eye 3s any good?

Ah, but it has nothing to do with golf.

BO

Well, I obviously think so. Cavity backed forgiveness with a nice compact head and not too wide a top line. At the time, I considered it a nice compromise between between those big-headed cavity backs and a true forged blade.

BO

Petition to have BO do a WWTBAM thread. Sign below.

[x] manbearpig

Are there any youtube links of you on WWTBAM bo?

Not that I know of.

BO

I think it's interesting how much great players views on equipment can differ. Some are crazy anal and need a 44 3/4" driver hotmelted to 204 grams to play D4 and irons hardstepped 2 times or whatever, and others just find stuff that works, you seemingly the latter.

Where are you from originally? You said you started playing at age 5, did you play year round in a warm climate?

How far do you hit your 48*-8i-5i-driver?

What is your standard ball flight? Can you, and do you try to work the ball both ways while playing? Like, pin left hit a draw and the next hole hit a fade into the right pin?

What are your practice routines like nowadays and how do they compare with what you were doing back in the day? Are you the type of player that spends hours a day hitting balls/working on the short game.

Missouri, actually was whacking balls much earlier than 5. My grandparents were part owners in a 9 hole par 3 course on Table Rock Lake where I could whack to my heart's content. Played all sorts of sports growing up, golf just happened to be one of my better ones. In high school actually had to choose between golf and baseball since I couldn't really do both full time during the summer. It wasn't an easy decision.

48* = 130 carry
8i = 160 carry
5i = 190 carry
Driver = 280-285

Tight draw. I can work the ball both ways with ease but usually hit a stock shot into the green while working the ball off the tee. I will frequently hit a lower shot into the green if wind conditions warrant.

I have noticed that compared to most players today, that I work the ball tons more than the new breed of pounders who always hit the same shot no matter what.

Right now I don't really have a practice routine. I mostly think about what I'm trying to do at home and then spend a bit of time working on that. If it feels right I take it out on the course and see what happens.

When I was playing I practiced a lot naturally. But a lot doesn't necessarily translate into smart. One must practice smart rather than excessive. When I was in the right frame of mind, I would put the appropriate work into the short game. When not, I would tend to beat balls mindlessly and accomplish little. Just because I'm a pro doesn't mean I don't fall into bad habits.

When practicing smart I would go through all sorts of fun little games and drill around the green sometimes with a partner. These could last for hours. On the range I would hit a certain shot with one club and then grab another and hit a totally different shot. Trying to simulate what you do on the course. It was fun having somebody watching and at the top of my backswing would say what type of shot to hit. Low draw, high fade, low straight ball, etc. And I could do it with ease. That's the type of practice that makes you better rather than just smacking hundreds of balls.

BO

When are you, me, Jtrout, others, going to get together for a 2+2 championship?

your best/lowest round? most birdies in a row?

best greens you've played?