Little White Ball

2010-11-21T11:12:00.013-05:00

Miyazaki Silver 72s - Nano Power Proto 9.5

Swingweight C9

Staticweight 312g
Length 44.75"

2010-04-07T16:09:00.006-04:00

Vega RAFW-03 Raw

Swingweight D2
Staticweight 458g
Length 35.50"
Shaft KBS Black Nickel Wedge flex

2009-09-17T00:52:00.009-04:00

Inspiring courses I like to visit

Bear Mountain Ranch, Washington

Fossil Trace Golf Course, Colorado

Mission Hills Golf Club, China Shenzhen

Cape Kidnappers, New Zealand

Legend Golf and Safari, South Africa

2009-09-08T10:42:00.004-04:00

Homemade Shaft Spine Finder

If I do a search on the web and seek for opinion on shaft spinning/splining, I will get tons of results and opinions on its arguable performance and results, it is a well discussed and debated topic. There are no absolute agreement on either side of the discussion, from if-it-work to how NBP (neutral balanced position) should be aligned to if feel-spinning is accurate enough compare to frequency and flo spining. On top of all these, there is also certified SST Pured methodology that is copyrighted, licensed and very expensive method to determine how golf shaft should be aligned and how it provides consistency and stable feel to the player.

However, all participants that are into this field agree on one thing in common, there is certain orientation in shaft that will differ its bending and alignment. It is the different applications of this stabilizing method in golf that are not accepted uniformly in general.

To me, I could only summarize it into three words: Shaft Spinning Works.
...and it works pretty well.

2009-09-03T11:10:00.006-04:00

Launch and Loft

High launch (low kick) shaft with low loft driver
or
Low launch (high kick) shaft with high loft driver?

It is argued that high loft and low launch provides more distance, low launch and high loft provides more control. Is there an optimal territory where we can have the best of both?

PGA trend has been moving away from low penetrating shot to high spinning shot. Obviously the main reason is to get the best control, when was the last time we heard PGA players choose a driver because of its distance?
LPGA trend, on the other hand, has been moving lower and lower loft. Obviously the main reason is to get the best distance, when was the last time we heard LPGA players need more control?

Now this is quite an interesting trend comparing PGA and LPGA.

2009-08-27T22:57:00.007-04:00

How to decrease driver's distance

1. Use lower loft head. It takes maybe 20% more club head speed and 100% accuracy on the sweet spot to hit a bullet-like low stinging shot and achieve the same distance of a 1* higher lofted head.
2. Swing with relaxed muscle. I don't know why this tip is so popular.
3. Try to help the ball up. While increment of angle of attack is good, helping the ball up is not.
4. Swing with loose grip. Like 2, I think the confusion is between technique and muscle.
5. Rotate the shoulder faster than waist. For many reasons as I was told, golf swing is from ground up.
6. Use a closed face driver. The damage crept into the swing, not to mention distance.
7. Swing with lose armpit. While accuracy increase, distance decrease.
8. Swing with weak leg muscle. I think this is because the swing is from ground up.
9. Swing with bad timing. Many say tempo is the key, but slow tempo with bad timing on the swing sequence is more disastrous.
10. Trying not to kill the ball. Intentionally try to swing easy is more a lack-of-practice excuse than a reason why the ball won't go.

2009-08-14T23:27:00.009-04:00

OnOff Plus Experience

Day 1, driving range:
1st ball, with tons of anticipation, hit a low dive, carry plus roll maybe 200 yards. Like a pile of cold water poured on my head, all the excitement vanished into thin air.
The rest of the practice session, hit a whole bunch of slices. The long forgotten banana slice that I had left behind came back and visited me. There was one ball, went straight 100 yards, take a 90 degree right turn and traveled another 100 yards. I had chill went down the spine. This 9 degree square face can't be good.

Day 2, Harbor Links golf course:
Consistently hit slice/push slice. Lost 4 balls, 3 went to the right, 1 hooked to the left. I ended up aiming for the left fairway as a rescue mission. Fortunately putting was alright, still managed to play a disastrous 91. Lost distance, lost accuracy and lost confidence. Compared to my old beloved Nakashima NP1 10 degree 0.5 closed face, I wanna cry.

Day 3, driving range:
Determined to figure out the problem, hit close to 200 balls on this new driver. First third session, continued slicing. Adjusted grip, stance, posture, ball position then grip again, swing tempo, rhythm, nothing worked. I sliced like there was no tomorrow. Went for a coffee break, frustrated and despaired. When everything else fail, drink coffee, it never fails. I tried free swing on the corridor, rotating the torso holding the ice-coffee cup like an idiot. Suddenly I realized I was changing my spine angle on the downswing. Second third session, adjusted spine angle, started hooking the ball. Non stop hooking. Went for a bathroom break. Last third session, continued forcing myself to control the spine angle on downswing, rotated my torso around an imaginative pole behind the back, I started hitting some straight shots. Heart lightened a little.

Day 4, driving range:
Started with a straight ball. A little relieved. A few slices, a few hooks here and there. Kept reminding myself to forget distance, worked on foot work, leg muscle, knee height and rotate torso around the pole behind. Started to see some good results. Then I tried to draw and fade some balls. Forced an inside out swing path with closed stance, hit some nice high draws. Distance gained. At least balls are not hooking left and slicing right anymore. Hit more draws, gained more distance, I could touch the net like my old Nakshima. I started laughing like an idiot again.

Day 5, Eisenhower Red:
Started with a straight drive, nothing fancy, a normal straight drive for a Par 5, 3 on and 2 putts for a 462 yards hole. It was a good start for the OnOff after all the adjustments. Not a slice on the course but did hooked a few. The most severe and new error was I was topping 4 driving attempts with the driver after the adjustments. It was something that was totally unexpected. A new problem found in the swing or damn the new driver?

Conclusion:

It was beyond my expectation by merely swaping a driver head, I have to go through so much adjustment and adoption with my driving swings. I was hoping for the best and better performance but instead it turned out to be an "error-digger" where it signified my swing problem that I had been getting way with Nakashima all this time. Bigger volume is not more forgiving, lower loft is not longer and square face is definitely not square at impact without proper swing. I was playing with Nakashima NP1 420cc 10 degree 0.5 degree closed face and it seemed much more easier to control and drive compare to this 2008 OnOff Plus 9 degree squared face driver. The built charasteristic was similar on both drivers but they sounded very different, vibrated very different, most importantly, they performed like heaven and earth when used by the same user. Was this for the better down the road or it was simply seeking trouble for no reason? I have been asking myself this question for the last few days.

2009-08-11T19:18:00.003-04:00

Final Assembly of 2008 OnOff Plus

Swingweight D1.5
Staticweight 307g
Length 44.65"
Shaft Graphite Design Quattrotech MD6-X

2009-08-11T00:42:00.006-04:00

OnOff Driver

Finally I had a chance to purchase a used OnOff driver off eBay. This club is really hard to find. At first glance, it is such a beauty, 2008 Plus model, black oxide finish.

OnOff requires clubmakers to be certified before they could be official club distributors. I understand why after I received the driver head. The hosel is designed to use special ferrule, custom ferrule with sleeve and collar so clubmakers could align, adjust the loft/lie and further revise the club-shaft orientation precisely.

It requires to use something like this: Callaway Ferrule

2009-07-30T14:34:00.005-04:00

Miura Precision by golfballistix.com

2009-07-24T01:08:00.005-04:00

Asia 2008 Golf Club Reviews

2009-07-24T00:02:00.014-04:00

Mizuno MP32 Red

Original:

Mizuno Red:

2009-07-13T22:34:00.009-04:00

Old wedge Grind, Port and Loft Bend

Original 56-14, loft bended to 58
Bounce was grinded down, removed 20g of carbon steel
Ported 4 holes at the back, tungsten is inserted

2009-07-10T23:40:00.002-04:00

Why Golf is so much like Stock?

1. Patience is the most torturing word
2. The harder you try, the lesser the result
3. Control is everything
4. It is done between two extreme, balance is the key
5. Risk versus Reward is always proportional
6. For every inch of success, it requires tons of hard work
7. What you ignore now is always what haunt you later
8. Paid attention to the non critical issues, even though with hard work, result is minimum
9. You can always cheat yourself
10. The playing field is always changing, hardly any duplication
.

2009-01-20T08:32:00.004-05:00

R9 3.20.2009

Taylor Made really got my attention. Its R9, with FCT and MWT technology, 24 combination of adjustable face angle, lie angle, loft, draw and fade bias, wow.

A driver that transforms to any kind of adjustment with a ranch, wow. I already do all these different shots with one fixed face, lie, loft and weighting parameter with my current driver. Still, a driver that could adjust its lie angle? wow. Think about it, lie angle adjustment in driver. wow.

TM is also not advertising better distance or more superior performance, it is very careful in its advertising campaign. Though, it does say it allow 75 yards side to side variant with altering the adjustment above. wow, 75 yards.

Its website is awesome, promoting the driver with a launch date, wow.

2008-11-10T23:51:00.021-05:00

Nakashima NX1 3W

2008-10-27T13:42:00.002-04:00

the Hands

I am a slicer. I thought I was, but like the old asthma, ball slicing never go away. I may able to suppress the symptom, but it never disappears.

While the right side produces the source to power, control of ball flights, swing plane, it is the left hand (forward) that determines the direction, the ball spins, the follow-through.

Holding the left grip too tight, I would have exerted too much force on the whole left arm which will prevent the arms to fold in at the elbow, this would lead to an wide open arm-pit, if not a chicken-wing follow through.

Exerting too soft force on the left hand, the right hand may overpower the left side, causing a premature hand supination. Right arm will cross the left arm from above, leads to a closed face or a too flat follow through.

Bending forward on the left wrist may cause club face to increase in loft, shortening the distance if not a thinned or skulled shot.

Left hand and arm, is in the driver seat of my golf swing, which has been unfortunately put in a passive role all this time.

2008-09-29T13:21:00.003-04:00

Hitting the Net

It was a rainy weekend, no golf. I went to the range, balls were wet, nets were wet, tees were wet, the range was sheltered, but after three days of rain, everything was soaked.

Met a guy, a guy I went golfing with at the range.

Meeting a friend at driving range is actually more fun talking than anything else. Talked about equipment, swing technique, etc, more like the whole universe of golf was upon us. No practicing, you don't practice at the range with a friend, you just don't. Anyway, in the fun of all the talk, we started testing out each other's clubs.

I drove one to the net. Since the net was wet, the water repelled from the vibration of the ball hitting the net. It was really a good scene, only that I could not capture it with photograph but words. Watching your driven ball repelling water from the net was one super cool experience, especially when there was a someone witnessing it. Well, the net was only 250 yds out, it was not super long drive, but still it was encouraging because how often do I get to see ball repelling water at the end of its trajectory, not vertically like from the pond but horizontally from the net?

Lately, people started asking me how do I drive a ball. To my surprise, people started listening to what I had to say. All this time, I had all these opinions about golf, no one listen or even question. All a sudden, somehow I hit the net one after another, people started to listen, even when I was bullshiting.

Guess what? I lost interest in experiencing my opinion.

2008-06-23T12:27:00.010-04:00

Shots with side-spins

Lady A: "There is nothing more gorgeous than a man who hit a slightly draw driving shot"
Lady B: "That's right, it looks so cool"
Lady A: "I especially hates those men who slice, especially huge crooked slices"
Lady B: "Like he could not control his golf, kinda symbolize he is failing his career also"
Lady A: "Men that slice are ugly"
Lady B: "So is it!"

Quoted this from a conversation by two young ladies golfers... Is slice shot really that bad? For one, it is the most easiest to produce shots. For two, it is always there when you least need it and attracted to trees and water. For three, it is always a golfer dream to drive long and far, with slight draw as a plus. So why slice?

Nowadays the so called forgiving larger size, higher MOI, deeper COG driving head kinda intuitive to this fact. Firstly, the driver head is delivered with maximum MOI and higher COG, which means it is harder for the head to rotate. Secondly, with better material and manufacturing process, the face is "hotter" and sound is sharper at impact, leading a tendency to use more force for maximum swing speed. All these seems perfect for every golfer.

In the old days, with the smaller head, golfers used to be able to "shape" the shot better. The reason behind is less MOI allows the hands to supinate and driver face to open and close easier. The drawback is it requires tremendous accuracy in timing and skill to create those shots. To resolve the timing problem for regular John Doe, larger MOI and deeper COG is introduced; the head face is intended to maintain "square" constantly and launch the ball higher. Yet, most companies forget to mention the catch, if the golfer have a good swing and return the head squared to the ball, it is easier to launch a good shot. Yet, if the swing is questionable to begin with and not squared to the swing path, it is a lot easier to produce shots with side-spin. In order for the large MOI head to be really forgiving, the head have to be squared to the swing path, it is not much forgiveness after all.

In order to deliver the large MOI and deep COG head squared to the ball, swing nowadays require golfers to maintain the arms-triangle before and after the impact longer compare to the old days where it requires timing to rotate the club head during impact. The new triangle form requires tremendous body rotation (Michelle Wie, Tiger Woods, Anthony Kim, Adam Scott, etc). If there is any blockage or slow down in rotation, the head is not going to be squared. The larger head requires golfers to be physically stronger.

Occasionally, golfer will launch a shot that is long and far. The fined tuned sound from the new club heads allows golfers to differentiate between a good shot from a bad shot. The sound actually stimulates how good a good drive could be. Research has shown that audible sound represents more importance than visual sights in good golf shots. Unfortunately, an opened-face shot also sounds better in today's better manufactured golf clubs, it is louder "Ding" than muted "Dung" on central hit. Audio, could be the most misleading factor.

Realizing the fact that the face which sounds better could be opened, golfers usually tend to rush the club down in order to close the face. In the process of doing this, the swing speed is also increased. Problem is increasing swing speed for many does not equivalent to increasing ball speed. This is because the back-spin and side-spin are also increased due to mishit on the club face, or simply a premature release of force prior to impact.. To resolve this problem, most choose to use a lighter and stiffer shaft, in the same time reducing the loft of the club, hoping to reduce the ballooned ball flight.

With the combination of the above, golfers are usually chasing after the infamous cycle of the large MOI, deep COG, big sweet spot and light head weight golf clubs. In the end, golfers have a longer, stiffer, lighter shaft with a lower loft that produces sharp sound at impact head that is also high MOI, deep COG and large sweet spot. To complete all these, it is also paired with huge and fast swing. Yet half the shots are usually sliced to the right. Unfortunately it is just easier to swing the club as well as slicing the ball. Worst, compensating for going to the right side, many golfers pull it to the left by collapsing the left elbow and bending the wrist, resulting hook shots.

Consequently, there are two outcomes to this:
1. The golfer gets a bigger, lighter, deeper face with larger MOI, deeper COG and larger sweet spot to resolve all the problems above.
2. The golfer learn to swing it softer with less force, reduces the distance to maintain the accuracy. He later will adopt step 1 because the short distance is just not, err, satisfying.

This circular cycle of MOI, COG chase, can be easily found in any driving ranges or golf courses.

2008-06-18T18:08:00.002-04:00

2008 US Open

I have been thinking, why was this past US Open championship such a big deal... Tiger was not playing at his best, thus whoever challenged him at their best is still lacking by a big gap comparing to the best at his top form.

So why is it so exciting? Enough to stir the media, the community to commend it as the best Open? Yeah, there was some circumstantial moments where the ball seemed to roll in for the sake of continuity of the game, but what the heck? In simply put, it was fun because the best had lowered his standard to good and he was more touchable, thus the competition was more enjoyable and more exciting?

What are the spectators' psychology behind? Emotion was moved because the best was more "reachable" now, they could feel the downfall of the best? Justification was leveled because the best was not so god-like anymore? or simply because of jealousy and feeling the sour-grape? or just like to watch the show because that was not something in concern in real life but something to talk about over a beer?

Personally, I like to see good become great. I like ultimate winning, I like dominance. I like the raw American absolute power. I like to see the best wins by a margin, the best is untouchable, unreachable by common folks. I like to see a human challenges the physical limit and break the rules set and reaches a level of unexpected, of unanticipated. All these mean something to me.

Whether it is a show or there is much competition now, it is a matter of sparking lights that go away quickly. I like to explore the universe, to break the boundary of what knowledge could bring us now. Tiger winning by margin kind of resembling this, whereas if there is another challenger to compete him and make the game more exciting, is immeasurably small. We are already living daily lives that are monotonous enough most the time, what is the point of watching something similar?

Tiger's shutdown for the year, is a disappointment to many, to me. The continuing of the legend, the boundary breaking fantasy, is once again put into the unknown territory.

2008-06-03T12:48:00.002-04:00

Shaft Fitting

Knowing and looking at the wrong shaft measurements, that's one thing.
Knowing and fitting with the wrong shaft measurements, that's something.

For instance, if you are 180 lbs, you will likely choose a 75g shaft, with a regular 200g head + 50g grip, that gives you roughly 320g club at 45", a SW that's around D2/D3. Average people feel this is the most stable combination, meaning that you can drop the club in the "slot" and produce optimal club-speed. Some people with different weight, choose heavier or lighter club according to physical strength, and together with feel, this is where trial and error comes into picture. Though, you can only perform trial and error after you have a narrowed scope.

As general outline, flex could be fitted by swing speed, torque could be treated as a sign of forgiveness and release in timing, weight could be paired with strength, length could be adjusted according to height and finally swing weight and the shaft's characteristics, are varied by personalized preference. Noted that indicators like "tempo", "rhythm", "hitter or swinger", "1 or 2 axis swings", etc are normally not used as they are more a swing mechanism but has nothing to do with shaft fitting.

U.S is always an unique place where different circumstances allowed to happen, I meant those extreme scenarios beyond the norm. Only in U.S you will find shaft of 55g and X-stiff, take a look at other branded Japanese shafts, you will never find this combination. The argument behind is in order to go for extra distance, you sacrifice the stability for faster swing speed. This makes sense as U.S is a country of raw power. Though, do you perform better when you increase swing speed, do you hit longer or better? Normal understanding says you have to give up one to get the other. Yet, does increment in swing speed proportional to increment in distance?

The other view to look at this is, do you want shaft deforming for optimal performance? is deflecting in shaft shape a parameter to the swing's tempo, meaning that your tempo determine when to place the shaft back to the initial point that it bounds back and release all the energy on the ball?

So simply put, there are many measurements in shaft fitting to be considered, but fitting depends on how one prioritize the parameters grouped and chosen. (e.g. weight and length, then flex and torque, then SW). Usually the most charming fitting is the best distance under the controlled dispersion, providing that the golfer himself is assumed the fixed variable. An understanding view to this would be a sliding bar where left is swing speed and right is control, you choose the best fitting parameters available to move the slider horizontally along both ends, finding the optimal setting. Yet, you could never have both ends together.

2008-05-27T09:43:00.004-04:00

Tried: OnOff Plus 2006

It is not like I could walk in to GolfSmith and pick up an OnOff driver and talk about it. It is such a rare incident that I could try an OnOff driver. The model tried was an old stock model, R flex, 10* degree and D0.5 balance.

The first impression, SMOOTH KICK : MP-606D shaft is felt stiffer than average regular flex. It felt tight, responsive and accelerating. It is a very good feeling that I hardly get from stock club. Shaft itself is impressive enough that if Daiwa allows its shafts to be sold separately, it will be a big hit. The quality of the head is beautifully constructed. Most importantly, the sound is crystal, in the audible range where it is not loud like FT-i and not sharp like Honma, but just nice.

Overall feedback on this club is really good. It is one of the rare circumstances where you like it much on the first trial.

2008-05-19T10:58:00.002-04:00

Launch Angle / Spin Ratio

According to the Golf World this past week, Tiger Woods’ swing speed is around 124 mph, fastest among the tour professionals averaging at 110 mph. Tiger's ball speed is 189 mph, again, fastest among the pros at average of 164 mph, yet his launch angle is at 7.6* (average 11.2*) with back spin of 3144 rpm (average 2633 rpm). Tiger’s tee-off drive will create the ultimate impression of power driving where the ball dashing out like a bullet and climb higher gradually, then die out eventually.

According to the Analyst, Tiger's driving method is the third to the least efficient among tour pros, using high-launch / back-spin measuring ratio. In other words, the efficiency measured today is launching the ball optimally higher and reducing back spin significantly. Tiger's driving totally contradicts this concept while he could achieve 20 yds longer his 292 yds average distance, if he choose to launch the ball higher, argued the analyst.

Tiger's comment to Nike: build him a ball with highest back spin (Nike Platinum) so he could attack aggressively around the green (ever seen his ball back spinned from the bunker?) and it is his job to control the ball's launch angle.

Henrik Stenson, on the other hand, led the tour's most efficient launch/spin ratio with 311 yds drive. Anthony Kim, the new young tour pro, drive the ball 295 yds at the Chrysler championship, had ball distance-to-apex at 200 feet while the average range at 175 feet. Bubba Watson, again, another long hitter, ball speed at 182 mph and averaging over 300 yds drive launch the ball significantly higher.

Thus, besides focusing to create back spin off the bunker, it would be optimal to launch the ball higher, drive with least back spin and maybe possible to reach most par 5 in 2 from men’s tee.

2008-05-15T15:23:00.003-04:00

Impact Balance Point

Optimal Scenario 1

A normal rod with distributed static weight will have a balance point in the center of the rod.

When a load A is applied at one end with distance X to center, a same Load B at the other end with distance X to center will be needed to balance this rod.

This situation is under the condition where:
1. Load A = Load B
2. Static weight is uniformly distributed across the rod

Scenario 2

In the case of a golf club, where static weight is not normally distributed across the club, there is shaft weight, grip weight and head weight.

Balance point of the club is usually at a point where it is closer to the club head. Measurement of swing weight inherits this concept to measure the balance of the club and express it in unit fulcrum.

In the actual usage of a golf club, we usually grip and apply force where Load B is. Under the off-center balance of the golf club, it is ideal that if Load A’ is where the counter force should be. However, with different set up of shaft, grip and head weight, it is very possible that an imaginative Load A extended outside of club head is where the real counter force is.

Load A will indicate that:
1. This golf club is not efficient; the full amount of Load B is not efficient transferred to Load A’
2. Feel of impact is less than ideal, where an ideal feel of impact at Load A’ will provide steady and balanced response.

How to measure distance X and X’ become a difficult challenge, and I will bet most of the OEM drivers sold in consumer market will not have Load A’ but Load A instead.

2008-04-12T23:48:00.007-04:00

Over the Top

It is very difficult to slice or hook the ball if the golf swing is followed along the pivot like a pendulum. There are many saying the cause is where the rhythm is at fault, over powering, unstable knees, looking up on downswing, etc. Why are all these symptoms important?

Take for instance a swimmer who also plays golf. A swimmer is used to throw his hands over his head to power a stroke to move forward. However, this over the head movement, if transpose to a golf swing, pivoted off the spine, it is a natural that the swimmer is going to direct the force from above the right shoulder line and pull inward to the left side of the body. It would be the same for basketball players, maybe tennis players, sports that utilize one side of the body at one time.

For a golf swing to move along the swing plane, right shoulder is suppose to brush along the right foot before it keep rotating towards the left foot. Swimmer has the tendency to move the right shoulder directly to left foot, without crossing the right foot first. In swing effect, it will look like the picture on the left along the black line, an over-the-top swing.

In simply put, the only movement allowed in a golf swing is rotating right and left pivoting the spine as a line and rotating in sequence. The guideline is where the force exerted is felt. Once this is followed, it is not possible to swing too inside the swing path or too outside the swing path. It would be easier for a non-swimmer or non-basketball player to pick up the correct golf swing, because powering a stroke with the right shoulder rotating towards the left side on a single cross-sectional plane is not natural to a good swimmer.

2008-04-11T00:42:00.005-04:00

Ultimate Challenge

Finally got myself a 2 iron, a Maxfli Australian Blade 2 iron head. It is going to pair with NS Pro 1150 GH Tour shaft.

Thin sole muscle blade, it is going to be a challenge to hit this club.

2008-04-04T22:19:00.011-04:00

Maruman DCA II

Saw a used demoed Maruman 7 iron in a Manhattan pro shop.
It is made of Aramid fiber material and steel base.
Not something I see everyday among steel-irons.

2008-03-24T23:02:00.003-04:00

Practice Reminder #12

Shorter club, slower tempo. Not swing lighter, but slower.

2008-03-17T23:05:00.002-04:00

Practice Reminder #11

If balance is a problem during backswing and follow through, something wrong.

2008-03-17T23:01:00.003-04:00

Practice Reminder #10

Bend from the hip, not at the waist. A proper bending from hip should feel comfortable at top of back swing.

2008-03-17T11:43:00.003-04:00

Practice Reminder #9

For right hander, led by left hand, not pushed by right hand

2008-03-17T11:41:00.000-04:00

Practice Reminder #8

For distance, accelerate through the ball, not at the ball.

2008-03-13T22:01:00.007-04:00

RangeFinder

Lan Hai RangeFinder

It was my first concern if a non-famous branded optical device really helps or instead produces more optical illusions?
To my relief, not only does this device perform as well as it claims to be, it is also very easy to use and locks on target fast and accurately. The size of this device is small in comparison but it does not limit its accuracy and performance at all. Tested at the driving range during a practice session, it helps pinpoint targets at ease... 28 yards, 67 yards, 144 yards, 256 yards, etc.

It is good to know the yardage markers at the range are accurate and also able to determine the distance in between.
It is only ½ the market price of branded devices
It is good to know that my depth perception is actually quite deceptive, even though I had believed it was reliable.

Thanks to this little device, golf swing is more meaningful with distance control.

2008-03-07T13:24:00.003-05:00

Can improvement in Golf be bought?

Actually, there are two parts to this question.
1. Can improvement in Golf be bought by purchasing new equipment?
2. Can improvement in Golf be bought by changing new equipment?

My opinion to 1st part, I have yet to seen any golfer that directly benefited from purchasing new equipments, myself included. All we got from purchasing new equipments is a sense of different feeling, new feedback from hitting the white balls and new adjustments needed to accommodate the new changes. Does this mean the “new” feedback and feeling is good? Does this mean “new’ is equivalent to improvement? Most of the time, new does not mean better. It simply means it resolves one portion of the problem by introducing new set of problems.

My opinion to 2nd part, if golfer himself participates in the process of changing equipments, I think the new change to the whole golfing experience is positive. Eventually, it will lead to improvement. There is a need to change, because for whatever reasons, the old situation is not “good”, thus a change is applied. By participating in the changing process, the new equipment supposedly is more suited to the golfer golfing profile. It is a custom-made equipment for the golfer and the particular golfer only. This change is good; this change is part of the positive learning process.

It has been a debatable argument whether changing golf equipments brings any benefit to golfers. Truth is, some try to solve problem by spending big bucks, some choose equipment base on best reviews, some go by friends’ reference, etc. To me, there is only one type of equipment-changing golfers that will be benefited from new equipment. This group of golfers participates in the changing process and custom suits the equipment to their needs, whether self-build or custom-build, it is for one purpose from one need, one and one only.

2008-02-29T23:08:00.015-05:00

New Toy

Geek Golf by Golf Digest

2008-02-29T23:05:00.001-05:00

Practice Reminder #7

No matter what, loosen the waist prior.

2007-12-27T09:00:00.001-05:00

Practice Reminder #6

Only one wrist cocks in the golf swing. For right-handers it's the left and for left-handers it's the right.

2007-12-18T00:22:00.000-05:00

The "Square"

Just wondering, why have we not seen any square putter yet? Among all, square putter makes most sense...

2007-12-17T23:50:00.000-05:00

Practice Reminder #5

Hold the club with light force, accelerate through the ball.

2007-12-17T10:41:00.000-05:00

Release

Board breakers in marshal arts say that in order to break the wood prank effectively, the fist has to penetrate beyond the board. In simple understanding, the force is withheld and not fully released until it passes the board. It is then the arm is extended and straightened.

In order for maximum ball distance, it is said release in down swing should not happen prior to striking the ball. This is actually very confusing. It is also said keep the arms close to the body and hands should be ahead of club head. All these instructions actually narrow down to a simple principle, the hands should not be extended and straightened prior to ball impact.

If the hands are not extended, force is withheld, arms are close to body, hands will be ahead of ball and force will be transferred onto ball effectively. All it needs now is to find a synchronized timing where the head is square at impact during the downswing.

It is much easier to remember the principle then to memorize the methods and match it with the swing sequence.

2007-12-16T13:08:00.000-05:00

Practice Reminder #4:

Setup: whether close or open stance, always square hip and shoulder to the target. Strong grip for close stance; Weak grip for open stance

2007-12-16T01:01:00.001-05:00

Practice Reminder #3:

Twist around from right to left, not slide from right to left. Initialize downswing with left hip feel being pulled backwards.

2007-12-16T00:57:00.000-05:00

Practice Reminder #2:

Keep both elbows pointing to the ground at all time during back and down swing.

2007-12-15T23:50:00.000-05:00

Practice Reminder #1:

If spine angle is maintained during back swing, lower back muscle will feel stretched, left leg will feel pulling inward.

2007-11-28T16:47:00.000-05:00

Proving Yourself

Golf is a never satisfying game. You will never see a good golfer that says “I am satisfied with my game today”. There are many reasons behind this: many clubs to master, changing condition, physique variation, etc… however all good golfers will agree it is a never-satisfying but fun game.

Being fun is the key. It is fun to hit a long and straight shot, it is more fun when this long and straight shot landed where you want it to be, over the pond but before the bunker. It is unbelievable fun when you add a little draw into this shot and it flies long and curve along the fairway, over the pond and before the bunker, and split the fairway in half. Once you have tasted the fun from this, you want more and try to reproduce this whenever you want, so you work hard on it, controlling your shots. In the end, you immerge yourself into the zone, where nothing else matters.

There is, however, another approach many golfers take. They constantly try to prove themselves. Proving yourself is a great motivation, but never a key to the ultimacy. Proving yourself pushes you to achieve what you think you can, without knowing the reasons why you can’t. You work on the belief, instead of the technique; you build up the confidence, founded on top of pile of artificial intelligence. In the end, you have to get over proving yourself, then you still have to train yourself to control the shots, after that you need to learn how to consistently reproducing the same shots, all of these before you could discover the joy and fun in the process.... Following this pattern, it is a long way to go.... before the joy and fun could bring you to the next level of clarity and performance.

Let the fun lead you to the ultimacy. You will be a better skilled golfer; You can prove yourself all that you want then.

2007-11-14T13:33:00.000-05:00

Science to maximum drive

…the author of The Physics of Golf, calculated that 32 pounds of muscle needs to be generated for a typical professional golfer’s swing to deliver two horsepower of energy…

…Using the example of a boxer striking an object, they find that striking through the object to a point further in allows them to achieve the highest momentum and energy to accomplish their action. One reason amateur golfers have vastly different collision dynamics is that they may not have developed the skill to strike through the ball…

…Most golfers are under the impression that the weight shift occurs from the left foot to the right foot during the backswing and returns from the right foot to the left foot in the downswing. This actually is a misnomer…

…Basketball players play with the ball bouncing and rotating in their fingers before shooting a free throw to sharpen the sensitivity in their fingertip nerve endings… Professional golfers roll their hands around the grip before settling on the final hold in order to activate their sensory…

Excellent read:

-- Copyright © 2004 - 2007 Taras V. Kochno, M.D.
http://www.drkochno.com/science_&_golf.htm

2007-11-13T13:19:00.000-05:00

MOI Matched Follow-up

It seems quite repelling to many purist to accept the concept of progressive swing weighting or MOI matching. Ironically, the concept of MOI matching is to achieve the goal that all clubs require to swing with the same force, it is SW matching that requires progressive higher force to swing clubs.

from lower numbered Iron to higher numbered Iron:

MOI Matching = progressive higher Swing Weight = same force
SW Matching = progressive lower force = same Swing Weight

Brought the MOI matched iron set to the golf course last weekend. Sometime ago, I started to believe that the first hit on course will determine if the newly adjusted golf club is a good fit or just a legendary theory. After a good drive on the 1^st tee, left me with approximately 185 yards to the green, I chose a 5 iron. Currently at D0.5, 419g and 37.75 inch long, it is one of the MOI matched club at around 423. I swung, and caught the ball clean, the response was good and I was delighted for a second, not to realize later that I was 1 club short in distance and also pushed to the right by 20 feet in direction. This was alarmingly disapproving according to my superstition. Considering the air temperature at 40F and wearing 3 layers of clothing, I suspected I was blocking myself, sending the ball right. It was not until later, that I found out I was pushing the balls all day long.

Here is what is interesting: I pushed every iron from 3 to 8 irons, my distance was 1 club shorter. There was no fat or thin shot, there was no skull and shrank shot. Consistency wise, it was really rewarding, performance wise, it was not proportional to the consistency

I returned to the driving range two days later and determined that my swing path was what cause to the push. I regained the distance and direction again. So far, MOI matched set is still amazingly rewarding, only at the driving range where it is the birthplace of all swing flaws.

2007-11-05T13:59:00.000-05:00

Personal Best

Best substitute to acetone for polishing ferrule: Nail Polish Remover
Best woods cleaner and polisher: Auto Paint Polish (Mcguire Scratch X)
Best irons cleaner and polisher: Alloy/Chrome wheel polish
Best solution to clean grips: few tablespoon of PineSol in a bucket of water, dry with tacky feel.
Best method to install ferrule: lubricate ferrule's inner wall with epoxy, push it down the shaft and ram it with club head.
Best way to reduce an oversize ferrule: use a large flat plier and clamp down the installed ferrule in rotating motion, creating a tight fit with the hosel, polish with nail polish remover
Best home cutter for steel or graphite shaft: Dremer tool
Best shaft puller: Golfsmith Shaft Extractor
Best way to clean club's hosel: Steel Wire Brush with hand dril
Best source for heat: Heat Gun, never use torch

2007-11-05T13:01:00.001-05:00

MOI matched Nippon Shafts - drying ...

2007-10-28T02:26:00.000-04:00

MOI Special Report

If swing weight measurement is to determine the weight of a golf club from its mass in respect to its balance point, then MOI measurement is to determine the centrifugal force in respect to its swing weight. Both of these when applying on a golf swing, it is simply reflected as a feeling of how much force does a club requires to be swung in respect to time within the swing motion.

How does this apply to golf swing?
In simple understanding, if I could match irons set according to MOI instead of SW, I could switch from iron to iron maintaining the same rhythm with the same swing force, where as in SW I have to adjust my rhythm accordingly.

MOI approach:
To accurate measure MOI in golf club, it requires expensive equipment like MOI machine
Yet, Dave Tutelman had done extensive research and provide the poor-man fitting method (reference 4) which I currently adopt. Below is where I begin the long struggle of clubs fitting process.

MOI Equation:

*MOI = Lc² (H + S/3) + 10 * G**	S is weight of the shaft	Lc is length of the club
	H weight of the head	G is grip weight

First attempt:
Used an ½ SW point per ½ inch method. Picked my favorite 7 iron, starting from C9.5 and progressively reduce ½ SW point to 3I and increase ½ SW point to PW.

Match 2: MP 32 + 1150GH + Golf Pride DD2
IRONS	T W	WH + WS	WH + WS + TW	W S (+Grip)	WS	L S	W H	W H + T W	MOI	MOI / 1000'S	Jeff's MOI	SW
3	6	400	406	162	112	38.75	238	244	422,940	423	141	C7.5
4	6	407	413	163	113	38.25	244	250	421,374	421	140	C8.0
5	5	413	418	163	113	37.75	250	255	417,568	418	139	C8.5
6	6	420	426	162	112	37.25	258	264	418,619	419	139	C9.0
7	4	428	432	163	113	36.75	265	269	414,673	415	138	C9.5
8	6	435	441	161	111	36.25	274	280	417,058	417	139	D0.0
9	6	444	450	163	113	35.75	281	287	415,444	415	138	D0.5
P	6	453	459	162	112	35.50	291	297	421,844	422	140	D1.0

Result: MOI is random

Second attempt:
Used more precise measurement: +/- ½ SW point and 1.35 SW point per inch (0.675 SW per ½ inch), progressively increasing SW from 3I to PW.

Match 4A: MP32 + 1150GH + Golf Pride DD2
IRONS	Actual TW	WH + WS	WH + WS + TW	W S (+Grip)	WS	L S	W H	W H + T W	MOI	MOI / 1000'S	Measured SW
3	4	400	404	162	112	38.75	238	242	419,936	420	7.5
4	5	407	412	163	113	38.25	244	249	419,911	420	8.0
5	7	413	420	163	113	37.75	250	257	420,418	420	9.0
6	7	420	427	162	112	37.25	258	265	420,006	420	9.5
7	6	428	434	162	112	36.75	266	272	418,274	418	10.5
8	8	435	443	161	111	36.25	274	282	419,686	420	10.5
9	9	443	452	162	112	35.75	281	290	418,852	419	11.0
P	8	453	461	162	112	35.50	291	299	424,364	424	11.5

Result: MOI is more uniformly distributed yet it is still unsatisfactory

Third attempt:
Manually adjust tip weight and computationally match MOI at 420 range

Match 4B: MP32 + 1150GH + Golf Pride DD2
IRONS	Round TW	WH + WS	WH + WS + TW	W S (+Grip)	WS	L S	W H	W H + T W	MOI	MOI / 1000'S	Ref Target SW	Actual SW	Adjusted SW
3	6	400	406	162	112	38.75	238	244	422,940	423	7.475	9.0	8.0
4	7	407	414	163	113	38.25	244	251	422,837	423	8.15	8.5	8.5
5	9	413	422	163	113	37.75	250	259	423,269	423	8.825	10.5	10.0
6	9	420	429	162	112	37.25	258	267	422,782	423	9.5	10.0	10.5
7	8	429	437	162	112	36.75	266	275	422,326	422	10.175	11.5	11.5
8	10	435	445	161	111	36.25	274	284	422,314	422	10.85	11.5	12.0
9	12	443	455	162	112	35.75	281	293	422,687	423	11.525	11.5	12.5
P	10	453	463	162	112	35.50	291	301	426,885	427	12.2	2.5	12.5

Result: MOI range is tighter while PW is specifically left with high MOI. I figure SW is more important for wedges due to partial and finesse swing for short game. Overall SW is bumped another 1 ~ 2 point from assembly.

Final assembled attempt:

Mizuno MP32 + Nippon Shaft 1150 GH + DD2
IRONS	Round TW	WH + WS + Grip	WH + WS + TW	W S (+Grip)	WS	L S	W H	W H + T W	MOI	MOI / 1000s	Ref Target SW	Actual SW	Adjusted SW	Raw SW
3	6	400	406	162	112	38.75	238	244	422,940	423	7.475	9.0	8.0	5.0
4	7	407	414	163	113	38.25	244	251	422,837	423	8.150	8.5	8.5	5.0
5	9	413	422	163	113	37.75	250	259	423,269	423	8.825	10.5	10.0	5.5
6	9	420	429	162	112	37.25	258	267	422,782	423	9.500	10.0	10.5	6.0
7	8	429	437	162	112	36.75	266	275	422,326	422	10.175	11.5	11.5	7.5
8	10	435	445	161	111	36.25	274	284	422,314	422	10.850	11.5	12.0	7.0
9	11	443	455	162	112	35.75	281	292	421,409	423	11.525	11.5	12.0	6.5
P	10	453	463	162	112	35.50	291	301	426,885	427	12.200	12.5	12.5	7.5

First Test Impression:

number of balls tested: 180 balls location: Lake Success Driving Range
Overall the “new” irons sets are lighter than my previous set by average of 8 grams in static weight. How much is 8g in static weight differs? Not much since my swing weight is kept at the same range. However, it is a lot easier for me to switch from club to another club, especially noticeable with 3I. I have tried on randomly chosen iron from one club to the other and I could not feel any difference in swinging force. Using the same rhythm to swing each club, the feel is tremendously rewarding, even though PW is felt much heavier than 3I in static weight, they are comparable similar in motion. There is virtually not much change in trajectory, height and distance, but I feel it is much easier to produce desired shot with each club under MOI matching. This set of iron is suddenly more forgiving than ever.

Equipment used:
Mizuno MP32 3I ~ PW + Nippon shaft 1150GH Tour stiff + Golf Pride DD2
Digital scale (Accuracy +/- 1g)
Golfsmith shaft puller + swing weight scale (Precision 0.5 SW point) + golf clubs making essentials
total cost: $126 for 9 Nippon Shafts + $4.56 DD2 grip each

References:

1. Tom Wishon on MOI:
http://www.wishongolf.com/moi.php

2. Definition of Moment of Inertia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moment_of_inertia

3. Why your golf club is obsolete:
http://www.calgolftech.com/whats_new/driver57.html

4. Dave T’s club design notes:
http://www.tutelman.com/golf/design/swingwt4.php?ref=#measure_moi

2007-10-09T13:18:00.000-04:00

The moment of feel

The best feeling of hitting a golf ball is when the shaft is felt to be “unloading” prior to the impact. This is especially true when hitting with a driver.

The feeling of shaft-unloading, in simple terms, is pure transformation from shaft bending and unbending. During backswing, shaft starts bending uniformly throughout the swing, at the top of backswing, bending pause and goes the other direction when golfer’s arms start to come down. In a proper swing movement, where hands are leading the shaft, it is felt that there is a flex in shaft following all the way through the downswing until when the shaft is “released” prior to the impact, when the shaft unbends itself and release the energy from bent to straight formation, the energy is “released and hopefully transform onto the ball.

From a spectator’s point of view, during the moment of impact, the shaft should seem like it is chasing or closing to the golfer’s hand position due to this energy-release transformation. In a hand leading swing, from spectator’s point of view, the bending in shaft should happen all the way starting from top of backswing to anywhere prior to ball impact.

However,

If hands are still leading the shaft after impact, this means shaft is not properly released, this could be caused by bad swing, shaft too soft and bad timing, this delayed in time will very easy cause an open clubface and force a pull/push slice. (This is where hands supination is important)

If hands never lead throughout the swing, this fact wipes away all the joy in a golf swing as golfer would not have felt the unloading in shaft. This could be caused by bad swing, shaft too stiff or hands-only swing. This advance in timing will usually lead to close clubface and hooking in ball flights.

2007-10-09T12:31:00.000-04:00

Problem with lighter shafts

Lighter shafts will decrease club swingweight, in order to maintain the desired swingweight, usually there are two approach to achieve this:

1. Increase shaft length

Head weight 195g → 44 inch → C4 → 256cpm
　 Head weight 195g → 45 inch → D0 → 250cpm
　 Head weight 195g → 46 inch → D6 → 244cpm
When club length becomes longer, balance point move closer to butt end, shaft frequency becomes lower indicating shaft becomes softer.
*with approximate 1 inch change in balance point, there is 6 points change in frequency per minute

2. Increase head weight

　　45 inches → head weight 193.5g → C9 → 251cpm
　　45 inches → head weight 195.0g → D0 → 250cpm
　　45 inches → head weight 196.5g → D1 → 249cpm
When club head weight becomes heavier, balance point move further away from butt end, however frequency becomes softer and shaft becomes softer
*with approximate 1.5g change in head weight, there is 1 point change in frequency per minute

- in reference to http://www7.ocn.ne.jp/~golcom/

It is easier to store energy with lighter shafts as it is easier to swing smoother and faster, this fact is usually mistaken as softer when compare to heavier shaft, providing they have similar flex rating. Yet, the “soft” feeling is only enhanced when trying to match the club back to its original swingweight. In order to maintain a light shaft with D2 SW and stiff flex by making it slightly longer, it is wise to use extra stiff to begin with as shaft’s CPM could drop one full step in flex rating when shaft is 1 inch longer.

On the other hand, by shortening the shaft length and increase the head weight, the balance point will move closer to club head and it will enhance the result of “Soft-tip” where ball is launched higher than desired.

2007-10-09T08:51:00.000-04:00

Poor man shafting theory

Torque is the most underrated specification in shafts except manufacturers’ use.
For a softer feel, choose same flexibility but higher torque shaft. Lower torque by definition is to prevent the head from twisting along the shaft, yet a better feel club with higher torque will help improve synchronized rhythm and swing to square the head at impact.
To improve feel of control, get the lowest torque available for regular flex shaft. The “resistance-of-twisting” provides you the “square” head at all time.
We tend to swing with more force using heavier clubs, smoother using lighter clubs. Golfers that advise to use heavier club to stabilize swing movement are blowing horns. Opposite in Putters.
Shaft weight should be proportional to golfers’ weight, the heavier you are, the heavier the club in static weight should be. This does not apply to Swingweight. Test swing freely from 55g shafts to 95g shafts, the one that you could exert more force without losing feet balance would be the chosen one, pick the shaft with 5 ~ 10g off from the chosen one.
Golfers who like to feel the shaft “kick” usually prefer lighter swing weight, on the opposite, golfers who like extra stiff shafts opt for heavier swing weight.
Head size has nothing to do with distance, so is shaft flex.

2007-09-27T11:31:00.000-04:00

Putting Breaks

Say I could putt straight, I could determine the rolling speed, say I could repetitively execute the same putting stroke, say I am willing to spend hours and hours to practice putting, but how could I determine the slope on the green? How am I able to “practice” how to read breaks? Determining slope or break on the green is more a personal intuition and experience from the combined judgments from rolling speed, grains, putting strokes and etc.

First, putt straight directly aiming to the pole / hole with the correct speed, if there is a right-to-left break, the ball will break away to the left.

Second, virtually measure how much the break is by determining the distance from the ball that comes to a stop to the hole. This distance should be how much the break is, thus on the next putt, I should aim to the right with such measured distance

Third, putt by aiming to the right with the distance measured using the same stroke from the first putt. Fine tuned the stroke or breaks if the ball does not drop into the hole

Fourth, read the green again by squatting down, from 20 feet away or from the other side of the hole, “train” the brain to recognize the break and slope-reading.

2007-09-26T15:41:00.000-04:00

Wondering if you know . . .

There are only three parts to the golf club – the head, the shaft, and the grip – it isn’t a complex equipment, but if you have the wrong head, shaft or grip the equipment will be near impossible for you to play the game.
Your driver swing speed will determine you driver loft and shaft flex.
Your 5 iron swing speed will determine the flex of the shafts in your iron.
Every golfer looking at a driver in a golf store looks at the head first and then holds the club by the grip and waggles the club. However, he or she rarely looks at the most important part – the shaft. (Check it our next time you are in a golf store.)
The correct driver for you is not the one you can hit the farthest. It is the one you can hit with consistency farthest.
Loft is your friend.
The shaft is the engine of the club. Arguably, it is 55% importance of the club, the head is 40% and the grip 5%. Why doesn’t anyone look more at the shaft?
The average length of a driver on the PGA tour is 44.5”.
The golf industry has no standard flexes. What is a stiff flex for one shaft manufacturer is can be a regular flex for another.
Most – not all, clubheads are made in a few foundries in mainland China. So what is the difference between Titleist and TaylorMade? It is probably manufactured in different province.
Have not seen any Original Equipment Maker (OEM) that makes their own shafts. They are jobbed out to shaft companies, sometimes multiple companies for the same shaft.
The golf industry has no standard length for golf clubs. A poor man’s custom set of clubs includes a set of clubs where all the clubs are cut ½” apart, the grips are all the same, the swing weight is the same through out the irons and through out the woods, and the loft and lie are correct.
Lie is one of the most important physical attributes of your irons. If the lie is wrong, that is either flat or upright; your shots will go left or right, more in the wedges and less in the long irons. Why doesn’t anyone look more at the lie angle?
Do you know that a 10.5° driver is only 10.5° at the “sweet spot?” It can be as much as 13° at the top of the face and 9° at the bottom – that is because of the roundness of the head from top to bottom. The horizontal “roundness” of a club, from side to side, is called bulge. If you want to hit your 10.5° driver at 10.5°, you better hit it at the sweet spot.
Did you know the “sweet spot” is exactly a spot on the face of a club? It is not an “area”. You cannot increase the size of the “sweet spot.” You can increase the hitting area – but not the sweet spot.
Nearly all clubs heads are made with plus or minus 1 degree in loft and that very same driver compare to number #20 may really be a 10.5° or 12.5° club. Nearly all OEM irons are made with plus or minus 1 SW difference, 3 iron could be a D1 while PW is D3.

-- in reference to California Custom Clubs

2007-07-07T13:53:00.000-04:00

New Club to the bag?

I am hooked by the new Miura Giken MD390...

Looking at my bag now...

Driver: Nakashima NP-1 + Fujikura Speeder 757 = $300 + $250 = $550
3 Wood: Mizuno MP-001 = $299
Utility: TaylorMade Rescue Mid + Banzai 83 = $180 + $50 = $230
3 ~ P Iron: Mizuno MP-32 + Dynamic Gold S300 = $850
Wedges: Mizuno MPR 54 + MPR 60 = $99 + $99 = $198
Putter: Gauge Design GAA = $250

Total Retail Cost: $2377

Ebay worth value: maybe 40% of retail?
Golf, can drive me nuts, really.

2007-07-06T23:17:00.000-04:00

Golf and Photography

One of my talented colleagues, who is a good amateur photographer that I admire, told me this tips once...
"How do you take a good picture in the dark without tripod?"
"The answer is simple, breathe out slowly before pressing the shuttle, that is the time when the body is most quiet and relaxed."

Most quiet and relax.... Most the time we pull an erratic swing in golf is due to our tempo is missed or off. In other words, either we hold our breath too long or we introduce too much "force" to generate an erratic powerful swing, rather than the smooth and relaxed swing that is desired.

I tried this method on golf course the other day, breathe out slowly before I initialized my driving swing, the result is rather impressive, I managed to keep 12 drives out of 15 trials on the fairway.

Thanks to my colleague's expertise in photography and generosity to share, this is the best tips I ever received, through the art of perspective in colors...

2007-07-05T10:52:00.000-04:00

Golf and Stocks

Always feel unjustified when golfers with the lousy swing mechanics play a better score than I do.

While I am struggling to get my shoulder turn correctly, making sure my spine angle is maintained, stable footwork, strong grip... These guys with hands way outside the left foot at address, bouncing vertically up on downswings, hands dominant rotation end up with a score unjustifiably impressive.

It is then I realize a similarity between golf and stock investing. Stocks in general go bullish over the time. A guy who is ignorant to stocks, providing that he is not too greedy and just simply purchase some fundamental strong stocks, most likely he will earn a good return over the time.

A golf swing, no matter how is it being produced, generates enough force to push the ball forward. With less distance and less airborne time from these poor swings, it actually reduces the chance of generating errors on course. It is the same that as if the same person invest in stocks, without rapidly getting in and out of market, the chance of him being dragged down by directional movements in the market is greatly reduced.

It it golfers that understand the half of it yet not skillful enough in consistency that will lead huge problems onto the golf course.

To improve and play to the full potential, full knowledge and capable of applying it on course is the ultimate challenge. Yet, knowing half the knowledge and incapable of applying it is worst.

2007-05-17T22:59:00.000-04:00

Hot Face
...
Long drive contestants always have a bag full of drivers - names like Alpha, SMT, Bang and Ashton - built to withstand competitive abuse of swing speeds north of 140 mph. They constantly test their drivers to try to figure out which one will perform best. One of the tests they use is to lay the edge of a credit card across the face of their driver. In time, the driver face begins to flatten. At that point, the face has weakened. That's also the point when it flexes the most, when the face is the 'hottest'. Once the heads reached this stage, they are reserved for competition.
...
The flex and hot face mentioned above also known as the trampoline effect... Where USGA has limited it to 0.83 COR..So I guess keep using the same driver.... If change to a new driver, buy it used and always carry a credit card for measurement.... After all, it is true that the more and hard you drive, the further the ball goes...

*source: GolfTodayMagazine.com

2007-05-17T22:58:00.000-04:00

USGA Limit on Driver Head Size

As manufacturers discovered how to make driver heads out of titanium balloons, the USGA decided that they had to set a size limit. They chose 460 cubic centimeters. Why?
...
A few lesser component companies had released drivers in the 500cc range that looked like something a circus clown would carry. There was no evidence that super-large drivers delivered any performance advantage. Why bother?
...
One of the most renowned designers and manufacturers of golf equipment is Katsuhiro Miura. Mr. Miura is the founder and inspiration behind Miura golf, widely regarded as producing the best forged irons in the world. Mr. Miura has planned to introduce his own drivers and fairway woods for several years. In that time, he has studied performance and workability. When his new driver is released in a few weeks, it will be less than 400 cc. Just as skirts always get longer after they get shorter, I predict that better players will be rediscovering drivers in the 400 cc size range in the near future.

*source: GolfTodayMagazine.com

2006-12-26T15:30:00.000-05:00

Rhythm is a Hacker

If hips rotate faster than hands,
I will send the ball to the right pushing the shot.
If hands swing down faster than hips,
I will send the ball to the left producing a pull shot.

It is the swing tempo that is to blame,
Why am I busy checking my grip, spine angle and stance?
Swing rhythm is a real hacker,
It creeps in whilst I am golfing tired and asleep.

2006-12-18T11:37:00.000-05:00

Learning from Pain

I love practicing in the winter season. Love it because the driving range that I go to provides discount on balls. For the regular "Eagle" size basket, I could get "Albatross" size during the winter season for the same amount of money.

That is a whoopy 250 balls at one shot. For a weekend golfer like me, this is a lot of practice balls. If I pre-swing averagely one swing per ball, I will easily swing 500 times during that practicing period. Swinging these many times only lead me to one result: Extreme exhaustion and muscle pain all over.

Muscle pain has become a routine that I live by on most weekends. Depending on what I am working on, I will get pain from different areas. Of course, this includes pain in areas that is not suppose to be but caused by improper golf swings. I have learned to notice that it is such a good indicator to inform myself if I have done something correctly intended or something wrong unconsciously. For instance, if I am working on spine angle for the first time, I will feel tremendous pain at the lower back afterwards. If I am working on the weight transfer, I will feel pain from the knee areas.

After some time of pain torturing every week, I start questioning what is the point of punishing myself with consistent pain and no immediate result? I was asking this until I read Tiger's thoughts in Golf Digest today: "My whole idea is I will outwork you, so that in the end, I will be better than you." It is then I get to realize the truth behind "No Pain, No Gain." I need to out-pain myself, so in the end, I will be better than myself yesterday.

This is really a painful lesson, literally.

2006-11-17T15:24:00.000-05:00

Struggling Waist

"I had paid attention to everything that I knew, I was swinging fine and hitting good shots, what is going on now?!" Golf likes to throws puzzle at me from time to time, out of the blue.

I was swinging and hitting ball badly, disappointed and disturbed. All a sudden a sensation of muscle spasms from lower back snapped me. On other days, I would have not noticed what the difference was, but on that particular moment, doing the painful practice repeatedly had put a lot of strain on the muscle group and it alerted me. I realized then I had a problem of stretching the lower back muscle properly. Even though I cautiously trying to maintain my spine angle and hips rotation, a discomfort lower back muscles had forced me to think I was doing the right movements which were actually improper.

Golf is interesting; it helps me to understand a lot about body movements which I never knew before. What I noticed then was that like any rubber bands, stored energy in muscle group is lost when it is over stretched. How did I know I sprain too much on the lower back muscle? I tried a simple torso rotation; I could not do it smoothly without consciously controlling my upper shoulder turns. This consciousness confused the swing rhythm of my body and hand synchronization. As a result I was not able to maintain a constant spine angle, even though I thought I did and rotated clumsily even though I thought I didn’t.

I have heard over stretching limbs and over swinging turns, perhaps I should add this new vocabulary of over stretching lower back to my little-white-ball’s dictionary.

2006-10-26T15:04:00.000-04:00

Putting Speed

The interesting thing in golfing is the shorter the club length goes, the more it demands sensitivity in the golfer’s touch. When it comes to putting, sensitivity of the speed is the ultimate factor.

Just the other day, all the putts that I tried to make, I continuously lipping them out of the hole, the ball just refuse to drop in. It followed the right path, the right line, but it would circle around the edge of the 3 inches hole and roll out in the direction where I least desired it to go. I figure it did not drop into the hole for two reasons: 1. The putt was not accurate enough and the ball touched the edge a bit too much. 2. I had introduced too much force on the ball and the speed did not dissipated when it reached the hole.

If the ball had carried just enough speed when it reached the hole, it would have dropped into the hole as gravity would pull it down.

“Never up, never in” is always a common slogan in putting, yet to satisfy this, the first condition has to met where it has to be accurate enough. Here is the catch, if the ball carries enough speed to pass the hole as “Never Up” suggested, the path will not be right as it might has less break along the line because speed overcomes gravity. Thus, condition 1 will not be satisfied where it needs accuracy. If condition 1 is not satisfied, then “Never Up, Never In” will not be true because there is no chance for the ball to get into the hole at all when the path is off and more than enough “speed” is introduced.

I say to successful read a putt, first determine the speed, and then read the break. Only when the speed is right, only then the path could be accurate.

2006-10-19T11:58:00.000-04:00

Within myself

"I want it now or I am going to freak out" has always been my impatient attitude on the course. Unfortunately this is never natural to the game of golf. When I carried such thought to the course, usually I was going to choose the wrong club and performed a swing that spread wider than my posture allowed.

To maximize the distance, I have to apply the maximum strength under the synchronized tempo but swing within myself. To achieve better accuracy, I have to exert a compact swing but swing within myself.

My posture, when ready, is within my two feet, with weight balance transfering from one side to the other during the downswing. Whenever I demand a result impatiently, I am going to throw myself off and the result is as wild as my imagination can leads to.

Swing within myself with maximized effort is the most contradictive logic I could think of. Though like in daily life, I think it is what golf is about.

2006-10-16T15:36:00.000-04:00

Golf Scoring

Remember that when I was still a student, I always wonder how some of my fellow classmates scored so well in examinations. When the same people were asked to do a simple project, they were as good as Dumb and Dumber. For the average norms, some people just know how to be good enough to score well in examinations. It is a skill I never master; it is a talent I never comprehend. I wonder if it is the same in scoring in golf….

The objective of golf is simple, hit a ball with a flat head stick and try to roll this ball to the 3-inches-hole couple hundred yards away in least strokes applied. There are many ways to achieve this. Yet to score low, the critical key is to keep the ball in play. Just the other day I played with an experience golfer, he did not hit far and he did not have spectacular shots, not even a good swing and rhythm, but all shots are well managed and he eventually scored lower than me. The truth is, he knows how to score.

As a student, unless I know the subject really well, I will not score well in the examination. If I just know well enough on the subject and I do not have the skill and talent to identify and learn the topics which will be in examinations, I am going to suffer badly. As a golfer, unless I know the swing and master how to apply it consistently, I will not play well in a round of golf. If I just know well enough and cannot consistently carry out the swing sequences, I will be better off just keeping the ball in play, if my ultimate goal is to obtain a lower score.

2006-10-05T11:38:00.000-04:00

Wine Unloading Tempo

Two men were unloading boxes of wine bottles from a truck. One man was inside the truck, picking them and loading them onto a raised wheel-ramp where the boxes would slide down to the end of the truck. The second man picked them up and stacked them onto a trolley before they were carried into the store.

The pair worked in synchronized rhythm and the boxes were unloaded efficiently. First man placed box onto the ramp, box slide downward, second man caught it, turned around and stacked it up. It was done in a fast coordinated tempo.
There was this one box, while the trolley was full, second man was busy securing the boxes; the first man did not notice and continued putting it on the ramp. The box slide down, to the end of the truck and straight to the ground. Box cracked and bottles shattered.

This is what happens when tempo is off. If the first man is the lower body and second man is the upper body, or the first man is the torso and the second man is the hands, when one is done faster or slower than the other, bottles shatter.

Both men can work in fast or slow pace, it is the synchronization that matters to a smooth tempo.

2006-09-18T23:13:00.000-04:00

First read about this from Golf magazine, found it inspiring. Second time watched it on Golf Channels where Nick Bradley himself promoted his book and idea. Found that he introduced the very critical concepts in modern golf swing, could be extremely beneficial.

Worth the attention spent, I think.

2006-09-18T11:28:00.000-04:00

Weight Transfer

I learned the mechanics, I learned the swing path, stance, wrist hinging, shoulders turn, knee bending, spine angle, hips initiation. I learned the rhythm, swing weighting, course managing, lie reading.... Among all these, somehow I have forgotten to learn and figure out the proper weight transfer.

Ohh, weight transfer doesn't come in naturally in golf swings, at least not for me. Without the sequential progress in transferring weight, all the things mentioned above could be as good as rubbish.

Weight transfer is about first shifting body mass from center to right in backswing and than from right to left in downswing and follow through. Practically, this mass is within the body and it relies on me to move this static mass by stressing on different muscle group both right and left sides. However, as interesting as it sounds, I need to perform this "silent" motion through a stable hip. While I feel the body mass is being moved from one side to the other, I should not have acted as I have moved from one side to the other if viewed externally. This is definitely not easy, especially executing this on a driver where swing speed determines distance. My thighs have to be strong enough to support the repetitive movement of this silent motion but my hips have to be stable.

I have to create a motion which does not move, this is as easy as it gets.

To top off the easiness on weight transferring, all this motion needs to be completed in a particular timing of swing or it will be out of rhythm, which will result a bad outcome that is worst enough for me to break the shaft.

All this time, I have taken this silent motion for granted. Yet, I can assure you that 8 out of 10 weekend golfers carry the same mistake as I do but they think that they know this by heart. I say weight transfer did not receive the attention that it should be receiving, for one it is hard to describe, for second it is not an interesting topic. Next time if you see me standing with my feet apart at shoulder width, doing this weird action of hips shifting, don’t laugh, I am doing my weight transfer practice.

2006-09-14T21:44:00.000-04:00

Shanking

There are quite a few shots shaping that a golfer can produce. For a high handicapper, among these, many are unintended results.

One of these unintended shots is topping the ball. Topping the ball usually produces a flight that is low but straight, it could loose distance but the damage is usually not severe.

Another type of undesired ball shaping is slicing or hooking. Slice being the most frustrating. Slicing shot is caused by hands extended too forward in front and pulled in to the side. Usually this is done when distance is needed thus more force is introduced, yet it is producing unintended result that goes sideway, causing extreme frustration.

The most severe and unforgiving “shots shaping” is shanking. It lost distance and gained unneeded distance instead, totally missed target and opportunity wasted. Most importantly, it invited tons of embarrassment to the golfer. Shanking is also addictive, it arrived when you are least prepared and it will stick around till you give up golfing. If the root cause of shanking is not determined, it could appear occasionary and embarrassed the hell out of the golfer.

Imagine that when the shanker is standing at the tee box, focusing to launch the ball, pointed the shoulder to the target, aligned the hips, aimed the club face, repeated the routine, waggled the butt, playing partners waiting and there he swung, the ball flew sideway and almost hit the playing partner who is standing in front by 2 feet! When that happened, distance lost, stroke lost, ball lost and accompanied by lot of uneasiness. Confidence is shaken, anxiousness is raised.

Eliminate shanking should be the first priority; It is the most useless “shot shaping” a golfer could have.

2006-09-12T22:29:00.000-04:00

Accept in Confidence

The more I know and practice, the harder for me to gain confidence. This is easily reflected in my swing of driver vs irons on the course. On the days I drove well, my irons were less satisfying and vice versa.

A friend told me: "Accept the distance that your driver is far." This is a unique statement and it caught my attention.

What is the real reason behind this so called phenomenon? My explaination is simple, I lack of confidence in accepting the expected truth. On those days that I drove well, I intended to hit my irons better, but the truth was that there was only so much I can produce with the current skill level. I tried to push the limit on the course and that was what caused me to pay for unnecessary mistake(s). From a polarized view point, I could not accept the fact that my driver was already far enough for my skill level, thus I should accept it and play with the recorgnized truth.

When I screwed up my drivers, I tried to be safer in irons and thus my irons were played better. Why did I drive badly at the first place? It was because I tried to produce distance further than my actual norms, again I was lack of confidence of accepting the distance I could actually launch.

This statement strikes me like a thunder. Accepting the fact of how good you are is sometimes as hard as accepting the fact of how bad you are.

2006-09-08T15:25:00.000-04:00

“Golf Instruction”

In Wikipedia.com, it cited:

“Anyone can play the game of golf. Golf requires practice and some basic instruction on technique, equipment, rules and etiquette.”
“Golf students have different learning styles. There are Show-Me Golfers and I-Am-What-I-Am Golfers. Show-me golfers are eager to try new ideas, new equipment, new teachers, and new locations. They are the golfers most willing to contemplate a complete rebuilding of the golf swing. I-Am-What-I-Am golfers tend to more conservative in their approach to new ideas and techniques, tend to favor their old clubs and tested instruction techniques, and prefer tinkering with their swing rather than rebuilding from scratch.”
“The most important things a golfer learns are correct posture, grip, alignment and the golf swing itself.” … “Great ball-striking golfers all have great club position at impact and tremendous swing velocity, generated by correct application of the fundamentals.”

I found this short article about Golf Instruction fairly interesting, especially the middle paragraph where it illustrates two types of students, Show-Me Golfer and I-am-what-I-am Golfer.

I believe Tiger Woods and Vijay Singh are good representatives of these two types. Tiger abandoned his already successful swing and rebuilt from fundamental up, Vijay is known to be the hardest working golfer on Tour who repeats his practice the most. Tiger is continuing his journey to be the legend, yet Vijay is continuing his faith sliding down the world ranking.

Show-Me and I-am-what-I-am golfing types definitely deserve one to pay attention to.

2006-09-07T12:44:00.000-04:00

Two Mentalities

Mentality one: Fundamentalist. I brainstorm my game plan, try to execute it as accurate as possible, once I missed, I try to get back to the original plan and foundation.
Mentality two: Liberalist. I brainstorm my game plan, try to follow the plan, once I missed, I play as it goes depending on conditions and situations I am facing.

Scenario 1: Par 4, 350 yards, dog-leg left, bunkers at 230 yards, hazards before green.
I planned a two-on attempt, first drive to the turning at dog-leg besides the bunker, a short iron approach shot to green, aim for 1 putt for birdies and 2nd putt as backup.
It is always easy when things are all within imagination. Reality:
I launched a good drive but did not land where I targeted and it dropped at the edge of the fairway bunker. Not a bad shot but left me a difficult condition to play my approach shot. I did not have a good stance and missed my second shot, pull hooked it and it landed into the left rough before the water hazard, a tree trunk is partially blocking my path to green. At this point, I could chip out and try to get back on track as pointed out in mentality one or I could try a punch shot approaching the green as pointed in mentality two. Mentality one will get me bogey at best but mentality two will get me par at best. What should I do?

Scenario 2: Par 5, 510 yards, straight but sloped fairway, bunkers at 240 yards and around the green, trees along the fairway.
I planned a three on attempt, driver 250 yards, 3 wood 220 yards and a pitch approach shot.
Again, it is always ideal in the world of imagination, Reality:
I slightly pulled my driver, ball landed short on the first cut rough to the left, leaving me about 295 yards to green. Not a big problem but I did not get the perfect lie as I planned; no obstacles are blocking me but wide open and long distance fairway to green. At this point, applying mentality one, I could use my 3 wood and get back on track as planned. Applying mentality two, I could use a utility club and aim for short iron instead of wedge for 3rd shot. Mentality one will get me three on at best, so is mentality two. What should I do?

Two mentalities, two scenarios and the results between rewards and risks could be as wide as Grand Canyon.

2006-09-05T12:03:00.000-04:00

Percentage

This is a game of percentage. How successful one can execute the shots depends on the statistical probability of one's past performance.

If I slice the driver 80% of the time, statistically speaking I only have 20% chance of keeping the ball in play. If my slice caused me an extra or two strokes every time and if I need to use the driver 14 times in a round, I will expect to give away 80% * 14 * 2 = 22.4 strokes easily during a round. These strokes are merely from OB or poor lie or difficult shots that caused by the slice, not to mention failed attempts to rescue the ball back in play. If I missed an attempt rescued shots, a 2 shots will become a 3 or 4 before I could think of approach shot or short game to finishing up the hole.

Though, avoiding the driver is not an intelligent move either. On average if a good drive will land me 220 yards, using a high success rate iron only serve me 150 yards, percentage wise I am loosing 70 yards on every hole. Again, if there are 14 holes that require distance and I am loosing 70 yards 14 times in a round, it is 980 yards in total. Suppose I have 80% success rate in launching this 150 yards, 20% of error * 150= 120 yards which requires me extra 9 strokes to accomplish the distance left. 9 strokes are added to my handicap, not mentioning errors that I might have encountered within these attempts.

The only resolution to resolve this issue is to reduce my low percentage shots at the first place. If I have 18 strokes given away every round caused by driver, I better increase the success rate to at least 80% before I could significantly reduce my score. I don’t know how others recommend on practice, but I will keep doing the same routine and drill repetitively until I could increase the probability of launching a high percentage shot.

2006-09-02T00:29:00.000-04:00

When wood meets wood

It is not Tiger Woods, it is about my driver and fairway wood.

I went to driving range for my practice session. It was a good night, started from my SW all the way to 4I, everything worked fine, this was rare and I was happy this night was the night. Since I had such a good experience so far, I wanted it to be completed with driver. Blood was flowing, adrenaline was rushing, mind was beating... After a few loose swing with the driver, I was ready to complete the satisfying practice for the night.

The address was good, the backswing was good and I was excited to launch the first driving shot. On the way down, I heard this loud clinking sound and my swing was blocked. The driver head hit the fairway wood which was rested quietly in my stand bag nearby. What happened when titanium meets stainless steel? They created a crystal clinking sound. Where did this energy released to? It chipped off the nice paint job at the bottom of the driver. This was really annoying to a person who took care of his custom built driver seriously. It took me almost 30 mins and 30 balls later before I could calm my frustration.

What did this incident told me? Three things:
1. When excitement took over the swing rhythmn, I would introduce unnecessary force on the down swing that caused hands to race over torso turning, extending my hands prematurely.
2. My downswing path was acceptable as it was the paint on the bottom heel side of the driver that was chipped, thus my driver was pointing upward at waist height.
3. Never rush, surface beauty does not last.

2006-08-31T15:09:00.000-04:00

Coil in Body

If my body is constructed by rubber or synthetic like material, I think driving a ball so far that I will lose sight of it will be a simple task. Unlike rubber, it is very difficult for me to store sufficient “kinetic energy” in my body so I could release them forcefully onto the ball. Like rubber, when I intend to store too much energy, it will snap and all stored energy is released unintentionally.

Always hear that keep the head down, keep the ankle bent, keep swing smooth, keep it simple…. I think the main point behind all these is to maintain a motion that is not over extending any parts of the body so the energy stored is preserved. Keeping the spine angle allows me to maintain proper swing path, thus chance of producing a clean hit is easier. Keeping the ankle bend allow me to transfer weight easier, keeping the swing smooth means no over-swing that will cause unintended lost of force or avoid additional force on downswing that introduce unnecessary club manipulation.

Properly coiling the body is the fundamental step to build energy, keeping limbs bend is “storing” the energy. Releasing energy is uncoiling the body, fully extending limbs and weight transferring from back to front at the moment of impact. Capturing the correct rhythm to exert all this motion in the right time will efficiently launch the ball, without any regret holding back.

Keeping the rubber extended to the right amount of tension is all swing energy storing is about. Any part of the body that is doing any movement that is leaking this energy is just causing difficulty in the motion of launching the little white ball.

2006-08-29T13:42:00.000-04:00

Short Game Improvement

Short Game improvement is usually defined as improvement on short distance golf shots that lies within the range of around 100 yards. These are usually the partial-swing shots performed by wedges or lower number clubs used in chipping, etc.

It is said that Improvement in short game will improve my overall golf game. I always wonder what exactly this mean. Talking to a friend makes me realize that this statement is so misleading. Improvement in short game means increasing my capability of rescuing shots that I have missed earlier and capable of bringing troublesome shots back to play. This will save me from wasting unneeded strokes that I am incapable of performing if my skill in short game is unsatisfactory.

Two IFs arise:
If my “Long” game is not so poor that they are devastating, than my short game left for me should be easy, e.g. a normal bunker shot, a normal chipping.
If I focus on improving my short game, then I will master my short irons and wedges better, I will be able to perform these clubs easier than others. On the opposite, if I focus on improving my long irons instead, then I will perform better shots in longer distance relatively. Thus, if I just focus on few clubs, no matter long or short, I will bring improvement to the game.

It is the long woods and long irons that put troubles into a short game at the first place, focusing on rescuing might immediately lower my score significantly. Think about it, if I am bad enough to put a shot into the bush, most likely I am bad enough and not have the skill to bring it back into play. Being able to rescue it will significantly lower my ballooned score overall. Though, this does not mean it improves my overall golf game, because I still did not resolve the source that causes it to be disastrous at the first place.

2006-08-28T11:09:00.000-04:00

Hands

What are the hands doing during the action of making a golf swing? I have been pondering over this since I started wondering what an efficient swing in golf is. There are concepts floating around that are enough to confuse a cow to climb a tree.

Let’s be subjective, prejudiced and selective in choosing about all these theories that make sense. In a good control swing, it is said that the hands should be in front of the torso at all time. Though what is “in front of torso” from back swing to follow through? I initiated a back swing, bringing the hands slightly to my right (for a right hander), at the same time I started rotating my torso with shoulders square facing to the right. What did my hands do at this point? I keep them in place in front of me. If isolating hands movement from the rest of the body, what I did with the hands relatively is I simply brought my hands up, collapsed them at my right elbow and raised them up above my right shoulder, with left hand much more extended than my right hand.

On the downswing, I do the same thing, I keep my hands in front of me at all times, I started bringing my hands down from my right shoulder, bring them back to where I started initially at stance. On the follow though, I bring my hands up again and raise them above my left shoulders (at this phrase it is done passively). In other words, isolating hands from body movement, I simply do a U-shape raising hands up and down from right to left shoulders. Pairing this movement with rotation from torso turning, I then created a swinging motion, I rotate to the right while raising the hands to the right shoulder, I rotate back to the middle while dropping the hands and I rotate to the left while raising the hands to the left shoulder. I do not swing hands left and right and I do not do bend torso up and down through out the golf swing.

When I look at torso rotation with hands motion together in a whole piece, I will see a smooth swing path and in sync motion of golf swing. The hands are not doing more things than necessary and the torso is not rising more than it should.

2006-08-23T14:47:00.000-04:00

Driving Range

I like to visit the driving range. I go there for practice, but this is not the reason I like visiting there.

Driving Range that is accessible to me is usually crowded. It is hardly ever I have seen good practice area that is vacant. I like to sit behind and watch how golfers practice. You will be surprise how much you can learn from simply watching how other golfers make their golf swings. There are all kind of swings golfers can produce at the driving range, paired by their sometimes arrogant, satistying and serious look on their face, you can tell how good a golfer really is.

However, the most beneficial reason watching other golfers are it allows me to see my mistakes being reflected by them, vividly and detaily. I have not found another method that is more compact and efficient than watch and learn. Throughly and detaily inspect another golfer swinging the white ball, I can realize what I was doing, am doing and should be doing.

This may not be the most welcomed method, but definitely very rewarding.

2006-08-10T20:32:00.000-04:00

Straight Shot

This is how the conversatiom goes:
"It is a very short Par 4, if you can drive 220, 230 yards, you can reach the green in one...."
"...then it is meant for you, that is the right distance and you said you can drive straight now..."
"Do you know how accurate you need to be to do that? The green is surrounded by hazards..."
"Didn't you say you can drive straight?"
"Straight in the range of +/- 25 yards on either side."
"haha, what a large margin of error for the word 'straight'..."

If straight shot is executed and external factor such as wind or air temperature is not affecting the outcome, then I believe the issue of failing to reach green in one is not in golfing anymore.

How many kind of straight shots can one execute? I wonder...

2006-08-09T12:01:00.000-04:00

Light Reading

I am fortunate to start golf in this era that is flooded by information. Without much effort, I could pick up a Golf magazine or browse to a web site where "experts" explain how to play golf.

Tumbled across a website and an article in Golf Tips magazine this month where out of the blue I read similar concepts from two sources at the same time. I guess it is because the moon is full and the tide is high that have increased the chance of such coincidence. The concept illustrates the separation of the lower and upper body during swing or as Golf Tips describes it as rotary or lever swing.

The lever or non-separated swing concept suggested that arms and hands are the initiation of downswing. They lead the motion as the body follows. Shoulder and hip level remains parallel during ball impact. This method allows force (work) to be exerted effectively onto the little white ball.

The rotary swing concept suggested that lower body (hips) leads the downswing as many great players such as Ben Hogan did. This swing allows hands to catch on and hit the ball as hips rotate and face the target. Shoulder and hips level are not parallel during impact.

Though, these two concepts are not the same as difference between swing dominated by arms only without torso turning and swing with torso turning.

While scigolf website encourages the non-separated swing mechanics, article in Golf Tips magazine advises golfers to choose the suitable swing type according to one's physical advantage. My limited knowledge and experience in golf indicate that the separated swing mechanics is the way to go and I have devoted myself to practice accordingly, until now…

Sometimes, knowing just enough to confuse over selections is just as painful, yet I figure it is still better than not knowing. It is definitely some light reading I have….

2006-08-04T17:50:00.000-04:00

Momentum

In search of the efficient swing that produces most distance, I search for ideas that "experts" have that transfer maximum momentum from club head to the ball. Found this and I think it worths reading:

http://www.scigolf.com/scigolf/myths/myth4.htm
http://www.scigolf.com/scigolf/myths/index.htm

2006-08-03T15:58:00.000-04:00

Understanding

Take a driver; slightly open up the face and isolate all other body motion, judging from the swing path, if I swing inside-in, I will produce a fade. If I swing outside-in, I produce a slice, if I swing inside-out, I produce a push.

If I slightly close the face and isolate all other body motion, judging from the swing path, If I swing inside-out, I will produce a hook, if I swing inside-in, I produce a draw, if I swing outside-in, I produce a pull.

Again, take a driver, square the face and isolate all other body motion except the hips, slide the hips to the right (right handed) on the back swing and slide it to the left on down swing, I will produce a reverse pivot on back swing and probably a reverse C on follow through, dissipating power and losing ball distance. If timing is right and I execute this movement properly, club path could be so steep that I could deloft a 11 degree club to 8 degree. This could also be the source of sky-mark shot if I exaggerate the hips movement tremendously.

Isolating all body motions and square the club, move the knees rapidly on swing and I will produce unproductive fat or thin shots. This is especially similar to me not stabilizing my spine angle and raising the torso. Always heard the term “Keep your head down”? It should be more precise as “Keep the spine angle steady”

Cocking the wrist too late encourage power and control lost. Over extending the hands and raise it too high will encourage casting that disturbs the swing rhythm. Keep hands loosely from the body will promote uncontrollable shots, keeping them too tight to the body cause blockage in turns.

To maximize the ball distance, I have to rely on more torso twisting and legs muscle to initiate the downswing, If I use hands to initiate downswing, all I do is feel I swing harder which has no effect on distance.

If I use very forgiving clubs, I am aiming to hit straight shots. There is no point for me to shape shots with very forgiving clubs. I should use light and more flexible shafts to pair with forgiving head for optimum performance. Keeping the ball in play should be my objective goal.

I will go for more traditional forged clubs if I target for feel. I will also opt for heavier and stiffer shaft if occasionally I like to push my limit, max my distance and get instant feedback, shape some shots to challenge the course situations.

These understanding is critical or I could practice like a golf donkey. I wonder how much more is there to know?

2006-07-31T10:13:00.000-04:00

Hitting down on it

This is an old topic that one can read or hear from everywhere, anywhere that has materials which is golf related. To launch a golf ball, I have to simply hit down on the ball instead of "lift" the ball up. The golf club has to be on a descending path, impacts with the white ball before the club continues its path and reaches the ground, finally scoops away some dirt and grass as divot.

Every golfer knows about this. It is well known fact.

How easy is to execute it? While it is easy to know the idea of hitting down, it is not quite easy to know how to "hit down". At least not for me.

There was a time when my driver was not working well and I relied on my 3 wood most the time. I was hitting down on it well. Though, a few of my friends who were new to the game, as I was back then, kept complaining that their fairway woods are not working well. You know, complaints are contagious; they affect you like rust erodes on steel. I lost my trust on the 3 wood one day. I could hit it well one day, the other day I would topped the ball, pulled or simply just skulled the ball. Surprisingly, I was hitting the driver relatively well then.

To hit a good driver, I need a good ascending blow to the ball. To hit a good 3 wood, especially when the white ball is on the ground, I need a good descending blow. The length is similar for both clubs, it is easily confusing for me to address the ball wrongly. If I am not able to distinguish between the two, I could simply hit the driver and not the fairway wood, or vice versa.

2006-07-29T00:22:00.000-04:00

Simply Beauty

http://www.nike.com/nikegolf

2006-07-26T15:17:00.000-04:00

7 Iron

Know a person who always practice with his 7 iron. He will practice with other clubs, top the driver, pull the long irons, hitting fat with the wedges and he always return to his 7 iron.

Other golfers have advised him that he has to play or practice other clubs in order to be able to score lower, many times it is his driving or chipping that costs him most. I say 14 clubs are actually too many. If this person I know can play his 7 iron so well, he might as well just use 7 iron for teeing off, for 2nd shot, for approach shot and for chipping. He will score better with a 7 iron and putter if he is confident in it and he can shape all different shots at any distance.

It is his bad practice in one 7 iron that costs him, not because he did not master other clubs. It is because of his unskillful 7 iron that will cost him.

2006-07-25T21:35:00.000-04:00

Knee in Stance

The other day a friend of mine who is a single handicap golfer shranked a chip shot. He shranked not only once but few times. Well, there is a reason why he is a single handicap golfer, it doesn't take him too long to realize he has developed a serious problem. Average golfers might take longer to realize their problems, but not my friend, not him.

He later told me that it is the ball position in his stance that caused the shranking. Why is it caused by static ball position and not swing motion? This is what a confident single handicap is capable of, he trusted his swing. He explained that over the time the ball moved a little and little, until one day when the moon is full, the tide is risen and the wolf is howling, the ball had finally moved too much and the disaster then appeared. His coment is check my stance often to build a consistent swing.

I am sure my friend checks his stance constantly, it is really not easy to maintain single handicap. Though what and how to check ball position? I realize that if I open my feet a little, I feel the ball is more to the center than it is. If I tilt my shoulder a little more for a high lofted shot, the ball might seems a little more forward. Well, I decided to make use of my knees, while all other variables could change, my knees are always there to support my weight. If my body mass is at the center between my knees, my stance should be good for a balanced swing, so is the ball position, I believe.

Look no further than ball in reference to the knees, I think it will help me much to eliminate one of the common errors: the faulty ball posititon.