Thursday, June 29, 2006

Visualisation - anyone heard this tale

“Major James Nesmeth had a dream of improving his golf game - and he developed a unique method of achieving his goal. Until he devised this method, he was just your average weekend golfer, shooting in mid- to low-nineties. Then, for seven years, he completely quit the game. Never touched a club. Never set foot on a fairway.

Ironically, it was during this seven-year break from the game that Major Nesmeth came up with his amazingly effective technique for improving his game - a technique we can all learn from. In fact, the first time he set foot on a golf course after his hiatus from the game, he shot an astonishing 74! He had cut 20 strokes off his average without having swung a golf club in seven years! Unbelievable. Not only that, but his physical condition had actually deteriorated during those seven years. What was Major Nesmeth's secret? Visualization. You see, Major Nesmeth had spent those seven years as a prisoner of war in North Vietnam. During those seven years, he was imprisoned in a cage that was approximately four and one-half feet high and five feet long.

During almost the entire time he was imprisoned, he saw no one, talked to no one and experienced no physical activity. During the first few months he did virtually nothing but hope and pray for his release. Then he realized he had to find some way to occupy his mind or he would lose his sanity and probably his life. That's when he learned to visualize.
In his mind, he selected his favorite golf course and started playing golf. Every day, he played a full 18 holes at the imaginary country club of his dreams. He experienced everything to the last detail. He saw himself dressed in his golfing clothes. He smelled the fragrance of the trees and the freshly trimmed grass. He experienced different weather conditions - windy spring days, overcast winter days, and sunny summer mornings. In his imagination, every detail of the tee, the individual blades of grass, the trees, the singing birds, the scampering squirrels and the lay of the course became totally real.

He felt the grip of the club in his hands. He instructed himself as he practiced smoothing out his down-swing and the follow-through on his shot. Then he watched the ball arc down the exact center of the fairway, bounce a couple of times and roll to the exact spot he had selected, all in his mind. In the real world, he was in no hurry. He had no place to go. So in his mind he took every step on his way to the ball, just as if he were physically on the course. It took him just as long in imaginary time to play 18 holes as it would have taken in reality. Not a detail was omitted. Not once did he ever miss a shot, never a hook or a slice, never a missed putt. Seven days a week. Four hours a day. Eighteen holes. Seven years. Twenty strokes off. Shot a 74.”

Saturday, June 24, 2006

Differences between DG and Rifle shafts

Thought this would help some of you guy's out there

Royal Precision Rifle
Along with the Dynamic Gold’s, this is the most popular high-end steel shaft for low-handicappers, but prices are higher for the Rifle – roughly 70% more than Dynamic Gold’s. This is a stepless shaft that derives its name from its internal rifling. This gives the outside a clean, smooth look. The difference in feel from the Dynamic’s is subtle, but most golfers can readily detect it. The construction of the Rifle dampens some of the vibration caused by impact. This gives it a smoother, sweeter feel that many appreciate. Others believe that the Dynamic’s are a touch more alive feeling and offer better feedback. As concerns feel at impact, the Rifle's are between the standard Dynamic Gold's and the DG Sensicore's on the crispness/softness scale. Those that prefer the Rifle's think it has a silkier feel that is more crisp than the softer Sensicore's.
Bend points get lower as flex increased. This makes regular flex shafts hit higher than stiff flex. Royal Precision’s patented frequency matching system helps insure shaft-to-shaft consistency throughout a set. (4.5 is regular, 5.5 to 6.0 are firm to stiff and 6.5 and up is X-stiff) Matched shaft sets can be purchased pre-tip trimmed to suit individual irons.
With their glossy, sword-like sheen and large, handsome shaft bands, the Rifle’s make any set look expensive and classy. In the past few years, the Royal Precision Rifle has grown in popularity both with the public and with professional tour players. Some golfers, including one of our senior testers, believe that the Rifle’s provide tighter dispersion patterns than do the True Temper shafts. For most, however, choosing the Rifles will simply be a matter of “acquired taste”. They are a sweeter feeling, more luxurious looking shaft than is the Dynamic Gold. Some will notice an improvement in their game by converting to these shafts, but most will not. Performance-wise, lower handicappers generally prefer these shafts more than do higher handicappers.

True Temper Dynamic
Do not be fooled by the low cost of this shaft. The Dynamic is good. It has long been the best selling shaft in golf. Not only is the Dynamic used frequently by custom clubmakers, it is the standard shaft choice for the majority of club manufacturers. Many proline clubs have shaft bands that use their own company brand names, but are, in reality, True Temper Dynamic’s – or slight variations of them. After decades of popularity, they remain the constant standard against which other steel shafts are compared.
It can generally be assumed that those with faster swing speeds will prefer the Dynamic to other comparative True Temper shafts such as the TT Lite and the Dynalite. But, the Dynamic’s have a wide appeal. With their high bend point, the Dynamic’s produce the lower, penetrating ball flight that most male golfers prefer. For low- to mid-handicap, male golfers aged 15 to 50, the Dynamic’s have traditionally been the number one choice. With relatively hefty weights, they are rugged, solid-feeling shafts.
I recommend that clubmakers buy a stockpile of the Dynamic’s and weight sort them. In combination with the tip trimming variations of the R/S combo flex, many levels of flex can be achieved. The only real downside of the Dynamic’s is their shaft bands. They make a set of irons look a bland and generic.

True Temper Dynamic Gold
While the standard Dynamic is the most popular shaft in golf, the Dynamic Gold is the dean of golf shafts. It has been the primary steel shaft on the various tours for decades. It has also been used in more high-end, OEM sets than has any other shaft.
Dynamic Gold’s are basically just standard Dynamic’s that have been sorted out by weight. The one’s in the close-to-127-gram range become Gold’s. Those that weigh more become standard Dynamic shafts. This provides more uniform performance throughout a set. The Gold’s are also broken down into individual flexes, or more precisely, into more precise sub-flexes. A clubmaker can chose between R300 and R200, or S300 and S400 in the Gold’s. The standard Dynamic’s are available in R/S combo flex. They are then trimmed to desired flexes. Another primary difference between Dynamic versions is the shaft band. The Gold and Black of the DG”s has it hands down over the banal bands of the Dynamic’s. Many pay extra for the Gold’s even though they know that weight-sorted Dynamic’s will perform in almost exactly the same manner.
In their Sensicore version, the Dynamic Gold’s compete with the Royal Precision Rifle’s for the premium, luxury market. We have found that DG’s with Sensicore make many blades a viable option for players who would not normally consider them. Basically, if you are a very low-handicapper and a consistent ball striker, you will not be tempted by the Sensicore version. Note: The Sensicore insert is added to a slightly lighter version of the normal DG’s. Without adjustments by True Temper, the Sensicore DG’s would be too heavy. Consequently, weight distribution and playing parameter’s are a tiny bit different.

True Temper Dynamic Gold Lite
This is a reduced weight version of the DG’s. The lighter weight can produce a faster swing speed, but it can also produce a stiffer, less solid feel at impact. I prefer this shaft in the Sensicore version. It has a less muted feel than the heavier, Dynamic Gold Sensicore version. This shaft makes a good selection for high-end custom sets.

True Temper Dynalite
This low bend point shaft has long been a standard choice for wedge assembly. We use it at GCR as our primary wedge shaft. It is designed to hit the ball a bit higher than it cousins, the Dynamic and XL Lite. The Dynalite and Dynalite Gold are also used quite frequently in iron set assembly. For some reason, they have not appealed to us in any application other then wedges. Most probably, it is due to the lighter weight and consequently less solid feel. But, the light weight and low bend point make it a good choice for better playing seniors. Swing speeds can increase slightly and the ball flies for more carry.

True Temper TT XL Lite
The XL Lite is probably the most friendly and likeable steel shaft in golf. It is also capable of very fine performance. The average golfer hits too high one week; too low the next. He is not sure just what kind of shaft that he needs. For him, the XL Lite is the advisable route to go. With its mid bend point and moderate flex, it suits most of the broad, middle spectrum of golfers. For general use among upper mid- to high-handicappers, this is a wise choice – more appropriate than the lower-hitting Dynamic’s. With the Sensicore option added, it’s a very sweet, plush-feeling shaft. The XL Lite is also a good option for senior men and women who are a little too strong for True Temper Release shafts. Additionally, with its sharp, green, black and silver shaft bands, this shaft makes a much dressier looking set of irons than do the Dynamic’s. Many clubmakers keep a supply of XL Lite’s on hand due to their wide appeal.

True Temper Release
Very popular with slow-swinging seniors and ladies, this low swingspeed shaft is available in Men’s and Ladies’ flexes. For older players of either sex, these are a very safe choice. They feel good; look good and swing very easily. Their weight is low for steel shafts and their bend point is high to get the ball airborne more readily. With the Sensicore option, they make for a smooth-feeling luxury set - a real benefit for those who want a comfortable set of shafts in their irons, but do not want to sacrifice control by switching to ultralite graphite.



Yes there other steel shafts out there, ie Nippon, TX-90, Black Gold etc but this list I believe represents what 85% of golfers have in there bag. Including all the Rifle options of course.
Royal Precision have recently been acquired by True Temper so it will be interesting to see how the Rifle line is managed in the future

It's here!!!!!!!!!!


It's here people. Let me introduce you the new Cleveland Hibore fairway wood as being tested on tour by Vijay and David Tom's. Hope it's as good as the driver, my VISA probably hopes it isn't though.........

Played today

And for a change it wasn't too bad. I'm still recovering from having a scaffold collapse on me but it's only really my leg that annonys me now. I teed off on the 10th and proceeded to find myself 4 over after 7. Not flash but I'm off a 3 an my handicap is on the way out. I finish the nine at the same score (+4) and head to the 1st (my 10th) tee in.. well lets just say not the best mood. I finally get it together having 4 birdie's on that side but it included a 3 jack bogey as well but I'm kinda happy to finish +1 73. Not bad considering the start.

Honestly i need to practice my putting. But it's just SO boring. I get bored after like 5 mins. I had 32 putt's to day including 3 3 jacks. I had a 10 footer for birdie on the 8 that I whacked 6 feet past and missed the return leading to another one. I wasn't impressed. I track my stats at www.mygolfdomain.com as well so I hit an above average 50% of the fairways today together with a respectable 67% of the greens in regulation..

Guess I'll just have to see how tomorrow's round goes.

Monday, June 19, 2006

US Open course set up

Personally I love the way they set courses for the champioship. The idea of course the USGA strive is to identify the best player. Setting up the course the way they do to to me is the best way to do this. You want to miss the fairway and you've got to be a putting machine.

It's sort of like the way us weekend player's have. Most of us don't play on perfectly manicured course's week in week out so there for when miss a fairway the lie's always ugly and we're happy to make par. Honestly it's exciting to watch the top player's in the world grinding out par's, just like the rest of us. It's only one week a year. Sure they don't make many birdie's but neither do I so that makes me feel a little better..

The pro's general feeling about this is best summed up by a quote from Vijay earlier in the week when asked why he hadn't played a practice round prior to Wednesday. He said " I know I'm going to get beat up this so why go and punish myself and more than i have too"...

You %$#^ing chopper

Phil you idiot!!!!!!!!!! Sure I can away with making some dumbass decision's on the course, but did he forget he was playing in the US Open. The shot down 18 was just stupid. Well actually just hitting driver in the first place was dumb. And did you guy's catch that choked down 3 wood shot that went like 3 feet.. Even I know that shot's pretty much impossible out of 6 inch rough.

Enough said!!!!!!!!!!!!!


BTW it was good to see Duval finish T16, I don't think that quite gets him an invite back next year though

Saturday, June 17, 2006

The 32 absolute truths of Golf

1. If you really want to get better at golf, go back and take it up at amuch earlier age.
2. The game of golf is 90% mental and 10% mental.
3. Since bad shots come in groups of three, a fourth bad shot is actuallythe beginning of the next group of three.
4. When you look up and cause an awful shot, you will always look downagain at exactly the moment when you ought to start watching the ball ifyou ever want to see it again.
5. Any change works for a maximum of three holes and a minimum of not atall.
6. No matter how bad you are playing, it is always possible to play worse.
7. Never try to keep more than 300 separate thoughts in your mind duringyour swing.
8. When your shot has to carry over a water hazard, you can either hit onemore club or two more balls.
9. If you're afraid a full shot might reach the green while the foursomeahead of you is still putting out, you have two options: you canimmediately shank a lay-up, or you can wait until the green is clear andtop a ball halfway there.
10. The less skilled the player, the more likely he is to share his ideasabout the golf swing.
11. The inevitable result of any golf lesson is the instant elimination of the one critical unconscious motion that allowed you to compensate for allyour errors.
12. If it ain't broke, try changing your grip.
13. Golfers who claim they don't cheat, also lie.
14. Everyone replaces his divot after a perfect approach shot.
15. A golf match is a test of your skill against your opponent's luck.
16. It's surprisingly easy to hole a 50-foot putt when you are lying 10.
17. Counting on your opponent to inform you when he breaks a rule is likeexpecting him to make fun of his own haircut.
18. Nonchalant putts count the same as chalant putts.
19. It's not a gimme if you're still away.
20. The shortest distance between any two points on a golf course is astraight line that passes directly through the center of a very largetree.
21. There are two kinds of bounces: Unfair bounces, and bounces just theway you meant to play it.
22. You can hit a 2-acre fairway 10% of the time, and a 2-inch branch 90%of the time.
23. Every time a golfer makes a birdie, he must subsequently make twotriple bogeys to restore the fundamental equilibrium of the universe.
24. If you want to hit a 7-iron as far as Tiger Woods does, simply try to lay up just short of a water hazard.
25. To calculate the speed of a player's downswing, multiply the speed of his back swing by his handicap. Example: back swing 30 mph x handicap 20 =downswing 600 mph.
26. There are two things you can learn by stopping your back swing at thetop and checking the position of your hands: a) how many hands you have,and b) which one is wearing the glove.
27. Hazards attract; fairways repel.
28. You can put "draw" on the ball, you can put "fade" on the ball, but nogolfer can put "straight" on the ball.
29. A ball you can see in the rough from 50 yards away is not yours.
30. If there is a ball in the fringe and a ball in the bunker, your ballis in the bunker.
31. If both balls are in the bunker, yours is in the footprint.
32. Don't buy a putter until you've had a chance to throw it.

You ever had that feeling....


You ever had that feeling when your standing over the ball on the tee and realise you have no absolutely no idea where the ball is going? I had this problem today, it was my first round back after injuring my leg and it wasn't pretty. Sure it hasn't healed yet and I have to limp down the fairway like as Tiger would say, a "spaz". I can swing not too bad (well for me) at about 80% but can't really follow too well.
I just couldn't hit a tee shot today to save myself. I hit cut's (normal shot) straight one's and even draw's!! I don't even know how to draw my driver. Now you don't really want to be hitting draws when your aiming at the edge of the left hand rough just waiting for the ball to drift back. The it starts going further left instead!!!!! It's not conductive too even finding my ball let alone good scoring. Hence an 45 on the front nine, I did salvage somehow a 37 on the back but that was just a fluke the way I was hitting the ball.

BTW Did I mention winter's starting to kick in down here and it was %$#@ing cold!!!!!!

Thursday, June 15, 2006

US Open


My pick for the US Open this year is David Howell... Not Tiger you say, well why would i pick Tiger, that's just too much of a safe bet for me. Howell has been playing pretty well this year over on the Euro circuit and he just seem's to make sense to me. Which means he doesn't to anyone else!!

Another couple of people I'll throw in the ring are Rod Pampling who has snuck into the world Top 30 and is probably the most under-rated guy on tour, and Henrik Stenson. Syenson is straight and reasonably long for a pro.

Straight is going to obviously be very important this week, thats why I've picked these 3.

By the way I will of course be rooting for Cambo, defending champ and a fellow Kiwi

Wednesday, June 14, 2006

No golf for me for a while


I'm out injured. Man does it suck ass!!!! I was at work the other day and a scaffold collapsed underneath me. I fell about 2 1/2 metre's onto the concrete and tore a calf muscle and whacked the hell out of my shoulder. Kind of wierd I thought, to fall that far but not break anything yet I tear a muscle. They may of course have happened after all the scaffolding landed on me.

I've still been pissing around on the practice green and doing some chipping and stuff. I even went to the range today. I can swing maybe 80% fine. It's just I can't really walk to flash so walking around ain't going to happen. BTW there's no carts at any of the courses I normally play.

To top it all off I'm during jury duty. Man i've never been so bored in my life!!!!!!!!

What's in my bag??


I'm a club ho at heart. i can my bag pretty often but normally only a club or 2 at a time. But I do have my standard bag that I tend to always go back too. Here's what's in it at the moment..





Driver// HiBore with a Graman UL540 Limey shaft (see post further down)
Rescue's// Nike CPR 18'
RAM 21' (it ugly, it was free but hey it works)
Irons// Cleveland CG2's 4-5 irons 6.0 rifles
Cleveland CG1's BP finish 6-PW 6.0 rifles
Wedges// Feel 52'
TaylorMade 56' 60'
Putter// Maltby CER mallet thing
Ball// Bridgestone B330
Callaway HX Tour
Titleist V1X
Glove// what ever's on special

Sunday, June 04, 2006

One of those day's

You know those game's where can't actually get anything going. I had one today. I shot 75 but felt it could and should have been better.. Granted the weather wasn't great. About maybe 8 degree's maybe , that's celcius of course. Here's a round desrciption.

#1 Rescue off the tee for safety, translation_ blocked right under a tree. chip out, SW in, hole 30 footer PAR
#2 Pulled 7 iron into bunker, ball's plugged bad. Dig it out to 20 feet, hole the putt PAR

Looking good about now.

#3 crushed driver then 5 iron layup 2nd. Have SW left and fudge it short right. Awful chip but nail 10 footer for par Sweet!!! PAR
#4 Good drive, bad 7 iron right, up and down PAR
#5 driver over top of dog leg, LW in, miss 5 footer for birdie PAR
#6 Fugly 4 iron short right Again, Up and down PAR
#7 good driver, big 3 wood cut round the corner, chip lip's out and tap in for BIRDIE.
#8 stroke hole 1, just play sensible but no worst swing of the day, bad pull hook behind some tree's. Punch through and play a wedge in and 2 putt for BOGEY
#9 another great job, I hang off a 3 wood 2nd, it downwind and pull it into greenside bunker. Play out to 5 feet, miss the putt and make PAR

Now considering the condtion's -1 is good right. Of course so i start thinking about how I should finish........ BAD IDEA

#10 Big peeling cut of the tee OB, thrash the 2nd tee shot in anger. Pull rescue just short and hole the putt for an unlikely par
#11 cut a 4 iron through 5 tree's without touching a thing, 2 putt par
#12 not too bad a 3 wood off the tee. Ugly PW way short. Up and down par
#13 Rescue over the dogleg, SW pulled AGAIN!!!!!! into bunker. Bunker short lip's out PAR
#14 Thrash drive too about 40 yard's form green but flub it to just on the green, Flag's at the back. Ugly 1st putt 8 feet short, hole that for PAR
#15 Drive into left rough. Really thinned 8 iron right into the crap. Chunk it onto the green. 2 putt BOGEY
#16 another goods drive, pulled wrong club and end up short. up & doen PAR
#17 Good drive, (loving this new driver combo) Pretty good second to about 20 feet, # jack time BOGEY
#18 PW in 2 putt PAR

= +1 73

Considering how well I hit the ball off the tee (excluding 10) I just couldn't get an iron close. Any where close actually. Putting was average. Oh well, alway's next week a