I've been thinking about a driver change since late last year. I've been running a R9 460. I swapped from a stiff shaft down to a reg as I slowed my swing down to get a bit more control and consistency off the tee.
I tried the R11 the first week it launched and tbh hit it about the same as my R9. But then again I was having real swing issues back then. So I decided to wait until my swing settled down before looking again.
So after a few weeks of some solid golf I decided to start looking again. Obviously the R11 was on the list, but I'd been reading a lot of good things about the Titliest 910D range (D2 & D3).
Fully adjustable, like the R11, which I like.
I had a quiet day yesterday so finished a bit early and popped up to AG in Biggleswade to try out the R11, 910D2, and took my R9 along to compare.
Took the 910D2 with Stiif and Reg, R11 with a Reg and my R9 with reg shafts out to try on the range. All 10.5 loft.The wind was pretty strong and right in my face, so this will be a real good test. Anything not well hit is going to show up.
Warned up with my R9, hit it pretty well, couple of minor pulls, couple of big high slices. but in general ok.
Put the R11 up next. Pretty much the same results as my R9 which kind of confirmed my earlier thoughts that it wasn't a big step forward over what I currently was using.
So hit a few with the 910D2 with a stiff shaft. Distance wise it was about the same as the taylormade drivers, but the accuracy was a marked improvement. Bad ones were well, not actually bad. Maybe a slight loss in distance, but would still be on, or near, the fairway.
The sales guy suggested I should try the reg shaft in the D2 as well. Which I did. Similar results as the stiff really.
I carried on hitting for a while swapping drivers every 4-5 balls until I went though about 60 balls.
The more I hit the more it became apparent that the D2 was the club to go for. The bad ones with the R9 and R11 would be high slices, with the D2 it was more a gentle fade.
So reg or stiff ? I decided to go reg, I've been using reg shaft in mine for the past month as i've slowed down my swing and that's been working well, so I saw no need to go for a stiff shaft.
So, got them to match Online Golfs price of £239, less my £100 AG vouchers from Chrsitmass, so I'm now the proud owner of a Titliest 910D2 10.5 Reg Shaft for a small som of £139. Bargin.
Took it back to my club and went on the range, normal practice session, not really focussing on the driver. But got the same results when I did hit it. Just so darn forgivving.
I read the adjustment guide last night and the standard setting gives a slight fade, which is what I was hitting, so I might swap it to a slight draw and try it out.
I'm going to try and get 9 holes in tomorrow after work to use it in anger before the first comp of the year on Saturday.
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Swing Vid from Monday
Haven't posted any swing vids for a bit.
Here's one from Monday. Probably one of the few since the Brian has taken over coaching.
The swing feels more in control now. Still coming over the top a bit and a little flat, hands below the shoulders.
But, some good things. Good shoulder turn, club isn't waggling at the top of the swing (Better Grip !!). It's much more of a body swing than an arms swing.
Seem to be getting my weight forward better, still not perfect, but better.
And my scores over the past few weeks have been proof this is working.
Once I've made sure my grip and setup it right, then only thing I'm thinking about is swinging round my spine. That's all. Turn back, turn through.
Managed to get 18 in Last Night
Well clocks have changed so roll on evening golf. Yipee.
Tee'd of at 5:20 and done by 7:45. Played back 9 then fron as the greenkeepers were doing some work.
Played some pretty good stuff. Drove the ball well and hit my irons fantastic. Putting still not really there, never made any putts, So something to work on.
Made a mess of a few sand shots as well. So again something to work on.
Nice birdy on the si2 Par 4 12th. Dogleg right, hit my drive too well and just ran out of fairway on the left. Then nailed a 6i from 179 to 10ft and holed it. Yeah baby.
Shot to my handicap with an 84 which was pleasing. And that's with a 7 on our par 3 3rd (without going in the water). Plus a terrible bogey on the par 5 16. 10ft off the front of the green after 2, thinned easy chip and 3 putts later. Argh. Very ugly.
Tee'd of at 5:20 and done by 7:45. Played back 9 then fron as the greenkeepers were doing some work.
Played some pretty good stuff. Drove the ball well and hit my irons fantastic. Putting still not really there, never made any putts, So something to work on.
Made a mess of a few sand shots as well. So again something to work on.
Nice birdy on the si2 Par 4 12th. Dogleg right, hit my drive too well and just ran out of fairway on the left. Then nailed a 6i from 179 to 10ft and holed it. Yeah baby.
Shot to my handicap with an 84 which was pleasing. And that's with a 7 on our par 3 3rd (without going in the water). Plus a terrible bogey on the par 5 16. 10ft off the front of the green after 2, thinned easy chip and 3 putts later. Argh. Very ugly.
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Been a While
I've been a bit busy lately so not had much time for golf. Practice, lessons or playing.
Played last Sunday all by myself shot an ok 88. Good front 9, 41, back 9 just got away from me. Couple of silly double bogeys on 12 and 13 from nowhere and then couldn't really get going.
I've been trying to fit in a lesson, haven't had one for a few weeks, but I've been soo busy I couldn't find time to get down to Gosling Park to see Brian. Going to try to make time this week.
Practice, again, not much. One 45 min range session this week. Definitely need some time with Brian as I feel some of the changes, especially getting myself through the shot, seem to be falling away.
Out tomorrow with Dave and my place. Looking forward to it, even though the weather this weekend has been crap compared to the glorious weather over the past week.
Played last Sunday all by myself shot an ok 88. Good front 9, 41, back 9 just got away from me. Couple of silly double bogeys on 12 and 13 from nowhere and then couldn't really get going.
I've been trying to fit in a lesson, haven't had one for a few weeks, but I've been soo busy I couldn't find time to get down to Gosling Park to see Brian. Going to try to make time this week.
Practice, again, not much. One 45 min range session this week. Definitely need some time with Brian as I feel some of the changes, especially getting myself through the shot, seem to be falling away.
Out tomorrow with Dave and my place. Looking forward to it, even though the weather this weekend has been crap compared to the glorious weather over the past week.
Friday, March 18, 2011
Woburn Trip
Only just getting round to this.
What a great day and two fantastic courses. We played Marquess in the morning and the Dukes' in the afternoon. I shot 104 in the morning and 92 in the afternoon. We played off the back tees.
Drove the ball well in the morning and hit 57% of the fairways. But only hit one GIR. Finished on with two good pars. Putted ok on very fast and tricky greens. Took 34 putts.
Had a lovely carvery lunch. Bit of everything. Lovely.
Started bad on the dukes, pulled my first teeshot and it ricochet back into the fairway, bet well short. Ended up Double bogey.
2nd Huge High Slice, over some really big trees, ended up on the first fairway. Got a bit lucky and there was a slight gap at the top of the trees and managed to launch a high 8i over the top back onto the fairway. Hit another nice 8i onto the green then 3 putted from 10ft. ARGH.
After that things went pretty well. Par on the next 2. Picked up another par on 6 as well. Then finished what was looking like an OK front 9 with a quad bogey 7 for a score of 48.
Steady back 9. 1 par but the rest were bogeys for a 44. The par was at the par 3 12th. Nailed a beautiful 6i to 10ft for a good birdy opportunity. But narrowly missed it.
So a 92. Which I was pretty pleased with in the end.
Great day, good weather and two fantastic courses.
What a great day and two fantastic courses. We played Marquess in the morning and the Dukes' in the afternoon. I shot 104 in the morning and 92 in the afternoon. We played off the back tees.
Drove the ball well in the morning and hit 57% of the fairways. But only hit one GIR. Finished on with two good pars. Putted ok on very fast and tricky greens. Took 34 putts.
Had a lovely carvery lunch. Bit of everything. Lovely.
Started bad on the dukes, pulled my first teeshot and it ricochet back into the fairway, bet well short. Ended up Double bogey.
2nd Huge High Slice, over some really big trees, ended up on the first fairway. Got a bit lucky and there was a slight gap at the top of the trees and managed to launch a high 8i over the top back onto the fairway. Hit another nice 8i onto the green then 3 putted from 10ft. ARGH.
After that things went pretty well. Par on the next 2. Picked up another par on 6 as well. Then finished what was looking like an OK front 9 with a quad bogey 7 for a score of 48.
Steady back 9. 1 par but the rest were bogeys for a 44. The par was at the par 3 12th. Nailed a beautiful 6i to 10ft for a good birdy opportunity. But narrowly missed it.
So a 92. Which I was pretty pleased with in the end.
Great day, good weather and two fantastic courses.
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Best Score
What a day today. Every thing felt good with the swing. Smooth, easy, flowing.
Ended up shooting 81, beating my previous best by 1 stroke.
Should have really broke 80 for the first time. Bogeyed the last 3, with 3 putts on 16 and 17 !! Argh
But had 3 birdies in a round for the first time.
Drove the ball ok, not long, just smooth, controlled and more importantly in play on the fairway. And was nailing my irons. So in the fairway and hitting my irons well, is always going to give you a chance of a good score.
But the promising thing is there I can still see opportunities where I dropped silly shots.
Three 3 putts, 1st, 16th and 17th.
3rd (Par3), thinned chip resulting in a 5. Even though the ball was a little buried, probably should have done better. 4 at worst.
10th, fatted an easy 90 yard wedge shot 50 yards. Resulting in a double bogey.
So definite room for further improvement. Perhaps single figure Handicap isn't as far away as I thought a few weeks ago when I started this blog.
Ended up shooting 81, beating my previous best by 1 stroke.
Should have really broke 80 for the first time. Bogeyed the last 3, with 3 putts on 16 and 17 !! Argh
But had 3 birdies in a round for the first time.
Drove the ball ok, not long, just smooth, controlled and more importantly in play on the fairway. And was nailing my irons. So in the fairway and hitting my irons well, is always going to give you a chance of a good score.
But the promising thing is there I can still see opportunities where I dropped silly shots.
Three 3 putts, 1st, 16th and 17th.
3rd (Par3), thinned chip resulting in a 5. Even though the ball was a little buried, probably should have done better. 4 at worst.
10th, fatted an easy 90 yard wedge shot 50 yards. Resulting in a double bogey.
So definite room for further improvement. Perhaps single figure Handicap isn't as far away as I thought a few weeks ago when I started this blog.
| Chesfield Downs Golf Club | |||||||||||||||||||||
| HOLE | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | OUT | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | IN | TOTAL |
CSS: 71 White | 419 | 419 | 167 | 388 | 581 | 338 | 278 | 409 | 146 | 3,145 | 422 | 439 | 188 | 402 | 509 | 417 | 552 | 215 | 357 | 3,501 | 6,646 |
| Handicap | 9 | 1 | 13 | 7 | 3 | 11 | 17 | 5 | 15 | 12 | 2 | 8 | 14 | 16 | 4 | 6 | 10 | 18 | |||
| Par | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 35 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 36 | 71 |
| Score | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 39 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 42 | 81 |
| +/- | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Net Score | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 32 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 35 | 67 |
| Fairway |  |  | | | | | | 42.9% | |  | | | | | | 71.4% | 57.1% | ||||
| Distance off Tee | 266 | 188 | 202 | 218.7 | 204 | 245 | 231 | 208 | 222 | 220.6 | |||||||||||
| Putts | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1.7 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1.8 |
| Total Putts | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 15 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 18 | 33 |
| GIR | |  | | | | | | | | 44.4% | | | | | | | | | | 44.4% | 44.4% |
Albatross
Eagle
Birdie
Par
Bogey
Double Bogey
Other
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Small Range Session
Followed my new coaches guidance and only hit 50 balls on the range yesterday, instead of my usual 200.
Hit the ball ok-ish. Wasn't quite striking the ball as crisply as I was on Monday. Still getting good distance and accuracy, felt I wasn't quite getting forward enough and compressing the ball. The bad shots were all slightly fat.
Back up again in a bit. Again only 50 balls.
WGC tomorrow, Blue Monster at Doral.
I might have a flutter on GMac and Kaymer. Both plenty long and accurate, which I think is a must round that place. Rory might be in with a shout if he can string 4 rounds together.
Not sure about Westwood our Poulter this week though. Westwood hasn't shown any consistency yet and I don't think Poulter is long enough for this place.
But we'll see.
Hit the ball ok-ish. Wasn't quite striking the ball as crisply as I was on Monday. Still getting good distance and accuracy, felt I wasn't quite getting forward enough and compressing the ball. The bad shots were all slightly fat.
Back up again in a bit. Again only 50 balls.
WGC tomorrow, Blue Monster at Doral.
I might have a flutter on GMac and Kaymer. Both plenty long and accurate, which I think is a must round that place. Rory might be in with a shout if he can string 4 rounds together.
Not sure about Westwood our Poulter this week though. Westwood hasn't shown any consistency yet and I don't think Poulter is long enough for this place.
But we'll see.
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Great Lesson Yesterday
Second lesson with Brian yesterday.
Slight correction in the grip needed, was a little to strong now, but easily sorted. And slightly less forward lean on the shaft.
We spent more time on getting the arms and hands out the swing as well as driving the right shoulder through on the down swing, this gets me in a much better impact position. My weight, and body, is much further forward now, hands aren't getting ahead of the body either.
I found to start I was trying to guide my right shoulder shoulder through, which didn't really get me forward, I found if I really drove the shoulder through it really got me forward and a more powerful hit as well.
The swing also feels a lot more natural now, before it felt like I was having to manipulate my hands, arms, body to get into the right positions. It now feels with the grip change, and taking my hands and arms out my swing, it just seems to flow.
Brian has actually told me to practice less. He said maybe hit 50 balls today, 50 tomorrow and none on Thursday. He just wants me getting the feeling of the swing, that's all.
And repeat the swing with a range of clubs, from wedges all the way to driver and keep swapping so I don't get settled.
Slight correction in the grip needed, was a little to strong now, but easily sorted. And slightly less forward lean on the shaft.
We spent more time on getting the arms and hands out the swing as well as driving the right shoulder through on the down swing, this gets me in a much better impact position. My weight, and body, is much further forward now, hands aren't getting ahead of the body either.
I found to start I was trying to guide my right shoulder shoulder through, which didn't really get me forward, I found if I really drove the shoulder through it really got me forward and a more powerful hit as well.
The swing also feels a lot more natural now, before it felt like I was having to manipulate my hands, arms, body to get into the right positions. It now feels with the grip change, and taking my hands and arms out my swing, it just seems to flow.
Brian has actually told me to practice less. He said maybe hit 50 balls today, 50 tomorrow and none on Thursday. He just wants me getting the feeling of the swing, that's all.
And repeat the swing with a range of clubs, from wedges all the way to driver and keep swapping so I don't get settled.
Monday, March 7, 2011
Signs of Improvement
Interesting round on Sunday. Shot 91, but that's with a 9 and an 8 on the card at 2 Par 4's.
Also made a Bridy for the first time in a month on the Par 5 14, into the wind as well. I was making 1 a round, or at least every other round, last year.
Still fighting to keep my hands and arms quiet, but it's comming.
My bad shots seem to be pushes and pulls rather than slices now, I seem to hit the ball more solidly now. Direction is ok, but the really destructive shots were costing me big.
The 9 was an OB on the 2nd when I pulled my teeshot. Then hit a good 3rd and 4th, thined a bunker shot alost OB again and left myself a horrible downhill chip from rough and left it short.
The 8 down to a thinned bunker shot again. Then again I shouldn't have been in the bunker because I duffed my chip over it. Dumb ass.
I'm going to see if i can get another lesson later. If I can't then I'll levae it until next week as I'm playing Woburn Friday and want to give it a few days to incorporate any chages.
At the moment I have a usable game that should get me round Woburn. I Hope.
Also made a Bridy for the first time in a month on the Par 5 14, into the wind as well. I was making 1 a round, or at least every other round, last year.
Still fighting to keep my hands and arms quiet, but it's comming.
My bad shots seem to be pushes and pulls rather than slices now, I seem to hit the ball more solidly now. Direction is ok, but the really destructive shots were costing me big.
The 9 was an OB on the 2nd when I pulled my teeshot. Then hit a good 3rd and 4th, thined a bunker shot alost OB again and left myself a horrible downhill chip from rough and left it short.
The 8 down to a thinned bunker shot again. Then again I shouldn't have been in the bunker because I duffed my chip over it. Dumb ass.
I'm going to see if i can get another lesson later. If I can't then I'll levae it until next week as I'm playing Woburn Friday and want to give it a few days to incorporate any chages.
At the moment I have a usable game that should get me round Woburn. I Hope.
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Range and a Round
Spending some time on the range the last few days trying to get my arms out of the swing.
Last night it seemed to click into place most of the time. Swing has gone a bit flat as I'm just concentrating on swinging around my spine, not trying to do anything with the arms.
As a result when I get it right I hit a nice draw :-) Feels a bit like my old swing last season.
Played Luton Hoo today. Quite a long course off the Whites, 6810, Par 73.
Played ok in spells. Had a good front 9, out in 42, but an awful back 9 of 50. The new swing seemed to be working well on the front, but for some reason just couldn't get it going on the back. Hands and arms started taking over and pushing and slicing everything right.
Loosing two balls on the back 9 from nowhere probably didn't help. And a couple of silly 3 putts.
But a step in the right direct,
Out again tomorrow at my track.
Last night it seemed to click into place most of the time. Swing has gone a bit flat as I'm just concentrating on swinging around my spine, not trying to do anything with the arms.
As a result when I get it right I hit a nice draw :-) Feels a bit like my old swing last season.
Played Luton Hoo today. Quite a long course off the Whites, 6810, Par 73.
Played ok in spells. Had a good front 9, out in 42, but an awful back 9 of 50. The new swing seemed to be working well on the front, but for some reason just couldn't get it going on the back. Hands and arms started taking over and pushing and slicing everything right.
Loosing two balls on the back 9 from nowhere probably didn't help. And a couple of silly 3 putts.
But a step in the right direct,
Out again tomorrow at my track.
| Luton Hoo Hotel Golf & Spa | |||||||||||||||||||||
| HOLE | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | OUT | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | IN | TOTAL |
| Default | 422 | 497 | 354 | 160 | 376 | 379 | 151 | 534 | 359 | 3,232 | 366 | 490 | 389 | 246 | 345 | 176 | 485 | 478 | 337 | 3,312 | 6,544 |
| Par | 4 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 36 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 37 | 73 |
| Score | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 42 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 5 | 50 | 92 |
| Fairway | | | | | | | | 57.1% | | | | | | | | 57.1% | 57.1% | ||||
| Distance off Tee | 221 | 205 | 221 | 225 | 218 | 227 | 186 | 226 | 215 | 213.5 | 215.8 | ||||||||||
| Putts | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1.7 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2.3 | 2 |
| Total Putts | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 15 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 21 | 36 |
| GIR | | | | | | | | | | 22.2% | | | | | | | | | | 22.2% | 22.2% |
Albatross
Eagle
Birdie
Par
Bogey
Double Bogey
Other
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