Bad weather golf:

[Teevino]

My subject line may be a little misleading, nevertheless.

I am approaching the one year mark for playing the game. I started late in life. I'll be 60 in February. For most of the year I have played hard and often shooting a best of 90 once and 91 once. When playing often I started averaging in the mid to upper 90's most days. Due to rainy, cold, wintry days I have dropped back to playing once every couple of weeks at best and my average has dropped back respectively to the low one hundreds. I understand this to be normal. Actually shot 109 last time out.

What are some good tips/drills for maintaining ones swing when the weather doesn't allow for outside practice or play?

[GolfJunkieSr]

Re: Bad weather golf:

I am a few years older than you, and when the weather is so bad that it keeps me off the course for any length of time, I swing a weighted club in between actual practice, and on course rounds. I am one of those guys who has to play, practice, or at the very least, swing a club everyday. I also work on my "carpet" putting during stormy days. Another type of (practice) exercise I do every day has to do with keeping my leg strength up to par. I am either walking, or riding a bike most days. GJS

[BrianW]

Re: Bad weather golf:

Hi Teevino,

I am not sure what the weather conditions are like were you live? it can be so different in regions of the USA.

It gets pretty wet and grim here in the UK this time of year but I manage to play most weeks during the winter. I use a Driving Range one or two nights a week during the winter, we have one with covered bays near me which although a bit cold keeps you dry. I also do as GJS suggests do some indoor putting practice and go through some repetitive swing position drills that keep my muscle memory updated.

[bill reed]

Re: Bad weather golf:

hi teevino
i do that same as golfjunkie and use a thing thats about half the lenght of a golf club with a weight on end and i swing with that. i try and use it for 10 mins before i go play golf to sort of warm me up and get me to check my swing in the mirror before i leave for the course. the rain dont put me off as i have good waterproofs, it the bitter cold i hate, numb hands and fingers and the vibs of the club seen to make the fingers hurt even more. the funny thing id i tend to shoot some of me best scores in really wet weather. i like golfjunlie tend to walk alot anyway and think that keeps my legs strong.
if i was you i'd try and get one of the weighted clubs or a short one like i use as i have low roof. also work on your putting when you cant go out and play. even try and play a round in your mind as you use a weighted club with no ball, drive. then pitch and then putt, but take a step back and set up like you would on the course. think this drums in your set up time and time again.
best of luck on your second year golfing.
bill
bill

[Teevino]

Re: Bad weather golf:

Bill and Brian, thanx. You guys are great. I love to read about how the weather doesn't stop you . Sometimes I wonder If I'm crazy when I'm playing in the rain with nobody around. The nobody around is the good part. Thanx for the tips and sharing. I am definitely going to have to get one of those clubs.

Just came in from the backyard swinging at some practice balls with another adjustment in my swing. Went really well. Was planning on playing today but the boss had other plans. Definitely going to get out tomorrow. Going to be 75 here in North Carolina tomorrow with only a slight chance of rain.

BTW, I got a great Christmas gift you might be interested in. A book called "My Greatest Shot" by Ron Cherney and Michael Arkush. Golfers from Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods down share there story of their greatest golf shot and or the greatest shot they saw someone else make. It is a great read. I thought you might like to know about it if you don't already.

[Rule]

Re: Bad weather golf:

I've never thrown a club. Just started in June. I expect every shot to be bad and happy when it's not. It's that 1 good shot per round that keeps me coming back. Don't know about winter golf, we haven't got into winter here yet. Teevino, you must live a little east of me (I'm in Charlotte), our forecast for tomorrow is 68. Yesterday and today would have been great for golf, too bad I have a job. The forcast looks good for Saturday; I would have never hoped for a winter like this for my first year of golf.

[Teevino]

Re: Bad weather golf:

Hello Rule, Great to hear from you. I am about 3 hours East of you in Goldsboro. I just got up and looked out the window and it is wet. Not raining hard but damp and drizzly. I'm still thinking about playing but must wake up and see first.

Yes, so far our winter has been mild but some days and they always seem to hit on the weekend have been too cold for me to want to get out there. Now that we are in to January it may start getting that way more consistently. We'll see I guess.

Your first year of golf? When did you start and how are you coming along? How old are you? If you are young you are probably cutting strokes a lot faster than I have. I am amazed when I see some of these young guy's drive the ball.

Never thrown a club huh? Okay, that's great! I would wager my Taylormads that the day will come when you will come very close to throwing one. You may not actually throw it but it will take most of what is in you not too. On that day you will be a "poser."

As for me, yes I have thrown one,,,,, or two. Not often or very many but I have let go on occasion. It seems that most golfers consider this to be the ultimate sin in golf. And maybe it is but then I was a sinner before I started playing and golf certainly hasn't changed that LOL.

I have played with many golfers in my first year and very few have made it through a round without at some point coming close to a throw. In my way of thinking, pounding your clubhead into the ground is the greater sin because it is worse on the turf and I have seen many a "non-thrower" do that. As for the rest of you posers out there who have greater character than I, I say, phhhhhh!

BTW, that one good shot that keeps us coming back is what I refer to as the "French Whore Shot." She has just enough allure to keep us around even though we aren't getting an awful lot for our money>>

[Rule]

Re: Bad weather golf:

Teevino, sorry the weather got you today. It’s still going to be wet tomorrow, but I plan on playing anyway. I’m not getting much better, 46 yrs old , it takes longer. I’m not good enough to get mad yet, I just quit keeping score. At this point in my game I just look at a bad shot as another opportunity to make a good one. An extra stroke for my money. Kind of like free range balls. I mostly play a par 3 course once a week and go to the range once a week. Always trying new swing ideas at the range and trying desperately to learn how to hit longer clubs so I can quit playing the par 3 courses. I’m a sqatter and come over the top and release too early and … This results in a nice slice with my longer clubs. This game is addictive, and I’m looking forward to swinging a club in the morning, in spite of the fact the course will be a swamp

[slater170]

Re: Bad weather golf:

Teevino, sorry the weather got you today. It’s still going to be wet tomorrow, but I plan on playing anyway. I’m not getting much better, 46 yrs old , it takes longer. I’m not good enough to get mad yet, I just quit keeping score. At this point in my game I just look at a bad shot as another opportunity to make a good one. An extra stroke for my money. Kind of like free range balls. I mostly play a par 3 course once a week and go to the range once a week. Always trying new swing ideas at the range and trying desperately to learn how to hit longer clubs so I can quit playing the par 3 courses. I’m a sqatter and come over the top and release too early and … This results in a nice slice with my longer clubs. This game is addictive, and I’m looking forward to swinging a club in the morning, in spite of the fact the course will be a swamp

hi rule
you got it bad mate!
sounds just like me a couple of years ago
keep at it with practise it will come!
i spend 10-15 mins a day perfecting my grip,practising my set up and just swinging the club with a nice easy tempo.
the slice has disappeared completely

[Teevino]

Re: Bad weather golf:

Hey Rule, I did play today. It drizzled off and on for about the first hour then just turned off cloudy and humid. I had my best game in weeks shooting a 95. Our municipal course here is like the one you describe. It never dries out when the weather is like it has been here for the past couple of months. But there is another one here that drains well and cart path rules stay pretty loose there and the course pretty dry.

I have done a lot of reading and listening and observing of golf and golfers. I have probably made a hundred adjustments to my swing (seems like it anyway) and eventually you find the things that work best for you. Funny thing I took some advice from a very unlikely source the other day about my swing and the advice really paid off today. You just never know what might work so I stay open to just about anything.

I found, for me, that the thing that helped me most in hitting with the driver was to first have a good quality driver. On the other hand my golfing buddy uses a driver that, well to give you an idea, his whole set of clubs cost less than $90 and he has finally gotten pretty good at driving with that thing. Though it has taken him longer than me to get there. My driver alone cost more than four times that. I'm not saying you have to spend that kind of money though. There are some pretty good drivers to be had for a lot less than my Taylormade cost.

I would encourage you to go ahead and get on a regular course. Don't worry, there are a lot of us hackers out there and I think you will enjoy it.

Here's hopin that you hit 'em long and straight.

Oh, and Slater, I like that tip. That is a good reminder for me. Very positive but simple swing thoughts. Two thumbs up on that one.

[john.daniels90]

Re: Bad weather golf:

Hi Teevino, I must nuts ive just come in from a round of golf,it was wet and windy, but I love it I started playing 2 years ago at the age of 63 and I was hooked straight away I play at least 3 times a week no matter what the weather I did miss one round when the course was shut down through snow,anyway we can look forward to the spring and summer now.
good luck with your game --

[jambalaya]

Re: Bad weather golf:

Rule and Teevino I am near the both of you in Columbia, SC. I play on Friday afternoons and it is supposed to be 61 and partly cloudy this week. I talked about this on another thread but I take a short club like a sand wedge and practice my swing in slow motion. Of course I do have high ceilings in the house but even half way back can help. One can't do that for a long time but I just have the club handy and grab it every now and then.

When I play in the rain I have a pair of rain gloves. They are great. Once I can't grip the club it is time to quit. Recently I thought I was buying another pair of rain gloves and actually bought some cold weather gloves by mistake. Those come in handy too. If one can still get a good grip on the club one can still make decent shots.

[Teevino]

Re: Bad weather golf:

Hi Teevino, I must nuts ive just come in from a round of golf,it was wet and windy, but I love it I started playing 2 years ago at the age of 63 and I was hooked straight away I play at least 3 times a week no matter what the weather I did miss one round when the course was shut down through snow,anyway we can look forward to the spring and summer now.
good luck with your game --

Yeah you're nuts John, but I love it. Thank you for sharing when you started playing the game. There aren't a lot of us who started so late, I think, but then it is never too late is it. Dontcha just hate when they shut down the course. I had that happen once and I had driven quite a ways to get there. Dayum..

Rule and Teevino I am near the both of you in Columbia, SC. I play on Friday afternoons and it is supposed to be 61 and partly cloudy this week. I talked about this on another thread but I take a short club like a sand wedge and practice my swing in slow motion. Of course I do have high ceilings in the house but even half way back can help. One can't do that for a long time but I just have the club handy and grab it every now and then.

When I play in the rain I have a pair of rain gloves. They are great. Once I can't grip the club it is time to quit. Recently I thought I was buying another pair of rain gloves and actually bought some cold weather gloves by mistake. Those come in handy too. If one can still get a good grip on the club one can still make decent shots.

I grew up in and around Columbia SC most of my life (Army Brat). Grad of USC. Go Cocks. Spurriers is getting it done dontcha think. I have a brother who lives there still. An Attorney. You wouldn't be him now would you? Jimmy here.. I doubt you are because he doesn't know the back of a computer from the front. I like your tip BTW. I practice my swing in my office, but I haven't tried slow motion. I'll do it though.
Rain gloves? where do you get those? You're right about a good grip, I wouldn't want that club to get away from me now, at least not by accident ..

[vp27519]

Re: Bad weather golf:

Tee,

I know of a fellow who as a junior, used to chip socks through doorways and windows of the family home. I wouldn't have liked my boys doing that. But it proves he was very eager.

Apart from getting wet I don't mind playing in the rain. My expectations are low and I suprise myself. Everyone is playing in the same conditions.

If it's too wet to practice, I like to refresh my mental game and read some Dr Bob Rotella and go over some of my coaching notes.

If the golf is on the TV, I'll watch it. I like listening to the commentary explaining course management and execution of shots.

With regards to killing of snakes - throwing or banging of clubs, I have in the past. It cost me a new shaft.

I recently read an article for post shot routine. It suggested that if you hit a bad shot, tap the club on the ground or shoe once. If it was a really c r a p shot, do it twice. Visualise what should have done. Check your emotions, forget about it and move on.

Nicole

[slater170]

Re: Bad weather golf:

i absolutely hate playing in the rain it too much hassle trying to keep everything dry!
having said that my 2 best ever scores have come on wet and windy days!
had an 86 on saturday in awful conditions and a near 5 hour round