Re: What are the longest golf balls?

OK, I'll try that.
I'm unwilling to do much more physically as I've decided to stop swing tinkering and try to visualise more and to hit the ball to the target with whatever swing I happen to have with me that day.

Re: What are the longest golf balls?

mariner, can you get a video of your swing. i think there are quite a few little things your doing wrong and i'd love to be able to confirm that with some video.

1. u could be chicken winging your arms.... basically bending your left elbow on backswing.
2. hitting off the back foot. weight at the back. though you hit straight you've probably trained yourself to correct the massive slice problem. instead you hit the ball high with a lot of spin.
3. your coming over the top, as number 2. you've corrected your problems.
4. your stance is off. you have a closed stance and still hitting straight. you lose massive amounts of power because your only getting a 60degree rotation into your swing instead of a 90degree rotation if you set up straight.... the way i told my friend to fix this was to stand knowingly open and swing normally. he had instant improvements.

as per option 2. i was out playing on sunday and a low handicapper in the group would have 3 practice swings which looked great, but when he stood up to hit the ball he would then move all his weight back..... i continue to say this as it could be something you don't even know your doing.

see if you can get us some video of your swing....... say hit 10 balls with the video facing you so your full swing is in the field of view and then the same at the back. camera at waste high.

we'll sort this problem out

Re: What are the longest golf balls?

Hi mariner,

Regarding hitting down too steep, I mentioned a few drills on separate threads. Many of my fellow golfers have the same problem, too steep.

One is quite simple but effective in reinforcing shallowing the swing. Before you take your shots, and anytime you have time in between your partners' swings, just practice baseball swings with the club at chest level and dropping in increments to a foot above the ball. At the same time you can incorporate other feelings, such as sequencing and tempo, by starting with the lower body and moving upwards to the arms, and also starting the speed slow and accelerating past the front of your body. Actually Geoff Olgivy, who was in contention in the last tournament did this constantly, as he notoriously gets steep with his swing under pressure.

Out of play, you can practice the same sensation. Pick a spot where the your feet will be well below the point where the ball would be positioned, such as the slope around a bunker, and take swings. The slope will make you shallow the swing, or you will hit the ground.

Here's another one. Choke down on the club, so the butt end is about 6 inches exposed. Take your backswing, so when your hands are getting above horizontal and the wrists are breaking, the butt end will trace the ball/target line, or even trace outside the line. Similarly, as you swing down, trace the same shallower path. Do this hitting balls at the range, and you may be surprised how effective this is. Once this feeling is ingrained, you'll not have to consciously think about it, it will become second nature.

Ted

Re: What are the longest golf balls?

That's very perceptive and you obviously know what you are talking about, but the last time I videoed my swing I was SO shocked by what I saw that I couldn't play properly for ages (I was playing to 9 at the time, then couldn't break 90 for months) so excuse my reluctance to go that way.
I have fought an over the top move for all my 26-year golfing life, and because of this I stand closed - and I know my left arm bends too much, but I still don't think I hit off my back foot.

Re: What are the longest golf balls?

Hi Mariner,

Following on from my "test" of the Wilson DX2 I've been trying out the TopFlite Gamer (what a naff name).

Seems to launch higher than I'm used to and give more carry (though less roll) and subjectively more distance BUT even I notice a loss of feel around the greens. If height off the tee is a problem they might be worth a try but otherwise I'm not convinced.

Re: What are the longest golf balls?

Height is a problem off the tee for me, but only because I get too much of it! I'm currently trying some new Bridgestone distance balls that are supposed to fly a little lower than normal . . . can't remember the name of them, they've only just come out . . . they've got treon or neon or similar in the name though.