DATE: 01/21/2008 13:44:15 / MOOD: like playing 36 holes

 Well I have had this hybrid now (Nickent 17 *) for a month and I know hybrids are supposed to be the easiest clubs to hit. I am having some major inconsistancy issues. Some are very low. Some are high. Some are toe looping hooks and some are just plainly off to the right. No offense at all to 10 handicapps but I am swinging this club like 1. I am a scratch to a 1 hdcp and this is very fustrating. I hit the 3 wood fine, the 4 iron fine, as well as the driver fine. Alll the other clubs in the bag are fine. But this hybrid is puzzling. It has the beautiful NV Shaft in it and looks great at address. 1 out of 5 shots are ok. But not really sure on the distance. Only had 1 round with it at 45 degrees outside and the rest have been range balls. I have tried the Cobra hybrid but hit it very high and short and this was 1 of 2 recommended clubs to get. The other was a Titleist hybrid but they did not have the 17 degree. I was looking to replace my 5 wood in my bag which was 18 degrees and too high of a launch for me. Has anyone else had this problem with hybrids or with Nickent?  

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DATE: 12/30/2007 15:40:20 / MOOD: like playing 36 holes

I went to the range today, the wind was blowing 20mph with 40mph gusts. I worked on keeping the ball down which worked out really good having my follow thru stop at my belt. I also discovered I should crowd the ball a little more. I have a tendancy to fall a little back on my butt on the downswing. I started really hitting the ball sweeter and on the center. I gained some yards too, but hard to really know how much since the wind was blowing. Trajectory was much better too. Can't wait to take it to the course.  

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DATE: 12/27/2007 08:56:16 / MOOD: like playing 36 holes

This 1 is in regards to smarto5 forum"what did you shoot today" he talked about the mental voice in his head creeping in.  

I read your forum on "what did you shoot today" You talked about mental thoughts of score creeping in. That happens to me a lot when playing tournaments. 2 things that helped me were

1= I bought a "Q-Link" necklace as advice from Senior Pro Doug Tewell. That really helped me control my ADRENALINE. It is not someting you wear and presto you are SuperDog. But a subtle adrenaline controler.

2= Is never be afraid to score low and make more birdies. Too many times we have the round of our life going then that little voice starts up in our heads telling us we have to change our mental game and start protecting what we have. It is natures instinct. Try to think hey I have made 3 birdies this round so far, let go and get 3 more, this is fun and exciting. If you hit a bad shot then think " ok it is cool, I will make 1 hell of a recovery shot and still birdie it" There is more then 1 way to skin a cat. I just recently play a short par 5 475 yards. Trees right, dogleg right, water front, blow over trees and have 200 to pin. I hit it thin into the trees and was jailed. I hit a low runner out and left me 151 to flag. I thought I can still birdie this. Sure enough hit and 8 iron 10feet short and made the putt for birdie. YOU can do it too. Hope this helps 

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DATE: 12/24/2007 12:58:36 / MOOD: like playing 36 holes

   As I stated in a forum message  a day or 2 ago I have found a problem in my putting stroke to help me see the line while standing over the putt. On the practice putting green at Griffith Park Los Angeles during my lunch hour I was having some problems with my stroke and eyes doing 2 different things. So for some reason I automatically started thinking about the putting lesson Brad Faxon gave me in the hallway of the Kapalua Ritz Carlton on Maui. I was there as a special winner representing L.A. Mercedes LTD and Brad noticed that my eyes were directly on top of the ball. So if I held a ball at my nose and let it drop, it would hit the ball I was putting. So he told me to move the ball 1 balls width forward in my stance. Now dropping the ball from my nose it would hit the putting line just behind my ball. Low and behold now I can see the line I want my puttuer to go back on and the line I put on my ball rolls perfectly end over end. now I have great confidence in my stroke and still need to work on my green reading which Frog Hairs gave me a great reminder tip to focus on what the ball does on the last 3 feet of the putt.  Happy Holidays everyone 

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DATE: 12/16/2007 16:05:15 / MOOD: i love golf

It truly is amazining to watch Tiger play. When things are in the right place he hits soo many great shots it is unbeleivable. In 2002 I was lucky enough to play in the Mercedez Benz Dealer Championships in Maui with the pros. I talked to Mark Calcavechia, Bob Estees, hit balls with David Duval, got a putting lesson from Brad faxon, and got playing advice from Garrett Willis and his caddy Casey. They all seem to beleive that if a pro can hit just 3 shots a round the way they vision it before they strike it, then they are having a good day. All the rest are good misses. Tiger on the other hand is having a great day if he hits 10 shots the way he sees and feels it. His putting is so solid that you can feel that he will make the putt when he stands over it. No matter what the length is! He credited it to his mind and body working together so well to me back in 2002 when I asked him about it at 1 of our dinner parties that the pros attended.

When Annika made an appearance on the tonight Show with Leno that I used to work on she also said that she always sees herself from behind hit the ball, the flight, landing, and a nice roll to within a few feet of the stick everytime from the fairway before she hits it. You have to beleive there is something to mind over matter?   

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DATE: 12/08/2007 19:50:49 / MOOD: like playing 36 holes

I love my hybrid (nickent 17 degree) that I just won on E-Bay.  I have taken it to the driving range twice now and have been happy with it. Did not notice an increase in distance but noticed it was easier with more confidence to hit it straight. 5W was a problem. I cant wait to try it on the course with a real golfball. As far as the 52 degree Callaway gap wedge, well it seems I only hit it about 7 maybe 10 yards farther than my sandwedge.  SW is 103 full swing and I needed about 115 with the gap. We will see on the course. It just feels that it can be heavier in the head and the grip is a midsize which I need to change to a regular size. I feel that can get my hands to cock a little more at the top of the swing with a regullar size grip. Now the Calaway 60 degree lob wedge. Hat to say it but i have not hit it yet on the range that I can remember. They really are beautiful wedges (Callaway Forged X's). Just hope the feel in the shaft too does not bother me too much. It does have a different feel in it.

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DATE: 11/24/2007 15:18:52 / MOOD: like playing 36 holes

I just got my new hybrid. A nickent 3dx 17 degree. I wanted to replace my 5w due to inconsistency and not much confidence. I went to the range and hit a few with both clubs. I have mre confidence with the hybrid. Seems easier to work the ball too. 1 thing that did bum me out was the fact that I did not gain any distance. I thought that 1 degree would have helped with the Aldila NV shaft. Anyway it is all good, I cant wait till this week when I get my new wedges. I have a 52 and 60 degree from Callaway. The forged X's. I have a 60 now but it does not really sit right for me.

                  Happy Golfing Folks,

                       &nb sp;    

 

 

   

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DATE: 11/14/2007 07:22:24 / MOOD: i love golf

   Hello golfing world. I just played in the High Desert Amatuer Championships in Victorville Ca. I love this course and this tournament. On Saturday I started off with square wheels. I am sure someone out there did this in a tournament and thought I am such a doofus!. On the third hole I hit the wrong ball. Thought it was mine, same brand, make, line, but the logo which I thought was under the ball was not there. I was the short hitter of the group and it was the first ball we got to. I avg around 275 andthe rest of the guys hit it avg 290-295 that I was with. Well Ryan hit one into the trees left and I guess got a good kick which we did not see and ended up in the middle of the fairway.( the one I hit) Thatcost me 2 strokes. Then next hole rammed a 3 ft par putt through the break, next hole left a 6 foot par putt one roll short. Calmed down to finish +4 for the front and went -2 on the back. Finished at +2 Sat. Come Sunday I found 6 divots in the fairways and only 2 were filled with sand. Kinda erked me due to most of these guys playing failed to make it to Nationwide Tour but are all top players on College teams from Southern Ca. NEV and Ariz. Could not get a good break.

        &nb sp;         BUT the most important thing for the weekend is that I really had a great time and met  a lot of great people. Everyone cheered each other on and gave positive talk when things were going bad. That is what makes golf such a great game. 

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