Forums

Help › Forums

Oldphardts can turn the corner

rated by 0 users
Mon, May 6 2013 7:34 PM (7 replies)
  • Hullyfan
    478 Posts
    Sun, May 5 2013 1:03 PM

    This is for amatuers and pros (like myself).  I hope it's not too presumptuous for me to be offering advice, but perhaps I can serve as an example to players frustrated by the early stages of the game, be they oldphardts or not.

    First, read the "Game Tips" forum.  There is a wealth of info there.  I realized that I would need to go beyond the starter clubs and balls.  I won't argue the merits of my choice of clubs and balls.  I like my clubs and spent a lot of time using different balls before deciding what worked for me.  I truly feel that this is a necessary move to turn that corner from high 70's to low 70's or high 60's. 

    Then I read more tips.  I don't worry about the complaints of some of the higher level players as I believe in adapting to the vagaries of the GAME.  Not that some of the complaints aren't interesting, but they won't improve your game, just your understanding.  I can safely say that 99.9% of my bad shots are my own fault.

    The most indespensible tool I've found is Bilko's Wind Calculator (search for it and get it).  I like to figure my own distances, but there are so many possibilities it's far more than simple addition and subtraction.  I still figure my own distances, but I check them with the Bilko program.  And when I come up with a different distance, I use the Bilko number and try to figure out where I made an error.  The Bilko charts are pretty much spot on.

    Did I mention reading the tips in the forum?  Take advantage of the experience of the vets here.  Most want to help and there is a wealth of info that will help your game.  Play lots of practice rounds to try the different things you learn about and find what works for you before you try them out on ranked rounds.

    Lastly, I'm still not great at dinging.  Sometimes I do, most times I don't.  Sometimes I play shots to miss the ding.  I have still improved to where I'm shooting some low 30's on nines.  I'm turning that corner from high 70's to high 60's.  Got a ways to go, but the game is way more fun when you can have some birdies and maybe some eagles.  You don't have to be perfect to have fun and shoot some pretty good scores.  If I were great at hitting the ding and could gauge the movement of putts better (maybe my biggest weak spot) I could be shooting regularly in the 60's.  I'm not entirely sure that I want to improve so much that I'm aiming to shoot 60-65 all the time.  I don't need to be a "top dog" to have fun.  Now I'm ready for some competition and a whole new aspect of the game.

    Did I mention READ THE TIPS IN THIS FORUM!  (Sorry for the caps)  If you do your homework, you can improve no matter what your age, and turn that corner from frustration to excitement.

  • courteneyfish
    15,796 Posts
    Sun, May 5 2013 9:47 PM

    Good advice there. Did you tell them about the tips in the forum?

  • alanti
    10,564 Posts
    Sun, May 5 2013 10:49 PM

    A great post Hullyfan (from Hull I assume - and lets face it, they need a fan or two :) ) 

    Very good advice to everyone starting out, or even to those who never read the forums or the FAQ - Game tips when they start out and just charge in head on then complain "the game suck".

    With your play don't worry too much about hitting the ding, I certainly don't hit it that often, but I am usually not far off either and sometimes do not try to hit it. If you could sort your short game out a little (scrambling and putting) you would be carding very good scores.

    But the good news is.........you guessed it - tips in the forums lol

  • Hullyfan
    478 Posts
    Mon, May 6 2013 12:00 PM

    alanti:

    A great post Hullyfan (from Hull I assume - and lets face it, they need a fan or two :) ) 

    Courtney - :)

    Alanti - just for the record, you're kinda close.  While Newcastle has plenty of fans, they are once again fighting to avoid relegation (haven't checked lately on that status).  The Hull FC I couldn't care less about.  The Hully I'm a fan of is Alan Hull, a Geordie singer/songwriter and member of Lindisfarne, a band of some note at one time, who passed away in 1995. 

  • alanti
    10,564 Posts
    Mon, May 6 2013 3:17 PM

    Hullyfan:
    The Hully I'm a fan of is Alan Hull,

    Please accept by apologies for being presumptious - a far better Hull than that of the namesake football club! Certainly more talented. And yes they were a band of some note, I recall they were hailed as the Beatles of the 70s at one point.

     

  • PaulTon
    10,731 Posts
    Mon, May 6 2013 4:38 PM

    Hullyfan:

     The Hully I'm a fan of is Alan Hull, a Geordie singer/songwriter and member of Lindisfarne, a band of some note at one time, who passed away in 1995. 

    Glad it wasn't Rod Hull.

    Did you post this sitting in a sleazy snack-bar sucking sickly sausage rolls?  ;o

  • BubbaCrusher007
    1,567 Posts
    Mon, May 6 2013 5:30 PM

    :)

  • Hullyfan
    478 Posts
    Mon, May 6 2013 7:34 PM

    (haven' figured out multiple quotes yet)

    alanti -------- "And yes they were a band of some note, I recall they were hailed as the Beatles of the 70s at one point."

                      Quite right, mate.

    PaulTon ------"Glad it wasn't Rod Hull.  Did you post this sitting in a sleazy snack-bar sucking sickly sausage rolls? ;o" 

                     Why aye, man.  I'm slippin' down slowly, slippin' down sideways...think I'll sign off the dole. 

    BTW, Rod Clements Jacka, and Ray Laidlaw are still gigging.

    BubbaCrusher007:

    What you can't say 'fart' at WGT?

    FarT! fart fart fart fart fart,,,

    LMAO.  I'm sure you can.  I just nicked it from someone on this forum.  Thought it was clever.  And, it somehow takes the sting out of old fart.  ;)

RSS