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Something I've noticed

• sweetmiffy 2,110 Posts

  Sun, Mar 23 2014 9:40 AM

  Hi everyone!

  I have the Ping level 59 G20's and I really like them. But I've noticed something which I think is a bit odd.

  Let's say I have 160 yards to the pin so I choose my ummm whatever iron. I think it would be a 6 iron. Anyway...if the wind is blowing from left to right I aim to the left duh...but what I've noticed is that if I hit the excellent thingy the ball goes to the right. So what I do is miss the excellent thingy by a little bit on the left and then the ball goes more or less where I want. It doesn't matter what ball I use. So it seems like the G20's don't really like the excellent thingy!

  Or am I being a bit mad again?

• DaveStrock 919 Posts

  Sun, Mar 23 2014 9:59 AM

  Hi Miffy,a lot of very good players swear by the miss ding towards the wind method,I have tried it but I find it very inconsistent for my style of play,I have learned to adjust the aim marker a couple yards farther in to the direction of the wind than one would normally calculate and go for the ding,the longer the shot the more I move the aim marker in towards the wind than one would normally calculate I find it a lot more consistent for me,I'm rarely more than a yard or so off line....cheers

• PaulTon 10,731 Posts

  Sun, Mar 23 2014 10:08 AM

  FWIW.  In a strong crosswind, I avoid the dingexcellent line at all costs.

• lonniescott711 4,207 Posts

  Sun, Mar 23 2014 10:23 AM

  This is where the forgiveness comes in . When playing off the ding , you need clubs with a lot of forgiveness . It reduces the wtf shots , and being farther off the mark . But playing this way , you have to learn how to adjust , and compensate for the wind . It takes a lot of practice , but its not a wrong way to play . From tee to green , I play that way , even when putting . In either a straight head wind , or tail wind , I will play the ding . On straight putts with no break , I play the ding . But for everything else , I play and putt off the ding , according too the wind or break of the green . So practice , practice , practice . Good luck and have fun . And its good to see that you havent left the game . :-)

• lee22sharon 1,419 Posts

  Sun, Mar 23 2014 10:51 AM

  In my experience, I have played many a round with those that preach the off ding method for every swing, many others who use ding only when putting. I perfer to use the ding for every swing, and adjust accordingly. I don't think either method is superior to the other, only that some equipment, and personal ability makes it easier for a person to use one method to better affect. Which ever system you decide to use it will take much pratice to be very good at it . I perfer to swing at a known target, probably a holdover from my military experience. my nickle.

• PaulTon 10,731 Posts

  Sun, Mar 23 2014 11:43 AM

  If you play off ding it means you will almost never (meter skips aside) get on the wrong side of the wind, that's why i do it. When I realised that ,it made it well worth learning.

  Not that I'm all that good but I deal with crosswinds a lot better now.

• YankeeJim 25,827 Posts

  Sun, Mar 23 2014 11:56 AM

  sweetmiffy:

  So what I do is miss the excellent thingy by a little bit on the left and then the ball goes more or less where I want. It doesn't matter what ball I use. So it seems like the G20's don't really like the excellent thingy!

  This is called smart missing and is very effective. I use it routinely with the 97 Nikes I have. You're not missing to aim, you're missing to increase your odds of not getting a negative deviation.

  You know your shot is going to land in a circle that has good and bad halves split by the pin. Hitting the ding means the deviation could go either way-good side or bad side. In the case of wind direction, it wants to push you to the bad side. If your aim is perfect then there's a chance if you hit the ding you could be pushed to the bad side even though you adjusted for it. That's how deviation works. (Think auto dingers.)

  Missing slightly into the wind will almost always keep you in the good part of that circle.  :-)

• sweetmiffy 2,110 Posts

  Mon, Mar 24 2014 2:29 AM

  Wow thank you everyone for your brilliant advice!

  Ok, now I must practice missing the excellent thingy but only by a bit!

  My mouse finger has been a bit dorky lately though!

  Hahaha!

  Yesterday, I had like a total spaz moment when I knew when to click and my finger refused to obey my brain! Of course, it was on St Andrews and I ended up in fescue which is I think one of God's worst creations ever.

  But anyway, thank you again and I'm going to practice like mad!

  drmoose, lonniescott711 and pdxdriver...you're going to wipe me out on Olympic!

  Hahahaha!

• alosso 21,073 Posts

  Mon, Mar 24 2014 3:36 AM

  Good to see you progress!

  sweetmiffy:

  the excellent thingy

  Listen to it when it says it's name:

  "Ding!"

• skccvb 799 Posts

  Mon, Mar 24 2014 10:22 AM

  Excellent thingy- now that is cute! Sadly- as illustrated above, it isn't always 'excellent' but it is always a 'ding'...lol And yes I fully subscribe to the off-ding into the wind theory...vastly improves your chances for birdie with crosswinds.