Conference 7.286::golf

    
    	I joined Billy Max's school of golf in Lawrence Mass yesterday
    	(for more info on the facility see note 170.?).
    
    	My hopes are that with the pointers that I get from the PGA
    	instructors there and the fact that I will be able to hit
    	some balls all winter, that I will be able to start this
    	coming season off about where I left off this past season.
    	I started last season off with an 18 handicap and was able
    	to get it down to an 8 by the end of the season. My goal for
    	this coming season is to get it to a 5 or less. Last season
    	was the first season in the last "20" that I played more than
    	9 holes a week. I have got the bug back and plan to spend a
    	lot of time practicing this off season and during the coming
    	regular season. I plan to concentrate on the part of the game
    	that can really save you some strokes "the short game" and
    	hope that I can keep the long game together too.
    
    	Are there any people out there that have used the indoor ranges
    	during previous off seasons that can say weather it actually
    	helps in keeping your game together or not...? 
                                                  
    	Gene (caught_up_in_the_game_again)

    
    I have a friend that used an indoor practice area a few winters
    ago.  The result was that he hit the ball VERY solid but everything
    went left.  He said that it took 2 months to recover from that winter.
    That's the only backgroud I have on indoor practice.
    
    When I practice full swings I like to work my way quickly through
    the bag to the 3 iron.  (quickly means about 30 - 40 balls)  I figure
    that if I can make a good pass with the 3 iron I can hit almost
    anything.  After that I may hit a few with the driver (when I had
    one) but never a fairway wood.
    
    For the short game I practice 4 things.  Chip and run from the fringe
    with a 7 iron, chip and run from the rough with a hooded wedge, pitch
    shots from the rough with a wedge and lob shots with the sand iron.
    With these four shots I believe that I can cover almost all
    the on course situations.
    
    Lastly 'the blade'.  I like to work from about 5-6 feet with a straight
    putt.  I think about getting the ball off the putter face as quickly
    as possible and listening for the ball to drop in the hole.  These
    2 keys help because I think that if I can keep a putt on line for
    6 feet, then I can make a lot of putts.  Also if I listen for the
    putt to go in I'll keep my head down and not pull putts off line.
    
    
    
    					KO

    
    
       I will be leaving Digital this week, so i thought I would mention
       a few things that help me keep my woods and long irons in line.
    
       To warm up I usually do the basic stretches, paying close attention
       to how "loose" I am on each day. Don't force the stretches!!
    
       After stretches try hitting about 10 balls one-handed with your
       left hand if you are a right-handed player. Use a 7-iron for
       this. Start with the wedge, hitting balls until you feel
       comfortable, then work your way up to the long irons. I try
       to concentrate on a slow, smooth takeaway with a full turn.
    
       Then comes the big sticks, the woods. It is very important when
       hitting practice balls to pick out a target!! Never hit a practice
       ball without a clearly defined target. Even more important...
       it doesn't do you any good to practice and groove a problem
       swing. There is a correct way to hit a golf ball!
    
       I suggest finding a pro who is knowledgable about the golf swing
       and doesn't charge a small fortune for help.
    
       Finally, I realize that every golfer has his/her own practice
       habits. What works for one player might not work for another.
       If you are going to practice, practice so it helps your game.
       
    
    
           Eugene in Phoenix  

    I have been going over to MIKE DICHARD'S/GOLF USA over the past
    couple of weeks.  There is an indoor hitting facility and also a
    machine that give you info on club speed, path ...etc.(I have never
    used it).  I also have a net in my garage.
    
    Hitting indoors can be rewarding and can screw you up.  That is
    why I only do it a few times a week.  What I try to accomplish is
    keeping my eye/hand cordination, working on a few things, and the
    ball hitting the net to the right of the target .ie. proper swing
    path.
    
    GOLF USA is on the DW Highway in South Nashua in the Shaw's Plaza.

    
    
    Here's a few ways for you practice your putting and pitching.  
    
    I developed these "off-the-course" routines to make it a bit more
    fun for my son and I to practice together.  He's thirteen now and 
    we've been doing this for a few years.  I wanted to find a way to
    get him to work on the little things.  Like most of us, he would 
    rather just tee it up and slash and burn.  The real payback ended up
    being for me.  I very rarely three putt and I get a lot of compliments
    on my short game.  So, now I've got about 5% of this game in my
    pocket...
    
    Putting:
    
    	If you've ever played HORSE on the basketball court you'll know
    	how to play "PUTTS" on the practice green.
    
    	I play PUTTS with my son for $.25 a game.  He loves money...hates
    	to lose....and really bears down when we do this.  Here's the game:
    
    	Any number of players can play although if you have more than four
    	people, it can get crowded.
    
    	The object of the game is to get your ball in the cup before your
    	opponent.  Choose one of the holes on the practice green.  You both
    	putt at the same hole from the same spot, one after the other.
    	Whoever gets down first retains honors.  Honors allows you to
    	create the next shot.  If you lose a hole, you get a letter.  Your 
    	first letter is a "P", then "U", then "T", and so on.  The first
    	player to get all five letters loses and is then known as a
    	"putts".  With us, you also lose a quarter.
    
    	Not only do you want to always be in command of creating the next
    	shot, you don't want those letters either.  Again, with us, there's
    	a far amount of "bustin'" goin' on with every shot.  That's the
    	pressure factor.  
    
    	Result:  Twelve year old "J.T. Trayer" averages about 34 putts
    		 for eighteen.
    
    		 By the way, we keep track of the number of putts we take
    		 every time we play because in addition to bragging rights
    		 it's really the only way he can feel competitive at this
    		 stage in his life due to his not yet being able to be as
    		 long as the rest of us.
    
    		 "PUTTS" has made us both better putters.
    
    	P.S.  We generally do this at twilight at one of the local courses.
    	      It's free.  It's fun.  And if you can read the break at
    	      twilight, daytime putting becomes a non-issue.
    
    Pitching:
    
    	Try taking your shag bag down to the local park or schoolyard when
    	you can have the place to yourself.  Find an area of less than 50
    	yards in length.  Pitch to the same spot repetitively.  I use the
    	shade of a tree to simulate my green.  I pitch to the shade.
    
    	Hint:  if you really want to be a "pitcher", keep your eyes focused
    	       on where the ball was BEFORE you hit it UNTIL you hear it
    	       hit the ground AFTER your swing.  Too many of us "peek". 
    
    	       Even a peripheral vision peek will cause you to mis-hit.
    
    	J.T. and I also pitch for dough.  We usually end up with a draw.
    
    	Good luck !
    
    	tt
    
    

    Sounds like a great idea.  With driving ranges getting so expensive, I
    may now refocus and improve the littel things.
    
    SoCalDandy