Ball...must DIE!...(Poll included)

[MadGolfer76]

I have had the privilege of playing this game for 28 years. I have worked my game to the level of scratch at various times, and then let it go to the point of being a fairly solid single digit who (until this year) never really needed to practice much to keep some respectability in terms of performance. Year to year, for some reason, I seemed to alternate my approach. Could have to do with the fact that I live in the north, and the season ends after five months or so...

 

Thanks, Maine... :russian_roulette:

 

In any given year, I might choose to be an analytic golf nerd, and the next would resort to mouth-breathing turf slaughter. No rhyme or reason behind it - just what I felt like at the time. This year started out more the former, and has turned into the latter, and I am kind of curious how the rest of the membership here rounds out.

 

So, the first category is kind of a swing-chaser approach - "How can I do things right? How can I develop a repeatable swing and have confidence where the ball is going?" You know - swing within yourself, get properly fitted, get the pat on the head from the occasional swing guru. Maybe dive into the instruction forums, do some reading and research, take a couple lessons, and practice your butt off. (No matter how I practiced, my fat a** never seemed to fall off...but I digress). :angry22: Such golfers are always the enviable lot - predictable results...ball drawing and fading on command. (shameless d-bags...)

 

(j/k...kind of)

 

The other category is one that has recently become near and dear to my golfing heart, though recommended by approximately "0" golf instructors. I call this approach "Ball must DIE!" This is one where the ball must be punished for its lack of cooperation. Just as clubs must be dragged behind cars when they misbehave, certain naughty little golf balls must be banished to live in the woods forever and ever after having their covers torn off from a powerful swing. This is one where the golfer has no fear of the result, but the ball must be hit hard-like, all the time. Finesse is for short game and putting, all else requires the full treatment. If you aren't a little sore after the round, then you weren't trying hard enough! John Daly would be proud of you...

 

So, which are you? :dntknw:

 

Discuss...and vote!

[Shifty76]

Mostly the former. Though put me on the tee box of a hole with a prize for long drive and I quickly forget everything and transform into the latter. Usually with predictable results.

[rooski]

I've now read this 3 times and still have no idea what it's saying

[Pigems]

I’m a little bit of both, but mostly option A. With irons and wedges I’m all about finesse, precision and moving the ball in the direction it needs to move. Woods are a different story though, with Driver the Ball Must Die, I’m taking decapitaded, dismembered, finger prints burned off and left in the desert kindof dead. With Fairway wood I’m only trying to break a few bones and maybe sever a limb, internal bleeding and some bruising, the ball will most likely Die on route to hospital but it’s not the same level as driver. I do work hard on my swing as much as I can though, so this is why I feel I’m still mostly option A. Great thread!! :)

[MadGolfer76]

I've now read this 3 times and still have no idea what it's saying

 

That's fine. It isn't supposed to make much sense.

[evgolfer]

I’m so glad this wasn’t a thread on bifurcation and rolling back the ball.

 

I’d say that most of the time I played golf I didn’t try to kill the ball based on bad advice from fellow golfers (“don’t try to kill it”). As I’ve gotten more serious about the game and started to take lessons I’ve found it is more about speed and tempo and using the lower body more and not about holding back.

[Conrad1953]

Ball must DIE! No patty cake golf here.

[Oveezy]

Kill or be killed.

[bladehunter]

Mad-

 

Ive been both... the correct answer is a controlled version of both... To find the controlled strike that is also hit with conviction . and to know when and where to feather the throttle.

 

But oddly enough i understand you post 100% ... I struggle with my "players identity" alot.. You see these guys who hit it 225-240 off the tee ....Never more than 2 yards off the sprinkler line , and the only time they struggle is with a bad bounce lands in trouble.. They take their medicine, make bogey and move on..At the end of the day they shoot 70-72 and you think back and wonder "wtf? how can that be"? Me however ..Im just as likely to make birdie from a stand of trees asi am from the middle of the fairway.. because if i have a window my personality refuses to give up and "take my medicine"....

 

So this is where the 2 ideas collide... I think my best course is to play as conservative as i can off the tee, aggressive approaches where possible , and using my get out of jail card when a window provides... All that and i still have to make 3-4 birdies minimum to beat that plodding jackass i mentioned earlier most days..... lol