Currently I am a 20 handicap and usually shoot mid to high 90’s on my home course. I am hoping to get down in the 80’s regularly. Have only been using the program for a couple weeks but seeing progress.
I love this stuff! I may just let y'all take over my duties here in the Forum. That would free me up to create more content (and perhaps actually get to play some golf...🤣).
BTW, remember that a solid short game will not only overcome hiccups in tee-to-green play, but it will also take pressure off the long game to the point where that will seem to magically improve on its own.
Great post, @chevelle9604!! Keep working the process (and the various drills) - sequentially as designed and without getting ahead of yourself - and you'll see that 80's goal becoming a reality sooner than you think! And definitely keep that V1 Swing Video Analysis in mind. This is an effective and inexpensive service that I highly recommend to everyone in the school. I liken it to bringing your swing into the shop for a tune-up or minor repair. Scheduling one on a quarterly basis for preventive maintenance will do wonders for keeping things humming along nicely, and it's also a great tool for pinpointing and resolving any issues that arise. The process involves downloading the free V1 app and then submitting two videos to me through the app - one down-the-line (captured from your stance line, not the target line) and the other face-on. You'll find more information about the V1 Analysis halfway down this page on the Saguto.Golf site.
I liked how you describe your swing. Because, sometimes I question if I'm doing it right, too. I usually play golf with a buddy of mine on Sunday but I need a break. Besides, Sundays are terrible for slow play. I'm just going to do some drills. I can imagine your frustration. You start to cool down. You know what I do? I chip balls on the tee box. I try to get them close to tee blocks or I grab a couple of junk balls I may had found along the way in which I call them MEATBALLS or MULLIGAN balls and if there is woods or a safe clearing behind the tee box, I use whatever for that hole and hit them not caring if I lose the balls. This is where I practice the chip/pitch game while waiting for the fairway to clear. I'm always swinging a club while waiting. Some golfers get angry and lose their game at that point. I used to be that way...not anymore. Great time to practice that short game.
I had an interesting experience when these golfers invited me to play in their group after the front 9. They were hackers or better term, CHOPPERS. Of course, this where my game fell apart. I was hacking along with them. Now, they saw how I played the last couple of holes before joining up with them. I was hitting KFC crispy all the way with a touch of the Wrath of God. These guys were all over the course. I found I started to hit like them. This was strange and upsetting for me. Then one of the golfers became upset with me, "You know? You don't have to play at our level! We had seen how you had played those last 2 holes." I did not know what to say? In fact, I was surprised as much as he was because I was hacking, too. Why is that? Hopefully, I can get the answer through the book Tom Saguto recommended, FEARLESS GOLF-Gio Valiante. Great read for the mental aspect of the game. I just started reading it. Maybe because I wanted to blend with them or felt sorry for their game to avoid humiliation or sandbagging them? Don't know? That golfer was mad at me all the way!
I'm a pretty good putter and so pretty good getting out of a sand trap. My chipping SUCKS! I got close to the green in 2 twice and had to chip over bunkers. I got over the bunker alright... all the way over the bunker and another bunker on the other side, then chipped over that bunker, off the green by 20 feet! I duffed a few as well... I try to bump and run an 8 iron when i can and i do pretty well from the fringes that way. Even manage to hole it now and then that way. But get me 20 to 60 yards out and I'm a mess...
I did stick the green nice with wedges twice today. That was awesome! I've got to work on chipping!
@danny - I believe you're in that "Almost there but not quite ready for prime time" zone, and the mental part of the game is ultimately going to have you clearing this hurdle. You don't need to say "back to 2.8". 2.8 IS THE SWING (minus a couple of power accumulator add-ons), so just make it YOUR swing for now. If you find yourself reaching beyond the limitations "imposed" by this compact, connected motion, then we are already aware of the various breakdowns that will occur as well as their effect on impact and ball flight.
Have a look at Mike Bennett's swing here. How different is this from 2.8??
Reinforce your feels, keep your connections intact, get target-focused on the course, and then give up control to gain control!
@Tom Saguto As I think back on yesterday's round, I'm thinking that I was visited by the ghost of swings (very Recent) past and I was not "mooning the target" properly! LOL
I'm really trying not to reach on the backswing but I think it is part of the past swing that creeps back in and pulls me off "the wall" created at setup.
I'll do another active video practice session where I only take a couple of swings at a time and then check the video for what needs adjusting. When I'm doing it right it feels way better than the swing I came through the door with. That swing just doesn't want to give up on us. Even though it clearly isn't working out... I'm just waiting for it to realize that it really is over between us and we need to go our separate ways once and for all! It just keeps calling at all hours of the night because it misses me...
Just show that video of Bennett's swing to your old flame. Realizing then that there's no chance of reconciliation, she'll pack up her belongings, hand you the key, and be out of your life. But always watch your back - or perhaps backside in your case - because there's nothing more viciously vengeful than a shift & lift swing scorned.....🤣
I've only broken 100 3 times so far but that's only because of this program. I was having trouble breaking 110 forever. I tried for years to improve but, it never came and I quit the game. My lowest score during my first attempt at golf, before a 10 year leave of absence, was 102 and that was only once and never got that low again. Now, after only a few months my low score is 94 and my current goal is to play as well as @johnpfistnerjr is currently.
@chevelle9604 I do the same. Its fun to crank the long ball. Don't stop working it. If you think about it, a bogey on all 18 on a 72 par is 90. Then those bogeys are 1 stroke closer to par. Pars a stroke closer to birdies.
@chevelle9604 Just take my advice with a grain of salt. I enjoy sharing what works for me. If Tom chimed in and said, "John, you're doing it wrong." Then we are both screwed. lol It doesn't hurt to give it a try. I will always consult with Tom via this forum. I don't want to mess up what is working or not working for you. I have my swing faults...believe me, there is plenty there to keep me busy. LOL
Before Sagutogolf, I was at a 20+ handicap. Since I had changed my swing to SnT, thanks to Tom Saguto, I'm holding at a 13 hoping to get down to 10 or better at the end of this season. I'm usually scoring at mid to low 80's and even broke 80 at least 3 or 4 rounds toward the end of last season on courses I normally shoot high 90's to 100. Even on a bad round, I still break 100 without thinking about it. I'm not where I want to be as a golfer, yet.
@johnpfistnerjr It sounds like it is really working! I am just starting and need to get a practice net set up so I can work on it more at home. I really like the system and can’t wait to see how far I can go.
@chevelle9604 I have my faults but yes, it works well. Still working out the kinks with driver and fat shots. Playing in windy conditions yesterday taught me a couple of things, I had my tee too high to begin with for driver (Reason for one of the driver kinks) and fat shots happen before they begin. Set up. Those reasons are from not taking the time to ensure I have a good set up and not properly set up for playing the slope on uneven lies. "Dammit! I didn't play the slope!" is what you'll hear from me when that happens. I think Tom has plans to make vid instructions using stack and tilt for playing uneven lies.
I love this stuff! I may just let y'all take over my duties here in the Forum. That would free me up to create more content (and perhaps actually get to play some golf...🤣).
BTW, remember that a solid short game will not only overcome hiccups in tee-to-green play, but it will also take pressure off the long game to the point where that will seem to magically improve on its own.
Great post, @chevelle9604!! Keep working the process (and the various drills) - sequentially as designed and without getting ahead of yourself - and you'll see that 80's goal becoming a reality sooner than you think! And definitely keep that V1 Swing Video Analysis in mind. This is an effective and inexpensive service that I highly recommend to everyone in the school. I liken it to bringing your swing into the shop for a tune-up or minor repair. Scheduling one on a quarterly basis for preventive maintenance will do wonders for keeping things humming along nicely, and it's also a great tool for pinpointing and resolving any issues that arise. The process involves downloading the free V1 app and then submitting two videos to me through the app - one down-the-line (captured from your stance line, not the target line) and the other face-on. You'll find more information about the V1 Analysis halfway down this page on the Saguto.Golf site.
I liked how you describe your swing. Because, sometimes I question if I'm doing it right, too. I usually play golf with a buddy of mine on Sunday but I need a break. Besides, Sundays are terrible for slow play. I'm just going to do some drills. I can imagine your frustration. You start to cool down. You know what I do? I chip balls on the tee box. I try to get them close to tee blocks or I grab a couple of junk balls I may had found along the way in which I call them MEATBALLS or MULLIGAN balls and if there is woods or a safe clearing behind the tee box, I use whatever for that hole and hit them not caring if I lose the balls. This is where I practice the chip/pitch game while waiting for the fairway to clear. I'm always swinging a club while waiting. Some golfers get angry and lose their game at that point. I used to be that way...not anymore. Great time to practice that short game.
I had an interesting experience when these golfers invited me to play in their group after the front 9. They were hackers or better term, CHOPPERS. Of course, this where my game fell apart. I was hacking along with them. Now, they saw how I played the last couple of holes before joining up with them. I was hitting KFC crispy all the way with a touch of the Wrath of God. These guys were all over the course. I found I started to hit like them. This was strange and upsetting for me. Then one of the golfers became upset with me, "You know? You don't have to play at our level! We had seen how you had played those last 2 holes." I did not know what to say? In fact, I was surprised as much as he was because I was hacking, too. Why is that? Hopefully, I can get the answer through the book Tom Saguto recommended, FEARLESS GOLF-Gio Valiante. Great read for the mental aspect of the game. I just started reading it. Maybe because I wanted to blend with them or felt sorry for their game to avoid humiliation or sandbagging them? Don't know? That golfer was mad at me all the way!
I'm a pretty good putter and so pretty good getting out of a sand trap. My chipping SUCKS! I got close to the green in 2 twice and had to chip over bunkers. I got over the bunker alright... all the way over the bunker and another bunker on the other side, then chipped over that bunker, off the green by 20 feet! I duffed a few as well... I try to bump and run an 8 iron when i can and i do pretty well from the fringes that way. Even manage to hole it now and then that way. But get me 20 to 60 yards out and I'm a mess...
I did stick the green nice with wedges twice today. That was awesome! I've got to work on chipping!
I've only broken 100 3 times so far but that's only because of this program. I was having trouble breaking 110 forever. I tried for years to improve but, it never came and I quit the game. My lowest score during my first attempt at golf, before a 10 year leave of absence, was 102 and that was only once and never got that low again. Now, after only a few months my low score is 94 and my current goal is to play as well as @johnpfistnerjr is currently.
Before Sagutogolf, I was at a 20+ handicap. Since I had changed my swing to SnT, thanks to Tom Saguto, I'm holding at a 13 hoping to get down to 10 or better at the end of this season. I'm usually scoring at mid to low 80's and even broke 80 at least 3 or 4 rounds toward the end of last season on courses I normally shoot high 90's to 100. Even on a bad round, I still break 100 without thinking about it. I'm not where I want to be as a golfer, yet.