Pain In The Hip

I ordered and just recieved don's "Golf, Plain and Simple" golf book from 1986. Got a quality copy through Amozon.com. I,ve only read the first few pages but it is  a well writen book and I am looking forward to devoring it over the next few days and weeks.
I have started a routine with my backyard "driving range" (yes I have the same net Surge has).  You can see another clear picture of it among the pics to the right on Surges Facebook page. Anyway I have been taking my 6 iron, 7 iron, Adams 22* Hybrid and my driver and using three balls I have to hit three cleanly into the center of the target  with each club before I can walk away. Sounds easy but the center of the target is small. I really like the loud "pop" that target makes when you hit it square.
Fun in the backyard. Hope to play 9 in the morning before working 10 hours tomorrow.
PMG

Sure hope your back eases up for you Dick. Best wishes for some steady golf and minimal pain. Good playing tomorrow:)

No, you heard right.  They have a group.

Sounds like it's time for a Doc driver.

Goodness what an awesome Sunday at the Masters. Louis double eagle, Phils 7 at 4. Bubba's outrageous hook to 12 feet. Off the crazy wall shot. What a day, what a game it is.

Bubba is most certainly vertical player.  For a diametrical contrast, see Matt Kuchar.

We have some how started using the word "rotational" to refer to the flat laid off one plane swing.  Every golfer has to rotate the shoulders around the spine to some degree.  So,  in essence we are all rotational, it's just a matter of to what degree.  However, in the PPGS, our back swing is vertical more so than in the swings being taught by most others.  There were actually a good number of players getting TV time yesterday that have a more vertical swing.

Robert,

I have the 1986 edition. Also ordered it used from Amazon a couple years back when I first became interested in the swing theory. It's one of the things that solidified my belief in and determination to learn the system.

On another note, Let's all pull for Phil to have a good round and win another Green Jacket.  I would have liked to see Freddie stay closer to the top yesterday. Seven is a lot to make up in one round, but you never know. 

Based on the present leader board, I'll be rooting for Phil.

Indeed it was quite a day. How the hell do you hit a ball 150 yards with 40 yards of hook around trees with so much spin that it actually spins UP HILL when it lands? Two holes in one at 16 today, also.

 Charlie,

If you have not seen this video of the Golfer Boys, (Watson, Crane, Fowler, Mahan) It's a hoot.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...

I would appreciate your explanation why I shank from time to time, with my irons No problem with driving, can move the ball from left to right, right to left as and when needed. Yet on ocasion with perhaps a short iron to the green, up pops a shank, I could weep when it happens?
Tony

Just watched the Masters, what a game. Bubba's shotplay defies the manual and the critics and yet he pulls off the most extraordinary shots. Just go to show you what
raw talent can do, wish I had some. I think the Tiger has to start developing some
character, something he hasn't had to do. Talent is something that is given to you
whereas character is something you give to others and that doesn't include "under the sheets". Was hoping that Mickelson would pull it off, now there's a guy with genuine character.      

T Medley and Doc--thanks for the confirmation that I heard right--they have a group, and the link. You're right--it is a hoot. Very catchy, and very impressive that they would do something like this to raise money for charity.

Surge Nation

Happy Easter to everyone.  What a great day here in central Ok.

Please keep my oldest son in your prayers as he is away from his wife and 2 sons on this Easter morning.  He is back down range for an unknown time frame.

I would like to remind all of us, including myself, how many wonderful people the Lord has put in all our lives.  As you know, I am taking the PAT tomorrow morning.  Wednesday I hurt my back pretty good during a home inspection.  Great timing.  I tried to play a round Thursday morning.  Almost could not finish due to intense pain.  I went right from the course to my chiropractor.  He is a great young doctor with the hands of a great piano player.  Turns out that I had popped a rib out on my right side.  Lots of pain from even little movements.  He got me adjusted and got the rib back to its assigned place.  Had to work at the golf shop on Friday and last night.  Yesterday afternoon I popped the rib out again.  I could barely breath without pain.  I called the doc.  He was out of town for the weekend with his family.  He is a golfer too, and knows I am taking the PAT Monday morning.  He drove an hour and a half to meet me at his office when I got off work at 9 PM.  He worked on me for almost an hour.  Got the rib back in, and taped me up.  I can only do some light hitting this afternoon, to try to be ready for tomorrow.  Then the doc had to drive the hour and a half to get back to his folk's place.  Where can we find people who are willing to drive 3 hours, spend an hour at his office, and all on a holiday weekend?  All he said is, "That is what friends do."

That is what friends do.  Thank God for friends.

I will let you know how the PAT turns out.

Keeping it vertical, and all taped up, in Oklahoma,
Dick

Most likely something changed in your spine angle, or you were setup too close to the ball without noticing. 

I loved the fact that on Thursday, Phil got to the course more than 7 hours before his tee time so he could attend the ceremonial first tee shots of Palmer, Player, and Nicklaus. That shows not only class, but an enormous love for the tradition of the game. 

I just wish Bones had pushed him to go back to the tee on 4 rather than trying to play out of the bamboo. I could see he had the wrong club, held incorrectly, to play that right-handed shot the way he was trying to. The loft was too high. When you turn it over like that, the loft is no longer loft, but face angle back toward you. To do what he was trying, he needed a 5 or 6 iron, not a 64* wedge.

It's easy to pull for Phil. As a spectator at many PGA tournaments I've always been tempted to whisper to a player, "This shot has been coming up short (or long, left, right or whatever) all day today." Of course Phil knows every square inch of the greens and entire golf course but still I wonder if he and at least Bones aren't watching the early action on masters.com and CBS to see how greens are playing and how most are doing with various pin positions. Then Bones can tell him, this is playing longer/shorter ect., ect. It is amazing how they pick yardages to the foot. I'm having fun with my new laser, got the Callaway Nikon LR550. Amazing how it is often 5-10 yards or more different than my golf Buddy gps. Walked 9 this morning.
2 doubles, two bogies, one birdie and 4 pars for a erratic 41.
Did have a cool sandy up and down and hit a pw to 3 feet for the bird on a par 3.
At work now. Catching the masters on m.com when I can.

Heh. Yeah. I've hit a few mean hooks, but to do it with a 9 iron, intentionally, and with that accuracy is insane. I've never been able to get more than maybe 20 yards of hook on a 9 iron.

Hey Surge Nation, hope you are all having a pleasant Easter week end. Cindy and I had a good time in Mesquite for two nights and played one round of golf at Casa Blanca where we stayed. There are  actually some 7 golf courses there and it's only one hour from Las Vegas. The tough part was it was windy as heck! and was at least 35mph with gusts closer to 50mph at times. None the less we played on and I was thrilled with an 86 in those conditions.Putting is a joke in that kind of wind:) We had fun any way. Great food both nights at 'Katherine's'  an excellent reasturant.
As Surge says, sometimes our pains might not be golf related at all but we may have to curb our golf or cut back as we heal. Again his "get a massage" suggestion is likely the most under utilized by many. Sometimes that will bring much relief. Another old fashion and oft forgotten idea is a hot bath with epson salt. Not just a couple of table spoons but a good cup and a half poured in while the water runs hot. It's the magnesium in it that relaxes sore muscles. Give that a try.
There are always other recomendations for sure and many have the ones they feel help. It is important to remember that particularly if it is a new and inflamed pain, ice is your best friend.
Hope everyone is enjoying the Masters. GO PHIL!!

Be well, and if it starts to hurt when you get out there, remember there will be other days to take the PAT. Happy Easter. 

 Beware of the injured golfer as he plays within himself and often shoots a lower score.

Good luck with the PAT and enjoy the challenge.

 Robert

Thanks pal.  Happy Easter back to you and yours.

Unless I have a major medical problem, I have to finish all 36 holes.  No matter what my score is.  If I fail to finish all 36, I can't take it again for 6 months.  So, I will get through it, no matter what.

I am just going to treat this as a learning experience and be glad I was ever able to take the PAT.  Before I found the Surge and you folks, I would have put money on a bet that I would never be in a position to ever think about playing golf again, much less ever be able to take the PAT.

I am off to the course for my "light" work out.

Talk with you all this evening.
Dick

 Although rotational, Bubba is as vertical a swinger as I have seen in a long time.

I have a new right hip ( three years) bu tit has bad bercitas. I have two torn rotator cuffs but do not trust them to operate.  Iwas a 5 hdcp and now play with a five wood off the tee with good rotation from a half swing and have learned to chip and putt for score. I still can play to a 12 from 6400 yds. I will always have pain but thank God I can still play. I am 68 love your tips especially since you moved off of the porch and we can see you better.

Robert F helped cure my shanks with my wedges with the second of his two suggestions below. I was indeed standing too close, swinging further out than my club position at address. At first, I "cured" it by soling the club at address with the toe at the ball, but I wasn't satisfied with that cure. Then I found out that my hands were hanging incorrectly--they were drawn toward my body, causing me to stand too close.  I later leaned another trick, if you can call it a trick, and that is to swing the hosel the club head trailing the hosel until the release, and it further improved ball contact.

Had a tourney today. No pain in my hip but pain in my _ _ _ . Played an old country club Donald Ross design very tough course 4" very thick rough, narrow fairways and very small greens. You could not land a shot on most of the greens and keep it on the green. Hit some really nice shots into greens to see them run off the back and make bogey. Shot 85 thats the best I could do Wah Wah . 

My driver is definatly cracked hit a tee shot today 280 down the middle hit it on the next tee box and had the wierdist looking tee shot and looked at it there is no doubt about it now it almost came apart and did after I finished off.   

Dick--are you taping up your torso with an ace bandage?  I wonder if it would help?  I had a very explosive cough a couple nights ago, and it somehow hurt my ribs so that if I cough or laugh, I get chest pains.  I'm playing  tomorrow (would have played today if it didn't rain here), and I'm going to tape myself up.

I thought I heard one of the commentators say that those guys are a tight group because they play music.  Did I hear correctly?  I thought I heard "band."  Maybe I heard wrong, just like I saw wrong in the video Steve posted.