Balls Magazine Volume 7

As you may remember from Volume 6, I tried the TopTracer setup at the Alhambra Golf Course and thoroughly enjoyed it. Unfortunately, I did not get enough shots on certain clubs to do a real good analysis for every club I use.

So I went back.

I am happy to report that the app did not disconnect on me once! I remember I did mention the disconnections to the elderly gentleman in the Alhambra Golf Course polo and hat, so he may have some pull at the club and got them to fix it.

I must remember to browse the pro shop next time I’m there and see what those cost.

There are a couple of things I’ve noticed about my game that I need to fix. Of course, since it’s me, they’re sort of weird.

Weird Thing #1 I need to fix:

I don’t know what I’m doing with my swing, but I’m finding that the skin on the tips of my middle and ring fingers of my right hand is splitting open during my range sessions.

This last time I went to the range, I put bandaids on as a precaution and I ended up ripping through them. My fingers were okay but I’m pretty sure that’s not normal.

I think I have to slow my swing down. Either that or I may need to use lube. I wonder if silicone or water-based works best on golf club shafts?

Weird Thing #2 I need to fix:

My distances for two pairs of clubs are identical. Apparently, I can hit a 5 iron and a 6 iron interchangeably. Same thing with the 7 iron and 8 iron. That can’t be right.

I mean, it’s right in the sense that the numbers don’t lie but what am I doing wrong that is causing this? There are supposed to be approximately 10 yards of distance between clubs.

I think it’s because I am not consistent in how hard I swing the clubs. Meaning, I swing the lower club harder than the higher club. When you add in the fact that I’m probably swinging too hard period, well you see where I’ve got room for improvement.

***

After the range practice, I again went to the putting green to get some putting practice in. Then, I moved on to practicing chipping and I’m here to tell you my chipping SUUUUUUCKED.

My chipping sucked harder than Nancy Reagan. Linda Lovelace wishes she could have sucked harder than my chipping did that day. My chipping was the equivalent of the Cleveland Browns and the New York Jets combining like the Steelers and Eagles did to become the Steagles only they would either be the Brets or the Jowns.

On the bright side, after about an hour of frustration, I started to improve. I concentrated on using one club only and eventually I got the hang of it.

I now have a decision to make.

As I mentioned before, I am trying to get an official handicap. In order for this to happen, I have to record official scores for 54 holes. I am 18 away.

As part of getting a handicap, I joined the Southern California Golf Association (SCGA). As part of that process, I needed to join a local golf course. The golf course I chose is having its first tournament of the year in two weeks. There was supposed to be a January tournament but that ended up getting cancelled due to the atmospheric river.

The question I pose to you is this: Do I get in a quick 18 holes in order to establish a handicap before the tournament or do I go into the tournament with no handicap and use those 18 holes to set it?

I’ve researched this and you can play the tournament with no handicap. It’s called a Full Flight Tournament which means they group you based on ability/handicap. I would be in the Shittiest Flight. It’s labeled Flight S.

The reason why I’m unsure about this is that I think I need more practice. But do I need more practice on the range, putting green, and chipping area or do I need more on-course experience?

I’m leaning towards playing the 18 and then the tourney. The Fleshlight with the butthole opening is nice but it’s no substitute for the real thing.

On a separate subject, I think that the Top Tracer app is great and it is greatly enhancing my practice. I am learning more and more about what my deficiencies are, which is actually a good thing.

I may try to play one of the Top Tracer games the next time I’m on the range. I am specially curious to know how the simulated games work as I have no idea how putting would work. If it even comes into play!

PROS

Got more complete data on which are my good clubs and which are my bad clubs.

Got in a lot more really good practice and both my chipping and putting are improving!

No disconnections on the Top Tracer app and it worked great!

CONS

The data show I am inconsistent and need improvement.

I don’t know the best way to go about doing that improvement.

I lost a golf ball while practicing chipping. Seriously. I wish I was making that up.

OVERALL RATING:

I highly recommend using the TopTracer app and I am very happy I went back. I honestly can’t picture going to a range now without getting that data.

See you next time.