#Golf Sticks for Alignment
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thegratefulgolfer · 3 months ago
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Hitting The Ball Properly On The Clubface
The science to hitting a golf ball has not changed in many years. The discussion on how we hit the ball may vary from time to time, but the actual science behind the kinetic action remains stalwart. The challenge for most amateurs is converting the knowledge of ball striking into consistent successful actions. This particular point is on that many players need to refine regardless of our skill…
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lanymme · 9 months ago
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God I forgot how good Pokemon Sun and Moon were.
The like. background alolan sovereignty stuff and the frankly startlingly sensitive discussion of child abuse and the way they entertwine? Team Skull being kids failed by the system, and that social ill giving room for the Aether Foundation to sort of push its way in and establish a hold in Alola to "do good"? The fact that the stuff the Aether Foundation is doing is really good work from a certain perspective, but is also disruptive, controlling, and not in alignment with the Alolan way of doing things? Guzma being abused as a kid, and ending up pushed around and manipulated by Lusamine, an abuser herself, who knows how to push his buttons?
The whole subplot of looking for a champion, which probably would've been Kukui or Guzma if their own hero and rival story hadn't been shattered by the stuff that happened to them? Guy whose dad broke golf sticks over him develops a perfectionist obsessed with being strong enough that nobody can beat him again, and constantly proves to himself he's safe by throwing that strength around? The way their relationship starts to repair when those societal problems start to be addressed?
And then Gladion and Lillie. God. The way Gladion is the older child who figured out what was happening first and got out of there, went no contact, and had to do what he could to stay off the street. The way Lillie is just starting to figure out and unpack the things her mother taught her, and beginning to become braver and show more independence? How her fucking mother DRESSED HER UP AS THE NIHILEGO, and then her big moment is to put together her own trainer-like outfit, to start picking her own clothes?? The way Lusamine treats her pokemon with zero humanity but pretties up and preserves them horrifically for show, the way the Aether Foundation is engaging in torturous unethical experimentation, as metaphors for the way she abuses each of her children???
The ways in which Guzma, Gladion, and Lillie all bond with Pokemon that sort of symbolically resonate with the kinds of abuse they received and the way they learned to deal with it--Guzma picking bugs, traditionally the weakest type, and Wimpod who runs from everything--showing the kindness deep down in him, and the way he grew up to be strong. Gladion, whose pokemon was more overtly abused, and evolves through his care into Silvally who can take on any type the way Gladion is forced to learn how to adapt to being by himself, and then to being a member of the community? And Lillie with Nebby, who starts out weak and defenseless, helpless, imprisoned, and escapes despite that and gets by through relying on other people, until she learns to take care of herself--and her buddy evolves into the legendary that defends the Alola Region from alien threats like her mother????
fuck that game was good. it fit so well with the themes and aesthetics of pokemon. I really wish they'd make more like it.
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starmieknight · 8 months ago
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Stars Align
The Legend of the Gobblewonker
17 Again AU: After a disastrous first day with the twins, Stan swears to do better as an uncle. But fate loves playing tricks on him and the magic 8-ball in the attic is more than it seems.
Now on top of having a pair of twelve year olds around the house while he tries to finish the portal and bring his brother home, Stan has to deal with being back in his seventeen year old body! Summer has never been weirder in Gravity Falls.
AO3 link
Concept Art
Legend of the Gobblewonker (Art)
Prologue, The Legend of the Gobblewonker, Headhunters Pt. 1 (next), Headhunters Pt. 2, The Hand That Rocks the Mabel Pt. 1, The Hand That Rocks the Mabel Pt. 2, The Inconveniencing, Dipper Vs. Manliness
The first thing that seems suspicious to Stan is now refreshed he feels upon waking up.
He hasn't felt this good in thirty years. Hell, maybe even longer than that!
It's like the strain of constant all-nighters and age-related body aches have been lifted from him overnight.
Stan feels like a twenty year old again and it freaks him out. 
His back doesn't even ache when he sits up and overcompensates the motion, nearly throwing himself out of the bed.
He hits the floor with a muffled grunt, surprised when the landing doesn't hurt. His skin is so thin these days that just bumping into the dining table leaves him bruised for weeks.
Stan rolls to a stop, sitting against the wall with his hair flopping in his face.
"Just great," he grumbles, pushing his unruly, brown curls out of his eyes. He paused, brow furrowing as he contemplated the strands between his fingers.
Wait― brown?
His hair hasn't been brown since before Soos was born and hold on! How long has it been since he could see this clearly without his glasses? Granted, his vision is still pretty blurry looking at things up close, but he could make out the babes on his magazines over on the dresser. 
He really should put those away somewhere in case the twins decided to come snooping in his room.
Almost robotically, Stan picks himself up off the floor and puts away his copies of Fully Clothed Women. Then, with poorly concealed anxiety, he turns to face the mirror. A terrified teenager stares back at him with wide, clear eyes. The absence of cataracts makes denying the reality of his situation an impossible feat.
The face in the mirror is one he loathes. The boy who ruined his brother's future and tore apart their family. He has a rounded baby face with only a hint of a sharp jawline waiting to form. His eyebrows are as brown and thick as his hair, dark curls that stick up all over the place without extra-strength gel to hold them back. There's acne spots on his chin and not even a trace of stubble to hide the freckles he's had since childhood. Even the boy's ears are smaller and he's screaming. 
Stanley Pines is screaming in his bedroom like he's being murdered and he can't figure out how to stop.
"Grunkle Stan!"
The twins burst into the room like wrecking balls, brandishing a golf club and a grappling hook with fear in their eyes. 
At least he hid his magazines in time.
They scream at the sight of him and, hey, he can relate, but the sound hurts his ears. Hurts enough to stop his own screaming. 
Even in a seventeen-year old’s body, he might still need the hearing aide after that. 
"Grunkle Stan, what happened to you?" Mabel shrieks, her eyes wide. "Was it the gnomes? Did they use some kind of gnomey magic on you as revenge for me not marrying them?"
Dipper, half-hidden behind his sister's wild bedhead, stares at him with a slack jaw. Apparently, he's been left speechless by the sight of his now teenage great-uncle.
But… gnomes?
Already the kids have gotten involved with the town's weirdness.
Stan has to salvage the situation as best he can before the twins run off into the woods in search of some mystic answer. 
He runs a hand over his hair, smoothing it back only for it to spring forward again and stick to his forehead. Ugh. Had he always been this sweaty as a teenager?
He pitied Dipper if that were the case.
"Beats me, kid." Stan says as he looks back at the mirror, trying to keep a hold on his rising anxiety. That same horrible face stares back at him. He shudders and forces his gaze back to the twins. "Probably the result of some radioactive runoff. It'll fade in a day or two, no sweat. But stay out of the woods. I don't want you running into anything and makin' me change diapers. You two want breakfast? I'm thinkin' pancakes."
“Grunkle Stan, how can you think of food at a time like this?” Dipper cries, his voice breaking. Yeesh, is Stan going to have to worry about his voice doing that again? “What if this is some magical curse that’ll deage you right out of existence? Ohhh man, I gotta check the journal!”
Well, that’s a horrifying thought.
But Stan’s mind short-circuits at the boy’s words.
Journal?
Journal?!
Only a few days in Gravity Falls and the boy finds the very thing Stan’s spent thirty years looking for.
What kinda cosmic bullshit―?!
Stan groans and pinches the bridge of his nose between his fingers.
“Look, kid. You wanna hit the books, then fine.” he huffs. “But you’ll do it at the breakfast table. Mabel, sweetie, you wanna help me get everything together?”
Dipper looks affronted by the brush-off, but Mabel looks conflicted. She looks Stan overly slowly, taking in the way he’s standing straight and his clear eyes. There’s anxiety written all over his face that he’s struggling to conceal behind an expressionless face.
“You’re sure you feel alright?” she asks, coming to some conclusion about his new state.
Stan softens at her concern and gently ruffles her hair.
“Better than I’ve felt in years.” he confirms solemnly. “And I’ll be even better once I get some food. C’mon, kids.”
The twins follow him without complaint, but much concern in their body language.
Stan fights the urge to look back at his strange reflection. This was just perfect. Not only did he have the kids underfoot, but he was also so close to that final piece of the puzzle to getting his brother back only to have to figure out a way to get it from his great-nephew without being found out. And on top of that, he had somehow become seventeen again overnight!
A long day stretched out ahead of him and made his chest clench. There would be no opening the Shack today, that was for sure, but…
Well, he’d gone to bed with the thought last night. What was stopping him from putting it into motion now?
A Family Fun day was just what they needed with this new revelation. And he’d be damned if he let some Gravity Falls weirdness get in the way.
Getting the kids into the car is easy enough. They're not willing to let him out of their sight for long and it was a headache in and of itself to shake them long enough to put his fishing gear in the car. They don't question his choice of shorts and a T-shirt.
His suit is too big for him now, loose in the shoulders and stomach in a way it's never been before. No girdle needed and he loathes the idea of taking the suit in any in case this sudden weirdness fades and he's left without his signature look.
The twins take their arrival at the lake with less grace.
And maybe coming out to the lake where the whole town has gathered isn't the best of ideas with him looking this way. But Stan has half of a plan to deal with that when someone brings it up. It'll be fine. They'll be fine.
"C'mon," he urges the twins when they still seem skeptical. "This'll be great! I've never had fishin' buddies before. The guys at the lodge won’t go with me― they don't like or trust me."
The words don't actually sway them, but like he said: they don't want to let him out of their sight. If he wasn't so relieved about keeping them out of the woods, the sentiment might bother him. He's been around the block way longer than they have. And he's taken care of himself just fine since he actually was seventeen. He didn't need to babysat.
But he'll use their concern to his advantage.
They're not impressed by his handmade hats or his joke book, but they don't get the chance to protest before McGucket arrives in the middle of another one of his episodes.
But the town hillbilly's words seem to light a fire in Dipper about a monster hunt. And, of course, Mabel is ready to follow her brother into the unknown.
Which is when Soos comes in.
Stan had hoped to keep him out of it for a little longer, but the man is practically the only family Stan's had in ten years. There was never a chance at keeping him out of the loop for long.
He freaks out. Stares at Stan like he's the one of the Wonders of the World and, for once, Stan hates it.
"Yeah, it's really me." Stan grumbles, a pout forming as he crosses his arms. "Now shut your yap so we can get fishin' ''
"I dunno, Mr. Pines." Soos says awkwardly, scratching at his scalp. His hat is dislodged by the movement, revealing a few wisps of his dark hair. "You sure it's a good idea to go out like that? I mean, what if you turn into a merman or something? Dude, that'd be so cool if you did, but I don't think it's a good idea to mess with magic like that, dawg."
"There's no magic here," Stan insists grumpily, glaring holes into his handyman's head. Seriously, he had to worry about him blowing the lid on everything, too? "I just wanna go fishin', is that too much to ask?"
The kids look conflicted, but it isn't enough to keep them from getting on Soos' boat and dragging Stan along.
Well, as long as he looks like a teenager, then he's gonna act like one.
Stan plops down in the seat behind the wheel and refuses to join the others as Dipper goes about explaining his plan. He knows that fishing doesn't seem like the most fun  of pastimes, but there was more to it than that! It was a chance to sit down with someone and talk without the distractions of everyday life getting in the way. Like the forced bonding that came with high school with thae chance of free dinner at the end.
Still, it is a little funny watching Soos eat fish bait. Stan turns his head and refuses to laugh at him. Or at Mabel's terrible ventriloquism. There was an idea for a shack attraction.
Scuttlebutt island is just as terrible as he thought it'd be, all wet fog and strange shadows in the distance. Stan has no idea about what’s lurking here and he hurries out of the boat in case something tries to grab the kids.
And something did. A huge, hulking monstrosity of a sea beast.
Once, Stan had dreamed of finding something like that alongside his brother, him punching the thing into submission so Ford could dissect it.
Forty years and a pair of kids by his side turned that dream into a nightmare.
He found himself screaming again, a twin under each arm as he and Soos sprint away from the Gobblewonker, only a step ahead of those sharp teeth. Then it's back into the boat where he has to hold onto the kids to keep them from flying out of the boat while they race across the water, nearly overturning some Hallmark family and their boat. Dan Corduroy and his sons go right in the drink before Soos crashes the boat into a hidden cave behind the falls.
Dipper is ecstatic with the capture of the lake monster before it's revealed to be McGucket piloting a monster machine like the Wizard of Oz.
"You just don't know the lengths us old-timers go through for a little quality time with our family."
The words ring more true Stan cares to admit and they seem to reach the twins, too.
"You think we still have enough time to go fishing?" Dipper asks hopefully, in sync with his sister as they don the hats Stan gave them.
He smiles reluctantly at the sight and they take the remnants of Soos' boat back to the Stan 'O War II.
"Hey, you knuckleheads ever seen me thread a hook with my eyes closed?" Stan grins once they're safely in his boat.
"Five bucks says you can't do it!" Dipper accepts eagerly, showing some of Stan's own personality.
"You're on!" Stan declares, trapping the boy in a noogie.
Dipper shrieks and laughs, unable to fend him off until Mabel jumps in to help.
"Five more bucks says you can't do it with your eyes closed plus me singing at the top of my lungs!" she screeches with her hands around his throat and joy in her tone.
"I like those odds!" Stan roars with laughter as he plucks her off his shoulders to blow raspberries against her belly.
It's not the perfect Family Fun Day he'd hoped for, but there's more laughter in that one afternoon on the lake than he's had in forty years. And he’ll take that for all it’s worth, Gravity Falls weirdness involved or not.
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the-damned-and-divine · 9 months ago
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Character Biography: Barbatus
Name: Barbatus Age: 2500 Race: Goetia Gender/Pronouns: Cis Male (He/Him) Orientation: Straight Born: 500 BC Birthplace: Tartarus County, Wrath National Identity: Wrath Occupation: Goetic noble, military advisor, archduke of Wrath Language(s): Demonic, English
Height: 9'0" Build: Average Weight: 200 lbs Skin Tone: Light grey Hair (Feathers): Black Eyes: Red Identifying Features: Long hooked beak, metal scales over his talons, stiff posture Appearance: Similar to many avian members of the Ars Goetia, Barbatus has long stick-like legs and a large bust. He is often wearing a silver breastplate with a purple sash displaying his medals
Personality: Cold, draconian, militant, single-minded, strict Approves of: Corporal punishment, military service, strategy Disapproves of: Cowardice, inaction, leniency, pacifism Likes: Martial arts, military history, other nobles, weaponry Dislikes: Commoners, hippies, sinners Best Qualities: Dedicated, intelligent, inventive, last to retreat Worst Qualities: Cruel, merciless, outdated beliefs, overly self-entitled, "victory at all costs" Hobbies: Golf Skills: Magic (master level), marksmanship, swordsmanship
Alignment: Lawful Evil Affiliation(s): Ars Goetia, Hellish Legions, Wrath Ring
Family: Two sons, Paimon (distant relative) Friends: None Relationship Status: Married (open relationship) Significant Other: Victoria (wife) Other Relationships: Boss: Satan Servant (former): Wretch
Backstory: Barbatus' early life was typical of the Ars Goetia: his parents' marriage was arranged, he was raised to become his father's heir and was provided the best education possible. But unlike other Goetic nobles, Barbatus cared little for politics, diplomacy, court intrigue and subterfuge---instead preferring direct action and the use of force. Although this was seen as "odd" or even "crude" by other nobles, his wish to pursue a military career was granted.
After proving himself to be both an adept fighter and clever tactician, Barbatus became an officer of Satan's 8th Legion and would continue to climb the ranks. His successes as a commander were applauded, yet his methods were the subject of debate: while many leaders take the lives of their followers into careful consideration, Barbatus appeared unconcerned about casualties. If he believed victory was likely and the result favorable, Barbatus would consider the number of lives lost to be "well-spent".
It would be an understatement to call Barbatus a "workaholic", especially given his intense focus on military matters and doing the bare minimum expected of a Goetic noble. He married purely for political gain and sired two sons, never spending time with them outside of formal engagements and only did so to maintain appearances.
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axdently · 2 years ago
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𝑴𝑨𝑫𝑰𝑵𝑨 𝑴𝑬𝑴𝑬𝑻, 𝑺𝑯𝑬/𝑯𝑬𝑹 𝑷𝑹𝑶𝑵𝑶𝑼𝑵𝑺, 𝑫𝑹𝑬𝑨𝑴𝑺𝑯𝑨𝑫𝑬
To CHARLOTTE DEGRAVES, the whole world looks like an open page. With a leap of faith, their ability of FERAL MIND grows a little stronger. They are a TIGER shade aligned to THE ORDER OF ATH. For THIRTY-SEVEN years, they have survived a world of magic with both their AFFECTIONATE + HEADSTRONG and CATTY + SUPERFICIAL reputations. They work as a TIGER HEAT CLUB OWNER & AN AMATEUR FOOT MODEL, but if they could change their fate, they’d want to KEEP HER SISTERS SAFE.
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─── 𝐃𝐄𝐓𝐀𝐈𝐋𝐒.
Listen up, babe, because this is who you are, and we’re only saying it once – you're a whirlwind of Moira Rose and Carole Baskin energy wrapped up in one explosive package. The town knows you as that Alimjan sister with a reputation, the one who sent her husband packing ( six feet under ), Julien Degraves, in the most enigmatic way possible. Your realm is Tiger Heat, a haven where music and magic collide, but you're not just a host –you’re a ringleader of inclusivity, welcoming grass kids ( you know the kids who used to sit in the grass during lunch and hiss at people ), and the black sheeps of the family. The world's a stage, and everyone is going to dance, and celebrate or you’ll scream !! But that's not all, Lottie. You're not just a queen of the night; you're a fashion icon too. Clown Couture? Yeah, that's you, turning glitter into art and sequins into a lifestyle. And those three LITERAL TIGER cubs? More than family, right? You're the lioness to these little tigers, fierce and protective. Here's the kicker: You're the big sister, the eldest among Dottie, Dollie, Rosie, and Josie, but oh boy, you definitely channel that mama bear energy. Let's not forget your temper – a warning sign for anyone daring to get on your bad side. So, Lottie Degraves, you're a tsunami of glitter, fierceness, and unpredictability. A showstopper, a sister, and a force to be reckoned with.
─── 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐈𝐂𝐒.
NAME: Charlotte Lottie Degraves NICKNAME: Lottie DATE OF BIRTH: January 28th GENDER: she/ her HEIGHT: 5’6” MARKINGS: a mole on her big toe TATTOOS: none PIERCINGS: her ears DECORUM: she always has to stand out with pink fuzz, quirky uses of denim, boots that shine, & the occasional glitter business suit. She loves to accessorize and you bet your bottom dollar that her tiger cubs ALWAYS match.  SCENT:  a minty trace of catnip, bubblegum cigarettes & Elizabeth Arden’s White tea GOALS: World Domination ✨ FEARS: Her grandmother POSITIVE TRAITS: Eccentric, Assertive, Talkative NEUTRAL TRAITS: Impractical, Confident, Curious NEGATIVE TRAITS: Scattered, Aggressive, Outcast ZODIAC: Aquarius Sun, Aries Moon & Aries Rising ALIGNMENT: chaotic evil TEMPERAMENT: sanguine ELEMENT: air  PRIMARY VICE: Wrath PRIMARY VIRTUE: Temperance  TROPE: Attention Whore, Comedic Sociopathy, Drama Queen, Everything’s Better with Sparkles, Impractically Fancy Outfit, Large Ham, No Inside Voice, Pretty in Mink, What the Hell Is That Accent? INSPIRATION: She’s a mix of Moira Rose, Monalisa Saperstein,  Noho Hank from Barry & heavily inspired by Carole Baskin OCCUPATION:  Illegal Animal Handler, Amateur Foot Model, Owner of Tiger Heat and CEO of a small company called of Clown Couture LLC. RESIDENCE: A house on the hill that resembles a mansion, that is always open to her sisters, though they’d have to sleep on couches due to the extra rooms being flooded with clothes and accessories for both her and her tiger cubs. HOBBIES: acrobatics ( when she was younger ), golfing, animal rights, sewing ( she has a small passion for costume designing ), Shopping HABITS: always losing her purse, speaking in a trained Trans Atlantic accent, never using her inside voice, pointing out the obvious ( Don’t tell her not to look at your Ex at the bar, she will ✨ ), chewing gum harshly and sticking it under tables, zoning out in boring conversations, succumbing to her own narcissism
─── 𝐀𝐁𝐈𝐋𝐈𝐓𝐈𝐄𝐒.
FERAL MIND
The user can tap into a primal instinctive state of mind, which can release an unstoppable rage that allows them to perform in vastly increased capacity, taking and inflicting damage that they couldn't or wouldn't in their normal state. In some cases, the user's mind descends so far into the feral state that, mentally, they are little more than wild animals. The intensity of Feral Mind is based upon which variations are in play one being relatively tame, to all three being unmanagable. 
VARIATION 1. ENHANCED AGILITY
User with this ability can go from one motion to another effortlessly, effectively dodge attacks, swing from things easily, sprint, do back-flips, leap across rooftops, and numerous other gymnastic, athletic and martial implements with little to no effort. Agility is "the ability to rapidly respond or change by adapting its initial stable configuration", the ability to change the body's position efficiently, and requires the integration of isolated movement skills using a combination of balance, bodily coordination, speed, reflexes, strength, and endurance.
VARIATION 2. ENHANCED CLAWMANSHIP
Users, either innate or through training, are masters of wielding claws as weapons. The user is able to wield claws with great proficiency in brute power and close quarter combat. When it comes to wielding different weapons, the claws are the closest to hand-to-hand combat. User is able to climb and otherwise move effortlessly and smoothly on angled and/or vertical surfaces, able to take advantage of any handholds they find, no matter how small, on trees, rocks, walls, etc using their claws.
VARIATION 3. ENHANCED BITE
The power to have bite force greater than that of the ordinary. Users have an inhumanly strong bite, either because of sharp fangs/teeth, augmented jaw-muscle structure, etc. User can easily rip out/off the body parts from a target's body, whether it be the arms, legs, organs, head, spine, etc. Usually done by brute force, or can be done supernaturally as well.
─── 𝐈𝐍𝐕𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐘.
FEATHERED VEIL OF CHARISMA: This ornate feathered veil grants a +2 bonus to Charisma checks while worn. Additionally, once per day, the wearer can release a dazzling burst of colorful feathers, forcing all creatures within 15 feet to make a Wisdom saving throw or be charmed for 1 minute. TIGER QUEEN'S GLITTERING BOOTS: These knee-high boots are embedded with sparkling sequins and allow the wearer to cast the "Misty Step" spell once per short rest, teleporting in a burst of glitter up to 30 feet. SHIMMERING SUNGLASSES: These crescent moon-shaped sunglasses grant advantage on saving throws against blinding effects and can be used once per day to cast the "Suggestion" spell on a target. GILDED CHOKER OF ELOCUTION: This exquisite choker enhances the wearer's speech and presence. They gain advantage on Charisma checks related to persuasion, and their words are imbued with a subtle charm that captivates listeners. TIGER CLAW PENDANT: A pendant in the shape of a tiger's claw, set with a sparkling gem. When worn, it grants the user enhanced agility, allowing them to add a +2 bonus to Dexterity checks and saving throws. 6.GEMSTONE HAIRPINS: A set of intricately designed hairpins embedded with sparkling gemstones. When used to secure hair, they grant the wearer advantage on Performance checks for music or dance. ENCHANTED BANGLE OF EVASION: A bangle adorned with swirling patterns. Wearing it grants the user the ability to use the "Evasion" ability as a rogue, allowing them to dodge area effect spells and abilities. SATIN RIBBON SASH: A delicate satin sash that shimmers in different colors. When worn as a belt, it grants the user the ability to cast "Color Spray" once per short rest.
─── 𝐈𝐍𝐂𝐀𝐍𝐓𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒.
COLOR SPRAY: A dazzling array of flashing, colored light springs from your hand. Roll 6d10, the total is how many hit points of creatures this spell can effect. Creatures in a 15-foot cone originating from you are affected in ascending order of their current hit points (ignoring unconscious creatures and creatures that can't see). MISTY STEP: Briefly surrounded by silvery mist, Lottie teleports up to 30 feet to an unoccupied space that you can see.
POTIONS
POTION OF GLAMOUR: Drinking this potion gives the user a radiant and captivating appearance, granting advantage on Charisma checks ELIXIR OF AGGRESSIVE ELEGANCE: This potion boosts the drinker's physical and mental prowess, granting a +2 bonus to Strength and Charisma for 1 hour. However, it also imposes disadvantage on Dexterity saving throws during this time due to their heightened self-assuredness. POTION OF CHARMED BANTER: After drinking this potion, the user gains the ability to engage in witty and flirtatious banter effortlessly. They have advantage on Persuasion and Deception checks for the next hour. TONIC OF SPARKLING ENERGY: This potion fills the drinker with boundless energy. For the next 10 minutes, they gain a fly speed of 30 feet and resistance to exhaustion. However, after the effect ends, they suffer one level of exhaustion. PERFUME OF ENCHANTING AURA: Applying a drop of this magical perfume grants the user a captivating aura. They gain advantage on Charisma checks and can use an action to release a burst of fragrance, casting "Calm Emotions. 6.TIGER BREW: Drinking this potion covers the user in a sparkling layer of magical glitter stripes. They become resistant to radiant damage, and any creature that makes a melee attack against them takes radiant damage in return.
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golfshorts · 15 days ago
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shiftgolf · 27 days ago
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Unlocking Elite Ball Striking: The Ultimate Blueprint for Creating Lag in Your Golf Swing
Introduction:
There’s little better than compressing an iron shot perfectly in the golfing world. That sharp “thump” sound you hear when the golf club hits the ball. That soaring, penetrating ball flight. The control and power that appear to come from nowhere with no effort.  What’s behind this magic?
The answer is lag.
Lag is what helps produce the strongest, most accurate, and most consistent swings in golf. It is what you don’t see that creates distance and precision for tour pros. It’s also what separates the good ball strikers from those who struggle with contact, control and confidence. In this ultimate guide, you will get to know about creating lag, useful lag and exactly how to train it so you can crush your irons and improve your game.
What Is Lag and Why Does It Matter?
The Definition of Lag.
Lag is the angle formed during the downswing between the shaft of the club and your lead arm. Keeping this angle until the last possible instant boosts energy in the golf swing, allowing you to unleash the energy through impact.
Imagine a whip. The handle begins to move, then the rope follows, and finally, the tip cracks. That’s lag. The body initiates the downswing, followed by the hands as the clubhead lags before a full-speed, precise release.
Why Lag Transforms Your Iron Game.
Lag can be used to increase clubhead speed. The later the release, the more explosive the impact.
More Clubhead Speed: Lag stores energy like a spring. The later the release, the more explosive the impact.
Pure Compression: It promotes ball-first contact and de-lofts the clubface at impact.
Better Trajectory Control: Shots launch lower, spin more consistently, and hold greens.
Consistency Across the Bag: Lag improves timing, sequencing, and reduces flipping or scooping at impact.
Pure Compression: It encourages ball-first contact and de-lofts the clubhead on impact
Shots will launch lower with better spin consistency and hold greens better.
Lag helps with timing and sequencing. Also, reuses flipping or scooping at impact.
Lag vs Casting: A Game-Changer
Most amateurs cast the club, releasing the wrists too early. This “early throw” kills lag, leading to weak, high shots that lack spin and control. When you learn to maintain lag, your swing becomes more efficient, powerful, and accurate.
The Mechanics of Creating Lag
Wrist Angles and Hinge
To build lag, you must first hinge the wrists properly in the backswing, maintaining roughly a 90° angle between the lead forearm and the club. But hinging is only part of the puzzle. The real magic happens in transition.
Downswing Sequencing
The downswing must begin from the ground up:
Lower body initiates: Hips rotate and shift toward the target.
Torso follows: Your upper body stays back while the arms stay passive.
Hands and wrists retain the angle: Only in the last few feet before impact do you release it.
This kinetic sequence is the engine of power and timing, and it’s what allows lag to build naturally.
Stability and Balance
Without lower body stability, you can’t create or maintain lag. Swaying, sliding, or standing up during transition disrupts timing and leaks power. Strengthening your core and improving balance will make it easier to hold your leg.
The Best Drills to Create and Train Lag
Drill #1: The Exaggerated Lag Feel Drill
Setup: Use a 7-iron and place an alignment stick along your stance line.
Execution: Make half swings. Focus on dragging the handle toward the ball, keeping the wrists hinged and holding the lag angle well into the downswing.
Purpose: Ingrains the sensation of retaining lag and delaying release.
Pro Tip: Video yourself to check shaft lean at impact.
Drill #2: No-Cast Resistance Drill
Setup: Hold the club out in front of you with extended arms.
Execution: Move the club back and forth, feeling the clubhead trail your hands naturally.
Purpose: Reprograms the mind-body connection to eliminate early release.
Feels: Light wrists, heavy clubhead.
Drill #3: Towel Compression Drill
Setup: Place a folded towel 6 inches behind the ball.
Execution: Hit balls without touching the towel. Focus on ball-first, ground-second contact.
Purpose: Encourages shaft lean, downward strike, and forward weight shift.
Drill #4: Pump Drill (Tour Pro Favourite)
Setup: Address the ball and take your club to the top of your backswing.
Execution: Pump the club halfway down two to three times before swinging through.
Purpose: Trains timing and transition without early release.
Drill #5: Wall Lag Drill
Setup: Stand facing a wall with the butt end of your club against it.
Execution: Rehearse your downswing without the clubhead hitting the wall.
Purpose: Encourages a shallower path and retained lag.
Advanced Concepts to Reinforce Lag
Compress, Don’t Scoop
Compression is the result of lag and shaft lean. Instead of trying to “help” the ball into the air, focus on hitting down on the ball and letting the loft of the club do the work.
Drag the Handle
Think of dragging the grip through the impact zone while the clubhead lags. This simple thought instantly improves impact dynamics.
Use the Bounce, Not the Hands
Let your body rotation andd gravity create the release. Avoid trying to manually flip the club at the ball.
Strength and Mobility Training for Lag
Core and Rotational Power
Medicine Ball Rotational Throws
Russian Twists
Cable Woodchoppers
Forearm and Grip Strength
Wrist Curls
Farmer’s Carry
Rice Bucket Drills
Shoulder and Spine Mobility
Band Pull-Aparts
Wall Angels
Thoracic Rotations
Stability and Balance
Single-Leg Swings
Bosu Ball Drills
Plank Variations
You can’t create lag if your body can’t handle the forces. Training off the course is just as important as what you do on it.
Mastering the Mental Game of Lag
Trust the Transition
The majority of golfers accelerate their downswing to prevent power loss. Ironically, lag requires patience. Trust that the clubhead will arrive late.
One Thought Only
Overthinking kills lag. Try these mental cues:
“Lead with the grip.”
“Drag the handle.”
“Let it fall.”
Choose one and stick with it.
Embrace the Process
You won’t master lag overnight. It takes reps, ffeedback, and feel. Acknowledge your progress by recognising moments of crisp contact and lower ball flights.
Training Aids to Accelerate Lag Mastery
Introducing the Lag Shot Swing Trainer 
The Lag Shot represents a groundbreaking swing trainer that utilises a flexible shaft to maximise lag development and sequencing during practice.
Why It Works 
Promotes a smooth transition 
Forces correct body rotation 
Prevents casting 
Builds lag muscle memory 
How to Use It 
Begin your training session by performing ten swings with the Lag Shot.
Perform five swings with the Lag Shot Swing Trainer, followed by five swings with a regular iron.
Concentrate on maintaining tempo while experiencing the clubhead “snap” at the moment of impact.
Real-World Results 
Instructors Adam Bazalgette and Andrew Rice trust the LAG Shot to quickly transform their ball striking, as do bother coaches and students.
Practice Routines to Build and Sustain Lag
Weekly Practice Plan
Day 1 – Lag Awareness:
Exaggerated Lag Drill: 10 reps
Lag Shot swings: 10 reps
Short iron shots: 30 balls with focus on compression
Day 2 – Impact Zone Mastery:
Towel Drill: 15 reps
Wall Drill: 10 reps
Slow-motion swings: 10 reps
Day 3 – Strength and Motion:
30 minutes of mobility and stability training
20 swings with Lag Shot
Hit 10 shots focusing only on swing feel.
Track Progress
Use video to check for shaft lean.n
Launch monitor: look for lower dynamic loft, increased ball speed
Journal your feelings and outcomes.
Taking Your Lag to the Course
On-Course Strategies
Begin your practice using 9-irons and wedges to establish your confidence level.
Utilise knockdown shots in windy conditions to develop a sense of lag.
Keep your swing thought simple: “Handle first”
Measure Improvement
Are you hitting more greens?
Is your ball flight more penetrating?
Is your contact more consistent?
Even without an immediate drop in your score, these observations demonstrate that your lag performance has improved.
Conclusion: 
The concept of lag extends beyond technical terminology to become the essential component for elite ball striking in golf. Any golfer who understands proper mechanics while developing strength and mental focus can learn this powerful move through practice.You don’t need to be a pro. This blueprint provides exactly what you need. Commit to these drills. Trust the process. Use tools like the Lag Shot. Aim for the sensation of striking an iron shot perfectly instead of seeking perfection. After experiencing the natural power of authentic lag, you will not desire to return.
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playgolf24 · 28 days ago
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📏 How to Use Golf Alignment Sticks (Like a Pro):
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✅ Lay 1 stick at your feet = aim line ✅ Place 2nd stick outside the ball = swing path ✅ Use for putting, ball position, & posture drills
🎯 Simple tool, BIG results
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gripsecret81 · 1 month ago
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Maximize Your Game: The Essential Role of Golf Training Aids
Understanding Golf Training Aids
What Are Golf Training Aids?
Golf training aids are specialized tools or devices designed to help players improve their skills, enhance their performance, and develop proper technique. These aids cover various aspects of the game, including swing mechanics, putting, chipping, and overall conditioning. Whether you are a beginner aiming to develop foundational skills or an experienced golfer seeking to refine your game, integrating golf training aids into your practice routine can yield substantial benefits.
The Science Behind Training Aids
The effectiveness of golf training aids lies in the principles of motor learning and biomechanics. Research in these areas demonstrates that repetitive practice with feedback can significantly enhance skill acquisition and retention. Training aids often utilize these principles by providing immediate feedback, which helps golfers understand the nuances of their movements. This feedback can come in various forms, such as visual cues, tactile sensations, or auditory signals, all of which contribute to refining muscle memory and optimizing performance.
Benefits of Using Golf Training Aids
The primary benefits of utilizing golf training aids encompass:
Improved Technique: By focusing on specific aspects of your swing or putting stroke, you can develop better mechanics and consistency.
Enhanced Engagement: Training aids can make practice more enjoyable, encouraging you to spend more time honing your skills.
Measurable Progress: Many aids allow you to track your performance over time, providing clear data on your improvement.
Injury Prevention: Proper training can help develop a more efficient swing, reducing the risk of injuries associated with poor technique.
Types of Golf Training Aids
Equipment for Swing Improvement
There are several types of equipment geared towards enhancing your golf swing. Examples include:
Weighted Clubs: These help increase strength and improve swing speed and timing through added resistance.
Alignment Sticks: Used for ensuring proper stance and swing path to promote accuracy during practice.
Impact Bags: These help in developing the correct impact position and enhancing muscular engagement through practice.
Putting Aids for Precision
Putting is a crucial aspect of golf, and various aids can improve your performance on the green:
Laser Alignment Tools: Designed to help golfers improve their aim and line up their putts accurately.
Putting Mats: These simulate genuine green conditions, allowing you to practice distance control and stroke consistency.
Ball Return Systems: They facilitate continuous practice by returning the ball after the putt, encouraging focused repetition.
Distance and Power Training Tools
To drive the ball farther, consider utilizing:
Launch Monitors: Devices that provide data on swing speed, launch angle, and ball speed, helping players adjust technique for maximum distance.
Resistance Bands: These improve strength and stability in your core and upper body, translating into more powerful swings.
Oversized Golf Balls: Balls designed to be more difficult to hit, encouraging better swing mechanics as you strive to master your timing and coordination.
How to Choose Golf Training Aids
Assessing Your Skill Level
When selecting training aids, it’s vital to accurately assess your current skill level. Beginners may benefit more from basic tools that address fundamental mechanics, while advanced players might focus on specialized aids for fine-tuning their game. Reflecting on your recent performance can help guide your choices.
Identifying Specific Areas for Improvement
Pinpointing specific weaknesses in your game can streamline your selection process. Perhaps you’re struggling with your short game, need help with consistency off the tee, or have difficulty reading greens. Understanding your areas for improvement will help you choose the right aids tailored to your needs.
Budgeting for Training Aids
Evaluating your budget is essential when acquiring golf training aids. Prices can vary significantly, from affordable items to high-tech devices. It may be beneficial to invest in a few key aids that directly address your weaknesses rather than purchasing numerous items with little relevance to your game. Researching reviews and comparisons can also help you find cost-effective solutions without compromising quality.
Implementing Golf Training Aids in Practice
Creating a Structured Training Routine
A structured training routine can maximize the efficacy of your golf training aids. Consider dedicating specific time slots for different aspects of your game, including swing, putting, and distance training. Consistency is key, so creating a weekly schedule can enhance retention and development.
Incorporating Aids into Regular Play
Seamlessly integrating aids into your regular play can foster a more cohesive practice experience. For example, you might use alignment sticks during practice swings or implement putting aids on the green before a round. This combination of practice and play can enhance skill retention and application during actual performance.
Tracking Progress with Training Aids
Utilizing tracking methods allows you to measure progress accurately and adapt your training routine accordingly. Consider keeping a journal of your practice sessions, documenting the aids used, time spent, and performance metrics. Over time, revisit these entries to identify trends and areas requiring additional focus.
Evaluating the Effectiveness of Golf Training Aids
Measuring Improvement in Performance
To measure the effectiveness of your chosen training aids, establish clear performance benchmarks. These can include tracking your average scores, measuring improvements in specific areas like putting percentage, and assessing swing speed with monitors. By consistently evaluating these metrics, you can ascertain whether the aids are delivering the intended results.
Adjusting Your Practices Based on Results
As you assess your performance improvements, be willing to adjust your practice regimen. Perhaps certain aids are less effective than anticipated, or maybe you have outgrown specific tools as you develop. Regular evaluation allows you to tailor your training to ongoing needs and objectives.
Expert Recommendations and Reviews
Lastly, consider seeking expert recommendations and consumer reviews to guide your purchasing decisions. Professional golfers, coaches, and seasoned amateurs often provide insightful feedback on which training aids deliver tangible results. Engaging with community forums or following reputable sources can expand your understanding of the best training tools available.
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thegratefulgolfer · 1 year ago
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Alignment Challenges In Golf
Aligning our body in order to hit a straight golf ball can be challenging. There are so many factors involved with finding the proper alignment it can be daunting for many beginners. As with all players, I walked the path of poor alignment early in my career, but now I think I have a handle on how to properly align my body in order to hit the shot I want. After many year of alignment challenges,…
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progolferxyz · 4 months ago
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How to Use Alignment Sticks
We love golf and know how key precision and consistency are. The alignment stick is a great tool for this. In this guide, we’ll show you how to use alignment sticks to improve your game. We’ll cover everything from basic setups to advanced drills. Alignment sticks are great for golfers of all levels. They help with accuracy, consistency, and performance. Whether you’re new to golf or looking to…
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halethestilinskis · 4 months ago
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Untitled- Chapter Four
HAZEL
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Our work schedules never seem to align and it’s getting very frustrating. We text and call everyday, talk about our day and go out for coffee or lunch dates when we can, but I really wanted to spend a weekend with Drew. Nothing else but him and I hanging out in the apartment. Making dinner for him, and maybe having him cover me in dessert. Sounds like a very sweet treat I wanted to try out. Him and I have only been seeing each other for 2 months, but things seemed to be working out. 
Savannah planned a get together for later tonight. With my work schedule killing me and the overtime I’ve been putting in, I deserved a night out. Drew bailed last second, his servers at work have a crisis where they think someone is trying to hack in to share personal information. Since it’s a high end firm, they deal with a lot of high end clients.
“Well we can always just hang out at your place”, she shrugged. We're getting ready on Facetime together, as usual, wanting to dress up or down in the same manner.
“Nah” Let’s go to Howl at the Moon, there’s the bar, bowling, golf simulator” I opened my eyes wider to get the mascara brush closer to the roots.
“Oh yeah!” She exclaimed, “I forget that place exists, AND they have those margarita buckets”.
“I’m probably just going to wear leggings and a nice shirt by the way, no need to go all out” I capped the mascara, and found my setting spray.
“Is that because Drew isn’t going to be there?” Savannah cocked her eyebrow, “I’m not dressing up that much either but definitely more than that”.
“What it’s not like I’m trying to impress anyone”. I never was before anyway, but Drew and I were getting along great. I haven’t seen one red flag, and didn’t really care to flirt with other people tonight, I just wanted to get drunk and dance with my best friend.
“Did he ask you to be his girlfriend?” she asked, obviously skeptical.
“No” I admitted shyly, “but I don’t want to ruin anything with him”.
Savannah gave a deep sigh before saying “I get it, but if a guy wants to buy you a drink and flirt with you tonight, there’s no harm in that”.
“Would you do that?” I cocked my eyebrow. Not paying much attention to my phone so much as staring in my closet for something else to wear.
“Are you kidding!?” she scoffed, “Zach tells me to”.
“That’s different, Zach is there with you”, I rolled my eyes, throwing my phone onto the bed while I shuffled around.
“Hey!” she yelled, I wasn’t expecting her to care that my face wasn’t there.
“I’m looking for a more appropriate outfit!” I rolled my eyes, annoyed, not that she could see it, but I hope she heard it in my tone. Her and Zach were great to hang out with, but not so much without Drew. Hanging out with someone in their honeymoon phase while you were pretty much single was nauseating. At least if Drew was there I could hang on him and be in our own disgusting honeymoon phase.“What about a bodysuit and jeans?” I finally huffed, looking over the camera so she could see my face.
“That sounds hot!” she smiled, “I’m almost done, so we’ll be over to get you in like 20 mins okay?”
“I’ll be here”, ending the call to get dressed in peace. The body suit was red, lacy and pretty sheer, I definitely wasn’t going to be able to wear a real bra with this. Thankfully I had some of those sticky ones from a wedding I was in last year. Hopefully they’re still sticky. Do they ever lose their stick? I found my black skinny jeans and put on a comfy pair of shoes for tonight. Dancing was the goal, and I wanted to dance for as long as possible to forget my shitty job and the fact that I’m a third wheel.
There was a honk outside as soon as I was finished getting my hair frizz free. Savannah was outside the car waving, telling me to hurry up. It was only 8 PM. “Is there a party I don’t know about?” I got into the back of his BMW admiring the black cloth seats the same way I did Drew’s.
The venue was quite a walk from the parking lot, and I was thanking whatever told me to wear comfy shoes. I would not want to walk this far in heels. Savannah was already complaining to Zach about her feet., “I told you not to wear them” he grabbed her hand, giving the back of it a kiss. They haven’t said a word to me since leaving the car, and it was really dampening my dancing mood.
It was early enough in the night that the bouncer didn’t ask for ID’s. There were kids over on the bowling side and even though there was a bar on the other side, they also had food and other things to do over there that kids could enjoy. Zach smiled at the bartender, turning on his charm, as we approached the counter. “Two shots of Patron” he looked down at Savannah with his bright blue eyes and wrapped his arm around her waist. The bartender, whose name tag said Kim looked over at me and asked what if I wanted anything.
“Oh!” Savannah shrieked, realizing I was still there, “one more shot of Patron”. My stomach soured. There weren’t a lot of people here. Even if I wanted to go off and mingle, I couldn’t. How much would an uber be to get home?
There was a table in the corner we decided to sit at. Drew and I would be people watching right now, and there were a slew of people here that we would be laughing and making up stories for. Instead I was forced to sit here and listen to Savannah and Zach talk about whatever it is they were talking about. Watching him rub circles on her thigh. Watching her rub her hands over his chest and shoulders. It was nauseating. I needed to be a lot more intoxicated if I was going to make it to the ride home with them. Zach already ordered another round of shots, again leaving me out of them. I held up my white claw as they toasted each other, wrapping the arms that held the shots around each others and taking them. Once again, not including me I chugged, emptying half the can.
“I’ll be right back”, chugging the other half of the can on the way over to the bar and taking a seat, “I’ll do another white claw and a shot of patron”.
I huffed out a sigh, putting my head in my hands. Thankfully the music started a few minutes ago so I no longer had to listen to the couple. Not that I was going back to the table until this white claw, or two, were finished. And not that they noticed anyway. People were starting to flood in. One guy, hat backward with a flannel on sat a couple of chairs down from me. His smile bright as he caught my eye.
“Hey” the stranger said. I wasn’t sure if he was talking to me, I turned around to take a look. Even though people were pouring in, he seemed to only have his eye on me. He laughed and came closer. “Brandon” he spoke into my ear, the music picking up volume.
“Sorry, I didn’t think you were talking to me” I admitted, giggling, “Hazel”
“Nice to meet you” he put out his hand and I shook it dramatically.
“How do you do?” my smile grew brighter. He tipped his hat with a smile. When Kim came over he ordered a shot to take with the one I already had waiting.
“Are you here with anyone?” he was sitting right next to me now. I still couldn’t hear him very well, but the way he mouthed the words gave me enough context clues to figure out what he was saying. I shook my head.
“Well” I remembered, “my friends are over in the booth over there, but obviously they don’t care”. I turned around to see them locked onto each other like a tiger caught its prey. 
“Cute,” he laughed, “my friends and I have the golf simulator over there if you want to join us.” I looked over to where he motioned, for my gaze to catch on brown eyes, nursing the Bud Light in his hand. My stomach sank. Of course he was here, and of course he looked as toned and tanned as he usually did. I swallowed hard, face burned red in the low light. 
“Yeah” I choked out. Brandon put his hand lightly on my waist guiding me over there. Brown eyes followed me until I sat down on the bench, Brandon introducing me to everyone.
“Hazel?” Roy asked, looking from me to Brandon and back, “Shane’s little sister?” I nodded, annoyed. Great. Just like 10 years ago, “What's up!?” he leaned down for a hug, which I quickly gave. Roy was always the class clown, and super nice to me, “Is Shane here? Or Jameson?”.
I shook my head, standing up and away from Brandon, this was just too awkward now. “No” I got close to Roy’s ear. “I’m going to get another drink” I leaned down to Brandon. As soon as I left the vicinity I took out my phone to see if either someone could come pick me up or how much an uber was. My first choice was Drew, I thought about Shane, but knowing him, and knowing his friends are here, he would stay and I would just have to call an Uber anyway. I clicked his contact, stepping as close to the door as possible without actually leaving so I could hear the other end of the line. It was just his answering machine. FUCK, I heaved out a sigh and went back to the bar, looking over to see Zach and Savannah still fused to each other in one way or another.
Whatever. “What’s the strongest drink you can make me?” I asked Kim with the kindest smile I could muster.
“Long Island probably” and I agreed.
“Long island is it! Just add it -”
“Add it to my tab” a voice said behind me. I turned around expecting Brandon to be there, not catching the hint that I walked off to get away from them. Only to see those brown eyes I have been trying to get out of my head since I moved into my brother's house. “Not having a good time?”.
“Great” I said sarcastically. He looked over to the table where Zachanna sat. They were actually just talking now.
“Where’s your boyfriend?” he asked, his eyebrows bunched together, looking around the room.
“Boyfriend?” I questioned
“The Mercedes guy,” He casually took a drink of his beer, leaning on the counter in front of me, “I saw you with him the other night”. Like two months ago. The night he told me I looked nice. I blushed.
“Not my boyfriend” I admitted, the butterflies in my belly beating as hard as they could.
“Ah” he nodded, making me cock my head while I sipped the Long Island. It was indeed stronger than anything I usually ordered, but not so strong that I needed a chaser. “I thought you only dressed up that nice for him”. My heart picked up pace, I nearly choked. He cocked a smile and winked at me as I caught my breath.
How the fuck do I respond to that. I squinted my eyes at him, showing my confusion “Thanks?”.
“I’m serious” he gave me a long look, “a lot different from the girl in high school”.
“Well yeah, I’m 22.” I playfully tapped his leg with my shoe. He stared into my eyes a little longer, bordering on uncomfortable. I wasn’t sure what he was searching for. He looked away to the bartender that came up in the corner of our eyes. I realized we were taking up bar space. The music came back to life and I started to breathe again, not realizing I was doing those things until he broke the contact. 
“Come back and play golf with me” he slung his arm around my shoulders leading me back to the simulator with Brandon and Roy. I contemplated wrapping my arm around his back as we walked over, but took too long to make the decision.
“Hey she’s back” Roy bellowed, obviously feeling good. The alcohol was starting to hit me now as well. My confidence was a little higher than it was before I got the Long Island. My friends long forgotten.
Roy got up to drive the golf ball into the canvas. Friends cheered as his ball got near the green. Brandon didn’t seem to care that I left and came back with Jackson, probably assuming I’m just the little sister, and probably not wanting to get involved with me for that reason. Roy did a little dance to the late 2000’s music playing, using the golf club as a mic. I started to sing along before I could stop myself, Jackson turned to look at me, and I turned to meet his gaze. He was like 6 inches from my face. Definitely caught me off guard, but I didn’t let it faze me. I continued to dance in my seat singing a song I haven’t heard since a middle school dance. He started to dance with me, and I realized his arm was still around my shoulder.
“I’ll be right back” he unwrapped his arm from me and put his hand on my thigh for a split second before getting up. Returning with a few drinks 10 minutes later. Roy was still trying to putt the ball into the hole, already on Par 7. My blood was warm, the alcohol coursing through me, I was still dancing in my seat to Beyonce when Jackson came back. Two Long Island’s and two shots in his hand.
“For me?” I feigned surprise when he handed me the glass.
“Just cause you’re cute” he winked, giving me his hand to take so I could get up with him, “and a shot to get you ready for golf”.
“I’m not golfing!” I shook my head, trying to get my hand out of his, “I don’t know how to golf”. He pulled me over the turf carpet. Finally Roy got the ball in, Jackson took the golf club from him.
“It’s not hard, look” he let go of me and went to the computer to set up the next hole. Then going back to the golf ball he already placed on the green and lined up next to it. I was mesmerized, watching his every move. His hips lining up. His ass poking out just a little bit. He lifted his head and cocked it to the screen, and then the other way back to make sure I was still watching him. Maybe golf wasn’t the world’s most boring sport. I understood why women fawn over baseball players now. Focusing on the ball in front of him, he lifted the club and slammed it into the ball. It soared, hitting the canvas with a dull thonk. His biceps flexing was the only thing my mind was thinking about, replaying over and over again. Jackson turned around after a moment, looking to where the ball landed and handed me the club.
“No!” I exclaimed again, crossing my arms, “I’d rather watch you play”. I smirked at him. He cocked an eyebrow. I shouldn’t be flirting with him, but damn does he make it so easy to do so.
JACKSON
Her cheeks have been flushed pink since the second her eyes met mine. I searched everywhere for Mercedes before I approached her, I didn’t give a shit about Brandon, and he backed down as soon as I shook my head at him when she left to go get a drink.
“Shane’s sister” I informed him quickly. He gave me an oh shit face and held his hands up in mock surrender. Shane wouldn’t actually give a shit if Hazel went out with him, but I would. Brandon is a pretty face that I once beat the shit out of in high school for being an asshole, whether he’s changed or not, I didn’t care. Roy invited him and I knew how to play nice so I was.
Roy and I exchanged glances when I brought back the drinks for her and I, and I shrugged it off nonchalantly. It’s Shane’s little sister, and she was bored, nothing weird about it. Her cheeks stained pink from the alcohol, turned brighter when I mentioned golfing, and I caught her admiring the view when I went to drive the ball into the canvas. The burning in the back of my neck simultaneously threw me off and made me want to do better to impress her. I didn’t let myself think about why.
“I’ll make you a bet” I grinned, standing in front of her, club in hand, “If I make this in the next two shots, you have to take the shot, and golf with me”.
“And if you don’t” she challenged me, her eyes gleaming.
“If I don’t” I had to think for a second, “then the ball is in your court, doll”. She flushed deeper, breaking eye contact. I fought back the grin that was creeping up on my face, smirking at her when she lifted her head again to meet my gaze. I raised my eyebrows in question.
“Fine” she relented, “but you have to take your shot now”.
“I’ll take my shot with you, when I get this hole” I countered, she rolled her eyes in answer. I felt her gaze burning into the back of my skull again, and I shook my shoulders to try to shake it off, but I couldn’t. My cheeks were heating, violently aware of how close she was watching me.
“Keep looking at me that way, you’re going to have to buy me dinner” I managed, staring down at the ball in front of me, back to the canvas, back to the ball. I set my feet, swung back and leaned in for the next drive to land in the green, right next to the hole. Hazel had her arms crossed in defiance when I looked back at her. “Nervous?”
“Nope” she smiled waiting for me to continue, waving her hand to insist on it. Her confidence made me nervous. My mind swam a bit, both confused on her reaction and the nature of our relationship, and the long island I chugged at least half of decided to hit finally.
“Get that shot ready”, I lined myself up again. Only have to literally tap it to get it into the hole. All eyes on me. Hazel, who couldn’t keep them off. Roy, who was confused about my actions with Hazel. Brandon, who was staring so intently, probably to keep his eyes off Hazel. And now Austin joined, but he had no idea what the stakes were, or even who Hazel was. Dude was always drunk at Shane’s house whenever she was around. I tapped the ball, anticipation killing me, time slowed down enough to think about why I was even flirting with the idea of Hazel. Even if I didn’t make the ball in, she was flirting back with me, she might make the bet interesting anyway. The ball sunk into the hole with a satisfying clink and I threw my hands, with the putter, into the air in victory.
I swaggered over to her, picking up both glasses of patron with a shit eating grin on my face. We were close, too close, maybe a few inches apart, and I could smell her warm vanilla body spray. That threw my head into a dizzying sensation more than the tequila did.
“My Lady” I mock bowed, handing her the glass, “I believe you owe me a victory shot”. She rolled her eyes at me, but clinked my glass and kept eye contact while she threw it back in a single gulp, barely making a face as it went down. Impressive.
HAZEL
My blood heated. His smile mesmerized me for a few seconds after the shot, his eyes were sparkling, his chest close to mine, making my heart hammer. He stood there with a confident grin, then dropped his gaze to grab my glass and set it back on the table. I was frozen. He hadn’t even done anything and I was frozen. Was he flirting with me, or am I just reading into it. His gaze was searching my face, his stupid grin still plastered. Was he drunk, did he know what he was doing? I’ve never seen him with a girlfriend or how he acts around a girl, I have only ever been around him with other guys. My brother said he had a girlfriend for a while but I wasn’t sure if he still did. I would hope if he did, he wouldn’t be acting like this. Should I be acting like this? Should I tell Drew?
I caught movement in the corner of my eye. Savannah was standing in the entrance of the little cubby that held the golf simulator. My eyes snapped to her, taking me out of my trance with Jackson. His eyes followed my line of sight, he said something and walked back to the computer in the corner. Savannah raised her eyebrows at me.
“Hey” I ran over, passing Roy on the way to the standing room.
“Hey back” she smirked, “How’s your night going?”
My heart was still hammering in my chest, I looked over to see Jesse and Roy chatting, he caught my eye and took a sip of his long island. “Good, I found people to hang out with while you fucked Zach in the corner.” I teased.
“Can you blame me, look at him.” She tossed her hair over her shoulder, making me look his way. He looked good, but not my type. “Anyway, we’re taking off, I assume you want to hang around for a while?”
“Savannah, you’re my ride!” I gaped. Sure I could always take an Uber home, but did I want to? No. It was only 9:30.
“Yeah well” she flushed, “it’s a little too crowded for my liking.”
“It’s a bar, Savannah”
She shrugged. I threw my head back exasperated, annoyed, even a little bitter. She tells me all the time to go for it with Jackson, and here I am, hanging out with him, really hanging out with him without my brothers in sight and she’s going to pull me away.
“Whatever, let me go get my stuff” I pivoted on my heels almost losing my balance, my face radiating heat for different reasons than before Savannah came over. There was a stinging in the back of my eyes. I was always a crier when I got frustrated, but add the tequila and I would cry for no reason. Crying in front of Jackson was out of the question. I took a deep calming breath with my eyes closed for one second and rounded the corner in the cubby. Jackson saw my face and his eyebrows scrunched together, eyes shining with concern. He looked around the corner and saw Savannah there, her arms crossed. Zach was probably bringing the car around for her.
“Everything good?” he asked as I shuffled around him to the sofa. My jacket and wallet sitting unattended. Even Roy was looking at me with concern. Was my face giving that much away?
“Yeah” I sniped, wrapping my bag over my head so it sat diagonally across my chest. He gave me a weird look, and I suddenly realized it was a bitchy way to act when he did nothing wrong. “Actually no, sorry, Savannah is my ride and she’s insisting we leave.”
He nodded, his expression turning from concern, to understanding. “How come?”
“She wants to fuck her boyfriend.” 
A laugh burst from him, lighting up his face once more “I can give you a ride home.”
“Don’t be stupid, Jackson, you’ve been drinking too” I shrugged my coat on, lifting my hair from the back where it was tucked in.
“I can sober up,” he smirked, “tell you what. I’ll stop drinking now, and in about an hour I’ll be good to go. Or whenever you want to go.” I thought about taking the offer. Getting to see him without my brother's interference is such a rarity and it actually seemed like he wanted to hang out with me. The real me, not just the little sister he used to pick on, but me.
“I don’t want to ruin your night.” It wasn’t fair to ruin his night out with his friends, because mine sucked. Or wanted to suck, I guess.
“You’re not” he said with a small chuckle. He gently grabbed my arm as I moved to walk away, pulling on the sleeve. I allowed him to take the jacket off me and throw it to the sofa, “if anything, you’ll make it better.” God I hope Roy didn’t hear that, he’s bound to tell Shane. My stomach did the dip, the adrenaline and anxiety coursing through me at his words. 
“Jackson” I huffed, cocking my head to the side, “seriously, it’s fine”.
He was looking at me in a way that made my cheeks sear and my breath catch. I swallowed hard, and he seemed to have tracked the movement, eyes traveling my entire face with a cheeky smile, showing only a hint of his teeth. “I’ll go get you another drink, and you can tell your friend that your ride is covered”. He gave me one last look before he turned. 
Roy made eye contact with me, and I shrugged. I bet he didn’t know why Jackson was acting this way either. That or he was planning to gossip he was going to drunkenly spill at the next football game get together.
Savannah was leaning on the bar, her phone pressed her ear, saying something before hanging up. “Good to go? Zach is waiting.” She took a look at me. I still had my bag across my chest, “where’s your coat?”
“I got a ride covered” I said matter of factly, still pissed that she couldn’t contain her hormones enough to even enjoy this with me. She raised her eyebrows instead. “Jackson” I clarified crossing my arms.
“Oooookay, well let me know how tonight goes with him” she didn’t meet my eyes as she said that and spun to leave. Jackson smiled at her and she passed him. She pretended not to notice and kept walking. I hope it killed her sex drive.
Jackson handed me a pink drink and had a soda for himself, waggling it to show it was non alcoholic, then led me back to the golf simulator. I figured out it was a cosmo after a couple of sips. Brandon asked me what it was because it looked good, and Jackson had leaned over me on the couch to tell him. Roy was golfing now. My turn had been relinquished because they thought I was leaving. He was pretty drunk and already being bad at golf, was getting terrible scores. 
My watch vibrated on my watch after I took a sip, cheersing Brandon on after making a bet that Roy would take more than five tries to get it in the hole.
A flick of my wrist showed you called? Shit, I did. Jackson looked over at me real quick and must’ve seen that there was a text on the screen. I unlocked my phone and opened the text, responding with, Hey! Yeah, forgot you were in a crisis, how was your night?
“Mercedes?” Jackson asked beside me. I locked my phone and put it back in my purse on the table.
“Who?” I asked, eyeing his wearily.
“Mercedes, the dude you get all dressed up for.” His eyes hardened, the smirk gone from his face. I’m not sure what emotion was flashing in those eyes. Jealousy? Hatred? Possessive? Either one I didn’t really mind if it was about me. But I still wasn’t sure what he thought about this weird thing we had going on tonight. 
Deciding not to comment on it, I said “Drew.” He nodded slowly, biting his lip slightly. His arm was already behind me resting on the back of the sofa. I flicked my watch to see another text from Drew pop up.
Good, crisis averted. How was yours, I heard you went out with Zach and Savannah?
Jackson leaned over and read it as well, “tell your boyfriend, I’m going to get you another drink, and drive you home later.” He smirked and got up, swaggering away while my mouth hung open. 
Definitely jealous.
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pablogerbolesparrilla · 5 months ago
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Mastering the Green: The Ultimate Guide to Reaching Golf's High Points and Sustaining Success
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Golf is much more than a game of hitting a ball into a hole; it’s a journey of precision, strategy, mental fortitude, and relentless self-improvement. Achieving high points in golf—moments of peak performance and success—requires a blend of physical skills, mental discipline, and a deep understanding of the game. Here’s a detailed exploration of how to reach and sustain success in golf.
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1. Master the Fundamentals
Every great golfer starts with a solid foundation. The basics of grip, stance, posture, and alignment are critical to a consistent and effective swing. Dedicate time to:
Grip: Ensure your grip is neither too tight nor too loose. Experiment with different styles, such as the interlocking or overlapping grip, to find what suits you best.
Stance: Maintain a balanced stance with feet shoulder-width apart and weight distributed evenly.
Posture: Keep a straight back, bend slightly at the hips, and keep your eyes on the ball.
Alignment: Use alignment aids like clubs or alignment sticks during practice to ensure your body and clubface are aimed at the target.
2. Develop a Practice Routine
Success in golf demands structured practice. Focus on different aspects of your game during each session:
Driving: Work on maximizing distance while maintaining accuracy. Use a launch monitor to analyze your swing path and ball trajectory.
Short Game: Spend significant time on chipping, pitching, and bunker shots. A strong short game can save strokes and make up for inaccuracies in long shots.
Putting: Practice both distance control and accuracy. Use drills like the clock drill to improve consistency.
Course Management: Simulate real-game scenarios during practice rounds to improve decision-making.
3. Strengthen Your Mental Game
Golf is as much a mental challenge as it is a physical one. Techniques to enhance mental strength include:
Visualization: Picture successful shots in your mind before executing them.
Focus: Stay present in the moment and avoid dwelling on past mistakes or future outcomes.
Resilience: Accept bad shots gracefully and move on to the next challenge with confidence.
Routine: Establish a pre-shot routine to create consistency and reduce anxiety.
4. Invest in Physical Fitness
A strong, flexible, and fit body can significantly enhance your golf performance. Focus on:
Core Strength: Essential for stability and power in your swing.
Flexibility: Improves your range of motion and reduces the risk of injury. Yoga and dynamic stretching are excellent practices.
Cardiovascular Fitness: Walking 18 holes requires stamina. Regular aerobic exercises like running or cycling can help.
Balance and Coordination: Incorporate exercises that improve balance, such as single-leg squats or stability ball workouts.
5. Seek Expert Guidance
Even the most successful golfers rely on coaches to refine their skills. Consider hiring a professional instructor to:
Analyze your swing mechanics.
Identify and correct flaws.
Provide personalized drills and strategies.
6. Leverage Technology
Modern technology offers tools to improve every aspect of your game. Popular options include:
Swing Analyzers: Devices that track swing speed, angle, and impact to offer actionable feedback.
Golf Simulators: Practice and play on virtual courses from the comfort of your home.
GPS Rangefinders: Help with accurate distance measurement on the course.
7. Cultivate a Competitive Edge
Playing in tournaments hones your skills and builds confidence. Start with local club events and gradually advance to regional and national competitions. Treat each tournament as a learning experience, regardless of the outcome.
8. Learn from High Points
Reflect on your best performances to identify what worked. Analyze:
Technical Skills: What techniques were particularly effective?
Mental State: How did you handle pressure?
Preparation: What aspects of your training contributed most to your success?
9. Network and Collaborate
Surround yourself with other passionate golfers. Join a golf club, participate in social games, and seek mentorship from experienced players. Sharing insights and experiences can accelerate your growth.
10. Stay Passionate and Patient
Golf is a game of lifelong learning. Embrace the challenges, celebrate small victories, and maintain a growth mindset. Patience and perseverance are essential as progress often comes in incremental steps.
Conclusion
Reaching high points in golf and sustaining success requires a harmonious blend of technical proficiency, mental strength, and strategic practice. By mastering the fundamentals, committing to continuous improvement, and staying resilient, any golfer can unlock their full potential and enjoy the rewarding journey that this game offers.
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verdigrass · 6 months ago
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Perfecting Your Golf Game with Artificial Grass Golf Mats ⛳✨
When it comes to honing your golf skills, having the right equipment is key. One essential piece of equipment that’s transforming golf practice for enthusiasts and professionals alike is the artificial grass golf mat. 🌿 Whether you’re practicing your swings at home, in your office, or in your backyard, Verdigrass offers the ultimate solution to take your game to the next level.
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Why Choose an Artificial Grass Golf Mat? ✅
Golf mats have become a must-have for players who want to practice without the hassle of heading to the golf course. But why specifically choose Verdigrass’s artificial grass golf mats? Here’s why:
Durability: Designed to withstand intense usage, these mats are crafted with premium materials that ensure long-lasting performance. 🔨
Realistic Feel: Verdigrass’s mats mimic the feel of natural turf, offering a true golfing experience. 🏆
Weather Resistance: Rain or shine, these mats are built to resist wear and tear from the elements. ☀️☂️
Portability: Lightweight and easy to set up anywhere, these mats allow you to practice on the go. 🎩
Key Features of Verdigrass Artificial Grass Golf Mats ⚙️✨
1. Premium Turf Quality 🌿
The artificial grass used in Verdigrass mats closely resembles the texture and feel of natural grass. This means you can practice your drives, chips, and putts with precision, as if you were on a real golf course. ⛳
2. Shock Absorption Layer 🫠
Golf practice involves repetitive swings, which can strain your joints. Verdigrass mats come equipped with a shock-absorption layer to reduce impact and make practice sessions comfortable.
3. Anti-Slip Base 💧
No more slipping or sliding! The anti-slip base ensures stability, allowing you to focus solely on your game.
4. Eco-Friendly Design ♻️
Committed to sustainability, Verdigrass uses eco-friendly materials to craft its mats, ensuring a reduced carbon footprint.
Benefits of Practicing with Artificial Grass Golf Mats ✅
☑️ Convenience at Your Fingertips
Skip the commute to the golf course. With Verdigrass mats, you can set up your practice area anywhere—be it your backyard, garage, or even your living room! 🏡
☑️ Cost-Effective
Why pay for expensive golf course memberships when you can practice at home for a fraction of the cost? 💰
☑️ Consistent Practice
With Verdigrass mats, you’re no longer limited by weather or time constraints. Practice anytime you want! 🌤️
☑️ Improved Technique
The realistic feel of Verdigrass artificial grass allows you to work on your technique consistently, helping you perfect your swing, stance, and follow-through. 🎯
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How to Choose the Right Golf Mat ⛳✨
1. Size and Portability 🎩
Determine where you’ll use your mat and ensure it fits the space. For smaller spaces, compact mats are ideal. If you plan to move it around, choose a lightweight and portable option.
2. Turf Thickness and Quality ⚖️
Look for a mat with sufficient thickness to replicate natural grass and absorb impact. Verdigrass mats are designed with optimal thickness for a realistic experience.
3. Base Material 🏠
A good base prevents slipping and provides stability. Verdigrass mats feature anti-slip bases to ensure safety during practice.
4. Durability and Longevity 🔧
Invest in a mat that can withstand frequent use without showing signs of wear. Verdigrass mats are built with premium materials to ensure durability.
Tips for Maximizing Your Practice Sessions 🏆
Set Up a Dedicated Space
Create a specific area for your practice sessions, ensuring you have ample room to swing your clubs comfortably.
Incorporate Drills
Focus on specific aspects of your game, such as driving, chipping, or putting. Verdigrass mats accommodate various drills to enhance your skills.
Use Training Aids
Pair your golf mat with training aids like alignment sticks or impact bags to refine your technique.
Monitor Progress
Track your performance over time to identify areas of improvement and celebrate milestones in your practice journey.
Why Verdigrass Stands Out in the Market ⭐️
Unmatched Quality
Verdigrass’s artificial grass golf mats are crafted with precision, ensuring a premium experience for golfers of all levels. 💪
Affordable Pricing
High quality doesn’t have to break the bank. Verdigrass offers competitive pricing without compromising on performance. 💸
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Order Your Verdigrass Golf Mat Today! ⏰
Don’t let anything hold you back from achieving your golfing goals. With Verdigrass artificial grass golf mats, every day is a perfect day to practice! 🌿 Visit our website today to explore our range and place your order.
Verdigrass: Where Quality Meets Performance! 🏆✨
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learn2golfacademy · 7 months ago
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Golf Lessons for Beginners: Avoid These Common Mistakes 
Golf combines skill, strategy, and patience. It's a sport that can be incredibly rewarding, offering a unique blend of mental and physical challenges. 
Learning golf, however, can feel overwhelming. There are techniques, rules, and etiquette to grasp, and it is easy to become discouraged, but learning is part of the fun.
One of the best ways to enhance your game is to learn from the mistakes of others. Recognizing and understanding common pitfalls can empower you to avoid them, leading to more enjoyable play and quicker progress. Every round presents an opportunity to learn, and each lesson helps build a solid foundation for your golfing skills.
In this post, we will discuss common mistakes newcomers make during their beginner golf lessons. We will also provide practical tips on how to avoid them. By focusing on these key areas, you can set yourself up for success. 
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Beginners Golf Lessons: Avoid These Common Mistakes
Explore the common mistakes made when learning golf and how to avoid them.
Poor Grip Technique
One of the first things beginners struggle with is the grip technique. A poor grip can affect your swing and result in inconsistent shots. Many people, during their beginner golf lessons, grip the club too tightly or hold it incorrectly, which can lead to tension in your arms.
How to Avoid It:
Focus on holding the club gently; firm enough not to drop it but not so hard that you squeeze it. Try different grip styles (like the interlocking or overlapping grip) to find which feels comfortable for you. Practicing your grip with a coach or more experienced player can also help reinforce good habits.
Improper Stance and Alignment
Another common mistake is having an improper stance and alignment. Beginners often stand too close or too far from the ball, or they aim in the wrong direction. This can lead to poor shots and frustration.
How to Avoid It:Make sure your feet are shoulder-width apart and that you are standing at a comfortable distance from the ball. Use alignment sticks or clubs on the ground to help you visualize your target line. Practice your stance in front of a mirror to ensure you're lined up correctly. Always double-check your alignment before taking a swing.
Overthinking the Swing
Many people overthink their swing mechanics during their beginner golf lessons. They get caught up in trying to remember all the technical aspects, which can lead to hesitation and poor execution. Golf is as much about feeling as it is about technique.
How to Avoid It:Instead of focusing on every detail of your swing, simplify your thoughts. Pick one or two key points to concentrate on, such as your grip and follow-through. Visualize your shot before you swing, and trust your body to do the work. Over time, as you become more comfortable, you will naturally develop a smoother swing.
Neglecting the Short Game
While many beginners focus heavily on driving the ball from the tee, they often neglect their short game, chipping and putting. This can be a significant mistake, as the short game is crucial for lowering your score.
How to Avoid It: Dedicate time to practicing your short game. Spend at least half of your practice time on chipping and putting. Learn to read the greens and understand how to control the speed of your putts. Start with short putts and gradually move back to longer ones. A strong short game can save you strokes and boost your confidence.
Ignoring Course Management
Beginners sometimes make the mistake of playing too aggressively. They aim for the flag on every shot, regardless of the hazards in the way. This can lead to higher scores and frustration.
How to Avoid It:Learn to play smart golf. Assess the course and identify safe spots to aim for. If you see a hazard, consider taking a safer route. Focus on making strategic decisions rather than just trying to hit the ball as far as possible. Good course management can lead to lower scores and a more enjoyable experience.
Avoiding common mistakes in golf is essential for newcomers who want to improve their game during beginner golf lessons. By focusing on your grip, stance, swing, short game, and course management, you can make significant progress. Remember that everyone makes mistakes, and the key is to learn from them. With practice and patience, you'll find yourself enjoying the game more and playing better, making each round more rewarding. Find a professional golf academy that charges reasonable rates for their golf lessons and is well-rated by previous students. Then, enroll to enjoy the game.
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houstongolflesson1 · 9 months ago
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Top Drills and Techniques from Houston’s Best Golf Lessons
Golf is a game of skill, strategy, and consistency, but mastering it requires focused practice and expert guidance. Houston’s top golf instructors have honed a variety of drills and techniques designed to help golfers of all skill levels sharpen their abilities. Whether you're trying to improve your driving, fine-tune your putting, or correct your swing, incorporating proven drills into your routine can make a big difference.
In this post, we’ll highlight some of the most effective drills and techniques taught in golf lessons in Houston to help you take your game to the next level.
1. The Alignment Drill
Proper alignment is one of the most important aspects of a consistent and powerful golf swing. Misalignment, even by a few degrees, can drastically alter the direction of your shots.
How It Works:
Lay two clubs or alignment sticks on the ground. One stick should point directly at your target, while the other should be placed parallel to it, representing where your feet should be positioned.
Practice setting up your body with your feet, hips, and shoulders aligned parallel to the target line. This ensures your entire body is aiming correctly before each shot.
Benefits:
This drill helps train your body to naturally align with the target, reducing the likelihood of wayward shots caused by poor positioning. Houston’s instructors often emphasize this drill to create muscle memory for proper alignment, so over time, it becomes second nature.
2. The One-Handed Putting Drill
Putting is often regarded as the most important aspect of golf, as it’s where the majority of scoring happens. However, putting can be challenging, and it requires a combination of precision and touch. Houston’s top golf instructors frequently use the one-handed putting drill to improve both feel and control.
How It Works:
Use your dominant hand only to putt from a short distance (3-5 feet).
Focus on a smooth, pendulum-like stroke, aiming to control the speed and accuracy of the putt.
After hitting a few balls, switch to your non-dominant hand for several putts, as this helps develop a better feel for the clubface.
Benefits:
This drill improves hand-eye coordination, refines your feel for the ball, and teaches you how to release the putter head smoothly. It’s especially effective for golfers who struggle with controlling the speed of their putts.
3. The 9-3 Drill (Half-Swing Drill)
Many golfers struggle with over-swinging, leading to loss of control and inconsistency. The 9-3 drill, which focuses on a controlled half-swing, is often recommended by Houston’s best instructors to develop a more compact and repeatable motion.
How It Works:
Set up as you normally would for a full swing.
Focus on swinging back to a position where your arms are at 9 o'clock (hands waist-high) and then finish at 3 o'clock (again, hands waist-high).
Keep your movements smooth and controlled, emphasizing balance and weight transfer during the drill.
Benefits:
The 9-3 drill encourages better tempo and rhythm while reducing excessive arm movements. It’s especially useful for improving ball striking and accuracy, as it forces golfers to focus on maintaining control rather than trying to generate maximum power.
4. The Impact Bag Drill
Solid ball contact is crucial for driving distance and accuracy. The Impact Bag Drill is designed to help golfers focus on achieving the ideal impact position for cleaner, crisper shots.
How It Works:
Place an impact bag (or a padded object) just ahead of where the ball would be in your stance.
Practice making half or full swings with the goal of hitting the bag with a square clubface at the moment of impact.
Focus on the position of your hands and body at impact, ensuring that your hands are ahead of the clubhead at contact, creating the necessary lag.
Benefits:
This drill promotes proper hand positioning and weight transfer at impact, helping you compress the ball and generate more distance. It’s frequently used in golf lessons in Houston to fix issues like flipping the wrists or coming in too shallow at impact.
5. The Gate Drill for Putting
To improve accuracy on the greens, Houston’s top instructors often recommend the Gate Drill, which is excellent for practicing straight putts and controlling the putter’s path.
How It Works:
Place two tees just outside the width of your putter head, forming a “gate.”
Position the ball about a foot or two from the hole and practice putting through the gate without touching the tees.
Start with short putts and gradually increase the distance as your accuracy improves.
Benefits:
The Gate Drill helps you develop a straight putting stroke, eliminating side spin or pushing and pulling of the putt. This drill is perfect for golfers who struggle with consistency on short putts and is widely used to build confidence in making solid, straight strokes.
6. The Bunker Shot Technique
Bunker shots can be intimidating, but with the right technique, they become much easier to manage. Houston’s top golf coaches break down bunker shots into simple steps to help golfers escape the sand with confidence.
How It Works:
Focus on an open stance and clubface, aiming to slide the club under the ball.
Place the ball slightly forward in your stance and aim to hit the sand about 2 inches behind the ball.
Use a smooth, full swing with follow-through, allowing the sand to carry the ball onto the green.
Benefits:
This technique helps you get comfortable with the concept of hitting sand rather than trying to make direct contact with the ball. With repetition, this approach reduces fear and hesitation when faced with bunker shots, leading to better results in tricky situations.
7. The Clock Drill for Chipping
Chipping around the green is one of the most crucial skills for lowering your scores. The Clock Drill is often employed by Houston’s instructors to help golfers improve their distance control and accuracy with chips.
How It Works:
Picture the hands of a clock surrounding the hole.
Place balls at the 12, 3, 6, and 9 o'clock positions, each about 3 to 5 feet away from the hole.
Chip from each position, aiming to get the ball as close to the hole as possible.
Once you can consistently chip each ball close, gradually move farther away from the hole and repeat the drill.
Benefits:
This drill sharpens your ability to judge distances and hit accurate chips from all angles around the green. It’s an excellent way to simulate real-game situations and build confidence with short-game shots.
8. The Mirror Drill for Swing Plane
Maintaining the correct swing plane is essential for consistent ball striking. The Mirror Drill, widely used in Houston’s golf lessons, helps you monitor and correct your swing plane in real-time.
How It Works:
Stand in front of a full-length mirror with a golf club.
Take slow practice swings, watching your reflection to ensure that your club follows the correct swing path.
Focus on keeping the club on-plane during both the backswing and follow-through.
Benefits:
The Mirror Drill provides immediate visual feedback, allowing you to see whether your club is on the proper swing plane. Over time, this drill helps correct over-the-top swings or steep angles, leading to more consistent and straighter shots.
Conclusion
Houston’s top golf instructors rely on a combination of proven drills and techniques to help golfers improve every aspect of their game. Whether you’re struggling with your putting, chipping, or full-swing mechanics, these drills provide practical solutions for making significant improvements. Incorporating these exercises into your practice routine can help you develop better fundamentals, boost your confidence, and see tangible results on the course.
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