Magnificent! I can only dream of pulling something like that off during a round of golf.

Master of the short game is an understatement. Who ever even heard of a flop wedge before the golf Gods gave us this man?

lol, great shot.



/the bastard

Slick.

His voice is surprisingly easy to listen to. Mickelson is definitely the coolest guy in the game.

What's so special, I do this all the time.

/sometimes on purpose

Dick

/cause i cant do that

It's a good thing he's left-handed.

I've done that. Of course I was trying to hit the ball forward, but I've done that.

Phil Mickelson gives hope to terrible left handed golfers such as myself. Awesome shot.

O_o

Sybilll: Master of the short game is an understatement. Who ever even heard of a flop wedge before the golf Gods gave us this man?

The thing that amazes me the most about Phil is not the shots he can pull off. Instead, it's the fact that he has the creativity to think of those shots in the first place. I've been on a downslope on the back of a greenside bunker many times. I've never thought to try and hit the ball backwards.

Wow! I've farked around at the range trying to hit a ball as short and as high as possible with a full-swing lob wedge. The best I can do is about 20 yards. He's essentially getting zero yards, and controlling the distance with his lean.

Could've used that yesterday

/shot a 43 for 9
//would've been 39 had I stayed out of bunkers

udeng01: Could've used that yesterday

/shot a 43 for 9
//would've been 39 had I stayed out of bunkers

My sand game was bad, so I took a 30 minute lesson from a local pro. It was the best $40 I have ever spent.

I haven't left one in the bunker, of flew over the green since the lesson.

Broktun

Last time I checked putting is part of the short game, right?

Greatest short game player ever? Not if it matters.....

Guy can hit trick shots all week till you get to the final round of a tournament. Then he cant get up and down from the fringe and 3 putts from 9 feet. Nice breasts though.

Broktun: udeng01: Could've used that yesterday

/shot a 43 for 9
//would've been 39 had I stayed out of bunkers

My sand game was bad, so I took a 30 minute lesson from a local pro. It was the best $40 I have ever spent.

I haven't left one in the bunker, of flew over the green since the lesson.

Broktun

best bunker lesson I ever learned was with a dollar bill. If the bunker is next to the green, thats the distance you want your club head to travel in the sand (at least for a player at my skill level). Haven't had a too bad a shot from there since. Bunkers in the middle of the fairway, whole different story

Sure, this shot is neat/creative, but how often would this actually come up? I've never seen him actually use this in a tournament. If I had 30 minutes to practice this, or something else, I'll practice something else.

moistD: Broktun: udeng01: Could've used that yesterday

/shot a 43 for 9
//would've been 39 had I stayed out of bunkers

My sand game was bad, so I took a 30 minute lesson from a local pro. It was the best $40 I have ever spent.

I haven't left one in the bunker, of flew over the green since the lesson.

Broktun

best bunker lesson I ever learned was with a dollar bill. If the bunker is next to the green, thats the distance you want your club head to travel in the sand (at least for a player at my skill level). Haven't had a too bad a shot from there since. Bunkers in the middle of the fairway, whole different story

Fairway bunkers, get them out, take a bogie and move on.

Broktun: moistD: Broktun: udeng01: Could've used that yesterday

/shot a 43 for 9
//would've been 39 had I stayed out of bunkers

My sand game was bad, so I took a 30 minute lesson from a local pro. It was the best $40 I have ever spent.

I haven't left one in the bunker, of flew over the green since the lesson.

Broktun

best bunker lesson I ever learned was with a dollar bill. If the bunker is next to the green, thats the distance you want your club head to travel in the sand (at least for a player at my skill level). Haven't had a too bad a shot from there since. Bunkers in the middle of the fairway, whole different story

Fairway bunkers, get them out, take a bogie and move on.

We could do well in a scramble then. I don't mind fairway bunkers at all. On some courses I prefer them to the rough that surrounds them.

udeng01: Broktun: moistD: Broktun: udeng01: Could've used that yesterday

/shot a 43 for 9
//would've been 39 had I stayed out of bunkers

My sand game was bad, so I took a 30 minute lesson from a local pro. It was the best $40 I have ever spent.

I haven't left one in the bunker, of flew over the green since the lesson.

Broktun

best bunker lesson I ever learned was with a dollar bill. If the bunker is next to the green, thats the distance you want your club head to travel in the sand (at least for a player at my skill level). Haven't had a too bad a shot from there since. Bunkers in the middle of the fairway, whole different story

Fairway bunkers, get them out, take a bogie and move on.

We could do well in a scramble then. I don't mind fairway bunkers at all. On some courses I prefer them to the rough that surrounds them.

I struggle when I don't need to take a full shot. I'd rather be 100 yards from the green then 40. I'm OK around the green, but my putting is suspect.

I had my handicap down to 9 before I was married and had kids. Now playing once a week, I'm a 14.

Broktun

accountblocked: Last time I checked putting is part of the short game, right?

Greatest short game player ever? Not if it matters.....

Guy can hit trick shots all week till you get to the final round of a tournament. Then he cant get up and down from the fringe and 3 putts from 9 feet. Nice breasts though.

Think it was Ben Hogan(not sure?) that wanted to eliminate putting from golf. He felt putting was an entirely different game, and that the winner should be who ended up closest to the hole in the least ammount of strokes.

xnxax: accountblocked: Last time I checked putting is part of the short game, right?

Greatest short game player ever? Not if it matters.....

Guy can hit trick shots all week till you get to the final round of a tournament. Then he cant get up and down from the fringe and 3 putts from 9 feet. Nice breasts though.

Think it was Ben Hogan(not sure?) that wanted to eliminate putting from golf. He felt putting was an entirely different game, and that the winner should be who ended up closest to the hole in the least ammount of strokes.

That's the stupidiest thing I have ever heard and I work with retards.

aba: Sure, this shot is neat/creative, but how often would this actually come up? I've never seen him actually use this in a tournament. If I had 30 minutes to practice this, or something else, I'll practice something else.

Did you even listen to/watch the video? He said he used it in a tourney.

I saw him do this in a video 10-something years ago - he was on the side of a steep hill sloping towards the green. Blew me away then.

moistD: Bunkers in the middle of the fairway, whole different story

Keep your head and lower body as still as you can, and pick it clean. It you can depending on the lip of the bunker, pick 1-2 clubs longer than you would otherwise, and count on a lot of roll...

cheers

Shot a 102 yesterday! lowest round in a long time.

Roger Arseways: Shot a 102 yesterday! lowest round in a long time.

Shot a 76 last weekend. (9 holes)

canadianloon:Shot a 76 last weekend. (9 holes)

I'm with ya bud, never broke 100 over 18 in my life. Getting closer every time though, can't hit my 3 wood/driver but was hitting that 5W straight as an arrow, about 160-170 yds. i'll take it!

Roger Arseways: canadianloon:Shot a 76 last weekend. (9 holes)

I'm with ya bud, never broke 100 over 18 in my life. Getting closer every time though, can't hit my 3 wood/driver but was hitting that 5W straight as an arrow, about 160-170 yds. i'll take it!

I am decent with the woods, but my iron play sucks. I can get any loft on any irons unless they are teed up. they are all line drives. Sucks.

canadianloon: I am decent with the woods, but my iron play sucks. I can get any loft on any irons unless they are teed up. they are all line drives. Sucks.

See, it's weird... I cranked my 7I off the fairway about 140, got some decent loft on it. tried the same shot with a 6I and kept topping it, wouldn't go anywhere. don't know why. maybe that'll be next -- just keep going to the range and practice practice practice and you will get better. maybe get a friend to take some video of you during a round (ONLY if there's nobody behind you -- big pet peeve!)

I always assumed Phil was kind of a stiff. I like him 23% after watching that clip.

ArthGuinness: I always assumed Phil was kind of a stiff. I like him 23% after watching that clip.

23% more, that is.

What is the physics behind this? How in the hell...

aba: Sure, this shot is neat/creative, but how often would this actually come up? I've never seen him actually use this in a tournament. If I had 30 minutes to practice this, or something else, I'll practice something else.

i see. maybe phil's just having some fun and i love his energy. i'd much rather watch him than that robot tiger woods.

how does one even go about practicing this shot? freaking impossible

Broktun: I struggle when I don't need to take a full shot. I'd rather be 100 yards from the green then 40. I'm OK around the green, but my putting is suspect.

Learn the bump-and-run. 40 yards, I'd play about a pitching wedge, back in my stance, and try to bump it onto the green. I'm also automatic at 110 yards with a 4-iron on that shot, assuming I've got a clear path to the green.

As far as your putting goes, Dave Pelz' Putting Bible really helped me.

Bertsura: What is the physics behind this? How in the hell...

64 degree wedge, opened up so it's basically flat. If you hit the shot from a level lie, it would go almost straight up in the air. Since the ball is on a slope, and Phil is swinging along the ground, "90 degrees straight up" at impact becomes 30-40 degrees backward. From there, it's just a question of how hard to swing in order to control the distance.

Gonz: Broktun: I struggle when I don't need to take a full shot. I'd rather be 100 yards from the green then 40. I'm OK around the green, but my putting is suspect.

Learn the bump-and-run. 40 yards, I'd play about a pitching wedge, back in my stance, and try to bump it onto the green. I'm also automatic at 110 yards with a 4-iron on that shot, assuming I've got a clear path to the green.

As far as your putting goes, Dave Pelz' Putting Bible really helped me.

Bertsura: What is the physics behind this? How in the hell...

64 degree wedge, opened up so it's basically flat. If you hit the shot from a level lie, it would go almost straight up in the air. Since the ball is on a slope, and Phil is swinging along the ground, "90 degrees straight up" at impact becomes 30-40 degrees backward. From there, it's just a question of how hard to swing in order to control the distance.

I've used the bump and run, but where I live, Western Maryland, it is very hilly. Plus we have had so much rain everything is soggy.

I have Pelz's short game bible and putting book.

Broktun | Practice cures all ills

FIGJAM

Bertsura: What is the physics behind this? How in the hell...

Lots and lots of spin, an almost 90 degree initial velocity..

Broktun: I've used the bump and run, but where I live, Western Maryland, it is very hilly. Plus we have had so much rain everything is soggy.

Ah. Yes, that would make a difference. The shot works really well in South Texas, especially since we're in the midst of a drought.

Gonz: Broktun: I've used the bump and run, but where I live, Western Maryland, it is very hilly. Plus we have had so much rain everything is soggy.

Ah. Yes, that would make a difference. The shot works really well in South Texas, especially since we're in the midst of a drought.

My average drive last year was in the 240 yard range. Apparently 20-30 yards were roll. Now they plug or bounce once and stop in the 210 range.

I can not draw my driver, but I don't really try. I like to play a little fade that sometimes becomes an overswing slice or pull left.

I have Mickelson's DVD instruction videos and I found them to be very helpful.

You definitely get a better sense of his personality too, on TV he's always very diplomatic, in his videos he's a pretty strong personality and I'm sure he does not lack any confidence. I think there's no question he'll end up being regarded as one of the 10 best golfers of all time. The bad news is he's playing in the same era as the best golfer of all time, the good news is, thanks to Tiger, he's making a ton of money thanks to bigger TV contracts and purses.

I never understood any of the Mickelson hate.

He's pretty awesome.

CableGuy: one of the 10 best golfers of all time.

Top 10? In my opinion:

1. Jack Nicklaus
2. Tiger Woods
3. Arnold Palmer
4. Bobby Jones
5. Walter Hagen
6. Ben Hogan
7. Gary Player
8. Tom Watson
9. Sam Snead
10. Seve Ballesteros, Nick Faldo or Byron Nelson.

Phil has some work to do to crack that list. He's in the discussion for top 25, maybe top 20. Top 10? He needs to do a lot more to reach that level.

Yeah, but can he take a giant swing at a drive on the first hole, only to have to ball go 10 feet, thereby leaving him with an ultra-embarrassing attempt at a fairway wood with lots of people watching and thinking that they have to "follow this guy for 18 holes"?

Gonz: 10. Seve Ballesteros, Nick Faldo or Byron Nelson.

Phil has some work to do to crack that list. He's in the discussion for top 25, maybe top 20. Top 10? He needs to do a lot more to reach that level.

Obviously you're basing this entirely on majors wins, which is kinda silly.

Mickelson: 43 tournament wins, 3 majors, 29 top 10 majors finishes. From Boobieso last top 10, missed the cut 6 times (61 majors).

Faldo: 40 tournament wins, 6 majors, 26 top 10 majors finishes. From Boobieso last top 10, missed the cut 13 times (83 majors).

Ballesteros: 91 tournament wins (50 Euro, 6 Japan Tour, 36 "other"), 6 majors, 20 top 10 majors finishes. From Boobieso last top 10, missed the cut 9 times, DQ'd once (54 majors).

Nelson's difficult to compare since the PGA was a match play tourney and several years' worth of other tournaments were wiped out due to WWII.

I dunno, I kinda support the guy who finishes in the top 10 of roughly 50% of the majors he plays.

IAmRight: I dunno, I kinda support the guy who finishes in the top 10 of roughly 50% of the majors he plays.

Fair Enough, but one factor to consider is level of competition. I really think looking back this era will be considered to be lacking in competitors. (and yet I still think TW is prolly the greatest)

Gonz: Broktun: I've used the bump and run, but where I live, Western Maryland, it is very hilly. Plus we have had so much rain everything is soggy.

Ah. Yes, that would make a difference. The shot works really well in South Texas, especially since we're in the midst of a drought.

I shot a bi-polar 85 yesterday, which I will take any day.

I lipped out a 30 foot eagle putt on a 490 yard par 5. My two best shots of the day 270 yard drive, 220 yard 7-wood. I then proceeded to double the next hole. A few more pars then a triple.

I can't complain too much, just a stupid 3 putt from 20 feet.

Broktun