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**DennisM** · 11-19-2006, 07:19 PM

I have had to make a decision about my golf game and set makeup based on health issues. Doesn't sound like decision making in the traditional sense, does it.

I am changing irons again, this time at the advice of my doctor. At 57, I am finding myself constantly plagued with small nagging injuries and since my doctor is a golfer, his recommendation was that I actually change my swing to be more sweeping with the irons, in other words, avoid a divot, and that I use irons with the bigger sole to help with the effort.

So, there will shortly be a set of 2006 Big Bertha irons in my bag. The lessons start after Thanksgiving when we get back from NC. I chose the Berthas over a set of Adams. The Adams were pretty soft feeling, but the Berthas I had some time ago were a confidant look for me and I just have confidance in the brand.

I was getting used to the rac LT2's and liking them, but they do tend to dig in and my elbows and wrists are sore after every round. Without even feeling the shot upon which it happened, I have injured my left elbow, which predicated me going to the doctor in the first place.

My wife is teasing me that the insurance company should pay for my new clubs. Somehow I don't think that will work... She said thank God our doctor doesn't sail or I might still have my boat.

**fitz-uk** · 11-20-2006, 03:37 AM

Ouch, well I hope the new irons increase the amount of golf you can get in Dennis, and reduce the amount of injuries you suffer from the game.

What sort of things are you going to try and adjust in your game?

Catching the ball neat (er) would be a major benefit, are you going to look at graphite shafted irons or steel?

**DennisM** · 11-20-2006, 09:27 AM

Hi Fitz,

The injuries are not all golf related. It's more a matter that things I do to myself don't heal quickly enough to suit my intense nature, and things like the beginning of arthritis in my joints leaves me sore after a round. I currently have a small nagging injury that would be like tendonitis in my elbow from moving furniture at work. I may have injured it on the golf course because the pain showed up while moving the office furniture and computers around, but I just don't know. I'm also very guilty of forgetting my age and trying to do things I should probably let younger people do.

Dr. Jarrett, my physician, has a similar arthritic problem and since he takes his golf so seriously, he suggested I see the pro at a local course near me. (Same one he went to) Basically he told me about me playing the ball slightly more forward on iron shots and adjusting how hard I am able to hit down on the ball, (thus less shock to the joints), by virtue of a swing change that takes less of a divot. I am talking to someone about whether longer clubs with the lie adjusted would be of help in adjusting my setup to sweep instead of dig in, but the jury is still out on that.

The only thing I've sort of decided on, at least to the point that I even changed my signature already, is that of all the irons with wider soles I looked at last week, the Bertha's and Adams were the ones I was comfortable with and I decided on the Bertha irons because of faith in the brand name. The Callaways are the one company in a position to quickly react with a custom order if the pro suggests length or lie adjustments, unless I wait however long it takes to find a set of the 2002 Bertha irons to an agreed upon spec. They had the widest sole in the company history. I actually have a couple of their wedges still in my bag.

While it's easy to say "change", Doc's contention for lessons is that I would, (based on his example), probably shift my weight more and lean into the shot more, probably still digging in, or worse yet, turn away from the ball and shank everything like I was doing recently if my weight got outside my left foot. I was thinking about getting a few lessons anyway, so I guess I just have a better excuse now.

I'm still living with a bit of disbelief that my doctor is telling me how to run my golf game, even though he is a fairly good player and a good friend outside the office. On the other hand, I teased him back that he's just trying to set me up to beat me for the first time in his life.

I guess if I'm only going to be a sometimes golfer instead of 2-3 times a week like I used to be, I should do whatever it takes to enjoy the game as much as possible.

**fitz-uk** · 11-20-2006, 09:36 AM

Is this set in stone now Dennis or could there be a totally benign answer to the pain you are now getting? A trapped nerve or something similar?

Are there any supports that you could wear on your elbows to alleviate some of the pressure?

With any luck a few good lessons and a change in swing style, will keep you playing as regularly as you want without having massive doses of pain for your reward.

I don't normally buy into the 'alternative' medicine methods, but have you ever considered acupuncture?

I do hope you manage to tweak enough of your game to keep you playing as often as you like.

**DennisM** · 11-20-2006, 09:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fitz-uk

I don't normally buy into the 'alternative' medicine methods, but have you ever considered acupuncture?

Actually, I was making a sympathy call to a friend's house last night and that exact conversation came up. Like you, I've always been a bit skeptical about alternative medicines and treatments, but in such an international city like Miami, there is a lot of support for various styles of healing supported by one culture of another. Acupuncture seems to enjoy a fairly wide acceptance.

**fitz-uk** · 11-20-2006, 09:53 AM

It has to be worth a try. You never know unless you give it a go I suppose.

srothfuss · 11-20-2006, 10:13 AM

About 2 months ago I picked up the '04 Bertha Iron's and am very impressed with them so far. No large divits for me (so far) I played a short 9 hole round before the weather got too cold and have been hitting them at the range about once a week. Great feel and an incredible club... I can only imagine the '06 pieces being that much better.

**DennisM** · 11-20-2006, 07:12 PM

I spoke to the pro at Calusa Country Club today. It was an interesting conversation to say the least.

He described the swing I need to learn as more vertical, not "sweeping" in the sense that I swing around myself. He said the key element is to play the ball in a proper position where the swing plane brings it down on a slightly different path, but that it's actually a more decending blow. What was interesting was that he said my goal was to cut a shallower divot, not necessarily shorter. While I might be throwing out a divot that could be a toupe'... well he said I needed it to be so shallow that in the sandy Florida soil it almost disintegrates in air. He said the faster I get the club on the ball, but at a point in my swing where it's right at the very bottom of my swing so it goes through a shallow divot and out towards the follow through is what I'll be working for. I guess it doesn't have to make common sense if it winds up working.

The other thing he said is that under NO circumstances am I to hit balls off a rubber mat like some places here have.

srothfuss · 11-20-2006, 10:25 PM

Yeah, those rubber mats even hurt my wrists if I screw up my swing

**fitz-uk** · 11-21-2006, 03:06 AM

Interesting reading Dennis.

I have noticed many differences in the divots I take of late. The most common seem to be about 18 inches long, and about 1/2 inch deep (this is playing a lofted club on approach).

How hard do you think it will be to alter your swing enough to achieve this consistently?