True Gent (John Pettitt)

I would like to say to everyone on here what a true gent John Pettitt is.

I PM'd him late last week to see if he would come over to my course and have a look at my swing.  Things had been going wrong with it and I didn't know what to do about it.

John gave me a choice of days and said he was only too willing to come over and see if he could help me.

He arrived at my golf club at 10am this morning, after a two hour drive from his home.

We went onto the practice ground and John was happy with my swing.  To be honest my last three rounds (Friday, Saturday and Sunday) were good ones and my swing was back to it's best.

After some lunch we went over to the Priors course and had 18 holes of golf.

John had played on the Priors course about ten years ago and he was looking forward to playing there again.

On the course John spotted one thing that I need to work on.  I don't complete my swing on some of my shots.  When I do a full swing I hit the ball well and where I'm aiming (give or miss a few yards), when I don't do a full swing I tend to push/fade the ball.  I'll be working on this over the next few weeks.

Our fourball all scored well and the weather was very good.

John didn't leave the golf course until 6:45pm, so as you can see he had a full day.

I'd just like to say a big 'Thank you' to John for putting himself out to help me, and at at a cost to himself.

Russ 

The pleasure was all mine, Russ, I can assure you. Nothing gives me greater pleasure than helping other players achieve their potential, and you certainly have a lot of that. Oh to be young and strong again.

Paul, I don't have many games left in me, so cannot waste any opportunity to have a bash round a course, Bad arm or not. You will have noticed I have signed up to your West Midlands event. Looking forward to it now.

I would like to copy the sentiments on here about John!

I have been to the range and played a few rounds with him now and although I am only just starting out, John is very patient and helpful!

He does get some bad press on here but honestly guys he does know what he is talking about!

I've played many times with John and he has always been helpful and supportive.  I'm hoping that when I move down south permanently he'll take me under his wing in the way he has Dennis and help me take 10 shots off my handicap too!  Need to watch out for his cheeky mind games when you're out on the course though

Always remember, Chris, that if the gamesmanship starts then you have got the opponents worried.

Everyone who has asked for advice on this forum will know that my method is only about the basic fundamentals required for a ball to be hit nice and straight down the range. I never attempt to alter anyones swing, just tweak what they have onto the correct plane etc.

Russell yesterday on the range at Stapleford Abbotts had a swing with all the basic fundamentals correct and there was little I could have done to improve on it, This is most unusual to find such a good method in a handicap golfer.

His problem is that he does not do his range swing on the golf course all of the time and therefore although he has the potential to play every hole in par, because of his natural power and good basic swing, it breaks down, for various reasons.

The very first hole, a par five he had a nice drive an easy lay up iron and with 80 yards to go, failed to complete the swing and it fell short into the water, Mistake number two was doing exactly the same with the next dropped ball. Starting with an 8 does not inspire confidence, yet it was tragic and should not have happened.

Basically he swings the club through the ball on the range but hits  and stops on the course. This is caused by tension in an attempt to steer the ball to the target instead of lining up and swinging with his natural pace through to a nice finish, something he did on every shot on the range.

 Drew, I live just north of Reading but play at Sherfield Oaks, near Basingstoke. I see you are in Hampshire, but then it is a fairly large county.

"Always remember, Chris, that if the gamesmanship starts then you have got the opponents worried."

See, you're at it again and we aren't even playing!!!

Bit harsh that you pinched and gulped down John's profiteroles Stuart?!

Nice post Russell ,something that quite a few of us have known for a long while , no BS straight talking but loves more than anything to see others play well. It's quite rare these days to find someone who is so willing to give back to a sport they love so much without financial gain (not having a go at anyone who who's proffession it is). Good on you JP keep up the good work.

Name the day you wish to play, David, either of the courses you mentioned and I am sure we can get something organised., Armco permitting of course.

I'll play on the condition it's a Friday afternoon.  Either South Winchester or Sherfield works for me. 

Work! Drew, that is a four letter word and one that is not conducive to playing golf.

It will be a week-day as I don't play at week-ends.

I'm supposed to finish at 12, but I have an understanding boss who lets me leave at 11 on Fridays on the odd occaison as long as I make the time up.  It'll take me about 30 mins to Sherfield and about 45 mins to South Winchester so if the first tee off is 12 I should be fine. 

Can we NOT make it 10th July as I have the West Mids qualifier that weekend and the earache from the wife won't be worth it!

"Basically he swings the club through the ball on the range but hits  and stops on the course. This is caused by tension in an attempt to steer the ball to the target instead of lining up and swinging with his natural pace through to a nice finish, something he did on every shot on the range."

John

I seem to do the same on the course causing my shots to draw/hook left, is there any routines that i could do to help avoid doing it, as it is costing me shots as well as russ

thanks for any advice

Darren

Darren, having seen you hit a golf ball, I would say that at the moment you are a very fine player. like your brother.

When on the range everyone is relaxed and the follow through happens automatically. I am just the same in being guilty of not completing the swing to its finish.

This is most important, because in order to finish in a nice balanced position at the end of the swing the swing through the ball has to be correct. One cannot finish in a good position by going through the ball badly.

How do we stop these little faults, not easy, I know, but perhaps the answer lies in thinking of the finish rather than the action of hitting the ball, which is what causes tension and wayward shots.

Russ is the first player who has asked  me to take a look at his swing that has given me no room to offer any advice because he had all the basics correct. I could have changed one little thing but that would have been nitpicking, as it was minor.

Bad shots are usually caused because the player quits on the shot, be it a long iron or a short chip. Once a decision has been made as to how the shot is going to be played, then commitment is the name of the game. Indecision has no place on a golf course.

Oooh, another game at South Winchester?  I'm game!  Give me a chance to show John how the swing (as opposed to the hit of old!) is coming on.

After my money again, eh! Hawkins. You were swinging it nicely at Foxhills though, Tim, which is not an easy course to swing freely on, as you well know.

That works perfectly for me as I have the following week off so she can't complain about not getting time with me!!!  I'm in 

Any chance of joining in?  I'd like to put some faces to names, just have to clear it with the Missus and work (not sure which is more difficult.....)

I'll be working down in Newbury all week Paul so I'll only be about 45 minutes up the road.  Sorry.  Looks like you'll have to leave her without the car all day again, unless Floody is available to attend.......

I don't think there is much that will stop John playing golf.

With a dodgy arm in the golfshake.com Open South West qualifier he still came in with 29 points and had the 3rd best back 9 out of the whole field with 18 points !!

http://www.golfshake.com/news/view/1134/Golfshake_com_Open_SW_Qual_results.html

Darren, information of a very sensitive nature should be kept secret. It was nice to see the improvement in the shape of your shots though.

Do you know what? Im in!

And for once I am not going to cancel - They can sack me, the wife can leave me, the world can  stop - I AM PLAYING!!!!

I'd love to come. Not sure I can get another Friday off.

John I'll have to get you down to Pedham. Played last week, and it's playing lovely.

I thougnt you said my swing had nothing to improve.

You have a very good swing, Danny, you just have a small problem with a feel for weight and distance.

Let me know when you are playing Pedham next and if free I will pop down for a game.

David

If you say I cant, I'll just go down there, book a tee time of 11.55hrs and play a six hour round refusing to let anyone through......

I might go a week Friday John. Probably an afternoon tee time.

Friday 3rd July is OK by me. confirm when you know.

Paul / Chris,

you 2 will have a lot of creeping to do then, have you forgot the YMCA game is on the 15th July???

I've been told I can play whenever I want John, as long as I let her have a moan about it.  I think it makes her feel like she's in charge.  I told her you and Paul were playing Handsworth on Sunday afternoon after I got off the phone to him mid-morning and 30 minutes later out of the blue she said "You can go and play golf this afternoon if you want". 

YMCA is looking unlikely for me as I'm likely to have a CDR that day for one of the projects I'm running

Be good to know if you can do the YMCA Chris, otherwise we might have to see if there are any other roly-poly brummies to fit inot your team shirt...

Call me a Brummie again Hawkins and me and a 5 iron will be paying you a non to friendly visit......

Brummie..........

When you mince away from your new Southern nancy mates you mean?

Are you up for a free game if the non-brummie can't make it, Paul?

John, I know I was trying to up his image a bit................

At least you're proud of your West England heritage, Dave.

Yorkshireman, proud of it.  Not rising because I'm in a two day CDR.  Now if you'll excuse me, it's sunny outside and I think I shall have a game of golf. 

You made me spill me cuppa tea then tim!!!

Chris,

If you don't turn up it might mean the other team may stand a chance of winning

Why didn't you turn up on Sunday?

Give and take John.  I pulled the "Nah, I've hardly seen anything of you this weekend so I'd rather spend time with you" one, knowing that I was giving up one game but would be able to get three or four off the back of it. 

As long as your Missus doesn't read these forums that is!