Address The Ball

In the process of getting this blog started, I've often found myself asking myself: "Why golf?" In an ever-so-connected world with more content available than any one person could consume, why am I putting this out there? Is anyone going to read this? What if people don't like what I have to say? These are all thoughts that rush through my head whenever I put in work towards Address The Ball. My response to this unfounded commentary is, who cares? This is a project I've been striving towards for years. It's something I have always wanted to do; I was just unaware that golf would be my jumping-off point. If golf is something that interests you, then I hope I provide some value to you with this blog. If golf does not interest you, I hope that this is something that will change your mind or at least have you view the game differently than you did beforehand.  Some of the most magical moments of my life have taken place on a golf course, and not all of them are di...

Golf has a way of humbling us. Just when you think you've figured it out, the game finds a way to test your patience. One day, your swing feels smooth and natural, the next day, you're fighting snap hooks and wondering why you started playing in the first place. That's because golf, unlike a straight climb up a ladder, isn't linear.  The Trap We All Fall Into  We'll card a few good rounds in a row and start thinking, "Alright, I've got this whole breaking-80 thing figured out." Then the next time out? Slices, slices everywhere! It's maddening, but that's the game. Golf isn't about stacking one perfect round on top of the other - it's about learning to ride out the ups and downs.  Why It Feels Like This  Tiny tweaks throw you off. Change your grip a hair, adjust your stance an inch, and suddenly the ball has a mind of its own.  Your head gets in the way. The more you chase perfection, the further you stray from it.  Every course plays...

Hello friends, welcome back to another Address The Ball post!  As we attack the August swing of golf up here in the Northeast, you're probably swinging away at the range, grinding with a post-work 9-hole round, and enduring a dreaded 5-hour round on the weekends just to say you hit the course. What more could you ask for?  Some of you are probably thinking, "Just a few more yards.", or "I wish I could find the fairway in regulation.". Well, today we're going to tackle a checklist of swing advice to get you back on track when the normal routine just isn't working.  We're going to focus on six areas of your golf swing that can be overlooked when you're trying to fit the most golf possible into your jam-packed Summer schedules.   Poor Grip & Hand Position Some common mistakes with your golf swing can be corrected with a simple fix to your grip.  Are you gripping the club too tightly? How about too loose? Are your hands aligned correctly? These ...

Hello everyone, and welcome to another Address The Ball blog post!  As the weather rapidly gets colder in New England, I'm sure many of you are looking to keep your golf games in check and on the up and up this winter. Whether you are just finding something in your swing or don't want to lose progress, we've got some solutions for you.  The most effective way I have found to keep my swing loose, and game in shape is to frequent a golf simulator. Sometimes the monotonous task of beating balls into a screen isn't exactly mentally stimulating, I've found that a good simulator league does wonders for your swing, and overall morale when you can't squeeze in a quick twilight nine-hole round with the sun setting.  In the Greater Boston area, my go-to simulator is Birdie Bar in Waltham, MA. This location is ready for you, with 5 HD Golf Simulators, a fully stocked bar, and a kitchen with traditional bar bites to keep you fueled during your session.  Let's take a di...

Hey y'all, welcome back to another post of Address The Ball.  This week we'll dive into golf swing fundamentals for new golfers. We'll give you insight on ten quick things to remember; whether you are just getting started with golf or you've been around the block (course) a few times.  Mastering the golf swing is something that we as players all dream of. That unobtainable goal, that we just try to dig out of the dirt on ranges early in the morning, late into the night, and often in our dreams. The best advice I ever received regarding my swing was to "Keep It Simple".  Now that is a great thing if you're overly technical, and need to reduce the noise. But, if you need to know where to start, here's a good jumping-off point to get you on the right track. Grip – A proper grip is your first point of contact with the club. Ensure your hands work together, with the “V” shapes formed by your thumb and index finger pointing toward your trailing shoulder. St...

  Today we will take a deep dive into the do's and don'ts of golf etiquette and give you all a crash course on golf etiquette. Whether you are new to the game or have been playing for years, it's always good to get a refresher on how to act when you get that phone call to play at a nicer course than the 9-hole muni.  Growing up, my "crash course" on golf etiquette came from my grandfather. As a kid, I grew up playing and practicing at Leo. J. Martin. You know the deal with that place if you're local to Boston. If you're not, I'll spare you the details. At Leo J, basic golf etiquette is all you really need. Let's arm you with a little more than the basics to remember when you play with a client, your boss, or your father-in-law.  Golf etiquette is a crucial aspect of the game, these bylaws are designed to ensure that everyone in your group, and on the course enjoys their round while maintaining respect for the course, your fellow golfers, and the sp...

Major Sunday Series @ Birdie Bar Hello friends, welcome to a tradition unlike any other. Just kidding, welcome back to Address The Ball. We have an exciting announcement that we would like to share with everyone. We are hosting a Master's Sunday Scramble on April 14th, at Birdie Bar in Waltham, MA. This is hopefully the start of our own tradition with a competitive twist. Come join us for a watch party and a 2-man scramble format over 18 holes of simulator golf. A and B groups are going off starting at 1:00pm EST. Registration will start at 12:30pm and we will be on site until 7:00pm EST. We will have side games such as Closest to the Pin and Longest Drive, a 50-foot Putt for Dough, and a Master's inspired food and drink menu that is fully catered which will add to the fun. Come on down and enjoy a pimento cheese sandwich in the spirit of Augusta National Golf Club. If you're like us, you've had the urge to play golf on Master's Sunday. However, at Birdie Bar...

Hello and welcome to another Address The Ball post!  As the golf season rapidly approaches here in the Northeast, golfers, new and old alike are cleaning off their clubs, unboxing a fresh dozen of ProV1's, and updating their wardrobe.  Many golfers look in their bags and think, "Sheesh, maybe a new driver will fix my slice.". Today we will discuss the importance of picking the right clubs for your game.  If you are not playing the correct clubs for your game, then you will not maximize your potential. For years I would game a set of Tommy Armour 845s Silver Scots from 1989 just to pay homage to my great uncle and grandfather who got me into the game. It was in 2017 when I really saw the benefits of upgrading my iron set and long clubs. Here are a few things to think about when you are considering a new set of clubs 1. Get Custom Fitted: A professional club fitter will analyze your swing and physical measurements to specify which clubs are suited to your game. This will en...

Beginners Guide to Golf: The Grip As we approach the winter up here in New England, the number of rounds we all will be able to play is likely minimal. If you're like me, then you've shifted to an indoor league to keep your swing in check.  Although it is not abysmally cold up here yet, I wanted to share some food for thought for this off-season and highlight some things you can focus on to improve your game before the spring. Today's post we will start off by focusing on your grip. Your grip is something that can make or break your golf game. If you have inconsistencies with your grip, then you're bound to have mishits during your range session and on the course. As a right-handed player, I like to make sure I have a neutral grip. In my youth, I had a grip that caused my clubface to be wide open at impact resulting in the gnarliest slice you've ever seen.  Here are a couple of things that both left and right-handed golfers can use to make sure their grip is in chec...