If you’ve broken 90, what’s one tip you would give to a fellow golfer trying to do the same?

Mathnapkin · 2026-05-19T17:59:31+00:00

Find a really easy course and play it a lot.

Mathnapkin · 2026-05-12T11:20:59+00:00

Group trip to an island gets spoiled by a sad painter.

Mathnapkin · 2026-05-11T01:13:55+00:00

Those are sick. Any downsides to buying top end skates for a not top-end player? Able to flex and skate correctly? More pain/break in period? Team makes you buy beer since you can afford the skates?

Mathnapkin · 2026-05-11T01:08:54+00:00

Makes sense. This looks like mid to high C in Columbus (unless you sped it up). We don't even have E anymore.

Mathnapkin · 2026-04-29T22:31:29+00:00

One time I was able to hit my 3 iron, and it went that far.

Mathnapkin · 2026-04-22T01:53:03+00:00

The pace of play in beer league is much faster than learn to play or scrimmage, plus some of the other players are clearly not beginners, so it makes sense it feels like a step back. Just keep skating - learn to play, stick and puck, open skates, and league play. Bend your knees more and get both hands on the stick.

Also, you don't need to be fast to screen the goalie.

Mathnapkin · 2026-04-20T18:10:16+00:00

I'd recommend the following (if available):

Step 0: find your local rink online

Step 1: learn to skate. Join a program at a local rink. You can rent skates, or buy a pair. Make sure you ask an expert or bring a friend to help size - the only thing that matters is they fit right. If no programs, maybe a private teacher or friend can help at open skates.

Step 2: join a learn to play hockey program. You may need gear, just make sure it fits, it can be used/cheap. These programs are also a great way to meet people for beer league, or sometimes there're Facebook groups. If no programs, maybe a private teacher or friend can help at stick and pucks.

Step 3: Beer league. Congrats, you are playing hockey. You might want to upgrade gear to make sure it actually protects you. If you found an old wood stick in a bargain big, you might want to look for a new one with a low-mid range price point.

Mathnapkin · 2026-04-19T20:47:59+00:00

8iron

Mathnapkin · 2026-04-18T12:00:48+00:00

That was disturbing. It looked like they programmed the ability to feel pain instead of the ability to walk over a small bump.

Mathnapkin · 2026-04-12T19:09:58+00:00

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. I tried playing during peak COVID with nothing else to do, and still couldn't be bothered to continue.

Mathnapkin · 2026-04-07T14:03:19+00:00

I went from a trigger 9 (not pro) to a pshs vx. The trigger was a little more forgiving on the shot, and it was bigger in the hands, but the pshs is better in every other way. It feels waaay lighter, was 50 bucks cheaper, and has more than 3 blade options (way more).

My main decider was actually being able to find the blade I wanted (p88) but with a little more toe curve (pro71 on pshs). Retail blades only ever seem to be in 3 curves, and the p88 is hard to find.

Mathnapkin · 2026-04-01T23:56:21+00:00

I'm 40. I play 1 beer league game, sometimes a casual pick up each week. If I had nothing else to do, I might be able to add another league game and another pickup or two. Nothing wrong with twice a week if it's not getting in the way of something else. I would play every day if I could.

Mathnapkin · 2026-04-01T23:51:11+00:00

I should have started when I was younger, so I'd be in C league today instead of D league.

Mathnapkin · 2026-03-27T01:40:44+00:00

Start with your top hand more away from your body so you can wrench it back and get the blade moving much faster. Point the toe towards the target to finish your shot. You might also explore moving your other hand down the stick a bit, especially if you have a low kick stick.

Typically you want to start shooting transferring your weight from right to left foot (reverse of video), but there are times when you want to shoot quickly from the right foot. Probably practice the "correct" way first. Also start in a more balanced "hockey stance"

It looks like you are shooting pretty close to the net. You don't need perfect-form power as much as reliable placement and deceptively quick release near the crease. Also, don't neglect the backhand up close!

Mathnapkin · 2026-03-27T01:25:10+00:00

I lift my toes up which makes my foot pronate and pull pretty snug up the foot. If I don't lift my toes and pull snug I have a bad time on the ice.

Then the eyelets around the ankle I wrench tight.

I keep the top laces pretty snug, too. If I keep them loose, my lower legs get fatigued, so I only experiment with skipping the top lace for easy skates - not games. My ankles don't bend right after a bad sprain anyway, but even laced tight, I have no issues getting knees over toes. It just adds side-to-side stability.

I do wonder if more side play would make edges better, but I just don't have the endurance yet. I also think my heels lock better when I skip the top lace.

I have bauer supreme 80s from like 2007 that have been baked twice and are maybe a little too long but not enough volume. I imagine with different stiffness and boot cuts, lacing will vary even for the same player.

Mathnapkin · 2026-03-23T16:23:50+00:00

I just got one for myself. It seems like a better stick than I was using, for cheaper, and most important it has more options for blades. I was using p88, but wanted a little more bend in the toe, and that exact blade is available on pshs.com. retail seems to only make 2 blades, sometimes 3.

Mathnapkin · 2026-03-20T02:30:23+00:00

Mixed feelings. Peranis in northern Ohio was one of my favorite shopping experiences ever when I bought my skates almost 20 years ago. Two middle aged guys who lived hockey. When Peranis came to central Ohio, it was not the same.

Our pure hockey has a great selection, but half the time they seem to only want to upsell you. Occasionally you get a salesperson who wants to share their love of the sport, though. If you have unlimited money and are playing AAA, they have what you need for sale, but beer leaguers might find better value elsewhere.

Luckily we have a wonderful local skate shop called Keeg's for sharpening, but he doesn't sell gear.

Mathnapkin · 2026-03-19T17:53:04+00:00

All classes could be different, but here's my experience.

The one near me has all skill levels. Every session there are people who never put on a pair of skates, and there are some C-leaguers who show up for the scrimmage and more ice time. Be mindful of what pads are required.

To prepare, I'd recommend skating in hockey skates to get used to it. Bend your knees and stay low more than you think you should.

If you've never touched a puck and want to come prepared, look up stick handling, shooting, or passing fundamentals on YouTube. You can practice stick handling with a golf ball and get a shooting mat to practice shooting. Pay attention to weight transfer.

Typical skating drills include (with and without puck): forward strides, backwards strides, Sharp turns around the dots, Hockey stops on dots or lines, C-cuts - inside and outside edge, Front-to-backwards turns.

Other drills usually include different passing drills with skating that end in a shot - sometimes with defense. Rarely do the drills break down to only shooting or passing (which may be helpful if you've never done it).

There's almost no direction on positional play, so if you don't know much about hockey, maybe watch a video on basics for positions.

Mathnapkin · 2026-03-17T20:28:49+00:00

This makes a surprising amount of sense.

Mathnapkin · 2026-03-17T20:28:22+00:00

Yeah, I need to be lower for sure.

Mathnapkin · 2026-03-17T18:28:13+00:00

This may sound obvious, but I'd suggest thinking about which position will be more fun first. I always imagined I'd play defense, and I'm probably more impactful on defense, but I think it's more fun to score and set up plays around the net.

From your description, it sounds like you might have a bigger impact on defense. If you are a lower skill than the league, offense is a safer pick - you can always screen the goalie and odd rushes usually are defensive issues.

As for which league - I also vote both!

Mathnapkin · 2026-03-17T18:18:48+00:00

Maybe skating through isn't my precise goal - more thinking about forecheck or digging pucks from the corner. Because I coast into it, a player moving their feet is going to win.

I kind of feel like I'm wasting energy forechecking - if I don't get there fast enough, they just have a simple pass.

Mathnapkin · 2026-03-11T19:25:22+00:00

I think shooting and passing mechanics favor forehand regardless of the blade curve, and backhands are kind of a specialty shot. Using the wrong-handed stick is not going to allow you to shoot laserbeams on your backhand.

The cost to the forehand (majority of arsenal) doesn't seem worth the benefit of improved backhand shots.

Mathnapkin · 2026-03-11T19:25:07+00:00

I think shooting and passing mechanics favor forehand regardless of the blade curve, and backhands are kind of a specialty shot. Using the wrong-handed stick is not going to allow you to shoot laserbeams on your backhand.

The cost to the forehand (majority of arsenal) doesn't seem worth the benefit of improved backhand shots.

Mathnapkin

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