My Grandfather would always tell me, "Anything worth doing is worth doing poorly!" Of course he didn't mean that one should keep doing it poorly, or even get better at doing it poorly, but to understand that greatness is always preceded by failure. He would also say that one of the most powerful impediments to greatness, is to be "pretty good". The time, effort and money it takes to get from "pretty good" to great, can be overwhelming.
Those truths are really hitting home on this quest to scratch. I am seeing glimmers of greatness but mostly is see myself getting better at doing it poorly. I can score better, but not actually play better. However I do believe now that it is possible for the casual golfer to become a 0 handicap, and I believe I can be there before the end of summer.
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Monday, March 14, 2011
Still working it
Well the progress has been real slow. It is clear that I cannot get the distance that I once had. I am fully 75 yards shorter than just a few years ago. I know its not strength or technique, I think it's flexibility, in the shoulders, wrists and back. Jeff Davis is coming to the Longwood Clinic this Saturday, he is from the Titleist Performance Institute and will take a look at me and all of the participants. I'll let you know what he has to say. Come out and join in.
I have been playing pretty well, except for the par 3's and my longer putts. Not hitting the greens and not sinking longer putts.
For the putting problem I am going to try what I call the Shuffleboard Stroke. Stand a bit open aim the palm of the right hand at the line and stroke it while looking at the target, NOT THE BALL. Tried this for a few days, worked in practice but does not stand up in competition. Back to normal I go, well as normal as I can be.
I have been playing pretty well, except for the par 3's and my longer putts. Not hitting the greens and not sinking longer putts.
For the putting problem I am going to try what I call the Shuffleboard Stroke. Stand a bit open aim the palm of the right hand at the line and stroke it while looking at the target, NOT THE BALL. Tried this for a few days, worked in practice but does not stand up in competition. Back to normal I go, well as normal as I can be.
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Another day another way
Played a few rounds since the last post. Went out to Arcadia and played the public course, $15 for 18 holes, I guess public money must make up the difference. Fairways and tee boxes were ok, greens not so much.
I struck the ball very well. Worked hard on getting my full backswing, getting my chest parallel to my back foot, then rotating aggressively through to impact. Good straight long ball flight, but my short game let me down. 78 from the tips par 72.
In the skins/nasa games I am doing ok. Winning the match play but not making enough birdies or better for skins. Gave myself chances but didn't convert the putts. I think I need to make about 150 feet of putts in a round to score low. Last week the only holed out long putts were to save par.
I really stunk up the first two par three, doubling them both, so through 7 holes I had 5 pars and 2 doubles!
Physically doing mostly OK. The weight isn't falling off like I wish it would but the waist is getting smaller. Dr. Matt is doing wonders with the back and left side. I am suffering a re-occurrence of Plantar Faciatis, an inflamation in the bottom of the foot back by the heel. Feels like a very bruised heel. It is caused from a lack of stretching, so I am stretching it more. I read in a golf magazine that too high of acid content in the system can keep the inflamation from subsiding at night, so they suggest 1 teaspoon of baking soda for every 100 pounds of body weight, it does seem to help. Tastes awful.
Working this week \on completing the forward turn.
Later
I struck the ball very well. Worked hard on getting my full backswing, getting my chest parallel to my back foot, then rotating aggressively through to impact. Good straight long ball flight, but my short game let me down. 78 from the tips par 72.
In the skins/nasa games I am doing ok. Winning the match play but not making enough birdies or better for skins. Gave myself chances but didn't convert the putts. I think I need to make about 150 feet of putts in a round to score low. Last week the only holed out long putts were to save par.
I really stunk up the first two par three, doubling them both, so through 7 holes I had 5 pars and 2 doubles!
Physically doing mostly OK. The weight isn't falling off like I wish it would but the waist is getting smaller. Dr. Matt is doing wonders with the back and left side. I am suffering a re-occurrence of Plantar Faciatis, an inflamation in the bottom of the foot back by the heel. Feels like a very bruised heel. It is caused from a lack of stretching, so I am stretching it more. I read in a golf magazine that too high of acid content in the system can keep the inflamation from subsiding at night, so they suggest 1 teaspoon of baking soda for every 100 pounds of body weight, it does seem to help. Tastes awful.
Working this week \on completing the forward turn.
Later
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
A little bit of success
Success is the "Progressive realization of worthwhile personal goals". Success is therefor a process, to be successful means that one is filled with worthwhile progress. On Sunday I began to feel a bit of that success. My belt is a few notches tighter, so my waist is a few inches smaller, progress! Success!
And my golf score was a few strokes smaller also! Success! I played Sunday with Flip, I was just working on staying planted through impact. Like Moe Norman focusing on facing the ball at impact. Solid shots for the most part, a few birdies and a 76 with a ball O.B. not too bad.
The ball O.B. was caused by too much and too early of a hip slide towards the target. Staying centered put a lot of stress on my left knee so Dr. Matt had his work cut out for him on Tuesday. I left his office pain free once again. He used needles in my right bicep and inside the elbow area to relive the pain in my left knee. Dramatic results!
And my golf score was a few strokes smaller also! Success! I played Sunday with Flip, I was just working on staying planted through impact. Like Moe Norman focusing on facing the ball at impact. Solid shots for the most part, a few birdies and a 76 with a ball O.B. not too bad.
The ball O.B. was caused by too much and too early of a hip slide towards the target. Staying centered put a lot of stress on my left knee so Dr. Matt had his work cut out for him on Tuesday. I left his office pain free once again. He used needles in my right bicep and inside the elbow area to relive the pain in my left knee. Dramatic results!
From now on I will wear a knee support when I practice and golf.
The following video shows the hip slide, while it is not waaaay out of whack it is enough to cause me to be too far in front of the swing. Please, any comments would be appreciated
Saturday, February 5, 2011
The quest continues
Did play this past Wednesday, saw some positive forward movement in my short game, putting let me down a bit. Working very hard on getting my right hand moving freely around my left. Fast hands swinging freely around my body, hard to do when you feel like a 100 years old!
I am getting to the point where I can hit more balls in practice. Actually a few hundred during the course of a day. Not just short shots but full swings. I guess the little bit of work I am doing with the stretch bands is working. I am going to change my workout time from just before bed-time, to first thing in the morning. I think I have the discipline to get up a half hour earlier.
Till next time
I am getting to the point where I can hit more balls in practice. Actually a few hundred during the course of a day. Not just short shots but full swings. I guess the little bit of work I am doing with the stretch bands is working. I am going to change my workout time from just before bed-time, to first thing in the morning. I think I have the discipline to get up a half hour earlier.
Till next time
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Week 4 or thereabouts
Played this morning, sort of. Cold windy raining, all around a lousy day for golf. Really only hit 2 or 3 good shots. Maybe a little doubt is creeping in that I can actually get back to scratch.
On the positive side, the weight is still slipping away and my waist line is shrinking.
I am clearly in need of more practice time. This weekend I should get a few hundred swings in on the range, most of my work will be on the mid and short irons.
On the positive side, the weight is still slipping away and my waist line is shrinking.
I am clearly in need of more practice time. This weekend I should get a few hundred swings in on the range, most of my work will be on the mid and short irons.
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
About 3 1/2 weeks into it
The weather has not been cooperative. Too cold to golf, at least for me. Too many really nice days in Florida to golf when it's below 45. Did spend a bit of time at the range working on my hand positions at impact and finish. I am trying to get to a position at impact where my trail wrist is still fully cupped backward, creating a downward pressure at the contact point of my trail index finger and thumb pad. Doing this also putts my lead palm in an up-facing position. This to me is what is meant by hitting down on the ball. As I extend my trail arm it is in a downward motion.
Towards the finish position I want to maintain the pressure on the same 2 contact points, most significantly on the upper part of the pointer finger. At finish the back of my trail hand is still bent back. I can see the back of my trail hand through-out the swing, start to finish.
Done correctly I feel pressure on the trail index finger through the entire arc of the swing. The pressure is ALWAYS pushing in the direction the club is moving.
I fully intend to play in the skins and match play game on Wednesday morning, I'll let you know how I do.
Towards the finish position I want to maintain the pressure on the same 2 contact points, most significantly on the upper part of the pointer finger. At finish the back of my trail hand is still bent back. I can see the back of my trail hand through-out the swing, start to finish.
Done correctly I feel pressure on the trail index finger through the entire arc of the swing. The pressure is ALWAYS pushing in the direction the club is moving.
I fully intend to play in the skins and match play game on Wednesday morning, I'll let you know how I do.
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