I'm building a little on the thread started by ThinkingPlus and her great round. I've been reading here and there, bought some dowels and picked up the Yellow Book not so long ago and am still just trying to let all this stuff settle, which, surprisingly enough it has started.
I played 18 on Friday, the first 18 I've played since October. My round was not so great, but I think I'm making progress and had some very successful holes. Putting was horrible. Driving was long. Recovery shots were great. Irons were 50/50. The longest iron I had to a green was an 8 iron, and that was a 164-yard Par 3.
The good news: No shanks. No wild hooks or slices off the tee, just a few offline and a couple fat 9-irons. I hit some incredible recovery shots that I attribute to practicing the basic motions. I got onto a Par 5 in two with a 230-yard 3 wood that went on a rope! I've never done that before. Of course, I three-putted for par, but I still walked away with a huge smile on my face. I finished with an 87, but I know I'm capable of lower. I've also been reading "Every Shot Must Have a Purpose" and really think this book is a great addition for my mental side.
I'm also in the process of scheduling a lesson with Lee Deitrick and hopefully he can help me find another piece of the puzzle. All in all, I'm really excited about this golf season and progressing with my study of TGM and wanted to thank the people here for providing this great resource.
I'm going to post this over at Manzella's place as well because Brian has really helped in some areas as well. I know the membership crosses over as well. To me, it's an example that both groups of teachers, despite their differences, are great for the game of golf and the development of a swing.
You are on the right path. Lee is a great guy. You will enjoy working with him.
I also think that emphasizing good shots at this point rather than score is an excellent approach. I know every time I successfully hit a shot today, that a few months ago would have been impossible, I really get encouraged even though my scores aren't always so good.
The criteria for success changes as one proceeds through the learning process. It is how you stay positive when faced with adversity. Enjoy the process (even 3-putt pars, arrgghhh) and good luck!
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Steph
Distance is Magic; Precision is Practice.
I just got back from my lesson today with Lee and he helped me see several "wow" moments during our time together. It started with a diagnosis: I suffer from throwaway. The prescription: a mega dose of dowels, rackets and flying wedges. What a revelation!
I must have one of the most stubborn left hands in the world, but Lee kept at it the whole time, quietly repositioning it where it should be. I finally got it near the end, and the look on his face was probably just as an excited one as mine. Lee is a great teacher, and anyone in his area should see him for some excellent TGM 'splaining. I can't believe how much clearer things are to me now. The biggest, and probably most basic, is what a flat left wrist actually is. The other amazing thing is how gracious he was toward all the other AIs he's learned from in the past. He was always quick to attribute things he's learned to the person who taught it to him. Yoda and others should be proud.
Now, if you'll excuse me I have to get my dowels back from my son who thinks they are for fighting dragons. And that left hand of mine better start paying attention.
It was fun yesterday, especially watching you have the “Aha or wow” moments. Thanks for the comments.
I feel I have been blessed and fortunate to have experienced true TGM training from so many AI’s. They deserve their credits.
My following list is not in any order of importance but more an order of time sequence: Recently over the past four years from Joe, Chuck, Lynn, Brian, and Ted. In the past from Ben, Chuck Cook, Mike Hebron, Gregg McH, Tom Tomasello, and Peter Croker. Also Randy and Mike O. who are not AI's but should be!
I am pleased and honored to pass on their knowledge and insights as well as my own.
Well, I played again today and was not nearly as successful as I had hoped. I had a great practice session yesterday where I felt I made some great progress and was really making what I thought was good contact with a FLW. I even got to the point of consistency in my swing that I was able to play around with ball position and actually base the ball flight results on that instead of a swing flaw. I found, what I thought, was a perfect spot just forward of center for my 7-iron where I'd get a little draw. A little bit back for there and it would fade. More back and it would push.
Then today. Well, it wasn't all bad. I hit 9/14 fairways and was pretty long, considering the fairways were a little wet and so it was all carry, ranging from 265 to 280 (must have hit a sprinkler and rolled some). I had a birdie on a par 5, a sand save and some other decent shots for an 85. The bad -- I hit three greens in regulation. I hit fat shots. I hit it short. I hooked it. I pushed a 3-wood into a creek. I don't think I've hit a fat shot since I've seen Lee. I've been working with my dowels and doing some other drills he showed me. I think I just need to learn how to take it from the range to the course. Frustrating, because in my book, I should at least par every hole that I hit the fairway and I should hit every par 3 green.
Well, I played again today and was not nearly as successful as I had hoped. I had a great practice session yesterday where I felt I made some great progress and was really making what I thought was good contact with a FLW. I even got to the point of consistency in my swing that I was able to play around with ball position and actually base the ball flight results on that instead of a swing flaw. I found, what I thought, was a perfect spot just forward of center for my 7-iron where I'd get a little draw. A little bit back for there and it would fade. More back and it would push.
Then today. Well, it wasn't all bad. I hit 9/14 fairways and was pretty long, considering the fairways were a little wet and so it was all carry, ranging from 265 to 280 (must have hit a sprinkler and rolled some). I had a birdie on a par 5, a sand save and some other decent shots for an 85. The bad -- I hit three greens in regulation. I hit fat shots. I hit it short. I hooked it. I pushed a 3-wood into a creek. I don't think I've hit a fat shot since I've seen Lee. I've been working with my dowels and doing some other drills he showed me. I think I just need to learn how to take it from the range to the course. Frustrating, because in my book, I should at least par every hole that I hit the fairway and I should hit every par 3 green.
Well, the journey continues.
Vandal,
It is difficult to take your ball striking from the range to the course, especially when learning something new. I try to mix up my practice and play to condition my subconcious to treat practice and play the same. I will go to the course, walk right out and play. Other times I just practice. Most of the time I practice a little before I play. I find after awhile that my play time and practice time blur together. This keeps play time from becoming "special" which leads to nervousness over trying to exactly repeat the swing I had from the range. It probably sounds a little crazy, but it seems to help me. Good luck and keep plugging away!
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Steph
Distance is Magic; Precision is Practice.
No, it doesn't sound crazy. It sounds like an extension of the idea that Pia Nilsson and Lynn Marriott write about in their book. I think I've focused so much on getting my swing changes right that I forgot about how to practice playing golf.
Well, I've played a couple more rounds since my last "update" and I think things are progressing very well. I played a round at a fairly tough course (72.1/135) with very windy conditions and shot an 86.
Yesterday, I played a bit easier course and managed an 84 -- thanks to a triple and a double! Take those away and I would have had a 36 on the back nine! I started off rough but chalk that up to hurrying out to the tee without any warmup. I turned things around pretty well on the back (except an OB and one in the water, which were both mental errors.) I had a sand save, a couple of up and downs for par and a barely missed eagle putt after nailing a 3-wood from 235. The tougher course I played was a bit of a mix because of the wind, but I missed only two fairways all day. My index is creeping into places it's never been before and my goal of being a single digit and breaking 80 is within sight.
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