When a Weakness Becomes a Weapon - Part II
 

Back when I was fighting a bad flip, I hit the ball astronomically high. I'll never forget me hitting my 3-iron higher than my friend hitting his 9-iron.

Then there was my first lesson with Ted. He and I had never met before and I was awaiting for him to finish up with the student ahead of me, so I went off to the side and warmed up with some swings (but not hitting any golf balls). I overheard the student ahead of me remark how amazed he was that Ted could see just a couple of swings and know what his major problems were and what his handicap was. Ted spoke some more truth and then remarked how he had never met this guy that's the next lesson in line, but he could tell that if I had any type of short game I was probably a 5 handicap. He also noted that this guy doesn't want to play money matches when the wind is gusting to 20-30 mph.

That was a problem back when I was playing college golf, particularly since my college was basically in Myrtle Beach where it seemed like it was pretty windy out about 2-3 times a week. In fact, on more than one occasion I didn't get to start despite having the lower stroke average because my coach didn't want to chance me playing in the wind.

Now, the flip is like an old fad...like the mullet


Now, I don't even sweat windy days any more. And in the last two days where the wind was really gusting, I've hit 29 of 36 GIR. And I can't decide what's funnier:

1. playing partners asking me how I get that nice boring flight that knifes thru the wind (a far cry from the days of watching my shots balloon into the wind)

or

2. Wanting to play on windy days because I think it puts me at an advantage over most golfers of the same handicap.


'Strange Days Indeed' - John Lennon





3JACK

Nice story Richie.

What did you do to fix your impact alignments? Impact bag, throw out or thrust, or?

Ted and I slowly eased our way into more hitter components although we had to straighten out some very basic things first. When I came to him, I had a very strong grip and was getting very shut at the top of the swing. I would then practically vertical hinge in order to get the face to square at impact. Then we worked on getting my right forearm on plane, right forearm tracing and right forearm takeaway. We also worked on 7-17 which was a huge help.

From there I just kept reading the book, asking questions and I finally grasped learning feel from mechanics and using basic, acquired and total motion in order to understand feel from mechanics. Oh, and the Taly helped a great deal as well.




3JACK

Name change
 

That was then, and this is now...

I was thinking that a name change might be in order: Richieneedsto3Jack...

...that would be if anyone had the hope of beating him. :happy3:

Well, you need to be careful of whom you give strokes to. Particularly one older friend of mine who I can barely beat from the same tees wanting me to give him 8 strokes.





3JACK

Richie,

Does this go to what we discussed at BM's forum? The grip and shut face is almost cause you (me per my last swing sequence) to flip to get the vertical hinge to not hit the ball?

I guess the one thing for me is I have never hit the ball high.

I had a closed face from a very strong grip, opened it up square (or at least tried to) and vertically hinged the club. That helped me hit the ball so high. The other problem is that if I opened the club too much, I'd lose shots right and if I didn't open it up enough, I would lose shots left. Homer didn't like vertical hinging on long shots.

I used to use the 'rope pulling' technique but I couldn't stop from pulling too much with my arms and not enough with the pivot. Went to hitting and it immediately made sense to me.

I think once you get down lag pressure and the pressure points and max them out at or after impact you'll start see your swing soar. Part of that will consist learning how to start down properly.



3JACK


3JACK

new friends
 

You need new friends. I prefer the friend that you beg to give four a side, so that the match would be closer to even. But, his ego won't allow him to accept strokes. More importantly, he talks disparagingly about your game in front of others and wants to play for $500 a round. I'll have to introduce you to Doug, a.k.a. my 401K plan.

I once played a pro that had an ego bigger than Doug's, but he didn't pay. I prefer those with arms long enough to reach into pockets.

Hope you don't get upset over this thread jack but...

I went back to the range, only swing thought is getting my pivot back to where it was and toss, plant, swat the ball and I am hitting the shit out it.

Now I am still vertical hinging, how do I know? Well before understanding the swing components like I do know, combined with an understanding of the D plane I know that when the ball hooks why that is happening, so I correct the club face. But now with a correct clubface to path alignment the ball is going sky high, never hit it this high before, I would say I am carrying 7 irons 170+ but the height is just unreal. I think after I get comfortable with the face relation being much more open to my old smother hook that my hands are going to start holding that wedge better because before doing that was a detriment to my swing.

I need to invest in a Taly

Oooh, welching on a bet is sacrilege back from my hometown. I got housed a couple of months ago playing 6-6-6 and I had the lowest net score. Still paid up.

'Hey Moose, Rocco...help the judge find his wallet.'



3JACK