What I Learned This Week...
I play golf about once-a-week. I also hit golf balls on the practice range once or twice a week as well. Each week I learn something new. Sometimes I re-learn something I've already learned but forgot. That's the way it is for most golfers... even Tiger Woods. It's a constant process of learning and re-learning. I call it the "golf thought merry-go-round."
Unfortunately the thing I seem to learn the most is humility.
Golf is a humbling game. As I say there is no slam dunk in golf. A big part of the game is playing within yourself and managing your emotions and your attitude. I seem to always play best when I accept the situation, the shot and the outcome. Funny how that works. » For more about the mental game as I see it, take a look at this page.
First a little background...
As of the spring of 2009 I haven't played much golf in the last year and a half. I've been too busy with the "day job" so I've probably been on the course about 6 times during that time. I've hit balls on the practice range about the same number of times.
But I've recommitted to my golf game. I plan on playing regularly again and getting back into golf (and this website). I joined a local discount golf group here in the Tampa area, Paradise Golf. I get to play the top courses for a reduced rate. » If you want to learn more you can go to their site here.
So this is what I learned this week or more accurately...
What Playing The Game Of Golf Taught Me
Wednesday May 13, 2009 - Fox Hollow
The Good, Bad, and almost Ugly... on my way to an 81.
Well I almost got it back together. I went out there with my "connection" swing thought and played pretty well. I shot 2-over on the front nine and even had my first birdie of the year.
Then a few marginal shots started creeping in and I started to get tense. That made my swing quicker which ruined my timing.
I managed to shoot 43 on the back but only had 2 pars and all the rest bogeys. I guess the good news was I had no double bogeys. That meant I never really hit a really bad shot. That's what the "connection" thought is great for. It makes your bad shots not as bad.
Now I have to just figure out how to keep the tension out of my swing for 18 holes.
Followup On The Range
A few days later I went to the range to try and get that connections swing thought working. But... I still had the lingering tension from my round in my head and couldn't shake it — even on the range. I was inconsistent just like on the back nine.
Finally on the last few balls I just said "the heck with it" and stopped trying to do my "connection" swing. The key being "stopped trying." I used my "freedom swing" where I just get totally loose and wind up and let it fly. I hit my best 2 drives of the day.
Now my "freedom swing" is where I keep constantly moving during my waggle, do a forward press with my whole body and then take it way back with a big, swaying movement. The experts would clearly say I was "swaying" on my swing but it sure feels good and there is absolutely no tension in my swing when I do this.
Ok I guess that's my swing thought for next time. I'll keep you posted.
Wednesday May 6, 2009 - Fox Hollow
Disaster #2!! And something special for the first time in 30 years.
2nd worst round of the year. Shot about an 89. I started with my "transition" thought but never got it working... except once.
On hole number 5 I got a hole-in-one. Yup my second. Last one was about 30 years ago.
It was a par 3 about 125 yards. Used a 9 iron. Gee I forget what my swing thought was. Maybe that's my problem.
But it made me realize...
Maybe I take this game too seriously, but I realized I'd rather shoot 75 than have a hole-in-one any day. Holes-in-one just feel like luck. A 75 takes skill. Even 3 birdies in a round is better than one hole-in-one.
Ya I know. I should just enjoy it. The Golf Gods smiled down on me for one brief moment. So I'll try and enjoy the memory. I saved the ball anyways. Maybe I'll make a plaque for it. LOL.
The good news...
I think I found something at the end of my round. Really! ;-)
I use to play some of my best golf with what I call my "connected" swing. In that swing I try and keep my arms connected to my body. If I had a headcover under each arm they wouldn't fall out during the swing. OK... not really but that's how it feels. This thought helps me keep my hands and arms in sync with my body. It may explain my inconsistency. My hands are too quick and just ruining my timing. Especially under pressure which is all I feel when I get out there.
I used this swing thought on the last few holes and hit some good shots at the end. I went to the range after the round and it felt really good — and very familiar. It's one of the swing thoughts I used when I was a solid 5 handicap.
OK back to the range tomorrow to work on it. I'll keep you posted.
Friday May 1, 2009 - Eagles Golf Club (Lakes Course)
Disaster!!!
Worst round of the year. Never got a rhythmn. Never really found a swing thought that worked.
I started with my rotation swing thought and that didn't work so after about 4 holes and about 7 over par I tried another. But by that time my tempo was so shot I never got it back. I barely kept score but I know I shot somewhere in the mid 90's. That's as bad as I've played in years.
So what was the problem?
Well whenever you take a new swing thought that you felt worked on the range to the course it produces tension. If it works the tension goes away but if it doesn't the tension gets worse. I'm pretty sure my tempo was so bad that I didn't have a chance even after I went to my "back-up" swing thought a steady head.
Anyway, back to the drawing board... practice range.
PS... When I went to the range I was hitting the ball just about as bad even though I was focusing on my 4 T's... Target, Tension, Tempo, and Trust. It wasn't enough because I had one more "T" that wasn't working... Transition.
Once I focused keeping the transition from my back-swing to down-swing slow and smooth I started hitting the ball much better.
OK I guess we'll see what happens next time on the course when I try adding this new one. I guess I've got 5 T's now.
Wednesday April 22, 2009 - Fox Hollow Golf Club
OK this was the round where I was going to focus on a "steady head." See the previous post to see why.
Well it worked "pretty" well. I seemed to hit it a bit more solid and with some more distance but there were still plenty of offline shots. I scored another 80 today playing with Al, George and Jerry (nickname "clubhead speed").
The good news is I played the last 6 holes in even par. But mostly that was because I really tried to relax and get the tension out of my swing. I went back to the four T's... Targe, Tension, Tempo and Trust.
Anyway...
Something is still missing. I think it relates to my swing plane. It's possible to keep a steady head and still have your swing plane all over the place. I think that's my problem.
Anyway, what I'll work on this week at the range is my "rotation" swing. It's something I go to every once and a while.
Ya I've tried it before but like so many of my swing thoughts they work for a while and then stop. Do you ever feel like your on a merry-go-round of swing thoughts. I'm definitely on that ride... and sometimes it feels more like a roller coaster.
PS... I went to the range and even got in a few practice holes using my "rotation" swing. When it's ON it feels great. But like so many swing thoughts if your mind is cluttered and your tension level is to high, something else seems to get in the way, and it stops working. But this is what I will focus on in my next round.
Friday April 17, 2009 - Fox Hollow Golf Club
Well I shot 80 today. My best score since I go back into it (see above). But somehow it didn't feel very good. I hit lots of erratic shots that went no where near where I was aiming.
I tend to hit a lot of pulls and my main miss is to the left so I've been working on taking the club away more inside so I don't go "over the top" quite as much.
It helped but working on back swing thoughts always seems to distract me from focusing on the targe. Once I get on the course I should be focusing on mostly the target. One of my theory's is on the golf course just focus on Target - Tension - Tempo - Trust... the Four T's as I call them. Today I didn't do that too well.
Luckily my putting was good and I made a lot of 4-8 footers. Thank God for my putting.
I played with Al and Frank today. These guys have a regular group that plays Mondays-Wednesdays and Fridays at Fox Hollow - about 10-20 guys all - mostly seniors. I met Al when I was marshalling at The Transitions Championship. You can learn more about my marshalling experience here.
Anyway Frank is a former pro baseball player with a great golf game. He shot 75 today. Way to go Frank.
Here's the good news...
On Sunday watching the Verizon Heritage golf tournament on television, Peter Koskis did a review of Brian Gay's swing using the Minolta Biz-Hub slow motion camera and was pointing out how steady his head was throughout the swing.
Ahh-Haa...
Another swing thought to re-learn. A steady head is Jack Nicklaus's "bedrock fundamental" of golf that I learned many years ago reading his book Golf My Way. I guess it's time to relearn that one.
Anyway, I went to the range on Monday with the goal of working on this "golden oldy" and boy... I hit the ball more solidly than I have in years. OK. Next we've got to try it on the course. Stay tuned for the next installment.
