29/10/11 Saturday. Kept with the decision to play 9 holes a day this week, was not easy to do given the soreness of my elbows. Having endured much worse pain, for longer periods in the past, does not detract from the discomfort at the minute and it is certainly not enjoyable one iota. Being totally obtuse with the injury treatment now, attacking the problem with the appropriate healing processes whilst putting in a focussed effort to get my game at its best for the club open on the 6th of November. There is no other way to build confidence in my playing ability. If the effort is too much and the body cannot standup to the effort, not a problem s long as I have put in 100%. Playing in A grade at the high end of the handicap ranking, my form must be at its best to have any chance of a decent score in the Open.
The Wilson blades have been assisting in getting me out on the course, it is so exciting to hit a blade and feel and sweetness of a shot. Being a 1973-73 model iron the new grips and 3cm extension have been a revelation of how my game is progressing. Yesterday played in the Friday afternoon “Chicken Run” competition, off a 9 handicap in this club event and not my official 12. Finishing with 17 points it was a very satisfactory effort. Off the tee with the 400cc driver was very good distance wise in showers and wind I cracked the 250m distance a couple of times. Well above my average 200m-220m this was all from the last coaching session. The excercise with the shortened club that has established an upright swing and hitting on with an inside/out plane has began top establish a draw off he tee as well. As with most golfers my game has been affected with a slice from the beginning. Adjusting to play with a draw in setting up and addressing the ball still feels very odd after so long. Fortunately this has been a gradual development from continued practise and to stand and set up aiming to the right and the ball drawing to the left after striking it was the reward for following the coaches advice and practise.
In 9 holes I hit one green in regulation. The other eight were misses from 1m to 5m of the green, that with the improved chipping with the PW kept me in the game all through the round. Just could not get the club selection right after tee shots, for some reason chose the nine iron (short 4 times) and the 7 (long once) instead of the 8 which would have been right distance wise. Put that down to a combination of still getting used to the clubs and the injury, may be also affected by the increased loft on the older irons. Hit the ball very well the shots were straight or slight draws just not long enough with the 9 and too long with the 7. Used the lighter Tour Sonic putter instead of my usual Wilson 100 to good effect, did not miss any ‘gimme’ putts. There are two golf events that I am working towards to complete 2011. The Robe Open on the 6th of November and the Race to Cypress Lakes round at The Vines on the 2nd of December.
Have got onto a satisfying path towards improvement and will maintain that through to the end of December, will keep on hitting 20-30 balls a day on the practise range as well as the 9 hole walks around the course. There is a factor of trying to smash through the last stages of this golfers elbow ailment. It is frustrating, like hayfever it is disabling, uncomfortable and sore. Just want it gone now and be able to go about day to day business without the irritation. Thankyou for your time and attention, “Hit ‘em straight all.” Geoff Geoff
Saturday, October 29, 2011
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
A return of form feels great...
26/10/11 The improvement is still continuing slowly with the Golfer/Tennis elbow ailment. Not over doing the practise hitting 35 balls yesterday and today played 8 holes and finished 2 over with an Out of Bounds. In a day with with very strong winds using the smaller driver 400cc, shelved the 420cc after one tee shot, was very effective. The Wilson 1200 blades (under wave shape) 1973-75, are proving to be a treat now they have been regripped and extended 3cm with shaft plugs.
The PW is great for chipping onto the greens being an older set the loft is greater than current sets, the feeling of comfort and ease in swinging the irons is also improving. Using the ACER 17 Degree Hybrid delivered a great birdie hitting 170m into the wind and the ball finishing 45 cm from the hole on a par 4. The swing is still a little tentative, with some residual stiffness in both arms caution is the chosen path for a little longer. Changed putters from the Wilson 100 to a Tour Sonic one I picked up a few weeks ago. It is a little shorter than my Wilson but importantly is lighter and it is on the greens when putting that the strain on my forearms causes discomfort.
Sitting here feeling a little smug with the 8 hole result and pleased to have benefited from the discomfort and limitations of an injury again. It is a creed of mine to "take the positive from the negatives". This has kept me inspired and motivated for a couple of decades, since a MVA. Fact is that I skipped a par 5 and a par four and played an extra par three to get the 8 holes in. Whilst the score was good, the endurance was not tested at all in the hitout. Now it is ice and Heat pack treatment for an hour or so to soothe the injured areas. Will have a good hit out in the 9 hole Chicken Run Stableford Friday and see how I fare then. Thankyou for your time and attention. "Hit 'em straight all"
Geoff
The PW is great for chipping onto the greens being an older set the loft is greater than current sets, the feeling of comfort and ease in swinging the irons is also improving. Using the ACER 17 Degree Hybrid delivered a great birdie hitting 170m into the wind and the ball finishing 45 cm from the hole on a par 4. The swing is still a little tentative, with some residual stiffness in both arms caution is the chosen path for a little longer. Changed putters from the Wilson 100 to a Tour Sonic one I picked up a few weeks ago. It is a little shorter than my Wilson but importantly is lighter and it is on the greens when putting that the strain on my forearms causes discomfort.
Sitting here feeling a little smug with the 8 hole result and pleased to have benefited from the discomfort and limitations of an injury again. It is a creed of mine to "take the positive from the negatives". This has kept me inspired and motivated for a couple of decades, since a MVA. Fact is that I skipped a par 5 and a par four and played an extra par three to get the 8 holes in. Whilst the score was good, the endurance was not tested at all in the hitout. Now it is ice and Heat pack treatment for an hour or so to soothe the injured areas. Will have a good hit out in the 9 hole Chicken Run Stableford Friday and see how I fare then. Thankyou for your time and attention. "Hit 'em straight all"
Geoff
Monday, October 24, 2011
Back to the begining.....
24/10/11 Monday. The improvement in my elbows is noticeable from a week ago, it has been very slow progress recuperating from the golfers/tennis elbow ailment. Sticking to the Ice/Heat treatments with the arm strap support, being worn all day. Light hand grip excercise sessions which always strained a little to begin, then the muscles warmed up and could be completed without any discomfort. The mental irritation at not being able to go out and hit golf balls regularly because of such a minor ailment is perhaps the worst of the problem. The pain and discomfort is not all that minor when it hits, the frustration is added to with the day to day activities which are hampered with the injury. Ridiculous to be forced to gasp with pain when picking a carton of milk up or drop a TV Remote because the strain of picking it up brings searing pain in the elbow and forearm.
In the past week I did not pick up a golf stick until Friday afternoon after returning home. Only then because I wanted to have a hit with the Wilson 1200 blades after adding 3cm length and new grips while away. Had intended to play 4-5 holes only with regard to the not straining the existing injury. Entered the 9 hole comp. and hit the ball well enough the Wilsons are a club shorter it seemed, more loft on the irons adds compared with the AP2’s. Still the new grips and especially the 3cm added had comparable accuracy and the ball felt great coming off the face. Chipping with the PW was a marked improvement this bladed club delivers much better results for me around the green. Putting was a disappointment compared to my expectations at the minute, this facet of the game has been the most affected by the injury. Missed 4 putts by a hairbreadth going past the hole in the beginning. Then on the last 5 holes struggled to make the hole on the first putts, once the strain on my elbows began to affect putting rythym. The positive outcome of this period is the confirmation that having a good short game is vital to playing well.
My game has improved so much in the last 12 months, was on 19 hcp. in October 2010 and now on 12-13 hcp. Dropping this 6 strokes is comparable to other improvements during a golf season for me since 2009 when I was on 28 in October. It was in late November and December of 2009 I began to practise 3-4 days per week with a structured routine in preparation for the Southern Ports tournament. This has been the biggest influence on my golf, in 2010 I began to up the practise ante in early November which got me down to 15 by the beginning of February in tune for the Tournament. In both 2009, “C” grade and 2010, “B” grade I was the runner up after the three days of competition. In 2011, I will be in “A” Grade and well out of my depth ability wise. Making that drop from 12-13 hcp. to an 8-9 hcp. is not as easy as the step from 19 to a 15 hcp. No matter how optimistic I am and well structured my practise routine is, the fact is that improvement into single figures is a slow process. The 2010 golf season was a struggle for me to play to 19 after coming down from the high 20’s. This season I have continued to improve my golf and go 2 strokes lower due to better golf ability. Even if I can get to a single figure in time for the Southern Ports Tournament, my only goal will be to have a crack at the handicap title in “A” grade. The gross off the stick title is for the 5 hcp. or less golfers to fight out. Whilst being out of action some thought has gone into my practise for the 2012 tournament, it may need to be moderated a little to avoid a recurrence of the elbow ailment. Starting in December not November is in favour at the minute. Also another coaching session is needed to work on my technique with long iron shots. Perhaps one of the most valuable coaching sessions in 2011 was a short game clinic. This was a tune up in playing onto the green in close, from the group two of the men made the club championship final, another the semi-final.
I see many comments made about coaching and can only give my opinion that if you really want to get a better golf game, “this is a must do”. Turn up with an attitude of “here I am, now make me better” coaching is not how it works. You will make yourself the better golfer, the coaching is what gives the direction and advice to absorb in improving your game. Have a plan from the beginning that is shared with your coach, and don’t expect to have the answers all done and dusted in one session. My plan was, 1) get the ability to consistently hit a driver off the tee without slicing the ball, Lesson 2) Short Game and Putting. then 2 years of practising what was taught. I did not follow up with the next session planned in my progress, the long irons. This has not been a catastrophe, yet I do believe that this is the key to getting my game on track toward a single figure handicap. Once the elbows have came good I will be getting this postponed coaching session into the knowledge bank.
Thankyou for your time and attention, “Hit ‘em straight all”
Geoff
In the past week I did not pick up a golf stick until Friday afternoon after returning home. Only then because I wanted to have a hit with the Wilson 1200 blades after adding 3cm length and new grips while away. Had intended to play 4-5 holes only with regard to the not straining the existing injury. Entered the 9 hole comp. and hit the ball well enough the Wilsons are a club shorter it seemed, more loft on the irons adds compared with the AP2’s. Still the new grips and especially the 3cm added had comparable accuracy and the ball felt great coming off the face. Chipping with the PW was a marked improvement this bladed club delivers much better results for me around the green. Putting was a disappointment compared to my expectations at the minute, this facet of the game has been the most affected by the injury. Missed 4 putts by a hairbreadth going past the hole in the beginning. Then on the last 5 holes struggled to make the hole on the first putts, once the strain on my elbows began to affect putting rythym. The positive outcome of this period is the confirmation that having a good short game is vital to playing well.
My game has improved so much in the last 12 months, was on 19 hcp. in October 2010 and now on 12-13 hcp. Dropping this 6 strokes is comparable to other improvements during a golf season for me since 2009 when I was on 28 in October. It was in late November and December of 2009 I began to practise 3-4 days per week with a structured routine in preparation for the Southern Ports tournament. This has been the biggest influence on my golf, in 2010 I began to up the practise ante in early November which got me down to 15 by the beginning of February in tune for the Tournament. In both 2009, “C” grade and 2010, “B” grade I was the runner up after the three days of competition. In 2011, I will be in “A” Grade and well out of my depth ability wise. Making that drop from 12-13 hcp. to an 8-9 hcp. is not as easy as the step from 19 to a 15 hcp. No matter how optimistic I am and well structured my practise routine is, the fact is that improvement into single figures is a slow process. The 2010 golf season was a struggle for me to play to 19 after coming down from the high 20’s. This season I have continued to improve my golf and go 2 strokes lower due to better golf ability. Even if I can get to a single figure in time for the Southern Ports Tournament, my only goal will be to have a crack at the handicap title in “A” grade. The gross off the stick title is for the 5 hcp. or less golfers to fight out. Whilst being out of action some thought has gone into my practise for the 2012 tournament, it may need to be moderated a little to avoid a recurrence of the elbow ailment. Starting in December not November is in favour at the minute. Also another coaching session is needed to work on my technique with long iron shots. Perhaps one of the most valuable coaching sessions in 2011 was a short game clinic. This was a tune up in playing onto the green in close, from the group two of the men made the club championship final, another the semi-final.
I see many comments made about coaching and can only give my opinion that if you really want to get a better golf game, “this is a must do”. Turn up with an attitude of “here I am, now make me better” coaching is not how it works. You will make yourself the better golfer, the coaching is what gives the direction and advice to absorb in improving your game. Have a plan from the beginning that is shared with your coach, and don’t expect to have the answers all done and dusted in one session. My plan was, 1) get the ability to consistently hit a driver off the tee without slicing the ball, Lesson 2) Short Game and Putting. then 2 years of practising what was taught. I did not follow up with the next session planned in my progress, the long irons. This has not been a catastrophe, yet I do believe that this is the key to getting my game on track toward a single figure handicap. Once the elbows have came good I will be getting this postponed coaching session into the knowledge bank.
Thankyou for your time and attention, “Hit ‘em straight all”
Geoff
Monday, October 17, 2011
Club Championship playoff...
17/10/11 Monday. I have stiff spots on the stiff spots, in the past three seasons there are some vague recollections of feeling stiff after early rounds and practise. Today after yesterdays 32 holes played out of the 36 in the Club Championship final my body is doing everything except creaking like a door that needs oil. Coming second, yes I was defeated and to have made the final itself was a highlight of the season for me. Threw everything I had into the game and even hit the lead in the first 18 for a couple of holes. Could not maintain the standard over the second 18 holes and slowly fell behind the winner.
Had chances to get back into the game when my opponent made mistakes and when I called upon my body to deliver the tank was empty. Not a modest person by nature nor a quitter and to lose was not a result that caused any angst for me, simply because I had nothing left to put into the game. As I sit here now working my way through a tube of Deep Heat today it is with total satisfaction in accepting a loss. I had not even considered the need to physically train and raise my fitness for this competition.What was acceptable in B and C grade for me, failed at the highest club level. The effort it took to hold a pen last night and scrawl in the diary, “Fitness training is a must.” better be acted on if I want to improve.
The game itself was played in very good spirit and a sporting manner. It was important to have an enjoyable game and the ledger is now balanced with the Handicap Championship win for me in 2009 and my opponent defeating me in the Club Championship in 2011. Learnt a lot about my game and what is needed to go the next step to single figures from this experience. It still resounds that the fitness level has been a failing of mine in recent months yet I had not paid any notice to it. All my focus had been on improving skills and consistency and none on the body that has to make the golf happen. Hindsight is 20/20 when it comes to looking back, slapping the forehead in exclamation in realising the patently obvious.
Of course I was not fit enough. Writing off the fading in rounds during the last 3-4 holes as concentration lapses. A litany of reasons for not recognising this can be churned out that are lame and nothing to do with reality. Truth is when returning to the game in 2009 I played 3 x 9 hole rounds and 2 x 18 hole rounds most weeks. These days I spend more time on the practise fairways training to hit the ball better with the clubs. I can wander out and break 90 easily each week, going out and playing to my handicap is a different matter. The fluctuating scores of late have nothing to do with golf ability. After a season of big improvement and pushing myself hard in competition since January, after ten months the realisation has gone off with ringing bells on the course. Time to stop playing for a few weeks and give my body time to recover. My next competition is going to be the club Open on the 6th of November. That should give enough time for the “golfer’s elbow” (right and left) to recover and get in some quality push bike riding. Have been planning on playing in “The Race to Cypress Lakes” South Australian rounds at The Vines, Friday 2 December and Mt Osmond, Sunday 15 January 2012. The first at Flagstaff Hills clashes with the club open and will be missed. These will be a good trial for my build up to the 2012 Southern Ports Tournament. Going to be interesting, after 2nd place in 2010, “C” Grade and 2nd in 2011 “B” Grade while making the documentary “Another Crack at the Title” I am going to extend the filming schedule to 2012 as I have a crack at the “A” Grade Title over the three days. Handicap section of course, can’t see me getting down to the 1-5 handicap level that the off the stick winner coes from in this tournament. I am an optimist with reality not fantasy in my goal setting.
Well the Deep Heat is soothing the aches. Time to stand up and see if the early hobbling gait is now replaced with a fluid walk this morning. Thankyou for your time and attention. “Hit ‘em Straight all” Geoff
Had chances to get back into the game when my opponent made mistakes and when I called upon my body to deliver the tank was empty. Not a modest person by nature nor a quitter and to lose was not a result that caused any angst for me, simply because I had nothing left to put into the game. As I sit here now working my way through a tube of Deep Heat today it is with total satisfaction in accepting a loss. I had not even considered the need to physically train and raise my fitness for this competition.What was acceptable in B and C grade for me, failed at the highest club level. The effort it took to hold a pen last night and scrawl in the diary, “Fitness training is a must.” better be acted on if I want to improve.
The game itself was played in very good spirit and a sporting manner. It was important to have an enjoyable game and the ledger is now balanced with the Handicap Championship win for me in 2009 and my opponent defeating me in the Club Championship in 2011. Learnt a lot about my game and what is needed to go the next step to single figures from this experience. It still resounds that the fitness level has been a failing of mine in recent months yet I had not paid any notice to it. All my focus had been on improving skills and consistency and none on the body that has to make the golf happen. Hindsight is 20/20 when it comes to looking back, slapping the forehead in exclamation in realising the patently obvious.
Of course I was not fit enough. Writing off the fading in rounds during the last 3-4 holes as concentration lapses. A litany of reasons for not recognising this can be churned out that are lame and nothing to do with reality. Truth is when returning to the game in 2009 I played 3 x 9 hole rounds and 2 x 18 hole rounds most weeks. These days I spend more time on the practise fairways training to hit the ball better with the clubs. I can wander out and break 90 easily each week, going out and playing to my handicap is a different matter. The fluctuating scores of late have nothing to do with golf ability. After a season of big improvement and pushing myself hard in competition since January, after ten months the realisation has gone off with ringing bells on the course. Time to stop playing for a few weeks and give my body time to recover. My next competition is going to be the club Open on the 6th of November. That should give enough time for the “golfer’s elbow” (right and left) to recover and get in some quality push bike riding. Have been planning on playing in “The Race to Cypress Lakes” South Australian rounds at The Vines, Friday 2 December and Mt Osmond, Sunday 15 January 2012. The first at Flagstaff Hills clashes with the club open and will be missed. These will be a good trial for my build up to the 2012 Southern Ports Tournament. Going to be interesting, after 2nd place in 2010, “C” Grade and 2nd in 2011 “B” Grade while making the documentary “Another Crack at the Title” I am going to extend the filming schedule to 2012 as I have a crack at the “A” Grade Title over the three days. Handicap section of course, can’t see me getting down to the 1-5 handicap level that the off the stick winner coes from in this tournament. I am an optimist with reality not fantasy in my goal setting.
Well the Deep Heat is soothing the aches. Time to stand up and see if the early hobbling gait is now replaced with a fluid walk this morning. Thankyou for your time and attention. “Hit ‘em Straight all” Geoff
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Won through to the championship final...
12/10/11 Wednesday. Played the Semi Final matchplay round to decide the final pairing for the club championship this afternoon and came out with a victory 3up with 2 to play. Can say that all the goals for the season were reached and given a dedicated and serious attempt on my part. A very satisfying season and with one more game to go feel humble in the achievements. It is not going to be a very humble series of practise sessions from now until Sunday’s 36 hole crack at the title.
It was not luck on my part or my opponent that got the victory it was the regular practise routines which were followed through the season. In fact my opponent commented on this towards the end of the match. It is and has been the key to the improvement and results since 2009 when beginning to play. Specifically was the observation that I do not go out and hit buckets of balls, instead practise has a set series of targets and quality of the practise strokes is more important than quantity.
The extra three days before playing the matchplay did give my elbow injury time to recover a little more. Off the tee and fairway play is acceptable. the short game is not quite fluid and comfortable. From now until Sunday tee off, putting especially will be a focus in practise. The opponent is last seasons club champion currently a 6 handicapper to my 12. After the victory in the 2009 Club Handicap Championship against the same opponent he has dropped 6 strokes to a single figure and I have dropped 13-15 strokes. This time the match will be off the stick, looking forward to the challenge and the competition on the day.
Took a little while to hit my straps today all square after the front nine (44 off the stick each), the back nine got the game attitude into top gear. Had 5 pars to shut out the game in the seven played, winning hole numbers 10, 11 and 12 to have the opponent chasing wins. It was an effort to get into the matchplay frame of mind. Even though I was confident all match and never headed, two missed puts in the first 3 holes had me 1 up when it could easily have been 3 up. First time I have played 18 holes for a while and the injury was only a small inconvenience.
Game on time until Sunday and excited to have made the final match relishingthe coming challenge. Thankyou for your time and attention all. “Hit ‘em straight” Geoff
It was not luck on my part or my opponent that got the victory it was the regular practise routines which were followed through the season. In fact my opponent commented on this towards the end of the match. It is and has been the key to the improvement and results since 2009 when beginning to play. Specifically was the observation that I do not go out and hit buckets of balls, instead practise has a set series of targets and quality of the practise strokes is more important than quantity.
The extra three days before playing the matchplay did give my elbow injury time to recover a little more. Off the tee and fairway play is acceptable. the short game is not quite fluid and comfortable. From now until Sunday tee off, putting especially will be a focus in practise. The opponent is last seasons club champion currently a 6 handicapper to my 12. After the victory in the 2009 Club Handicap Championship against the same opponent he has dropped 6 strokes to a single figure and I have dropped 13-15 strokes. This time the match will be off the stick, looking forward to the challenge and the competition on the day.
Took a little while to hit my straps today all square after the front nine (44 off the stick each), the back nine got the game attitude into top gear. Had 5 pars to shut out the game in the seven played, winning hole numbers 10, 11 and 12 to have the opponent chasing wins. It was an effort to get into the matchplay frame of mind. Even though I was confident all match and never headed, two missed puts in the first 3 holes had me 1 up when it could easily have been 3 up. First time I have played 18 holes for a while and the injury was only a small inconvenience.
Game on time until Sunday and excited to have made the final match relishingthe coming challenge. Thankyou for your time and attention all. “Hit ‘em straight” Geoff
Saturday, October 08, 2011
Back in form....
8/10/11 Saturday, with a few days rest this week and maintaining the injury rehab with heat and cold with a bit of arm massage and wearing a brace seems to have the healing on track. Went out for 9 holes Friday and this morning and the results show the improvement. Friday was a struggle no short game to rely upon and very poor putting. The tee shots and second off the fairways though were travelling well and it was frustrating to be so inhibited when it came to getting on the green and putting.
Then with another nights rest and having a better feel for the injury healing progress, out I went for 9 holes returning 6 pars, 2 bogies and a double bogie. Very happy with the result, hitting 4 greens in regulation and putting on cored surfaces was a good effort. The Driver was particularly good using the 420cc regular flex for the second day and benefiting from distance and accurate strokes. The shots for the GIR (5 out of 9 holes) were a revelation deliberate choice of 1-2 clubs more than usual in deference to the injury paid off. Short game returned as well, still a struggle yet the PW for chipping helped. Putting not easy on the cored and sanded green but good enough result for me to be happy.
With an extra 2-3 days before playing the Semi Final now that the opponent is away Sunday is a bonus. Hopefully will get a good 18 holes under the belt tomorrow and then a couple of days tuning up the short game I will have a better opportunity in the match play.
Thankyou for your time and attention, Geoff
Then with another nights rest and having a better feel for the injury healing progress, out I went for 9 holes returning 6 pars, 2 bogies and a double bogie. Very happy with the result, hitting 4 greens in regulation and putting on cored surfaces was a good effort. The Driver was particularly good using the 420cc regular flex for the second day and benefiting from distance and accurate strokes. The shots for the GIR (5 out of 9 holes) were a revelation deliberate choice of 1-2 clubs more than usual in deference to the injury paid off. Short game returned as well, still a struggle yet the PW for chipping helped. Putting not easy on the cored and sanded green but good enough result for me to be happy.
With an extra 2-3 days before playing the Semi Final now that the opponent is away Sunday is a bonus. Hopefully will get a good 18 holes under the belt tomorrow and then a couple of days tuning up the short game I will have a better opportunity in the match play.
Thankyou for your time and attention, Geoff
Tuesday, October 04, 2011
Have not gone all the way with the Golfers Elbow Exercises felt that the discomfort and pain which may result from a change to the rehab I had followed the previous two weeks of "rest, ice and heat". Added using hand grips doing a moderate number of spring gripping exercises. Today went out and played 5 holes, the putter and chipping has improved markedly since Sunday. I am not an athlete with a must fix injury or a body in best nick to be able to tackle the medical fiull bore recovery program.
That said the moderate approach seems to have worked, the last two days improvement was noticable. Also adding an old Wilson 1200 PW blade (Underwave design) to the bag has helped in getting the chipping on track. A bit of good fortune as well in that my opponent in the Semi Final has asked if we could play 2-3 days later. That was a big yes from me, extra time for healing and the greens have just been cored and they will be better to play on as well.
Looking forward to the Semi Final and it would be grand to get through to the final.
Thankyou for your time and attention, Geoff
That said the moderate approach seems to have worked, the last two days improvement was noticable. Also adding an old Wilson 1200 PW blade (Underwave design) to the bag has helped in getting the chipping on track. A bit of good fortune as well in that my opponent in the Semi Final has asked if we could play 2-3 days later. That was a big yes from me, extra time for healing and the greens have just been cored and they will be better to play on as well.
Looking forward to the Semi Final and it would be grand to get through to the final.
Thankyou for your time and attention, Geoff
Monday, October 03, 2011
A little improvement is better than none...
/10/11 Instead of cracking the sh!ts, complaining, ranting about how golf is a bitch, my reaction is one of good humour and acceptance of the limitations to playing at the minute. Wearing an arm brace yesterday on the front nine (47) and removing it for the last nine (50) had no major difference score wise. Not being able to chip well and drop the putts was frustrating. Especially after driving off the tee so well and hitting greens in regulation or just off target. Accepting the current circumstances as unusual and having to wear it for now is not fun, yet my mantra of “getting the positives out of the negatives” is working. Finishing with 97 Gross, 85 Nett with 35 putts was not a gut wrenching failure simply the best currently possible.
At the minute I have “no short game”. Having to dig deep this week into the patience reservoir, the “Golfers Elbow” injury is affecting my game at the core of scoring. The cliche’ of having a good short game is a key to getting low scores is true. After putting in the work to develop one, having it stymied with an injury has been a challenge to my character. Five of my past 7 rounds have been 90 or higher off the stick the other two rounds being an 80 and an 87. This time last year, albeit when on a 19-20 handicap my scores were in the same range, so it is still fresh in my memory of this being me playing at the best I could. Kinda cool though to be sitting here and realising how much improvement in my golf has came about from making the effort and practising properly with a plan.
This morning it is back to the cold and heat treatment of the injured part and wondering when I should get on the course for a chip and putt. Contrary to what the name suggests, you do not have to play golf to develop this condition. In fact, golfers elbow is more commonly seen in non-golf players than in golf players. Patients typically develop this condition due to activities involving repetitive wrist flexion against resistance or forceful or repetitive gripping of the hand.
Golfers Elbow Exercises
Along with keeping up with the stretching, the 3rd physio gave me a list of exercises to do twice a day. The regime was this:
■Heat the elbow with a wheat bag for 10 minutes
■With an empty dumbbell bar (weights 1.5kg) do 10 palm up wrist curls, with back of forearm resting on your leg and hand jutting out past your knee.
■Reverse the hand so palm is down, and do 10 reverse wrist curls i.e. back of hand is raised, again forearm rests on leg.
■Keep the arm resting on your lef, grasp the dumbbell bar at one end, and tilt the bar back and forth from the horizontal on the left, through 180 degrees, to the horizontal on the right, and return. Do that 10 times.
■Setting the dumbbell bar aside, form a circle with the tips of your fingers (make your hand like a claw) and wrap an elastic band around the outside of your finger tips. Now try to stretch the elastic band by spreading your fingers out wide, maintaining the circular shape. Do this 10 times.
■End by cooling the elbow with an ice cube.
There is a little pressure as it is my semi-final in the club championship matchplay on the coming Sunday. Yet having practised diligently for so long and kept a record of the routines and program, gives me total confidence in having the grounding to get myself in form. I can say that the performance off the tee especially yesterday was a continuation of last week, there as not a single penalty stroke in the round. The four three putts all cost me par scores on the holes, so many first putts were short of the hole. I really tried to correct it and had no ‘feel’ for the stroke all day. Never getting close to hitting the right distance or accurate enough either.
The chipping was the same, short all day. No bladed or fat shots, again without any ability to measure the strength needed to play the shot. In this instance perhaps as most fell short I could have changed back to using the pitching wedge for chipping as I have in the past. Instead I chose to keep using the 60 degree wedge, which previously was only used rarely, as a sand wedge. I know that the past two weeks of beginning to use this club for chipping is going to be a major benefit in the future. I know that many golfers have always used a lob or gap wedge for chipping, for me it was a club not carried. It is now a must to be able to chip and have the ball not run on so far, as happens with the pitching wedge in my game. No matter the week to come will have me back into better form.
Today the greens are being cored and I will have to give the working be a miss this year, making up for it tomorrow at the Junior Golf Clinic. A five hour stint helping out with the days running is not a problem in this case. With PGA Tour player Gary Simpson and Professional Michael Justin doing the golf coaching the juniors will get some very effective guidance. Gary Simpson has a preliminary win of the SA OOM finishing with a six point lead over previous SA OOM winner Brent McCullough. The SA OOM will be finalised officially at the end of the OOM season being 31st October 2011. The successful experience with the local primary school coaching clinic last month and a follow up so soon hopefully is going to give the club a good base to develop a regular junior golfing program at the club.
Thankyou for your time and attention, “Hit ‘em straight all”
Geoff
At the minute I have “no short game”. Having to dig deep this week into the patience reservoir, the “Golfers Elbow” injury is affecting my game at the core of scoring. The cliche’ of having a good short game is a key to getting low scores is true. After putting in the work to develop one, having it stymied with an injury has been a challenge to my character. Five of my past 7 rounds have been 90 or higher off the stick the other two rounds being an 80 and an 87. This time last year, albeit when on a 19-20 handicap my scores were in the same range, so it is still fresh in my memory of this being me playing at the best I could. Kinda cool though to be sitting here and realising how much improvement in my golf has came about from making the effort and practising properly with a plan.
This morning it is back to the cold and heat treatment of the injured part and wondering when I should get on the course for a chip and putt. Contrary to what the name suggests, you do not have to play golf to develop this condition. In fact, golfers elbow is more commonly seen in non-golf players than in golf players. Patients typically develop this condition due to activities involving repetitive wrist flexion against resistance or forceful or repetitive gripping of the hand.
Golfers Elbow Exercises
Along with keeping up with the stretching, the 3rd physio gave me a list of exercises to do twice a day. The regime was this:
■Heat the elbow with a wheat bag for 10 minutes
■With an empty dumbbell bar (weights 1.5kg) do 10 palm up wrist curls, with back of forearm resting on your leg and hand jutting out past your knee.
■Reverse the hand so palm is down, and do 10 reverse wrist curls i.e. back of hand is raised, again forearm rests on leg.
■Keep the arm resting on your lef, grasp the dumbbell bar at one end, and tilt the bar back and forth from the horizontal on the left, through 180 degrees, to the horizontal on the right, and return. Do that 10 times.
■Setting the dumbbell bar aside, form a circle with the tips of your fingers (make your hand like a claw) and wrap an elastic band around the outside of your finger tips. Now try to stretch the elastic band by spreading your fingers out wide, maintaining the circular shape. Do this 10 times.
■End by cooling the elbow with an ice cube.
There is a little pressure as it is my semi-final in the club championship matchplay on the coming Sunday. Yet having practised diligently for so long and kept a record of the routines and program, gives me total confidence in having the grounding to get myself in form. I can say that the performance off the tee especially yesterday was a continuation of last week, there as not a single penalty stroke in the round. The four three putts all cost me par scores on the holes, so many first putts were short of the hole. I really tried to correct it and had no ‘feel’ for the stroke all day. Never getting close to hitting the right distance or accurate enough either.
The chipping was the same, short all day. No bladed or fat shots, again without any ability to measure the strength needed to play the shot. In this instance perhaps as most fell short I could have changed back to using the pitching wedge for chipping as I have in the past. Instead I chose to keep using the 60 degree wedge, which previously was only used rarely, as a sand wedge. I know that the past two weeks of beginning to use this club for chipping is going to be a major benefit in the future. I know that many golfers have always used a lob or gap wedge for chipping, for me it was a club not carried. It is now a must to be able to chip and have the ball not run on so far, as happens with the pitching wedge in my game. No matter the week to come will have me back into better form.
Today the greens are being cored and I will have to give the working be a miss this year, making up for it tomorrow at the Junior Golf Clinic. A five hour stint helping out with the days running is not a problem in this case. With PGA Tour player Gary Simpson and Professional Michael Justin doing the golf coaching the juniors will get some very effective guidance. Gary Simpson has a preliminary win of the SA OOM finishing with a six point lead over previous SA OOM winner Brent McCullough. The SA OOM will be finalised officially at the end of the OOM season being 31st October 2011. The successful experience with the local primary school coaching clinic last month and a follow up so soon hopefully is going to give the club a good base to develop a regular junior golfing program at the club.
Thankyou for your time and attention, “Hit ‘em straight all”
Geoff
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