Coaching done and successful...

Returned home this afternoon and managed to squeeze in a quick nine hole amble around the course. The aim being to get used to the changes after the coaching session yesterday, nothing major more a matter of returning to the good things that I had been getting lax with. The three major ones were identified with the iron session being A) Lifting my left heel (front foot) on the back swing. This removes the stability of the platform that making each shot is based on. B) My knees were rigid and locked into place and I had to return to flexing/bending them in my stance. C) In my follow through I was not rotating so that my hips were turning and I would be facing the target after playing shots. The give away is the right foot (back) remaining flat on the ground or partially lifting and rotating.

Another fault that was creeping into my game was failing to rotate the wrists in the swing. This was again creating erratic shot play. For me these faults are not catastrophe’s, given that I have been playing to and breaking my handicap of late they are faults which are inconsistencies with my game. The cure is once identified to get on the range and play the shots until they are complete by rote.
Up until now my practice has never been focused upon this aspect of training. In part due to not knowing what was the correct game play to learn. That has now been supplied and the next step is to get it down pat.

Thankyou for your time and attention, “Hit ‘em Straight all”

, Geoff

One shot Too many and second place...

7/5/12 Monday Thinking about golf is a part of the game which in my opinion does help. I take the view that this is practise for the mental side of the game when on the course. Besides which, thinking about golf is something that is enjoyable, so finding a ‘reason’ for doing it did not take much. The mental side of golf has been of growing import for my game lately. The effort to get to the target of a ten handicap and within reach of a single digit handicap, in my case has needed a mental golfing revamp. Fortunately this is nothing major, but as with the mechanics of the game the mental side has to be exercised and improved to be operating alongside the physical game play.

This weekend after the changes to the practise routine to accommodate the winter weather conditions I still managed to get an improved result and take a stroke off my handicap down to twelve. This came about from following one of my established practise routines of using different clubs. This time though it was targeting putting which of late has been unreliable. A couple of years ago I bought a Proline clone of the Odyssey Two-Ball mallet style putter, always struggled with this for reaching the hole and with accuracy within a metre of the hole. The putter required a precise hit on the ball or it would go off line and my stroke then was not good enough.

With the improved putting scores the Proline club will now become a regular practice tool on the green. Much like other golfing equipment that is used for practice only ie; weighted drivers This putter which makes me work hard on accuracy and has had a marked effect on the scores is a valuable tool. Interesting that my mind realising initially that changing putters while an option was not the best. Concluding that the regular practice in the week was the correct use of the Proline putter.

On the practise green the past week was inspiring. The balls where reaching the hole from three to ten metres an excellent result, if not in the hole the ball finished inside a metre of the target. Inside that metre though my accuracy was still not good, did play a practise round with the mallet putter and that was the only failing. Sunday morning went out for a practise putt with my regular putter and the Proline, in part because using the mallet putter in the round was a consideration. Instead I realised after half an hour that my putting was much improved with the Wilson 100 specifically because of concentration required to use the Proline.

The round which followed was a handicap breaker, 41 on each nine, 13 putts on the front and 14 on the back nine. A gross 82 for a Nett 69. Last week my score of 84 included 32 putts this weekend the total putts was 27 with nine two putts and nine one putts. I was one very satisfied golfer even though finishing in second place for the Monthly Medal after a countback. On a side note this was the biggest club competition field, outside of Opens, since I began in 2009 and our club captain believes in the last five seasons.This is a result of three years of action by the club to increase playing golfer membership. Personally to have done so well amongst a field of this number and quality added to the enjoyment of the days golf.

This weekend I will be playing my matchplay on the Saturday. Giving eight strokes to the opponent will be a challenge that is going to add some spice to the game, peaked a week early only had to give him seven strokes before. Will be a good matchup against a golfer who is less experienced with a game that is far removed from mine. My game of, “Playing the fairway from the tee with controlled drives and accuracy before distance Versus Going for the distance and attacking the green at all times.” The challenge being my opponent will blow out one or two holes a round and the rest are par and bogie scores.

Have booked in for a coaching session at Drummond Golf at West Beach this week while in Adelaide. Nothing major, just want to have my swing looked over. While hitting 50% of fairways is consistently part of current rounds, there is an irregular ‘pull’ to the left off the tee and occasionally from the fairway that is affecting scores. The balls flight is not a draw or hook but that twenty to thirty metres possible variation needs to be stopped. Whilst I have managed to almost remove it from fairway iron shots, off the tee it happens too often. Thankyou for your time and attention, ”hit ‘em straight all”

 Geoff

Matchplay preparations for Handicap Championship...

3/5/12 Thursday With the continued rain during the week it has been difficult to get out on the course and practise. Continued with using the old blades for another range session on Wednesday. It is not that difficult in essence to hit the ball with them. There is no forgiveness for miss hits and the jarring of the hands and arms soon get me concentrating on doing it right. Today it was back to the game set and the Bridgestone J36’s are a treat to hit the ball with in comparison.

Practise is all focussed on maintaining the improvement of recent weeks with accuracy and consistency. Hitting in twenty five or thirty ball sessions, not hurrying just going slow and steady consolidating the successful tempo and rythym. Using a selection of two irons, a short and long one in each session is comfortable with enough variation to encourage the effort to work on getting the best results.

Finished the fairway range practise with the driver and very pleased with the accuracy of the 400cc Tolmii ten degree club. The feel of the club in my hands weight and balance wise is terrific. Following on from the Monday ‘smash and walk’ practise round I opened the shoulders up again with the driver to explore the potential for more distance. Nothing spectacular, there is a little more reach with the club and the accuracy is acceptable. Importantly the club delivers great feel when playing shots and I can quickly ascertain what changes to make to improve the strokes.

The majority of practise this week has been around and on the green with chipping and putting. Started out maintaining the use of other clubs and dusted the cobwebs off a Proline Mallet style putter to test my skill on the green. This putter is along the lines of an Oddessy two ball model, which in my hands had always struggled particularly with distance. Many putts would end woefully short of the hole previously, this time it was as good as with my regular putter and that is a significant improvement. While it was an interesting and fun practise session it is back in the cupboard having served the purpose of refreshing my attitude on the green.

This Sundays round is the Monthly Medal and will be fun to play in the wind that is starting to get established as the predominant weather feature again. The sixteen golfers for the Handicap Championships match play finals have been decided. My first opponent is a new player who has started on a Twenty Handicap, hits a big ball off the tee and is just establishing the consistency to play his best. 

The group of eight I am in has several mid twenties handicappers and two former club champions. This is not a problem for me but I did have a little laugh to myself considering my confidence. After all even at my best these guys get the same score as I, when they are having a bad day on the course. What made me laugh was that in considering my status in the group of eight I realised that I was runner up in A grade championship last season winning monthly medals and other club competitions also. So I can say the false modesty attitude is out the window as is any perceived underdog status. Will be going out and playing as well as possible and see what the results are at the end of each game. Thankyou for your time and attention. “Hit ‘em straight all”

 Geoff

Mighty Blues back on the winners list...

Thankyou for your time and attention, Geoff