Constant Experimentation

Short Game

It seems like a constant battle for me in terms of knowing exactly what works for me and what doesn't. I go through phases of an amazing short game and then the opposite. In the past, mostly when I got "yippy" with my chipping or pitching, it was because of my rhythm. I wouldn't take a long enough backswing, get quick, and then I would jab at the ball. A few months ago, I wasn't turning my chest towards the target, and I could have been a little too steep into the ball. So recently, I've been working on sort of dragging the club lower on my takeaway so that would encourage a shallow angle of descent on the downswing. I've also been working on keeping my rhythm from being too quick.

Putting

I'm in need of working on my putting more than I have been. I had a good practice session yesterday, but it needs to be more consistent. It's tough to ration the hours in the day when I'm working on some things in my full swing.

Full Swing

Right now, I'm working on making the club steep during the last 1/4 of my backswing to keep from the club getting laid off and then keeping my swing short because when my arms continue to swing as my shoulders stop, I believe that also contributes to it being laid off and loose at the top of the swing. So that's what I'm working on in the backswing, then on the downswing I want to have a lateral shift first so my arms can drop and shallow out the club on the backswing. Dong wants me to feel as if I'm stomping my left foot (ball of the foot) on the ground to initiate the downswing and then feel as though my hips are closed. It seems to be helping, but today, I decided to feel the clubhead on the downswing as if it's looping way shallow and from the inside of the swing. This seemed to work pretty well so we shall see how it works tomorrow. It's a different sensation trying to feel the clubhead rather than concentrating on an arm position or the shaft angle.

I finally got my new set of irons (Titleist AP2 3-PW) and then my wedges. The only exception is that they didn't send me my 58* wedge that I ordered and so I had to call Titleist up for them to tell me that the club is most likely on backorder.

WTF

So I have been playing pretty solid golf lately without shooting over par for the longest time. I know the things I'm working on are making me better, but the last couple times I have gone out to play have been awful. It is absolutely one of the most confusing things. My theory is possibly a loss of focus or maybe it's just plain complacency. Today, I played, and it was much better; but those two rounds prior are just making me scratch my head.

I recently ordered business cards in the event I find a potential sponsor or for networking purposes.

I contacted a couple of private golf clubs here to see if they had some caddying positions available in hopes to network and find sponsors. Whisper Rock contacted me back, and I may get to caddy for a tournament in mid-April. Hopefully, I can meet the right people.

Full Swing

I'm still working on ingraining that left & right shoulder move, and now I'm working on keeping my backswing shorter.

Short Game

It's been yippy lately. I'm just so indecisive and lack confidence right now. I need to work on getting better at seeing the shot & committing to it. Rather than worrying about hitting it bad.

Putting

I'm pretty sure my lag putts today sucked because I was decelerating. I'll have to work on that. Mid-range and short putts were solid.

Haha it's getting good . . .

I finally purchased a brand new set of clubs through Titleist's Tour Department's purchasing program. The clubs are about 50% off the price of retail so I placed the order for a 3-PW set of the AP2's with KBS tour golf shafts. I had them 2* flat so it should all be tailored to my specs. I decided to switch to KBS golf shafts after trying Dong's and feeling how great they felt. The shafts also launch the ball a little higher so that would help with my long irons versus the Project X Rifle Flighted irons I currently use. I then purchased a 52* & 58* wedge, both with 8* bounce, & the conforming grooves. When they arrive, I'll probably give the 58* a c-grind.

In other news, Ai Miyazato won the last two events on the LPGA Tour! I texted her after both wins, but I don't believe that I can text internationally. When she comes back into the states, I'll need to get her email so I can stay in contact. Her last win paid for our kids' playroom & the guest house . . . haha

Full Swing

I've been working on the same shoulders feeling for quite some time now, and my swing is looking really good. I now incorporated a cupped feeling in my left wrist to help get the club on plane at the top of my swing and keep it from getting laid off. My swing is more shallow on its descent into the ball, and I'm happy at how it's progressing.

Short Game & Putting

I took a lesson with Penny Pultz recently and we looked at the putting alignment with the laser and realized that I don't need a different hosel for my putter because I am aligned very square to my target (due to the assistance of the ruler drill).

As for chipping, I have to better develop my holistic approach towards practicing, analyzing, and executing an equilibrium during my shots. What can happen is people become narrow focused and concentrate too hard on one specific aspect, such as thinking solely about the line of a putt or the backswing of my chipping and that causes the person to have the other aspects of executing the shot suffer. For this reason, we hit bad shots or they don't come out the way we intended. In other words, don't become narrow focused and give more attention to any aspect of the shot than others.

Technically, I have added more pressure or weight on my target-side foot and have become more conscious of the bottom of my swing arc as I take practice swings. Impact contact has seemed to have improved and combining the teachings of Penny, I'm feeling pretty good. I'm starting to make more putts again and the last time that I went out and played with Mike, he was saying how solid everything appears to be coming.