WOW! That's all I have to say. The things that Tim has taught me and the practice I've been putting into the new changes (and killing the bad habits) are really starting to come together! It's almost frightening.
Lesson 4 was all about my backswing - drawing the club straight, keeping my left arm parallel with my shoulders, and keeping a firm left hand. This lesson really changed my game. Not that the other lessons weren't as powerful. But, without the backswing, the stability in my lower body and keeping my shoulders level wasn't a big of an impact... of course, it's also vice versa. Without a stable lower body and level shoulder turn, the backswing wouldn't be as strong. That being said, I saw huge improvement with all of it coming together.
After a crazy 4th of July weekend with lots of alcohol, swimming pools, and just getting beat down from throwing people in the pool (and getting tossed in several times), my body and mind were in pain. Fortunately, I made a conscious decision to take it easy on Saturday, only beer and chilling in the pool, because I knew I would be golfing on Sunday. Plus... I was still in pain! One thing I've learned the hard way, partying the night before golf really affects my golf game. No more of that. I'm not going through this whole golf diet and training only to mess it up with a night of heavy drinking.
Ok... so back to my game. I went to bed early last night so I could hit the range early this morning. I was at the Revere at Anthem golf course today at 9am practicing. Although this was really the first day hitting balls since last Wednesday, I have been practicing my backswing at home all the time everyday. As expected, it was a rough start. I was hitting balls fat to start with then slightly thin. After about 20mins, I was starting to relax and was hitting some decent shots. I kept practicing until we tee'd off on the Lexington course at 10:32am.
On the first hole, I pulled out my driver and topped it. I took a first hole mulligan and tee'd up another ball. I relaxed myself and hit the ball. Correction, I crushed the ball straight down the left side of the fairway. That felt good. The rest of the day was same. Every shot I hit, regardless of what iron or wood, was solid. I was completely focused on my swing on every shot. I was hitting balls in the fairway or just off the fairway, hitting greens in regulation or on the fringe of the green, and every shot was solid. Solid contact and solid consistency. I had smiles all day after every shot.
For first time, I only screwed up a couple times and they were pretty much back to back on one hole. I'm going to say that the first one wasn't really my fault. :) My tee shot had rolled down the fairway and ended up in the rough - the deep rough. I tried to get underneath the ball but ended up hitting it fat, short but straight and in the fairway. The second shot was totally my fault. I pulled my 60 degree wedge out and was trying to hit it 80 yards into the wind. Once again, I hit it fat and I ended up having to hit my 60 degree again. This time only needing about 55 yards into the wind. Easy...
I ended the day with a 93 on a par 72. This score isn't very good... I know that. But, this was the first time in the past couple months that I have hit into the 90's. Plus, I had a few penalty shots because the wind on the back 9 was BRUTAL! I would hit these shots great but either overcompensated or undercompensated for side wind carry. In fact, on the 18 handicap (easiest hole), par 3, 17th hole, I lost 2 balls because of the wind - ridiculous. Also, I putted horribly today!
I took my new Scotty Cameron Studio Select Newport 2 out for the first time. I literally peeled the plastic from the grip right before we tee'd off. For whatever reason, I missed putts... just barely, but still a miss. The 3-8 feet putts kicked my butt. I couldn't believe it. One the green for birdie, and 3-putting the hole. Multiply this by several holes and there are the extra strokes. In fact, I count that there were at least 10 putts from 3 feet that should have dropped but didn't. Assuming that I dropped these putts, I would have shot an 83. That's with my penalties! I'm going to keep practicing with that putter... if I don't get used to it... it's either going bye-bye or I'm going to send it to Scotty Cameron to get the weights in the head increased to 20 grams instead of the 15 grams that I currently have right now. It just doesn't seem as head heavy as my Odyssey Black Series. It may be the swing weight... i don't know.
Anyway, I dragging on and on now... Overall, I had a great day of golf. Great ball contact and consistency was exactly what I was looking for and Tim Sam with GolfTEC has helped me to achieve it. I'm looking forward to learning more (i.e. downswing and follow through).
Here have been my lessons so far:
Evaluation: Stance and Grip
Lesson 1: Lower body stability
Lesson 2: Shoulders level
Lesson 3: Shoulders level reinforcement (consistency)
Lesson 4: Backswing
PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE!
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