Club Champ Prep

Well didn't get to practice Tuesday. But got up the range yesterday and spent some time hitting irons and drivers.

Irons good as usual and quite pleased with how I was hitting my driver. Mainly starting straight but with a touch of draw.

Went to spend a bit of time on the putting green but it was packed, so I gave it a miss.

Went up again this afternoon. Spent some time just doing a few putting drills and some chipping. Putting seemed pretty good. Chipping was awful. I had to stop as I was loosing my temper with myself. So went and hit a few on the range.

Few Irons and some more drivers. Hit the ball ok but was really stiff. I think my muscles in my back from Tuesdays weights session have started to tighten up. So I'll stretch out a bit tomorrow.

9-12 holes practice tomorrow afternoon and maybe some range or pitching\putting depending on how the 9 holes go.

Then champs on Sat.

Club Champs Prep

So, this weekend, 3rd and 4th September is our club championships.

2 day, 2 round event. Go out in handicap order on day 1 and then score order on day 2 with the best scores going out last. just like a real tournament !!

Last year I was in 2nd after day 1 so went out late on day 2:-)

So prep for this year.

It's fair to say that this year hasn't really gone how I would have liked. I've struggled all year long with the driver and lateley the putter and consistency has been a big problem.

I've played some of my best golf and some of my worst.

So I've got a week to work on a few things to try and find a little something.

So the plan for the week.

Monday (yesterday) - 9-12 Holes practice - Complete
Tuesday (Today) - Chipping and Putting (If I have time and it doesn't rain)
Wednesday - Driver
Thursday - Irons and full Wedges. (plus maybe some putting and driving if I feel i need some extra)
Friday - 9-12 Holes and then some practice depending on the results of the 9 holes.

Yesterday, was good. Not a bad front 9, 1 undert my handicap and made a couple of silly mistakes that could have easily taken 2-3 extra shots off. Swing felt great, smooth and flowing. Even with the driver. Putting was ok, just ok. But better than it has been.

I need to do some stuff at home after work so might not have much time to practice. So I'll try and get 30 mins on the putting green. Just concentrating on technique more than anything.

For the weekend I want to get myself to the point where I'm not thinking about anything swing related when i'm playing. Maybe one swing thought at most.

I play my best golf when I don't think. odd to say, but it's true. I just see the shot I want to hit and then just hit the ball. The problem this year is I've changed so much I've had some many swing thoughts to deal with I've not been able to do that.

It feels like most of the stuff I've been working on is now bedding in. So time to let the reines off.

Played 12 Today

Had a bit of spare time this afternoon so went out for a few holes. Was going to try to fit in 18 but it was a bit slow, so just 12.

Steady I think describes it. New putting stroke is fine, driving ok to. Hit some lovely drives with a touch of draw.

Went out in 41 with a birdy on 7. Had a makable eagle putt but started the putt to far right and it never came back.

Gave myself a lot of good chances too. 4 Pars and a Birdy in 12 holes. But chucked in a couple of doubles as well.

Plus the bogeys should really have been pars.

So signs of improvement.

Completely Re-Vamped my Putting

Took a close hard look at my putting over the past few days and come to the conclusion that my technique needed sharpening up.

Watched some good todays golfer putting videos and incorporated those changes.

Grip - Have the back of my left hand pointing at the target. And the back of my right pointing in the opposite direction so my palms are facing each other. This helps keep the putter blade at right angles to the target line.

Arms - Moved them into my sides rather than hanging down. This locks them in so prevents the arms getting involved in the swing. So as you rock you're shoulders back and forth it's just that turn that swings the putter.


Also, by getting my arms into my sides it's got my eyes over the target line, so a much better aim.

Ball position - Moved it more forward towards my left foot. This gets the putter just hitting the ball as it rises so gets a better role.

And finally, changed the length of my stroke, at least on the shorter putts. Shorter takeaway which promotes a better follow through after the strike. This gets around any deceleration in the down-swing and gives a much better roll.

So not much changed then !!!

Tried all this on the putting green before yesterdays round for about 15 mins. Felt weird but much more consistent strike and much more confident on shorter putts.

Brocket Hall

Managed to get a half day yesterday and went and played Brocket Palmerstone course with 3 m8's.

Putted like an absolute prat. 4 3-putts !!! And wait for it, 2 4-putts. Ended up with 40 putts !!!!!!!!!

Greens weren't that fast at all, I just couldn't seem to hit the ball out the middle of the putter. Long putts were a mile short. Missed a ton of 3 footers. just when I thought I had turned the corner with my putter.

Rest of my game ?

Drove the ball well on the back 9, which we played first. Then my driving just deserted me for no reason, weas getting stuck on my back foot again and slicing everything off right and couldn't stop doing it. Ended up dropping to my 3w or a few holes.

irons were pretty good. Couple of stupid shots, but in general pretty good.

Wedges, really good still. Greens were receptive and was spinning them nicely.

So more work needed on the usual suspects still. Driver and Putter.

Will this ever end ?

Average

Praciced a bit last week. Mainly Irons and Driver. Bit of my new 5w and bit of chipping and putting.

didn't manage to get any rounds in until today's comp.

Stableford off full handicap.

Played ok. That's about it really.

Drove the ball ok. Didn't hit that many fairways, but didn't miss them by much.

Hit my irons ok.Hit a good amount of GIR.

Chipped ok. Probably didn't chip it close enough often enough really if anything.

Again, putted ok. Got the ball rolling at the hole and was striking the putts well. Just nothing dropped from beyond 6ft.

Couple of silly mistakes here and there which cost me a few shots.

Ended up shooting 32 points. So that's another .1 onto the handicap. Now 12.3.

Next comp in 2 weeks. Club championships on the 3rd & 4th Sept.

Interesting Round Today

Was a bit of a funny old round today. Mix of really good and really bad. Started really bad. 2 double bogeys.

Then pulled out some good holes to get out in 42. Started the back 9 well with a tap in par. Then stuck in a double bogey after a failed bunker escape. Then rolled off 5 straight pars. Then finished bogey, bogey. 18 should have been par but I duffed a 3 footer. So came back in 40 for an 82. 1 under handicap.

Pretty tidy back 9.

Changed my putting slightly after watching a today's golder putting tip. I rotated my left hand towards the left slightly so the back of my left hand was pointing towards the hole. This has the effect of straitening out the left arm and got me swinging much straighter.

The result. Only 28 putts !!

Pretty much most of my game is coming together now. Drove the ball ok, irons still good, pitching and chipping spot on and putted as well as I have for ages. Just a few silly mistakes cost me a sub-80 round today.

Bit of practice this week and a comp on Sunday. Might try to get out for a couple of 9's during the week as well.