The Lesson with the New Coach.

Interesting to say the least.

Mix of good and Bad news.

Good news is all my problems emanate from a weak grip, which has resulted in me using my hands and arms to square the club face up in the downswing.

So, grip, easy fix. Yep. Now the big problem. I've got so used to using my hands and arms in the swing I can't stop using them with the new grip. Brian, my new coach, want's be to just swing with my body and let the hands and arms come along. I'm really struggling stopping my hands and arms getting involved too much. This then stops weight transfer and release as well. All the things I've been struggling with.

All of a sudden the light bulb has come on above my head.

I spent some time on the range after the lesson, and some more time today. Starting to come, but I have more swings with my hands and arms getting involved than without. So need to work on that over the next week.

One other good bit of news is he'd rather have someone like me who has got to a 13 handicap with poor technique than someone who had good technique. His point being is that if you'd got to 13 with good technique and can't progress any further then it's talent that limiting you. There's not much he can do.

Basically what he's said is, if I've managed to get to 13 with bad technique then I've obviously got talent and it's the talent that has compensated for bad technique. So if he sorts out the technique, and that combined with the talent, then we should see some real improvements.

So feeling kind of positive, although I know I've got some work to do.

Big question now is can I get a usable swing together for the Woburn trip next Friday ? Only time will tell.

Starting with a New Coach

I've decided to give a new coach a try. I've worked with my current pro for about 2 years now and he's done a great job in that time getting me from 24 down to 13.

I've been working hard for 4 months now with him over the winter, but it's just not happening. There are signs of improvement, when I say improvement I don't mean improvement beyond my 13 hcp, I'm probably playing to a 20 hcp at the moment !!!

That's the problem. I really should be at least back shooting around my handicap by now, and I'm not.

So after a lot of soul searching I've decided to try another coach. I've thought about it quite a bit for the last month and have decided enough is enough.

I don't know if it's him or me, probably me but I can't change me, but I can change him.

I feel quite guilty after all he's got me down to 13 and I do really get on with him.

The guy I'm going to is a bit further away down in Welwyn. Brian Lewis, my m8 Dave see's him and I've heard good things about him from other people.

His son Tom is apparently one of the UK's top raked amateurs and is near turning pro.

Not long until the start of the season (4-6 weeks), so I needed to make the decision now really if I stand any chance of implementing any changes in time.

Crappy Crappy Round

I've got today off so played this morning with my m8's Dave and Mark.

Started really well, swing feeling great. Smooth, good tempo and in balance. Striking the ball really nicely, driving straight, crisp wedges and putter working well.

by the time I walk off the 4th I'm 1 under my hcp, with the 5th, 6th and 7th being good par opportunities, 7th is a good birdy optionality really. But for some unknown reason my swing just deserts me. Pretty much for the rest of the round. I scramble it around, chipped ok, putted ok, but nothing would drop.

Out in 44, back in 49 for a shocking 93. tbh, it wasn't too bad, just nothing really happened. it was all fractions off.

So a little frustrated.

So this afternoon I'm going to go see Paul at the cinema. That should cheer me up.

More Time Down on the Range

Took an hour out of work to go hit some balls in the sunshine.

Hitting the Mid-irons and wedges really well. Hit about 10-15 with the 5i, not good. Just awful contact, going straight enough but no distance. Felt like I was fatting them, probably not getting by weight forward.

It's odd. I seem to do that a lot with the longer irons and my woods. Don't know why, my swing also gets a bit quick instead of nice and smooth, which probably doesn't help me get my weight forward.

As the irons were going on I hit some drives too. First few ok, but fading and lacking a bit of distance. Arms were coming into it too much and not releasing, getting the old chicken wing follow through.

Hit some dead arm wedge shots to get the feel of a no arm swing, then hit some more drivers. Yep, that worked.

I just really struggle to swing with my body with the bigger clubs. Wedges, short irons - Fine, but as soon as you put a big club in my hands it's grip it and rip it. And everything turns right.

Playing in the morning, might get up there 30 mins early and hit some balls on the range to get the driver going.

Really looking forward to it. Looks like it's going to be a nice day for a change.

Results from Yesterdays Bets

ok just done me sums.

Bet £16 on the singles matches (32x50p). And win £15.88. So 12p down.

But also 2 of my picks to win also got knocked out. Poulter and Johnson. So that's another £4 down.

But Bjorn (@175/1) and GMac are still in it.

Got my bets in for today's 16  matches. 50p a match again.

Lets see how we do tomorrow.

Accenture Matchplay - Gloat Post

What did I say. Bjorn to beat Tiger.

Some great results yesterday. Golf channel coverage was shocking though. Hardly showed world No1 or 2. I think we saw 1-2 shots from Rory, nut much from GMac either.

I guess if Michelson gets knocked out today they'll cancel the coverage completly.

Placed my bets on the matches today. I need to do the sums on yesterdays bets. I think I'm down a couple of quid.

Looking forward to tonight.

Donald v Molinari should be a great match. Gone for Donald in that one after yesterdays performance.
Kaymer v Rose should be good. Got to go with Kaymer there.
Michelson v Fowler - That should be a fun match to follow. I image the GC will pretty much show it end-end.
GMac and Fisher - another real good matchup. I think GMac probably shade that one.


It's a shame Johnson lost, he'd have been up against Bubba in this round.

Bjorn has Ogilvy in this round. in with a shout there I think. I do think he's got a great outside chance of taking the whole thing.

Accenture Matchplay

Can't wait until tomorrow. Love the matchplay.

Placed all my bets with paddy power for the first round. 50p bet on the winner of each match.

Plus I stuck £2 to win on each of Dustin Johnson, Poulter, GMac and an outsider in Thomas Bjorn.

Also picker Bjorn to beat Woods in his first round match. He's been playing well lately and Tiger hasn't. So I figured there's some value there.

Some good first round match-ups.

Westwood vs Stenson - I'd give Westwood the edge, just.
Stricker vs Manassero - Old vs New. Strickers experience should win out. But if Manasssero catches fire. Who Knows
Poulter vs Cink should be a good match. This should be a fantastic match. Both real tough opponents.
Ogilvy vs Harrington. Even though neither are playing well. Should be a good match-up. Real fight that one.