Today is officially the first day of winter, December 22, 2011, and it’s definitely a golf day at nearly 60 degrees. If I get a day or two like this next week, my decision not to travel to Florida or California to play golf will look pretty good.
1 month agoWhile global warming will ultimately lead to widespread flooding and species extinction, for now at least we can play more golf. Memories of Thanksgiving in New York from my adolescence are filled with cold and snow. However, I was able to play golf last Thanksgiving, and this Friday’s forecast looks even better. I’m all set to play after getting a chance to hit some balls last weekend. They way the weather’s been, it might not even be my last round of the year.
2 months agoHere are some pictures from my August visit to Orcas Island, Washington. The course was picturesque but a bit rough around the edges (they do not water except for the greens). Playing in sneakers with crappy rental clubs, no glove, and no GPS on an unfamiliar course was tougher than I thought it would be. But I’m on vacation so who cares what I shoot!
4 months agoI am happy to report I shot a 77 at Douglaston today, my best score ever. Though short, Douglaston is not necessarily and easy course. Par is 67, and 10 shots over is my best score in relation to par for 18 holes. Still, I can’t officially count this as breaking 80, but that goal seems more plausible today than after my last round.
5 months agoLarry David says it best: Finally, after years of pain and struggle, I had accepted the fact that I would never be a good golfer.
5 months agoMy golf game has imploded recently. The last few rounds have been brutal and have sapped my enthusiasm for the remaining golf season. Last week’s range session didn’t solve anything, so I was back on the range today.
Today’s focus was on two keys. The first key is something I was told at golf camp when I was 13 - the downswing must be initiated with the hips and lower body. One can make sure this is happening by slowing the backswing at the top before transitioning to the downswing. The second, closely related key is turning my hips properly. Basically, I need to exaggerate my hip turn so the only possible way to start the downswing is by unwinding the hips.
The results today were very encouraging and I hit some of the best shots I have all year. Unfortunately, I won’t be able to get back on the course for at least two weeks. I’ll have to work on the downswing sequence and hip turn in my bedroom.
5 months agoFor the past few rounds, every shot I’ve hit with my 5 wood has been a slice. Perhaps the club itself is flawed; it’s the only club in my bag with a regular shaft flex, and the lie angle is flatter than my other clubs. I really should stop using it, but I can’t resist when I’m lying right next the 200 marker.
Tomorrow, I’ll be taking my talents to Saxon Woods Golf Course. The first hole seems like a perfect candidate for a fading 5 wood:
Is the cut 5 wood a risky shot on this dogleg right? The biggest risk is over slicing and ending up deep in the right woods. I could lessen this risk by aiming further left. Aimed left, there isn’t much risk of hitting the ball straight, as I’ve decided that’s physically impossible with my 5 wood.
A nice fading 5 wood would work perfectly on this hole. Let’s hope I have the cojones to use my least favorite club the first shot of the day and pull it off.
6 months ago
I had to take advantage of free ball personalization by ordering the first edition official golfaddictionblog.com golf balls. They are Bridgestone E5 2011 edition. I’ve switched from the E6 to get better spin around the greens and better workability with my irons. If you find one on the course, let me know and I’ll send you a prize.
6 months agoLast weekend’s round started out rough. I was continually slicing my drives (what else is new), which was leading to bogey after bogey. I know I shouldn’t make swing corrections during the round, but I was going to be miserable if I didn’t figure out what was wrong. I rehearsed my swing continuously over the first 10 holes and came to the conclusion that my left wrist was breaking upward, into a cupped position, at impact. This of course leads to hitting up on the ball and leaving the club face wide open.
Just thinking about keeping my wrist flat won’t guarantee that it happens, and adding another swing thought mid-round is never a good idea. Consistently achieving a flat wrist at impact would take plenty of practice and the use of a training aid such as Rick Smith’s Swing Glove.
After some left hand only practice swings, I realized my thumb was too far to the right (underneath the club), which in part led to cupping the wrist at impact. By tweaking my left thumb position to the left (closer to my forefinger), the weight of the club naturally kept my wrist flat throughout the swing. Note this doesn’t change the strength of my grip (i.e. how rotated my left hand is on the whole). When I teed off with my slightly tweaked grip on hole 11, I still accounted for a fade and I ripped it down the left side. I ended up just left of the fairway, which was much better than in the trees on the right. I continued to hit straight the rest of the day.
So that’s the lesson - just a slight grip or position change can make a world of difference and carry you through a round.
7 months agoTwo weeks ago I lost my 6 iron, watch, and GPS in the span of two rounds. Since my mind clearly wasn’t right, I decided to take a weekend off from golf. Honestly, I didn’t really miss it or feel the desire to play. Maybe because it rained most of the weekend.
I’ll be back out there this weekend, fully recharged and ready to enjoy the day.
7 months agoI would estimate I’m in the bottom quartile of overall flexibility among my peers. I’ve learned to live with limitations like not being able to touch my toes without bending my knees. When I finally accept my lack of flexibility in my golf swing, I’ll become a much better player.
My key from yesterday’s round is directly related to my lack of flexibility- I need to lift my left heel during my backswing. Without lifting my heel, it is impossible for me to turn my hips far enough to sync with the rest of my turn. I’m also unable to flex my left knee with my heel planted on the ground. After lifting my heel, I can drop it to start the the downswing, creating tension (power!) and shifting my weight properly.
Among professionals, you rarely see a big left heel lift anymore. This is because players today are super flexible. Their left knee and left hip can get into place without moving their left foot. However, golfers from the previous generation, most notably Jack Nicklaus, had very pronounced motion in the left foot.
8 months ago