It may be a while before I get to play much competition golf as my weekends are pretty busy at the moment, but I am getting back into practising in the next week or so, therefore I decided to get this thread going. I am not going to post any swing videos as I feel confident in what I need to work on but rather will use this as a bit of a journal.

Assessment of my game as it stands -

Handicap: 4.9

Driver: This used to be the strength of my game, I could hit driver straighter than a 6 iron. Not any more. I need to find more fairways to give myself more chances to go at greens and also to eliminate the big numbers more often. I am toying with the idea of a new driver, more loft, shorter shaft, just to see how it goes.

FW Woods: Also not very good. I have no confidence with a fairway wood at the moment either off the tee or the carpet. Again I am looking at equipment options looking to get a hybrid and drop the FW wood out of the bag all together.

Iron Play: This is now my strength and the most consistent part of my game, even on off days my irons tend to go allright.

Wedges: I need to work on distance control some more for shots inside 110m, give myself a shot at more birdies.

Chipping/Pitching/Bunkers: Mediocre, not great but not shocking. Need to spend some more time gaining touch around the practise green but it is really just about refining feel.

Putting: It seems to be all or nothing, I have a great putting day or a shocker. Last 2 rounds I have had 26 putts then 35 putts (both had a similar number of GIR) so that gives an indication of how much it swings. I need to make a few early to get confidence otherwise I really battle. Have to find a way to get around that and just rely on my skill to get me through even if the first few don’t drop.

Swing: There are a couple of issues I constantly fight with my swing, one is fanning the clubface open on the way back, also getting the club laid off at the top with a bent left wrist, the a bit of an OTT move on the way down with some flippiness. They are all tied on together and getting the takeaway and position at the top right will be my first focus.

Mental: I tend to score watch too much, especially on a good round as it is very easy to know you are 1 or 2 under/over without doing the addition. I need to focus on each shot alone. I also need to recommit to the clear-key process. I know it works for me but I tend to let it slide over time before recommiting.

Goals (by end of year)

Handicap : 3 or better
FW% : > 50%
GIR% : > 60%
Putts per GIR :< 1.8
Putts per Round :< 31
3 putts per round < 0.5
U/D% : > 45%
SS% : > 35%

These statistical goals may be revised through the year to align more with each other.

The Plan

3 sessions a week working on putting – 2 short putting using the Sasha Novak Laws of Accuracy Program. – 1 longer putts using ladder drills and the like. (about 1 hour per session)

2 sessions a week at home in the net working on swing techniques, each session will start with 30 balls working on the skill and then a 32 ball drill to make the skill a habit and work on reinforcing the clear-key process. (1.5 hours per session)

1 session at the range hitting shots using the 32 ball drill and noting ballflight. (1-1.5 hours per session) 2 sessions chipping/pitching and bunker using the Pelz short game tests once a month to assess. Relevant drills will be used as areas of focus become more apparent. (1-1.5 hours per session)

That is about 9 hours a week without any play. The goal is to do the putting sessions and short game sessions before work hopefully that will make it easier for the better half to deal with.

The end goal of all this is to get to scratch or better and look at a traineeship. It is a long way off, in the last 3 years I have gone from playing off 9 to playing off 5, I have no doubt 5 to scratch will be bloody hard work but can’t hurt to give it a go.

I will be older than your average trainee if I can make this happen, but I am not looking to become a circuit superstar so we will see how it goes I guess!

I have attached a chart showing how my handicap hos gone for the last 3 years…there is a gradual improvement with a big run of form late last year.

Last night while working in the net I think I traced back a bit further the reason for the laid off club at the top.

I have a tendency for my right elbow to ‘fly’ a bit…now this might have worked for Jack but I think it is throwing me off plane. Working last night on keeping the elbow tucked in some more kept the club more on plane and allowed me to attack the ball from the inside more easily. I am going to the range tonight so will see what it has done to ball flight, but I have the feeling I may start hitting draws.

well done toolish. Good to see you making progress.

Love the stats. They keep you both honest and focused on where work needs to be done.

Toolish, I know you’ll do it.

May I ask what the Ladder Drills are?

I’m new to all this so apoligies for the basic question…

You want to get your handicap to scratch or better? Is there such a thing as negative handicaps?

You also mentioned a traineeship and that you might be old for it? What is a traineeship? and how old is too old? I’m just curious :)

You can get past scratch…then it becomes a positive handicap (most handicaps are actaully negative as you subtract them from your score)

e.g.
Handicap of 5 (really -5)
73 – 5 = 68 nett

Handicap of 1
73 1 = 74 nett

A traineeship is to become a PGA professional…not really sure how old is too old, but most guys doing them seem to be early to mid 20’s.

Ah I see, positive handicap interesting. I would have thought that once your scratch you just don’t bother worrying about it hehe

Thanks for the info.

Good luck with your traineeship I hope you make it!

With all that proposed practice, you’ll be off scratch in no time!! Best of luck…

One of my playing partners is off 3. He has been hitting par to sub par rounds in the last two weeks, and will be off scratch one day soon.

One thing I notice, is that his recovery from missing the green is amazing, usually chipping to within a metre of the flagstick for a mere tap in.

The key for you Toolish, is getting it close with your approach shots (100 metres in) and converting your birdie opportunities.

Getting the driver right is paramount, giving you every opportunity to make the green in reg….

Last night while working in the net I think I traced back a bit further the reason for the laid off club at the top.

I have a tendency for my right elbow to ‘fly’ a bit…now this might have worked for Jack but I think it is throwing me off plane. Working last night on keeping the elbow tucked in some more kept the club more on plane and allowed me to attack the ball from the inside more easily. I am going to the range tonight so will see what it has done to ball flight, but I have the feeling I may start hitting draws.

down and out…did ya get that?

Try the old drill of putting a towel or headcover underneath your right arm pit.

Toolish,

Just try keeping your right elbow close to your right hip until parallel to the target line on the back swing – fanning the right forearm: RFT.

From there bend the right elbow and keep your right forearm as close as possible to your left forearm, then just continue the swing up to the top.

A flying elbow is usually “lifting” back, in and up rather than swinging.

Good luck with you search for scratch.

Toolish who is your coach?

Thanks for the drills.

Milhouse…don’t really have a coach at the moment…had various lessons from various people over time (last one was about a year ago), a bit of guidance from the guru, and other than that, me a mirror and a video camera (now that sounds plain wrong!!) have been it.

You won’t get to scratch without a coach – the internet (and especially many of the muppets who keep giving you tips and advice) can only do so much for you. Get a coach.

Toolish talk to Bryan and get him to keep his eyes on you. You do need the physical presence and someone to help you set progress goals.

Toolish you got recent video?

Mate, With your level of knowledge, enthusiasm and commitment you will achieve your goal.

Thanks for all your help in the past Mate, and good luck with the move and you’re future endeavors.

Thanks for the drills.

Milhouse…don’t really have a coach at the moment…had various lessons from various people over time (last one was about a year ago), a bit of guidance from the guru, and other than that, me a mirror and a video camera (now that sounds plain wrong!!) have been it.

down and out…did ya get that?

Toolish,

I do not video and criteque myself and that is precisely why I cannot separate feel from real.

I know what I am trying to do and how I am going about it. However, there is the rub!

I was having a grumble to my local Pro recently and he dragged me out to the range and said “show me”. I did.

He then asked, “what was it you just showed me” and I told him.

He said, “bollocks, I saw nothing of the kind”. “What I saw was a guy aiming right and swinging down the line”. He is not TGM (very much opposed in fact but I am working on him) but I was steering, apparently. He didn’t describe it as such but that was the reality of it.

I was, in my own mind, swinging out to right field, horizontal hinging and applying a nice finishing swivel. Huh, the hell I was!!

Mate, get help even if it is only an unbiased pair of eyes. Knowledgeable eyes would be a Godsend.

I intend to look into a coach, but have had some bad experiences with local guys…once bitten twice shy I guess. I am in the process of moving so will see if the local guys where I am moving offer a better experience.

Not sure I would say it is impossible to get to scratch without a coach though..

bman…not going to post swings here sorry mate…done that enough in the past and feel I am better off not doing it again.

Styles…I must say the head cover is working a treat…getting into the best impact position ever whilst doing the drill, just have to put more work in translate it to a real swing. Really helping get the right forearm more on plane.

All you need is some one who can read.

Get them to take you through the check list after the basic motion curriculum and you have the best coach who ever lived, for ever, for nothing except discipline.

Introduce a policy of ‘hit the fairway at any cost’ and you can’t miss your goal.

You won’t get to scratch without a coach – the internet (and especially many of the muppets who keep giving you tips and advice) can only do so much for you. Get a coach.

Styles…I must say the head cover is working a treat…getting into the best impact position ever whilst doing the drill, just have to put more work in translate it to a real swing. Really helping get the right forearm more on plane.

down and out…did ya get that?

No bother mate, hopefully I’m not one of the muppets! : 0

You won’t get to scratch without a coach – the internet (and especially many of the muppets who keep giving you tips and advice) can only do so much for you. Get a coach.

Milhouse

Dear Toolish,

Milhouse is right! We all need a coach and if you are serious about

becoming a Pro, you need to do what successful pros do – they have a

coach they can believe in!

Best Wishes for 2008 and for following your dream!

Peter

Well…have moved and begun to settle into new job. Have not been practising as much as hoped, mainly due to the fact i no longer have anywhere to get a net set up. That said, it is becomming more and more obvious that my short game is holding me back.

Last round I shot 6 over with 3×3 putts, longer putts are letting me down and leaving too much to do with the second putt. Also I am not hitting it close enough with wedges…

So, there is a revised plan. I am going to make sure to spend at least an hour a week working on wedges from 40-110m working on hitting them to various targets.

i have worked up to 50cm in the LOA program but obviously need to do some lag work too.

Either way shooting 6 over and feeling like I played awful isn’t a bad place to be.

Toolish, I know you’re committed to the Laws of Accuracy stuff, but you should go to the Pelz website where there are free drills and tips for long range and lag putting. They might help your 3 putt woes.

Incidentally, what is the reason for all the 3 putts? Are you leaving an initial long putt short or long or are you missing 3 footers on a regular basis.

I would be interested in seeing your GIR putting stats and non-GIR putting stats.