Yes, you’re dead right, I’ll learn.

7th par 4 dogleg left
5W swing too hard, this hole gets me, I TRY too hard to affect the shot, so silly, just need a straight easy 3i, WHY DO I DO IT????
PW over dogleg clip tree fall to 150 marker.
5i into wind, again too hard, silly, I have the extra club but into the wind I freak and swing hard, silly silly silly.
Chip on 3 putt,

ah stinkler
you got sucked in to the smaash syndrome.
it’s an easy whatever you use.
like waffle said “swing slow sweet chariot”
kiwi

Totally sucked in, yes. I have much to learn, and learn again, and again.

Concentrate Stinky, I got $2 on you beating Weetbix to 9

Wasn’t that ChoppyChip?

Ah geez

Well today is a good day for me, big breakthrough in my swing. Today I got what I believe is real lag for the first time coming in from the 4.30 line, wow, what a feeling.

Why today? Well apart from continued work on my PST (big focused session yesterday) I’ve been nutting it out in my scone through discussion on Lags thread with him, Dart and Guru et al, and I’m beginning to understand the balance I need between MY pivot and hands.

I went to Northcote today and just hit many balls around, left the driver and woods at home and worked on PW-3i. On the 3rd hole it just clicked and I hit some of the sweetest shots ever, my pivot was driving like a smooth V8 but I felt everything in my hands, it was a tremendous feeling indeed. The best thing about it was that I new what was happening and I understand what I did, it wasn’t a random feeling that I’ll need to chase after. That said I of course can’t guarantee that I can walk out and do it again, but I have it in my head at least!

As I played on I tried Darts suggestion of rating the smoothness of the swings and also tried applying different pressure (5-10 mainly) and hinges. It was the first time I felt like I could really choose my shots using all those aspects.

It feels like now I can start learning about this game, up until now I was in nappies!

Stinkler,

That is great stuff. Do not neglect 2-5. These are your alignment training pressures. Chuck the nappies but don’t throw away your training wheels.

Good on ya Stinkler.

Would you use 2-5 on full shots? I was trying that a bit but more inside 80 mtrs. I feel like I quit if I back off pressure too much on full shots?? Maybe it will come,,,

Sure, the ball only goes 50 mtrs but you get to ‘see’ everything.

Ok, thanks.

Yarra Bend today, good conditions, no excuses.

Game plan, use 3i leave driver in bag! Driver on the 5th was only one, had a 25mtr lob on.

Hit 12/14 fairways, 3i 190 to 210 mtrs. 1 miss just off in first cut the other was thin into fairway bunker on the 14th.

Score 87. Problem? Too many putts, 37!! Playing partner had 27, he can putt (still beat him, ha!!)

All in all very happy as my shot making has really improved. Just a few pushes today, not dramatic, my hands will learn, I was just trying not to draw the ball so much today and I didn’t adjust alignments enough, I can work on that.

Putting is one thing I haven’t spent the time on so it’s inevitable that it will be my weak link. I think the pressure of several birdie putts and many par putts put me off, I’m used to putting for bogey or worse : ) no pressure then….. missed a few inside 3 feet, cardinal sin, I’m going to hell, hail Mary, hail Mary, hail Mary,,,,,,,,

Nice. You could break 80 with a little putting practice.

What did you do right? So you can lock it in.

Yes I know, putting practice!

What I did right was a good rhythm with lag, over acceleration avoidance! I could sense it in my hands, even though I don’t really know whether it’s hands controlled or pivot driven, I don’t think it matters. My movement patterns are improving and my hands are becoming more educated, don’t shoot me for this but for now what it’s called isn’t as important as where the ball goes : )

Personally I think because I agreed with myself that I was to use 3i or less off the tee, not driver, I wasn’t going for distance so I didn’t try to hit it far. This meant I could swing within myself, I mainly went for an 8/10 pressure (though I went for an ‘aggressive’ 8), and I hit the ball bloody well as a result. It felt like “mature” golf. Next step is to learn to swing a driver that well.

I’m going over it all in my head to lock it in, even wine avoidance : )

never have wine avoidance!!!!

seriously though, I went through a period of trying to abstain, I figured out eventually that I was putting too much stress on myself and was looking for a great performance each week, if I stuffed up on the first few holes then I really felt let down.

The secret is moderation, if you want a glass or two its ok, a bottle or two is a big no no though!!

Ha, you don’t know how much I like it though! No, I occassionally go dry for a month or 2 here and there. I’m a muso and drinking becomes an occupational hazard. It’s nice to stop and focus on something else for a while. I’m more likely focusing on golf to distract me from it rather than the other way around. Remember, everything in moderation, even moderation, my time for extremities : )

Ok, it’s become ridiculous now, my Lynn Blake DVD will be getting a workout this week as I have to address this pathetic putting issue. Got 29 points today with 40 bloody putts. 18 points on the front 9 with 20 putts, then it just became stupid and affected my concentration : (
Still, as I say to my students, you must make your weaknesses your strengths, this I will do.

That is really really bad putting Stink, in case you didn’t notice :)

Ha, I did notice, so did the guys I was playing with. It became quite a joke despite how depressing it was! Thanks for bringing it up though, I’m getting a good laugh from it now.

The positive side is when I get on top of it, which I will, I’ll be shooting some good scores.

I have the persistence and patience to get through this so look out 80!

Yep, the putting is all mental mate, your currently probably dreading putting rather than taking it as the challenge it is…

So I checked out the LB DVD, had a look at the tube at many putting strokes and fiddled around on the lounge room floor (sounds bad). I was getting way too complex with my putting. I have now gone back to a simple grip and using a shoulder action. I was mixing all sorts of bits and getting very lost, ball right and left. I’m going to try this for a while too, works for one of best!
My coach also said wisely, if my putting is bad get the ball closer and take the pressure off! True indeed. Just so happened played 9 yesterday, and despite being a bit sore from PST followed by kettle bells the day before, finished my round with a huge drive and a chip in for my first Eagle! Ha, shame it was a social hit with a mate, didn’t score.

Stink,

Read the putting for life article. It is about intention and super intention.

Really really aiming as opposed to just aiming somewhat.

The short game needs twice the precision of the rest.

Dart, had read that before but so glad I read it again! My learning curve has been huge and I have forgotten so much that I’ve checked out along the way, as the mind gets older the info needs to be punched in a few more times.
I agree that it makes sense that the putting stroke be a miniature version of the full stroke, why complicate things? I’ll be working on those tips, thanks.

Well a surprise for me today. I had a hit lined up with a mate at his course, Medway, which I quite like. He rang last night and said one of his mates wants to play at Metropolitan and do I want to play there? Um, yep, sure! This will be fun, don’t expect a score but will be fun indeed : )