Yeah I’m with you Waffles, just got caught in the fringe as it was long/soft, it seemed the ball had to land on the green to ensure some distance control, but then it was fast. The others in my group did comment that the fairways were very soft with hard greens. I’m talking fairly short chips too, from 1 to 15 off. On reflection I don’t think I actually hit many bad shots as in contact or thin/fat, just miss judged shots. We played at Kew in Melbourne and I’ve always been challenged around the greens there as it’s quite a good course with fast hard to read (for me) greens, but that’s just an excuse not a reason. The old 3 P’s, practice practice practice.

Two suggestions, if you want ‘em.

Uncock the left wrist, or switch to a palm grip in the left hand. Takes out the power in any roll of the hands. Also, feel “no roll” for angled hinging, or physically reverse roll the left forearm for vertical hinging, the lob shot. Forward or aft ball placement adjusts the trajectory height and spin.

Use a Push stroke instead of a swinger’s (right shoulder power) pull or the usual hitter’s (right forearm) paddlewheel stroke. An increase in thrust results in relatively less increase in distance. It’s a putting stroke. More control for delicate chips.

Thanks Loren, weird thing is I understood everything you just said, my study is paying off, that’s a start! I think you hit the nail on the head with my over cooked chips, I had totally forgotten the idea of taking out accumulators and simplifying to a push stroke, shows that it’s knowledge that has not yet passed to my hands, just stuff floating around in my head. That gives me some good focus for my chipping practice, cheers.

Merry Christmas.
Headin’ for Oklahoma on Route 66.
Winslow, Arizona night after next.
Catch you on the flip-flop.
10-10 on the side and I’m gone.

“Eastbound and down, loaded up and truckin’...”

I want whatever Lorens taking :)

Travel safe Loren.

Well just had a very encouraging practice session. I went down to my local thinking I may have a few chips then play 9. Turned out some company had a morning there so at least 20 people were lining up to play slow golf. Fortune smiled upon me though as the practice green was all mine.

Had a ball hitting PW 30 to 50 mtr chips with surprising ease and accuracy (for me). The most common mistake I make tends to be over active arms. Not sure if this is the hit impulse or what but if I keep my arms back and let them react to my pivot they fall into the right spot and I can then thrust my right arm a little through the ball, that’s how it feels any how.

I then took out the 56 LW and got in the bunker. Yesterday I watched Phil M’s bunker instruction on the tube and boy I was king of the beach! Keeping the hands well ahead of the club head was kicking ass. I then transferred that into the long grass and was popping that ball up onto green very well.

Went onto putting then, kept it very simple and it’s all feeling fine and dandy. I need more practice sessions like that to boost my short game confidence, then I need to take that game to the course of course : ) Certainly was better than a hacking 9 holes by myself too.

That feeling of the pivot working and then just a little thrust through impact really speaks to me. When I am hitting good chips I get that same feeling. Pivot does most of the work (and if I don’t get that sense of activating the right arm it doesn’t seem to hurt much), Then just pushing the arm down through the ball (ok, not that the arm actually goes through the ball but you know what I mean!) :o)

Had a strange day in the sand yesterday. Sometimes they came out pretty much on the line of the clubhead. Sometimes they came out closer to where the face was pointing. Had my head spinning!

Well what a great end to the year. I went out this morning, and strange as it sounds, played 16 holes. I just went for 9 but doubled back on a few holes not counting until done. When I worked out my numbers I was only 5 over for 16, most satisfying indeed. Of course there was no pressure and I was playing with this great old timer and it was much fun.

I really tried to keep it all sensible and concentrate mainly on bogey golf with emphasis on chipping close. My only double bogey was due to a silly lob attempt from a shit lie, very silly on my part, but lesson learned, again!

Highlights;
opened with a birdie on the par 3.
Eagle on short par 4 with a very good lob chip in!
Couple of very decent straight drives.
Many good putts for 7 pars

The rest were 6 bogeys and the one double.

All in all ready to break that 80 very soon, game is feeling very solid. Might make my first comp on Sat for 3 months, will see how that goes.

Have a great new years yous all.

You’ll be there very soon with play like that mate. Sounds like the short game is coming together. Well done.

Mm, disappointing beginning to the year for me today, 32 pts (12 out 20 in) my first comp in 2010. Wont do blow by blow but will look at where I’m going wrong, my 4 scratches.

1st scratch on 2nd par 4
Got a good drive off feeling confident after an opening par 4/3, was raining quite steadily in Melb this morn so wasn’t helping. Had a solid 190 to the pin so grabbed my Hybrid. This is my first mistake, I’m playing for par, I should play for bogey, it’s rated 2. Took and almighty whack, wet hands club slipped, duff 20mts. Low and behold Mr Dickhead repeats said crime with a 4i and slices into bushes, lost ball, scratch.
LESSON? Play smart, it’s raining and 190 out, all I need is a 3i punch up near, chip and 2 putt, don’t be a hero.

2nd scratch on 7th par 4 (dogleg left)
Took hybrid and over swung, OOB off tee to left. I new it wasn’t the right club but wouldn’t listen to myself.
took 4i and sweet hit.
Had 180 ish uphill over creek to green, not a great lie. Again just went at it too hard, could feel the confusion in my head with the shot, maybe not convinced, into creek, all over.

Next scratch 8th par 5, most annoying
Great drive, had 240 ish, Hybrid up guts to about 50/60
Thought carefully, just get it on, pin behind bunker on right, easy pitch. Again my mind is not convinced, could feel the chatter, opened face up to cut it high and in, nice contact, foot short into wet horrible bunker with high lip. No idea what to do in wet hard sand, 2 to get out over back into some mud, chip chip all over.

Last scratch was the 17th, par 5
Mind cluttered adding score, had 20 pts last 9 holes,
Drive OOB, Drive in shit left, punch out, hit down, chip on, long putt, out.

My good holes felt so easy and logical. My mind was busy and confused on the bad ones. I’m sure had I some better mental discipline I could cure those scratches, tried CK’s but my mind was way too gone, made some bad choices indeed. Must get a better pre shot going and play for bogey on the harder holes.

Positives are my game feels good technically, all mistakes I can trace to a thought process not a technical glitch, of course I continue to work on technique, but must clear my mind of at least some of it’s ego and doubt to have a shot at 80 soon.

No idea what to do in wet hard sand,

Stink, wet hard sand offers much more resistance than usual, therefore any club with bounce will more than likely guts the ball. So do not use a SW or open the face of a PW. Use your PW and look at the sand an inch behind the ball and aim for a shallow divot, cross fingers if it doesn’t interfere with your grip.

Ah Waffles, love the cross fingers bit! That might have been the tip to save me from that one, reckon I could have done better even with crossed legs!

Had an interesting hit yesterday at Yarra Bend, the course is in quite good nick though there is some traffic there at the moment.

Good little chip/putt session to start but we got called up and I hadn’t really thought about my full swing. Played with some good mates but good sledges (in a fun way) too, so it felt quite competitive.

Well, I couldn’t get a shot off at all, my swing was foreign to me. Maybe because I didn’t warm it up, but more likely I tried to hard to impress one mate I hadn’t seen in a while who when on can par the Bend.

Luckily on the first 4 holes I got up and down very well to save face, then it started to come together a bit. Finished the front with a 6 over 41 which is incredible the way I was hitting it. My putting and chipping was great all day though. One day they’ll happen together! I’m sure that’s in my head too.

Back 9 was steadily messy, 3 doubles to start then all bogeys, some great shots but physically and mentally I was gone, the holidays have hammered me and I am now on the fitness health quest, so I expect improvement in concentration and longevity.

The oddest thing with golf is just when you think you have nothing left and ‘give in’ to the game, you hit an amazing shot as the expectations release. I sure have heaps to learn about many shots, but my big challenge is the mind game for sure.

Taking my medicine is the biggie, this is all in the mind, I read it so much but doing it is another thing, I still want to pull off silly heroic shots.

I’m reading Inner Game of Golf at the moment (thanks Philsla) and will get back to CK’s that were working for me (funny how something works and you talk yourself out of it, der)

The big technical thing I need to learn is how to deal with bad lies, even if just taking medicine in that situation too and get the ball forward a tad to a clear patch. Had a few sitting down in behind a tuft of grass or in long grass, maybe should hit the thing straighter too as Dart would say!

Was great to see the ball flight of my mate hitting a 5i with a draw, man it looks so different than just a hackers hit, the way the ball sounds of the stick and reacts in flight, very beautiful indeed, I’ll hold that thought for a while.

While I’m on a rave I’ll keep going. Equipment is another thought for me. I have a set of mizuno 900’s, bulky semi hybrids that I hit quite long. I also have a set of HG blades that I really like the profile of and hit the shorter ones (up to 6i) quite well, can shape them better too. There’s something about the thinner profile that makes me hit down more on the ball rather than sweep, but I’m hesitant to take the plunge, soft I know. I might need to try some lead tape on them to get more feel, at least on the longer ones? So much to think about! I know that the TP 19 rescue hybrid I bought was very hard to hit at the start, but working on a relaxed even swing has seen me hit the best shots with this club, it at least will stay in the bag.

When you say “working on a relaxed even swing has seen me hit the best shots with this club” it reminds me of something Bio was telling me a couple of weeks ago. Now, I’m sort of assuming something about your game at the moment, so if I’m off the mark then let it go through to the keeper!

Bio told me that when I am swinging that I must not try and create speed. The PST is all about training your body to create speed in an efficient way based on how your body is designed. When you try and create speed you overwrite the programming.

I think though that this thought would equally apply to trying to hit a relxed even swing, trying to hit a smooth swing, etc, etc. The point is that we need to get our conscious mind out of the way, have in our mind an idea of what we want the ball to do – visualise if you are visually oriented, but whatever fits with the way your mind works. Then we just set up appropriately for what we want to achieve and swing away. No conscious intent in regard to the swing at all.

I also think this is the best way for all shots. Reading Putting out of your mind Bob Rotella talks about choosing your line and how you want the ball to roll and just putting. Similarly Phil Mickelson I think says in his DVD on chipping to simply pick the spot on the green you want to land the ball on and the trajectory and then go. Similar advice all the way.

Bio said to me that if I analysed every bad shot I would find something that impinged on my conscious mind, even if only for a moment. And I can say that I have definitely noticed that sometimes with poor shots.

Something to think about!

With you all the way Weeties, but it is the how that is the hard thing. Like Bio also says, it’s one thing to talk the talk but how do we get our mind to shut out those thoughts? Bio is a great teacher for the training of the body, but his mind is better at focusing on the shot because he has a better understanding of his swing and of the game of golf. This is why clear keys attract my attention. If I could approach golf the way I play music, life would be sweet, I know my music zone and even though it has various levels, I know how to get there. Not so for golf, it’s a new mind game for me.

The best shot I played the other day I was 220 out, uphill lie, and had a narrow approach through trees, new I couldn’t reach the pin. Had to hit it straight, draw or fade would either clip trees or be bunker or worse. I was looking at it going “shit, oh well” so I just stood up and thought nothing for it, just hit it. Had the hybrid 19 and stuck right on the front fringe. Wasn’t really relaxed as I smashed it, but I was resigned to any result, almost didn’t care as I had no expectation but I remember determined focus as well. In the zone for one shot.

A problem for me too is taking it easy doesn’t help me, I need a little aggression. I remember Lag saying he would pick a spot short then really attack it rather than laying off, this works for me. Relaxed aggression? Again the profiling of CK’s could help me here, playing in my profile? I work best in attack mode. I’ll find my spot, the hunt for the Stinky Golf Zone is on…...

Absolutely – that’s what I meant about this applying equally to trying to belt the covers off it as trying to swing smooth. Relaxed aggression sounds about right.

Well had the weekend in Woolongong playing with a mate of mine, lots of fun had at a quite nice challenging course.

Lots been written about clear keys here of late and interesting discussion indeed. I went deep into them on Saturday with great results in the area of realisation. I’ll put down some points I think I learned.

1; The CK only lets you do what you are capable of, no heroics. It’s no miracle for those not willing to put in the hard yards at the game.

2; I have a weakness for counting score on the 8th and 17th tee. That’s where I fall down and where my focus gets disrupted. Dropped 5 shots both times in the last 2 holes on Sat. Good to know as now I can work on it.

3; the pre shot programming and commitment is everything! If I get that right the CK helps me get across the line without sabotage from my over active noggin!!!

4 I have much more fun playing golf using a CK.

5 The PST is kicking my swing into gear, played some ridiculously good shots on the weekend, I’m excited about golf in 2010.

Oh and 6; get a broad brim hat for summer : )

Ok, you may think me silly but just played Yering Medows, yes, quite warm out there but it is golf!

Really had a good start (played the Valley course so hole 10 through 27)
Hole 10, Par 5 ; Regulation par.
Hole 11, Par 4 ; Reg par
Hole 12, Par 3 ; Great strike bunker right. Got there and the sand was wet?? Been no rain and so hot? Anyhow, confused, this is the first shot I didn’t use CK and put it over the green. Chip on and 2 putt for double.
Hole 13, Par 5 ; reg par

Feeling good, 2 over through 4 holes and focused. Bring on the fall!!

Triple bogey, bloody wet sand again, ok I shouldn’t be in there but why not have some nice dry sand? (whinge whinge)
Double Bogey, Double (3 putts from long way) single, then finished with a par on the hardest hole at least.
10 over 46, beaten by wet sand and difficult greens.

So, I was calm and looking forward to playing the next 9 as I hadn’t played it before. Focused on staying in play and using CK. It went like this; bogey, bogey, bogey, par, bogey, bogey, bogey, par, bogey. 7 over 43, had a par putt on every hole!! The game felt great. Not a killing score but very consistent on some very challenging holes indeed, so I’m happy.

89 (+17) off the stick on a hard long course in the heat I’m happy with. Found the right focus on the back 9 that I had touches of on the front but couldn’t hold it. Got rattled by starting so well and confidently.

I realise more and more that 80 is a big goal, but getting to a HC of 14/15 would be really great to aim for.

80 is a huge challenge. Even more so if you are playing a standard 72 par course. While I’ve never broken 40 for 9 I have hit 40’s and 41’s, so it is possible.

Should get myself some updated PSTs soon. How have you found your updated program?

The update was/has been great. It was good to see where I improved and the numbers all add up to the feelings/results in my game. Been on the PST’s and very much enjoy them, really feel like the swing is coming together in a very natural way, I have stopped all technical and mechanical thought for now and aiming at doing everything by feel, even the hinges etc. I do my training and build new habits, I feel it working, it will take time but the journey is the fun part hey?

Yeah 80 is huge, I have broken 40 a few times, but never twice in a row : ) Consistency is needed, mostly in my head, not my body.

Ever seen a grown man cry? Got close today, this is a hard game. I think I’m developing a bad habit of collapsing for 2 holes each round. I wasn’t really playing that well today but was managing ok, was 4 over after 6 holes which is better than my HC. Then I go a quintuple and triple back to back, just wanted to walk off. But, having read Gerry’s chapter on fear last night and not being conquered by the course I regrouped and played on. Finished the front with a par at least for 13 over, 8 of those on 2 bloody holes. Then found my groove and went on to shoot 42, 7 over (2 birdies, one OOB drive) on the back 9.

Now I would be so happy to play to 14. I just always seem to stumble for a 2 or 3 holes. This has to be a focus for me, eliminating that flat spot in my round, it’s a bad habit to get into.

Putted ok, 29 putts, good bunker play and short game. Selling my driver, think I might leave the Hybrid as the longest club in the bag for the next few rounds, better to be in play, and I hit it further than any of my drives today anyhow??!

If you come to Brisbane and play Victoria Park Golf Club with it’s par of 65 then you would have 79 at 14 over! Something to think about! :o)

Well done on regrouping and coming back. That’s a great sign looking forward. A quintupple bogie is going to be the exception rather than the rule so I wouldn’t read too much into that.

I think the 8 and the 0 are starting to get scared!

Mm, the way I could look at it is I had 2 doubles, a triple and and quin, that’s 12 shots in 4 holes. The 2 doubles were first tee shot OOB, then I pared them so I know how to fix that. The quin was a meltdown, no 2 ways about it, I fell apart and panicked. The triple was a terrible over zealous tee shot too into shit on a par 5, struggle to get into play. Just silly mistakes! The other 14 holes I was only 8 over, so that is positive right?

I reckon all my mistakes were over acceleration and doubt, trying too hard. Funny thing is though my good shot’s are from being quite aggressive and assertive and I hardly back off, actually I give em quite a bit. So maybe it’s a fine line between my full strong swing and over acceleration? Maybe, as Bio would say, when I let it my body creates great speed but as soon as I try to get involved I over accelerate?

Oh well, more PST and chipping, 32 ball drills etc. It’ll come. I think 80 can rest for the moment : )