Up and down... up and down. I've taken the last 30 days to explore finding a key to my inconsistency.  With just barely over 2 weeks to the MD Open I'm experimenting with my swing to eliminate the fixes and inconsistency, probably not smart but its the most interested in golf I've ever been.

I've had flashes like playing with my cousin at Bretton Woods Country Club... 4 holes of trying a good backswing and transition/turn through the ball ... +4.  14 holes of just step up, aim and hit it with good tempo... +4 (poor putting)  I hit my drives and irons shots online with power.

One day at Cross Creek driving range I found something, the next I was unable to find the green.  I lost 4 days to a family vacation in Virginia Beach Virginia but not before I snuck in a practice.  I fooled around with a tip from Martin Kaymer where you make backswings with a tennis ball between your forearms.  Kept me connected, added width.  I stripped the ball.

25 June 2014 I return from Virginia Beach I go to MD but the range is closed.  A visit to the county owned Paint Branch driving range revealed heavily worn mats. I stuck it out though and again, being very mechanical produced horrible shots...

Today, 26 June 2014 I again go to MD University.  I luck up and find about 40 balls in various bays at the range. I collect them up and proceed to hit 140 balls.  I decided to not get mechanical and focus on two simple things

1. A square setup 
2. Athletic out toward balls of feet
3. Turning my head to see down the line to the target
4. Slow tempo
5. 3/4 backswing - basically getting my back to the target but not turning so far that I get my right elbow behind me
6. Release the club.  My hold on swing basically is a trap shot.

Wow.  All the wedges and 9 iron were MONEY!  I hit a few poorly but largely I hit them full distance with about 80% effort and they felt SOLID.  I did have problems if I didn't align the mat with the target.  However, once straight I had to be conscious of my shoulder alignnent.

I was most impressed by the 210 yd 3 iron.  Straight 3 irons were low and hot.  I needed height.  I setup aimed left of the green and slightly opened the face.  I swung through and it faded to the flag!  4 iron, same.. getting square I could it it very solid and 200yds (190 is usual 4 iron)

3/4 swing isn't really 3/4 - just feels that way. No mechanical thoughts of setting right hip or backswing.   Just slow takeaway and transition with full release of the club - no holding back!

THIS IS MY SWING UNTIL 17 JULY 2014. Now its all about shortgame ... wedge distance control, chipping, pitching and putting.

Tomorrow I will schedule my practice round on "Lakewood Country Club!"

28 May 2014

 Last night I subscribed to a new YouTube channel from Adam Huyck

I think this is what I need to increase my distance and consistency late in rounds.  Discovered my mobility and balance was inconsistent from one side of my body (left to right) than the other.  Check out his videos especially Thoracic Rotation and other rotational movements!

 

24 May 2014 - I Think I Figured out for Me "How to Fade The Ball or How to Draw The Ball"

I've struggled with fading the ball and drawing it has been impossible but today i think I found an easy way to do it with my current swing - no changes in setup.  Key is you gotta trust it and swing at that target not at the flag.

FADE:

1. Grip the club as you would normally to hit the ball straight
2. Pick a target LEFT of where you want the ball to go. (i.e. left edge of the green beside the flag)
3. Aim at that left target as if you were going to hit it straight at that target
4. Step into the shot fully aligned at that left target and ready to hit
5. Then, loosen your grip enough to use your fingers to twist the club in your grip to turn the club and point the face at the flag (opening the club face)
6. You might need to move a BIT closer to the ball
7. Swing - focusing on the same swing you'd make to hit it straight at that left target

DRAW: 

1. Grip the club as you would normally to hit the ball straight
2. Pick a target RIGHT of where you want the ball to go. (i.e. right edge of the green beside the flag)
3. Aim at that right target as if you were going to hit it straight at that target
4. Step into the shot fully aligned at that right target and ready to hit
5. Then, loosen your grip enough to use your fingers to twist the club in your grip to turn the club and point the face at the flag (opening the club face)
6. You might need to move a BIT closer to the ball
7. Swing - focusing on the same swing you'd make to hit it straight at that right target

24 May 2014 - Think I Figured it Out, no more high blocks or low hooks

Consistency is based on fundamentals... 

I have a lack of consistency in that I occassionally hit a high block and then over compensate and hit a low pull hook.  Funny thing is the solution was something my coach tried to teach me long ago that's part of a good setup routine.  Went to the range today and worked on this.

Problem: Once you grip the club and get it connected to your upper torso at the back of your biceps you are ready to step into the ball.  For me I was sitting the club down for just a second as I was stepping in. Then before really being set I was waggling while adjusting my feet and it lead to inconsistent posture for high/low hands, spine tilt, alignment and how tall I was at the start of the swing.  My wife, funny enough, suggested "you need to find a way to get ready to hit so your are setup the same every time, not high or low hands but just right"

Solution: Today I recalled what my coach was teaching me during several of our many lessons... Brendan Horton said Once you place the club behind the ball leave it there until your feet are set. Then you can pick it up and waggle if you need to."

Setting the club down, while staying very tall - with slight flex in the knees but not hunching or bending too much at the waist.  A properly fitted club will help you find that posture.

• The club is grounded with the sole flat on the ground but JUST BARELY touching the ground.  
• Then while leaving the club in place, especially the height-position of my hands, as I step in square to the ball.  
• When setting my feet I feel the weight on both feet is 50/50 w/ a slight 'bounce' of the knees
• I also ensure I have spine tilt. 

Four smooth steps, less fidgeting before the shot. That series of steps sets me up for a square strike.  Now I just need to make this a permanent habit!

21 May 2014 - Qualifying for MD Open and MD Amateur at Joint Base Andrews AFB Golf Course

I pulled it off today with less than stellar play... I qualified for the Maryland Open (July 14-16 at Lakewood CC) and MD Amateur (June 5-8 at Baltimore CC)

Unlike the other 3 MD Open's I have qualified for in years past I'm disappointed. First time I qualified in 2007 at Rattlewood I shot +5 and was excited.  Same situation in 2010 qualifier at Andrews AFB and 2011 at the University of Maryland with +4, I was excited.  This time?  Correct! Disappointed. This +4 should have been EVEN or much better.  Mental mistakes on holes 2, 6, 7, 10, 17 cost me bogey's that should have been avoided. Poor decisions on 1 and 18 cost me birdie opportunities.

The Good, The Bad and the Ugly

GOOD: With all the UGLY listed below I shot +4. Putting didn't save me, hitting shots when needed did.

1. I was nervous but stroked the opening Tee Shot at my target
2. Still on my 2nd hole I hit a flare into the trees on the right side.  However, I hit a clutch 7 iron 3/4 punch to 8 feet from the flag under trees from the right side. <sadly under read the break>
3. Great speed on the greens aside from my 15th hole three putt (hole 6).  16 of 18 holes where I had a leave it was short.
4. I chipped pretty well in several clutch moments to keep streaks going. Twice I nearly chipped in for birdie
5. I figured out why I hit several hook drives and corrected on course (hands were too low)
6. I played quickly, no penalty strokes, no sand traps and no lost balls
7. I managed emotions well and didn't let anything get me down
8. Interacted with playing partners, looked for balls, talked to my wife (she caddied for me) and didn't get distracted
9. How about that putt 
1. on 17 to save par.  Perfect roll just didn't turn into the hole but it peeked
2. on 8 for birdie to get to +3... just needed one extra roll to drop
3. on 3 for birdie
4. on 2 for par
5. on 1 from the fringe for par!
10. That 195 yard 5 iron showed me I have alot of stored distance.  Not a hard swing and I flew the 185 yard flag to the back of the green - should have been tight or even in the hole.

BAD: Green Reading and Speed For Birdie Putts

1. I had 7 birdie opportunities inside 15 feet and converted ONE!  
1. Two of those were from ~6 feet
2. Two of the 12 footers were due to poor approaches on Par 5's
3. Several burned edges
4. The key was the 5 footer on my 18th hole... needed it to get to +3 and guarantee qualifying and I under read the break

UGLY: Mental Game

1. 1st hole of the competition with the ball below my feet I took dead aim instead of 15 feet left of the hole.  Ended up 15 feet RIGHT of the hole.  Easily could have been a birdie putt I ened up with a chip and putt and what?  Bogey'ed the 1st.  
2. How about the 11th hole (my second) where I flaired my drive to the right
3. The hook drive on hole 17 (hole 8 for me).  Then I hit the provisional under a bush... good thing I didn't need that.
4. The 4 hybrid where I tried to fade the ball to the green from 218 when I clearly decided NO FADES.  I made the right choice to not try and clear the trees but the fade was more of a block toward the trees.  It cleared but ticked a limb (lucky) and still finished near the green
5. The chip from in front of green on 18 (my 9th green) wasn't to the right to use the slope leaving me 12 feet (i.e. be on the high side and the ball wil roll toward the hole not the low side or the break will roll the ball AWAY from the hole)
6. Wow - that low pull 2H on 2 got lucky and filtered to the end of the  tree line with a clear shot to the green from dirt lie
7. Worse - trying to hit a 58 degree wedge from the dirt and you  delofted the face flying the green from 93 yards.  Under a pine tree for a poor 6 iron bump into the hill
8. On 6 I got so wrapped up in the line I barely hit the ball leaving 6 feet for par
9. 7 I felt the wind come up and should have reset to a different shot.  Instead I slacked on the downswing and hung back, pulling to the left of the green and making bogey

20 May 2014 - Last Range Session Before Tomorrow's Tournament

I planned to hit balls today to build confidence going into the tournament.  Hoped I would forget the 4 or 5 SHANKS I hit at yesterdays practice.

NOPE!

Hit all my clubs well except my 7 iron. Managed to hit too many balls, practice poorly and undermine my confidence.

Will let you know how it goes tomorrow!

19 May 2014 Two Days Before Tournament Day

The MD Open/MD Amateur (both events) is 21 May 2014 at Joint Base Andrews AFB Golf Course.

• Quality Ball Striking - CHECK
• Driving Ball Long and Straight - CHECK
• Putting Confidently for Speed and Line - CHECK
• Short Game for missed greens - SHAKY

Went over to Olney Golf Park, short game area.  Gotta get my chipping around the green closer to the hole. Olney has a VERY large putting green and a green that you can hit pitches to from up to 70 yards.  I spent 60 minutes dedicated to various distances around the pitching green.

Excellent progress in a short period of time.  Using Tiger's trajectory method I became pretty consistent hitting a spot and releasing to the hole.  Just need to figure out green speed and choose the right trajectory to release the ball close to the hole!