Joey's Golf Bag

CNN reports on golf in my city in Dallas: 72 holes in 72 hours. The courses (none of which I have played — yet) are:

• The Tribute Golf Club
• The TPC at the Four Seasons
• Texas Star
• Cowboys Golf Club

After allowing my sore left elbow to recover for a week, I went to practice tonight. I started with some half 7-iron swings, a little ragged at first. After that, I hit some short irons, mostly straight and on-target. Next, I got out the driver and hit some balls. The first shots were slices, but I adjusted my backswing and got them going straight again. Distance was pretty pitiful, about a 180-200 yd carry on the better swings.

Proceeding to the 3-metal, after some backswing adjustments, started hitting the ball straighter than usual and some a soft fade. Only one or two slices. I then proceeded to the hybrids, starting with the 19 degree and working my way downward. There were a few slices, but with adjustments, the ball was flying straight or a soft fade. Distances were 155 with the 27-degree, 160-165 with the 23-degree and 170 with the 19-degree hybrid. The hybrids continue to work well for me, but I think the swing weight is a little low. I’m considering reshafting the clubs with a slightly heavier shaft (probably a TT Dynamic Gold Lite) and making them each about 1/2″ longer.

I then hit some 4-, 5- and 6-irons, and was duck hooking or drawing, no fades or slices. Weird! The 5-iron was travelling about 150 yds tonight, not bad for me.

A few balls were left, so I hit a few full wedge shots, mostly slightly pushed right.

Putting practice wasn’t as good as usual; I was leaving putts over 10 ft short and short putts were long (when they didn’t go in the hole). I had to practice short 3 to 4 ft putts some tonight, as I missed a few. I got it fixed at the end by holing a several 4 footers without any misses.

I was pretty pleased with the practice session tonight, as I saw little effect of a week’s layoff.

I’m not able to practice or play today due to pain in the inside of my left elbow. It started hurting on Friday morning and was painful enough to require medication. The pain was worse this morning, so I have forgone playing and practicing.

I last practiced on Wednesday, and was fine afterward. I did take a few practice swings Thursday night with my 3-iron, to check positions. Maybe those practice swings did it. I’ll do a better job of warming up next time.

P.S. At times like this, I miss Vioxx. That stuff was the best for muscle or tendon pain. Too bad it kills you…