Joey's Golf Bag

This morning, I went to Hank Haney Golf Ranch to hit some balls and possibly play nine. However, like yesterday, the temperature was nearly 90F when I arrived just after 8AM and got hotter as I practiced. There was no breeze at all.

I started off hitting 7-irons to get warmed up and soon alternated hitting 9-, 7- and 5-irons. I started off a little ragged, but soon hit the balls pretty well, although my dominate shot was a draw. Next up, I got out the driver and immediately started hooking it. I alternated 9-irons and drivers, and got a little better. I put impact tape to see where I was striking the ball, and, to no surprise, found I was hitting near the toe again. I did eventually work the strike point back to the center, but had to address the ball on the hosel to get that to happen. I also put impact tape on the hybrid, with the same results of toe strikes. Again, addressing the ball on the hosel helped move the strike point back to the center. Lastly, I put impact tape on a 5-iron, and again, toe strikes. I was able to move that back to the center immediately by addressing the ball just a bit closer to the hosel.

To experiment, I went through the irons, addressing them such that the edge of the ball was at the end of the grooves on the irons. Surprisingly, all my ball striking immediately improved. I ran through the bag, hitting all the irons and wedges very nicely, except the 4-iron. I also worked on making sure that I didn’t flip my hands closed, and that helped as well with my ball striking. I think my hands have been getting a little overactive as of late.

I was pleased, though puzzled, with my practice today. I guess I don’t really mind where I address the ball, as long as I strike it well.

I decided not to play nine today, as I was beat from the heat.

… and me, out playing golf. In the brutal Texas heat. Or rather, attempting to play golf.

I went to the North Texas Golf Center to practice and play nine this morning. The weather was well in the 80s when I arrived just after 8 AM this morning, with only enough breeze from the southeast to make the flags wiggle. I started off hitting short irons poorly, but soon had my swing grooved and had one of my best practices in weeks going. I spent most of the practice session hitting alternating PW, 9-, 8-, 7- and 6-irons, hitting mostly straight balls, with occasional slight draws or fades. No hooks or slices reared their ugly heads with the irons today.

Next up, I hit the driver. At first, I hit an ugly hook or two, but soon discovered that my tempo was way, way too fast with the club. I then started alternating 9-iron and driver, and got my driver going again, hitting mostly draws, with one high slice thrown in. Distance was pretty short, but at least the balls would have been in the fairway. A week or two back, I took of the 1-1/2 swingweights of lead tape I had been using for a few months; I’m going to put 1 swingweight back on the toe to get the club going a little straighter.

I attempted to hit a few 3-metal and hybrid shots, but gave up and went on to hit full wedges to finish up 2/3 of the basket of balls. I was pretty pleased with that practice as well, though I tended to pull the wedges slightly.

Last up, I went to the short game area and hit a lot of short wedge shots, mostly with the lob wedge. My distances were a bit long today, but direction was generally good, erring occasionally to the right. My last drill was chipping with the pitching wedge, which started poorly, but ended very well, holing three shots and hitting the pin with another. After I ran out of balls, I putted for a few minutes, and realized that I was about to pass out from the heat. I’d already downed a 20 oz PowerAde, but I went in and got another and walked to the course.

On the first hole, some maintenance was being performed on the green (which badly needs some, as it has some large bare spots), so I hoofed over to the 2nd hole and waited while 3 girls and their father played the hole, verrrrrrrrry slowly. I didn’t feel like waiting, so I went over to the 4th and prepared to play. I was a bit woozy from the heat (I soon found out the temperature had hit 98F by this time), hooked a sand wedge way left of the flag, and walked after it. After I chunked a lob wedge, I picked up the ball and went home. If I played any more, I was likely to drop dead. It must have been humid as well, because I was soaked with sweat. Damn, it was HOT!

I was happy with my practice today, but I shouldn’t have even attempted to play golf today, as the temperature was just too hot. And no breeze either, unusual for Texas.

After dinner tonight, I went to the Golden Bear Golf Center to hit some balls and practice putting. The temperature was hovering around 100F, but since the humidity was low, it was comfortable. There was a 1-club breeze in my face, which helped as well.

I started off hitting 8-iron shots to the blue flag, 130 yds distance into the wind. I hit the short irons well tonight, though tending to hook when hitting a poor one. I alternated the pitching wedge, 8-, 6- and 4-irons. I never got the 4-iron going, although I did hit it straight, just very low, barely above the flag. The 6-iron took a few shots to get going, but I did manage some good ones by the end.

I got out the driver, 3-metal and hybrid, but with the exception of a couple of drives, hit those club poorly.

Next up, I got out the wedges, all four of them, and practiced hitting at the red flag some 80 yds away. That’s a little less than a half swing with a pitching wedge, about a half swing with the sand wedge, a 3/4 swing with the lob wedge, and if I really hop on it, just short with a full swing and a low trajectory with the 64 degree wedge. I hit the wedges well tonight, although the ball strikes were not as crisp with the 64 degree wedge.

After a 20 minute session on the putting green, I headed home, pretty happy with my practice session. I think another one or two practice sessions with the long clubs I’ll be back to where I was before I fell.