I’ve been working hard on my game during the holidays. I’ve practiced every day that the weather is good, so I’ve only missed two days since I started on vacation. I’ve spent all of my practice time working on three primary elements: dynamic impact (lag), tempo and making sure my swing is not over the top. I’ve gradually gotten better over the last couple of days. Today was one of my better ball striking days, though only with the irons. I haven’t been working much on the woods.
Today, I managed to get some lag in my swing again, though only on the short irons. I started out in the bunker at Golden Bear, running the Bobby Clampett sand drill. This drill has been effective in improving my impact on the ball and also occasionally producing lag. It has also dramatically improved my sand game. Using Tour Tempo on the iPod has helped as well.
I’ve also worked hard on my putting as well, and I’m seeing improvement in speed, though I still need work reading the greens. The practice green at the Hank Haney Golf Ranch in Lewisville has some really tricky humps and bumps, and I like practicing reading greens there, as that green is much more severe than any of the courses I’ve played locally.
Since I’m on vacation, I’ve practiced every day, mostly at Golden Bear, but also at Hank Haney Golf Ranch, for a little variety. Last Tuesday, I finally was able to get some good lag in my swing, but aside from one or two swings, I haven’t had any lag since. Woe is me. 🙁
Desperate to get my lag back, on Thursday, I got out my iPod, put on Tour Tempo at 27/9 and my swing improved, but no lag. Where did my lag go? Heck if I know.
On the other hand, Bobby Clampett’s sand drill has made my bunker play immensely improve to where I now get 90% of the balls out of the bunker and about 50% close to the pin. I’m guessing that my lag will eventually return as I continue to do the sand drill. I’m working hard on it.
In other news, over the last couple of weeks, my setup point for my clubs had to move out to the toe of the clubs. I’d been hitting a lot of hosel rockets, so I had to move my setup. Gradually, my swing has improved such that I’m now mostly hitting the center of the clubface, so I’ve moved my setup back to centering the clubface on the ball. I guess that means my swing is improving.
I hope.
My short game continues to improve. I’ve already discussed how my bunker work is much better. My short and medium pitches are going well, as is my chipping. My longer pitches are still inconsistent, but I continue to work hard on it. I’ve not been putting as much time into putting, but putting remains the best part of my game, ever since I had that putting lesson with the “Yes” man. I need to thank him next time he shows up at Golden Bear.
Michelle,
It was a really tough year, huh? Here’s what you need to do to get your mojo back and start winning:
- Send the parents back to Hawaii. ‘Nuff said.
- Decline all invitations to men’s events. Oh, you already did! Great!
- Defer school until after your playing career is done. After all, you banked $19M this year.
- Announce your intention to play your way onto the LPGA tour.
- Just do it!
That’s what you need to do. Do it now.
Love,
Joey (your biggest fan)
I’ve been remiss in not updating my blog lately, as I’ve been extremely busy at work.
I started taking golf lessons with Alan Niederlitz at Golden Bear Golf Center about two months ago and just finished up this week. Along the way, we did some video analysis and it showed that my main fault was a backswing that is a bit too flat, and a downswing that is a bit over the top. So, those two things are what I’ve been working on. I also bought a book by Bobby Clampett called The Impact Zone that has been extremely helpful with my understanding of the golf swing. I’ve been doing the sand drill for a few weeks along with some of the other drills he describes in the book.
Finally, this afternoon, things came together. I’d been in the bunker running the sand drill and also practicing sand shots. I then went to the range, warmed up in my usual manner, and again was disappointed with my inconsistency. I’d hit some balls beautifully, and other balls like I’d never seen a golf club before. It was very frustrating. I decided to work on impact, so I pulled out the pitching wedge, set up for chipping and concentrated on getting my hands in front of the ball before impact. I started striking the ball well, so I continued the drill with longer clubs until I got down to the 6-iron. I then decided to hit some longer swings, but the results weren’t good — my hands weren’t leading the clubhead at the ball. I went back to the pitching wedge and concentrated on getting my hands in front of the ball at impact. Suddenly, out of nowhere, I started feeling lag in my swing and a nice, crisp strike on the ball with a divot that points directly at the target. I hit a few more with the pitching wedge, and then went down through the clubs to the 6-iron, and found I could keep the lag as long as I made a nice, smooth swing. I then ran out of balls…
This isn’t the first time I’ve felt lag, but the last time I didn’t realize what I had and I wasn’t able to reproduce that feeling until today.
It’ll be interesting to see if I can feel the lag again tomorrow…
On Tuesday evening, I went to a corporate outing at Top Golf in Dallas. Margaritas and golf! 🙂