Pounding balls with Tour Tempo
This evening, after dinner, I visited the Hank Haney Golf Ranch to practice. The weather was warm and humid, and except for a brief period around sundown, completely windless. I turned on the iPod, put on 27/9, and proceeded to warm up using the pitching wedge. After about 5 balls, I got my swing dialed in again, and I got out the 8-iron to hit a couple of balls. I was striking the ball pretty well, very few bad mis-hits, at worst, slightly thin or with a little fade. I then got out the 7-iron, hit a few more, then started alternating pitching wedges with the longer irons. I even hit some very nice 4-iron shots tonight (off of tees), and when I can hit a 4-iron, I know I’m swinging pretty well. Next, I got out the long clubs and alternated hitting balls with the long clubs mixed with 8-irons. The 3i hybrid I hit very well, the 5-wood and driver were mixed good and poor shots.
Next, I got out the wedges and hit full shots with each. I was very pleased with my wedge shots, as there was only one fat shot in the bunch, and many fine shots.
With the final set of balls, I went through the bag imitating a round of golf, such as hitting a driver, then a wedge (short par-4), driver, 5-wood, 9-iron (par-5) and a couple of irons off tees to simulate par-3 holes. About 70% of the shots were well struck, so I was very pleased with practice tonight.
Next, I went to the putting green and practiced reading the green and hitting longer putts, trying to lag the ball close. The putting green was upgraded during the spring and is now in fine shape, with lots of humps and hollows to allow virtually any type of putt to be tried. There were some treacherous hole positions, and I delighted in trying to read them. Much work to be done here. I’ll be doing most of my putting practice on this green in the future.
Tour tempo was really, really helpful in restoring my swing to something resembling a good golf swing. Tempo is the primary (but not the only) reason I’ve been hitting the ball poorly. I still need to fix my reverse pivot once and for all; it still sneaks in on occasion.
Overall, I was very pleased with my practice tonight.