GolfHos

Got out today at lunch.  I'm not sure what kind of statement it is when Torp., and Eagle get out on Phalen, and play nine, before I even see my first trip to the range, but such is life. ;)

Like I said, I went at lunch, so I only had about 30 minutes.  I took only a seven iron, and didn't plan any huge practice regimen.  Hit about 30 balls.

Not a great day for it.  Very windy. Into me, and quartering from my left.  Bad slicers wind, and I would say, an easy 2 club wind.  In fact on any given day,  a guy would say 'It ain't worth the 7 bucks, to try to practice in this.'  But I had waited long enough.  I also hit off of artificial turf.  Fine by me, I don't mind it, and this place is pretty new.  It was not "mats".  Fact the reaction from them, coupled with the lie, is kinda better than I usually see on the course I play.


Plan:  Well, here's the deal.  First, I took Aske's advise.  I hit the entire bucket, with what I would describe as a 1/2, kinda knock down shot.  The way he described to do in my video.  Not for the wind, but more to find better control of the club head, shaft, plane, etc.  The majority of the swings, I did not take the club much passed say 9 o'clock.

Second.  I took Clive's advise, and left behind any attempts at focusing on my finish, or trying to "finish" a shot.  I let the action of the club, and the tempo, with correct body rotation, and plane, dictate where I would end.  I finished well in balance, with a good turn, and my hands going naturally high, and just forward of my left shoulder.  Felt good.  Not forced, and I didn't even think about after a while.

Results:  This was the best I have hit a golf ball in years.  When I took a normal swing, I had a beautiful high ball flight, and could count on a 5 yard fade.  Given the wind.

When I would concentrate on shaft parallel with my target line, and coming back down the same plane, it was even better.  Dead straight, and many holding into the wind.  So dead calm, I could see maybe a 5 yard draw.

One of the biggest things I worked on was trying to return the club face to the ball, exactly as I had drawn it back.  Very difficult for me to do.  I always "hang on", and when the hips are fired, I return the face to the ball open.  When I really concentrated on rotating the face back to "what I felt" was where I was at in address;  I could really move the ball.  I hit some decent draws, and If I wanted, a screaming hook.

Conclusion:  Great outing.  I appreciate the input from all of you.  This was a decent step.  I plan to continue this 1/2, 3/4 easy tempo regimen for a while, until I can get the feeling of a good swing, and contact back in.  Then, as the weather starts to warm, I know I won't have to think at all about bringing a full swing into it.

I also hit balls to the Tour Tempo tracks, I mentioned in my other thread.  What I did today, doesn't really relate to those teachings (doesn't conflict) but I would rather do a full Tour Tempo workout, and then I'll give an update in that thread.


Damn, I ain't typed this much in a long time.  Is it 4:00 yet?  I need a beer.

Peace! [sm_beertoast]

Nice review.

My teaching pro gave me the same advice about starting with half swings.  It helps with my tempo and keeping my left wrist flat.  I really focus on hitting the ball first and making my divot start after the ball.  He told me if I can't do that on a half swing no way I can on a full swing. 

Just doing this at the start of each range session has really helped me gain a more consistent lag and late release. 

I'm glad you finally got out there!! :D
Isn't it a great feeling, to see the ball fly straight and high!!! ;D
You must of worked up a thirst, hitting all those balls, so go on, have a beer!! ;D ;D

You didn't tell me SST changed during golf season.  I got drunk at lunch and I'm heading off to the range after work.  I expect the latter to go no better than the former.  Thanks fer nuthin'.

Oh.  Nice swings.  Keep it up.

Sounds great, stroh!  Seems like you made some progress, too!  Wai kewl!  (You're right, it's not the best day you could have chosen - not the worst either, though.)

lol  If it wasn't for the fact that we were heading out without a reserved tee time, I would have tried to contact you.

Glad you had a great outing. 8)

Hehe. :D

Cool post.

Timing is sweet, tomorrow is my last day of employment and one of the guys I've worked with for 15 years took me to the driving range today, first time I've swung a club in about 8 or 9 months, surprisingly solid, but I felt like I was rushing things.

You're advice from Aske and Clive seems like just the thing I need to focus on for awhile, I have a bit of time to reflect, spring is here it was 70 today.
when you say this;
Is the shaft parallel on the way back so that when the shaft is at imaginary 3 o'clock (right handed golfer) you could run a line from it to your target? Does this question even make sense? LOL.

It does feel good just to get out, I even have a blister now, it's not a death grip blister but an impact blister, I use to have a callous there but it's gone now...I shall have to remedy that.

Good post Brother Stroh.

Should have taken a WEDGE with you.


I'm heading to the range tomorrow, with the plan to play nine on Sunday afternoon.  I'm going to try Aske's partial-swing advice.

What's wrong with taking a 7i?

Have fun. 8)

Yeah, and that too.

I've always heard that if you're grooving a swing a 7 iron is the right tool for the job. Of course it's a different story if you're swinging a groove.

Clive is anti-7 irons. ;)

Why Clive?...now I'm curious.

Probably because it's one of my favorites. ;) :D

Nah...that would mean he's anti you.

LOL!   ;D  It was actually just a leftover single club in my truck, from a trip to the dome, before the prize wedges arrived.

Clive is not anti 7 iron.  His reference was to the 2 wedges he so handsomely crafted, and sent my way.

When I got home, Maddie and I went to the range here, where I gave them plenty of attention.  They are sweet!  Perfect.  They setup, and feel exactly like what I was looking for. 8)

Seamus, Yes it makes sense, and ......yes.  I have always struggled with pulling the club inside.  I even had Maddie shoot a quick video tonight, and, I had the club started where I wanted, but from the shot down the line, the club head was still a little too much "inside my hands".  Something to work on tomorrow at lunch.  :)

Isn't everyone? ;) :D

Yep, doesn't everyone work on there golf swings at lunch time? ;D

LOL  SST is the one true constant in the universe.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=puIKxD_kCsI

 [sm_beertoast]

Make no mistake: Clive loves the 7-iron.

Clive loves the wedges.  Not for himself, of course, but for other people.  Or Stroh.

  Tonight at the range.

http://s45.photobucket.com/albums/f60/golfstroh/?action=view&current=Picture734.flv

With these shots, I tried to feel like I stopped my hands at 9 o'clock.  Not forced, but somewhere between a 1/2, and 3/4 swing.

A few things, I still don't like.  Club still inside my hands a little.  Too much head movement.  And it seems to me, I'm still not taking the club far enough down the line, but still pulling it across (post impact).  Results were good.

The downside about tonight was, they had the tees all the way up at front of the range, with those dumbass signs:




How crappy is that? 





















Oh, but this your stroh!  [sm_devil]

Oh, yeah!  I got to my last ball.  Pulled the driver out.  Teed that somebich high, and ripped that mother*fudge*er straight up the gut, out the end of the range!  Feck 'em!  ;D  First drive of '07!  Kick ass!

Looks like a pretty solid swing for come April my friend.

And listen to that wind howl.

glad to hear some of my advice was helpful.

if (when) you can start 'puring' the contact 90% of the time with a 1/2 to 3/4 (maybe 10' o clock)   7i  i think you can easily make the transition to lengthening the swing to 3/4 to full.    it just takes a while getting used to the feeling of where your hands are and what clean, yet crushing impact really feels like

 ;D




my current range (thought) from today was working on feeling loose, and 'looking' like couples/els  tempowise.    accomplish this with a slight posture adjustment, and focusing on really letting gravity just start my swing

Wow, lots of swing thoughts in this thread.   :o

If I had all that in my head I wouldn't be able to hit the bloody thing.  ;)

waah  8)

And the difference would be ... ?



I went to the range today as well.  Some good, some bad, some middling.  Good enough overall that it'd work on-course, although I can't take either side out of play.  Did some of the Aske Drill, with mixed results.


And does anyone else see the irony of taking golf swing advice from a guy who "doesn't play golf"? (http://www.golfhos.com/forum/Smileys/classic/grin.gif)

lol :D

Dude, I'm way good now.  I credit transcendental meditation, leafy vegetables and a comprehensive internet-based instructional program. [sm_thumbsup2] [sm_thumbsup2]


"Baldrick, have you no idea what irony is?"

"Yeah! It's like goldy and bronzy, only it's made of iron."

rofl!! :D

[threadjack]Why did you bother hotlinking to golfhos grin smiley when you could have just clicked on it to insert it? ;D[/threadjack]

Just what the Dr. ordered, I've also started to use a head cover under my left armpit so I have that feeling of staying connected and not chicken winging it.
I try to feel the club head when I'm doing this drill, I mean feel the actual weight of the club head, and when I feel like it's behind me and I've completed my shoulder turn...
...I try to do what you've said here, my left side is clearing and I'm trying to keep that shaft in line with my target as long as possible to delay the hit.

Results: Wow! I feel alive again, I hit many shots today that I just couldn't have hit any better period. Thanks all!

Sweet, brother, sweet!   [sm_thumbsup]

I just with the weather would turn here, so I could get back outside.

Man, it's cold out.

I feel like I should be saying ootside.   ;)

Yea! Can I get an amen from the congregation!

Typical Seattle weekend 75 or so yesterday, 50 today and misty rain.

Good drills. I'm really slowing my tempo down. And rhythm is the soul of golf, and... ;)

Cool!  That's great, Seamus!


Quit complaining - at least it's not -40. ;)  (For the record, it would be nice to get out golfing again...)

Cool Seamus! 8)