Getting back to where I was (ex. Consistent drive)

[bubbagumpshrimp]

Until recently, it had been close to a decade since I played on a regular basis. I've played five rounds in the past month or so. After three embarrassing rounds...I decided that enough was enough and it was time to get serious. My goal is to get back to where I was a decade ago. ex. Good putting and driving.

 

Some observations so far:

 

-My putting was horrible the first three rounds. Like 3+ putts per hole horrible. I was blasting the ball past the hole on a regular basis. Yesterday....I was finishing up on the green in two, for the most part. I'm not to where I was putting wise, but I'm getting there.

 

-I noticed a HUGE improvement in my short game by ditching pure distance balls (ex. Maxfli Distance) and going to a ball that is distance and feel/short game oriented (Titleist Velocity). That ball launches high (great for approach shots) and sticks the landing well, so I'm not hitting the green and rolling off.

 

-After five rounds, I'm happy with my progress with my irons (Ping G5). I switched to a smaller (standard) sized grip. Feel wise...I prefer them (so far) to the plus one size orange grips that the clubs came with (I was fitted for them in 2006).

 

-My big issue at the moment is consistency...or lack thereof, with my driver. When I'm on...I'm on. When I'm off...I'm off. Generally...I'm off. I didn't even bother taking my driver out of the bag last night. I just went with my three wood instead.

 

-I tend to tense up when teeing off with a driver or wood. I hit my three wood great on the fairway, so there's not an issue with the club. However, I get on the tee box with a driver or three wood and I tense up (arms and shoulders)... I don't relax, I try to kill the ball, I don't do a smooth/consistent swing, I pick my head up (sometimes), etc. It's often one or more of those things whenever I tee off with a driver or wood.

 

I don't run into this issue with irons on the tee box. With an iron from the tee box (Par 3's)...I'm more often than not going to put the ball to where I should be able to get a bogey (if not a par) on the hole.

 

Do you have any recommendations to address this? The last round...I tried just closing my eyes for a few seconds and taking a couple deep breaths. That worked with mixed results. As my buddy put it..."you just need to chill out...when you look relaxed...you hit great." I would appreciate any advice that you can offer. Thank you.

[Petunia Sprinkle]

I came back after a nine year break, entirely, from the game. I was a 7 when I quit, so I figured I would do things the same way. My playing had been much more feel than technique and all that feel was gone. It took me a while to abandon what I had once done and move on. New clubs, a different body (a lot stronger, not quite as flexible) and new information has slowly gotten me a game back. It's just a different game now.

[bubbagumpshrimp]

I came back after a nine year break, entirely, from the game. I was a 7 when I quit, so I figured I would do things the same way. My playing had been much more feel than technique and all that feel was gone. It took me a while to abandon what I had once done and move on. New clubs, a different body (a lot stronger, not quite as flexible) and new information has slowly gotten me a game back. It's just a different game now.

 

I've gotten a couple new clubs go far. I'm very happy with my three wood (a '16 Callaway XR). I also picked up a Cleveland 588 wedge. When I bought my irons, it came with 3-PW. I had the option to add a wedge with a greater loft, but I opted not to do that. Yesterday was the first time that I've played with the new wedge. I was pretty happy with it.

 

Information wise...just getting online and researching possible issue with my swing or grip helped me out. I had a pretty severe slice. Changing my grip (in addition to the smaller club grips) helped with that.

 

I'm debating about trying a new putter, but I've had mine for a while and I'm pretty attached to it. So far...it seems to be getting the job done, as the only real issues appear to be operator error.

 

Edit: I've got two drivers. One that I bought shortly after I got the irons (Ping Si3) and a MacGregor Tourney that I picked up last year. The latter...Is the better hitting club, from what I remember of the Si3 (it's been a while since I hit it). I think it's not particularly forgiving though.

 

I think my next trip to the range, I'll have to just focus on the driving and see if I can sort that out. I'll try them both out and see if they're worth hanging onto.

[Funyuns]

I struggle off the tee as well, so may not be the best one to give advice. I will say that I make much better shots when I focus on something besides the ball, usually making a good shoulder turn without swaying or my weight transfer. If I can get a few good ones then it's automatic and I can start focusing on making shots (target, shot shape, etc.) instead of making swings.

 

The orange whip is a great tool to start swinging instead of hitting in my opinion.

[bubbagumpshrimp]

I managed to get 18 holes in with my buddy after work today. I figured out the stiffness/upper body tension issue. Heat cramps. When we teed off...it was 90* with a "real feel" of 98*. I was fine while we were hitting some balls at the range and for the first couple holes. Then I started to tighten up. All the while...I was chugging water and some Gatorade, but it didn't seem to make much of a difference.

 

Fast forward to the front nine (we started on the back nine)...the sun was on its way down and the temperature was coming down to a tolerable level. I started to noticeably loosen up. Most of my decent drives were at this point. I also managed two pars (good for me, at this point) and shot nine strokes less for the front nine (evening) vs. the back nine (late afternoon).

 

I drank 2.5L of water and 40oz of Gatorade. I tend to drink a ridiculous amount of water when I'm in the office, so that amount is normal for me when I'm out in the sun. Next time...I'll see if more Gatorade (electrolytes) would help with this issue. Any other ideas for dealing with the heat would be appreciated.

 

I also tried out both of the drivers at the range and on the course. I had several decent drives later in the round. Those were all with the McGregor. As I was already leaning in that direction, I'll ditch the Ping driver. One thing that helped out with the driving was teeing the ball up a bit higher. I don't think that I was teeing the ball up high enough to catch the sweet spot on the driver.

 

I struggle off the tee as well, so may not be the best one to give advice. I will say that I make much better shots when I focus on something besides the ball, usually making a good shoulder turn without swaying or my weight transfer. If I can get a few good ones then it's automatic and I can start focusing on making shots (target, shot shape, etc.) instead of making swings.

 

The orange whip is a great tool to start swinging instead of hitting in my opinion.

 

I definitely have...at a minimum...an occasional issue with weight transfer (transferring to my right foot). That is something that I will have to keep in mind. The occasional shoulder drop is another issue. I played baseball for years before I picked up a golf club (around age 12). I doubt the baseball habits (which are locked in my brain somewhere) are doing me any favors here.

[bubbagumpshrimp]

As I mentioned above...I really like my Callaway XR 3 wood. I decided to hit he "reset" button on my driver situation and got a Callaway XR driver. I took it out for a spin at the range and for nine holes this evening. My first shot with it was dead center down the range. I hit a couple more, was happy with those, so back in the bag it went and I headed for the first hole.

 

Taking it out on the course...my first two drives went left. That makes sense...as I was aiming left, as that was how I was compensating for my significant slice that I was having with my other driver.

 

One thing I'll say about this club...the balls were going in the general vicinity of where I aimed them. For me...that's a hell of a start. I'm just happy that I was able to put a few balls in play with a driver without donating too many to the woods.

 

All around playing wise...If I hadn't pulled a Happy Gilmore (when he sucked early on) on the green for one hole...I would have gotten my best score for the front nine on that particular course.

[bubbagumpshrimp]

The driver and fairway woods are really coming along. Late yesterday afternoon, I played 18. My woods carried me to my best round so far this year.

 

ex. On a par five...I had a nice drive, followed by a nice 5 wood shot. That landed me on the fairway...about five yards from the green. If my chipping and putting was anywhere near where it had been the past 2-3 rounds...I would have had a decent chance at a birdie...and pretty much a guaranteed par. I managed to tank it for a bogey though, lol.

 

That was the story of my late afternoon and evening...on the green or just short of it in 2-3 shots (a huge improvement for me)...and then tank it. However, my "tanking it" last night generally resulted in a bogie or double...vs. a triple or worse.

 

My driver is just about where I want to be. Driving wise...I'm AT LEAST 50% more accurate than I was this time last month. Changing the swing a bit (taking 10-20% off the swing) and switching to a better quality club has really helped. Fairway wood wise...I'm killing it. I couldn't be happier there. Iron wise...I'm just about where I was. The putting is getting there (though last night sucked in that department).

 

Putting wise...if I could have done that at my typical "meh", but improving level...I would have trimmed another 5-10 strokes off. Not an unrealistic "if I could have only played better," kind of thing...but "if I could have only putted like I have been." I don't think the recently aerated greens really did me any favors though. That and for whatever reason...when I play alone...I REALLY rush my putts. I lost at least 5-10 strokes (see above comment on putting) just by rushing and not really focusing on what I was doing.

 

The biggest improvement was not blowing it on either the front or back nine. For whatever reason...literally every round before last night...I have finished 10 shots worse on one side or the other. Last night...I finished with the same score on the front and back nine. That's the most consistent that I've played (for 18 holes) all year. Anyways...just thinking out loud. Hopefully I can get my short game back the next round and put everything together.

[Funyuns]

Sounds great!

 

As far as the short game not being there when the approach is, I think a lot of that is just putting yourself in that situation over and over. We may not realize it, but being in that situation (chipping for birdie/eagle/etc) affects us. Kind of how much easier it is to drain a 5 footer for bogey than a 3 footer for par.

[bubbagumpshrimp]

Yup. Sooner or later, it will all click. At first...it was just one or two facets of the game (ex. Irons, Putting, Driving, Wedges, etc.). I think mindset definitely plays into it though. As my focus is getting better (the past two rounds)...things are starting to come together more and more.The past 2-3 rounds, I've been able to tie together two or more areas to begin to whittle my score down a bit. I'll just keep puttering along.