I had a major epiphany earlier this week...feel like I finally know how to play golf

[LeftDaddy]

> @Atrayn said:

> _I just thought to myself “there is no way that someone who hits the ball like me should shoot 84”. 78 I get. I do still spray it occasionally on a couple of nemesis holes._

>

> I guess it depends on what "someone who hits the ball like me" means. Especially since you still spray it occasionally.

>

> You have to be eliminate THAT last part. Also, do you practice trying to "hit the nine windows"? (hi draw, medium, low etc)

> Having that ability and to hit "shots" instead of a draw, fade or straight shot and changing trajectories for different situations gives you the confidence you need to be able to execute. Also, figure out a "go to" driver shot you can execute EVERY time.

 

Good point. I just mean that I'm moving it pretty well and flushing it pretty often. I do still spray the occasional tee shot, and I'm fighting a case of the pulls right now. But I can play around the pulls. Not saying I want to always play a pull, just that I can play around it somewhat. I'm guessing I lose the most strokes off the tee due to either plain old hitting it OB a time or two per round, or putting it in a tough spot 2 or 3 times a round where I need to scramble to get in better position. BUT, I also lost some strokes in my last two rounds with putting and chipping. Could have saved some pars if those two areas hadn't let me down. Then, I also don't always hit my irons exactly where I'm aiming, and those misses occasionally lead to some tough up and downs. I guess my point is that you can't strategize away from all misses...eventually I have to aim for a more specific target and hope to hit the ball concisely within a certain tolerance of that. Maybe the answer is just to "get better"...

 

[Atrayn]

That IS the correct answer. When I was struggling 10 years ago, I applied the six sigma methodology to detect where I was losing the most shots. GIR was #1 and short game was #2. I downloaded a GPS app that included shot tracking and had to get really honest about my deficiencies.

 

With that data I went on a mission to fix it myself. This took me waaaaay too long because I was missing a few critical pieces. I eventually saw Martin Chuck to validate what I was working on. He did validate that I was working on the wrong thing...I took his lesson and just worked the drills for a year. This changed a lot including improving my short game and telling me the truth. I had a good swing not a great swing...

 

This put me on another mission.....eventually I went to a Monte clinic and they found only one thing. I lacked some reverse tilt at address. I added this and made a slight tweak to my setup and immediately but randomly started really adding some speed. Unfortunately I just never could adjust to the amount of weight they wanted over my right leg. (even though it looked good on video)

 

Finally I started to get my final issue fixed. I addressed the tilt issue during the swing with fixing my transition with my hips.

Once everything synced up, I could not believe:

1) How easy the swing became without compensations &

2) How much better I became through the impact zone

3) How much easier it is to control the ball and hit the 9 windows

4) I picked up another 10 yards on my driver and at age 55 can carry the ball 270.

The key is to find the newly or re-coined Gankas phrase "matchups"

You need the right matchups for "your swing" this has a lot to do with the swing sequence and your phyisical ability. Right now I have to stretch out my hips in warm up or I can't clear my lead hip out of the way. If I don't, I'll revert back to releasing the right arm a bit early and that is ALWAYS a pull and depending on path, it may be curving left.

 

So as a preventive action, I now have a knuckle fade that I can put in the middle of the fairway at least 250.