April motivation

[dmecca2]

I've been searching for a good putting board but I dont want the typical arc. I want a stroke that goes slightly inside on the takeaway and down the line through impact. I may have to modify one or make my own.

[Jimjam651]

For me it feels relatively straight back & straight through, although I think ideas about the putting stroke may have developed a bit since the board was made so maybe it could do with a bit more arc??

I feel like I drag the putter a bit too much on the side so it suits me

[beesont93]

Hey guys, I know this is a handful of days old now, but I'm new here and learned of this monthly forum from Myherobobhope. Been reading through some of the posts and really enjoy the content.

Being situated in South Philly makes it a little tough with course closures, so I set up a chipping net with foam balls in the basement. The ceiling height is 5'7" (it's an old city home), and I'm 5'10", so I can stand up straight if I put my head between the beams. The wife banished me to that area instead of chipping around our relatively small home, but I've embraced it. The game I made for myself is :

5 points for landing a chip inside the red circle, 3 points for the yellow circle, and 1 point for landing it in the blackI have 9 foam balls (I lost the 10th a while ago), so I play rounds of 9 shots using clubs ranging from LW, SW, GW, PW, to 9 iron. For a ~5yard chip, my record is 37. Took a while to get to 20, then 25, 30, etc., so it's great to improve. All clubs are above 35 points in a round now. Next goal is to beat 40. I also practice punch out shots with my 4 & 6 irons since I can't make a full swing.

I also brought the putting mat shown to the second bedroom to putt on hardwood, which has worked. I use the Tiger "gate drill" with two heavy books. Definitely feel like the path is improving. Some games I play are:

3 in a row from 3', 3 in a row from 4', 3 in a row from 5', 1 from 6'. If you miss at any point, you must start over. Make as many in a row as possible putting the entire length of the mat (~8.5' to give me room). Currently my record is only 7 and am making ~63% of putts at that length.25 putts in a row from 3'. If you miss, you must start over. Move to 4' once comfortable.50 putts from 3' with right hand only. Repeat with left hand.50 putts with eyes closed from 3'.Using a floor-length mirror has helped with my backswing, as I have a bad tendency of sucking the club inside and either coming OTT or getting stuck too far back. I just finished reading Tiger's book, "How I Play Golf", which was great to get back to basics instead of filling my head with all kinds of YouTube instructions.

Lastly, my fitness has always been solid. I'm 26 and have been a good athlete my whole life. Since gyms are closed, I've been doing 4 workouts a week using a 35# kettlebell I have along with bodyweight HIIT workouts. Also stretching of the t-spine, glutes, and hip flexors has been crucial to maintain mobility along the spine after sitting all day for work.

 

Before quarantine, I shot an 85 on a relatively difficult course (for me). Set a PR of 8 fairways hit. Also hit 7 GIR and had 28 putts. I shot a 39 on the front (only have broken 40 four times), but blew up on the back. That was my last round, and it felt great despite two blow-up holes on the back. I can hit it a mile but lack consistency. Single digit index is the short-term goal. I know I can do it, just have to put in the consistent work.

[Myherobobhope]

You are definitely set up for success... I'm curious to see if the in home stuff (specifically chipping with foam balls) translates well to on the course.

 

Once you figure out how to control your driver, your scores will plummet... what driver are you playing now?

[beesont93]

Much appreciated! I sure hope so. Will keep you posted on the foam balls...really searching to make consistent contact more than anything.

Currently playing a 10.5* Callaway X Hot I got on eBay a few years ago. Shaft is a Project X 6.0 Pvx. Head is neutral. Not sure the shaft length. Only reason I picked it is because a buddy of mine seemed to hit the fairway every time and thought it couldn’t hurt to swing the same club!

Can’t wait to swing some heavier drivers after quarantine is lifted...

[TIM929]

I couldn’t resist and have a mevo coming. Hitting balls in a net is really fun, but saw a pretty good deal on eBay so I dove right in and am really looking forward to finally being able to dial in some real numbers with each club.

To make things better, I was on the “golf in SoCal” thread where they discuss which courses are open in SoCal during the “stay at home” and a wrxer posted Ventura county(hour away from down town LA) opened all their courses. There’s a course called rustic canyon I heard great things about which I really wanted to play but never had a chance when life was moving 200 mph. Well, got a tee time booked.. my buddy and I are pumped! Also, Riverside just announced their courses are opened too so my broski @AG12 and I are booked for the following week at Glen Ivy, super ready for this!

Even better, a well known instructor in SoCal named James Oh that teaches PGA/ LPGA/ Corn ferry tour players and also played on the tour who I follow on IG posted to ask questions and send a swing. I sent a swing with details of what I was working on and well, HE REPLIED!!! We have a face time set up for Thursday, man I’m so excited to hear what he has to say.

I’ve been really grinding the transition to impact in the full swing, I’ve be working on this for a while now. As I get to the top, my right Hip is high and behind, From there I drop/ dig my left hip/butt cheek down and back to where my right side is. This feeling doesn’t feel safe(the dropping part) at first and took me many many try’s to trust, but that’s only half of it. As I get to impact I need to commit to A LOT of right side bend after transition to keep the rotation of the hips moving and not stall out. It's a lot I know, but I really enjoy the training type of practice. Since I was younger I was in a training environment so grinding itself is fun.

once I got the movement of the body some what repeatable it was time to put it all together.

putting it together is just a free swing. I’ve been feeling the weight of the club head and using it as a timing trigger for movement. like riding the club, I know this sounds weird. As the club head comes to a stop at the top, my transition sends it behind me and the head starts picking up momentum, I could feel this. Right side bend and rotation adds more momentum to the head weight till it rips through impact. I guess it’s sequencing/timing the body correctly to support the club head while its reaching its max speed and not intentionally increases the club head speed to max out with my body.

https://youtu.be/sgPYk5-5gNA

[agood3putt]

Super pumped dude! Swing looks pure, you may have to give me some strokes haha

[TIM929]

me too my brother and thank you. you murdered me last time lol.

[Myherobobhope]

Awesome. Get out there and enjoy it!

im currently in golf limbo... have a cart, an open course and zero freedom. Kids are home and wife is working from home, so if I’m not at work, she’s working... this was supposed to be my time!

 

oh well... I’m getting in more golf than most.

[Haber]

Our course is open but practice facility is closed to only been able to play. My goal this year going into the season has been to shoot an even 72. I started the year working with the instructors on the GG website and had some great results but the move just required too much maintenance. Since then I’ve subscribed to Monte and the efficient swing as well as drive for dough. Instant improvement. I’ve gained a little over 5 mph with the driver and a full club with the irons. I hit 14/18 greens last round with 2 bogeys and 2 birdies. 2 holes got me in trouble and I had a double and a triple for a 77. I’ve had a few other low rounds of 75 and another 77 recently as well so I’m feeling 72 is in the cards this year. The only feel right now is to get to the top of the backswing and try and cast it is hard as I can like Monte advocates in the no turn cast drill.

[Myherobobhope]

Nice! My goal was a 72 this season, but at this point my goal is to make it to 2021 married and with both kids alive...

[dmecca2]

Looks like my yearly journey of golf betterment is about to begin. Our Governor announced they will be reopening golf courses in PA on May 1st. Cant wait to finally have somewhere to go outside of my house.

[TIM929]

thats so awesome!! Finally get to stretch you wings!

[bortass]

@dmecca2 Glad to hear courses will be opening in your area. My club stayed open though the muni owned by the city closed and I'm not sure if it has re-opened or not. Courses were specifically allowed to remain open when the governor closed most of GA.

I've gotten a few range sessions in with mixed results. I'll keep at it and see what happens. I'm also hoping I finally have enough motivation to work on my weight. That is the real challenge since it's very easy for me to pack on the pounds....

[Myherobobhope]

I'm not kicking this idea over for May... if anyone else likes the thread and wants to start a new one, have at it! I haven't been able to play, or even think about golf recently.