"5 Minutes Daily" Practice Challenge (September 2015)

Did about 10 swings in the net today. My main focus was right elbow room allowing some space at the top of the swing so I don't get stuck on the way down.Seen my swing in slo-mo and I don't get that right elbow forward enough. Also did some wedge work. Short pitches are my main goal picking random targets in the grass outside as landing areas as I have no putting surface to work with. Working on a loose feel in my arms so I can improve my touch.

9/1/15: Did some chipping for about 15 minutes this morning, focusing on getting into gimmie range on my chips, it's really the only chance I have on Saturday...

1Sept15:

Had knee therapy today. After I got home, I I did 10 minutes practicing a "settling into your stance" drill from an old TPI workout package.

You face your potential target, step laterally into proper foot position, and then "settle in" to a balanced stance. (You can do it with or without a club).

I've had problem with off-balanced swings with the longer clubs lately. I suspect a bad infection in my left ear canal might have contributed to it - I didn't always feel steady over the ball. But, medicine package seems to have cured it.

I could definitely feel the balanced "settle in" today.

Spent the morning working off grass. I hit my hybrid off the deck reasonably, and off the tee. I need to work on my knee a bit.

Also, spent some time playing with my new camera.

Hit a small bucket at the range today. Took some videos for Evolvr. Stiil working on SK#2. I can do it in practice swings

but put that ball in front of me and

Didn't get home till late again today so I only practiced for about 5 minutes. Did the closed face drill outside with a club for 5 minutes, hit 20 balls into the net, focusing on keeping the right arm from extending to soon.

Edit: it was probably more like 15 minutes =)

Outside swings over grass, no ball.  Working on keeping the left elbow in.  Tension free hands, feeling of max club head speed when it reaches point of impact (where the ball would be).  Full follow through.  I have been working on this for a while and I feel like I am getting a bit better.  I feel smooth, relaxed speed.

I used to coach high school track.  All events except 800m, 1600m and 3200m,  In coaching sprints, the hardest thing to teach is how to run fast but stay relaxed.  If you watch football players run the 40yd dash for time, like at the NFL draft combine, you can tell who has had sprint training and who has not.  Those who haven't are straining and every muscle is flexed.  Running through sand comes to mind when I watch them.  Those who have are smooth and quick.  And very fast!

From a biomechanics view, it is a simple case of not letting the antagonist muscles contract and oppose the agonist muscles.  In other words, the contracting muscles need to have the opposite, non-contracting muscles relaxed so they are not putting the brakes on the motion.  That is why you hit your longest drives when the swing felt effortless.

I know this from my degree.  I know this from coaching.  Still hard to do all of the time......lol

Today I made slow swings in the yard.  I worked on not over turning my hips during my back swing.  I did this for 10-20 mins.  I recorded all my swings so I could make sure what I was feeling was correct.

Rain today ... Office chair drill ...

I had about a half hour to kill (after accounting for travel time) after work but before meeting some friends for dinner. Instead of staying late at the office (there's some work I can finish tomorrow), I stopped at a golf course that's on the way to where I was going to meet my friends and did putting for half an hour. I spent the first 15 minutes on 4' - 8' putts; around the hole. I think next time I'm going to focus on ones I know are straight to ensure I'm setting up and using my putter correctly (since my putting stroke might still be compensating for my previous putters). Although in my match last weekend I only had one three putt, and that was on the final green of the match (14) where I could four putt and win, so focusing hard on the first one didn't happen. I spent the next 15 minutes on 30' putts, trying to get the pace consistent; I'm definitely getting less variance than on my previous putter, but I'd like to bring that down. Not sure other than wanting to how I am going to do this.

I've been working with a pro for the past month or so. He has introduced two changes that I've been working on. 1. Weaker grip 2. Aligning my forearms with the target at address. Spent 15-30 minutes inside tonight working on my arm position at address and working on getting more comfortable with the new grip.

Stretching out my muscles. They started cramping up from too many buckets yesterday, I guess. Starting with the hips and working my way to the gluts, intercostals and lower back. Spent too much time with my 3H, 3W and driver. Getting confident hitting my 3W off the deck, but I'm pulling almost all shots with that club off the deck. On a 1/2" tee it seems pretty straight most of the time. Just off the deck pulls.

Doing some chip and flop shots at my net this morning.

9/2/15: Long putts focusing on distance control.

2Sept15:

Did 20 minutes on elliptical machine and some stretching and light resistance at the gym.

Went to golf course, putted a bit and then "walked my wedges" up and down the range hitting tee. I was checking distances on quarter and half-swing wedges, about a half hour total. Then to work.

More work on transition, did the closed face drill outside with a club, hitting into a net. Focused on keeping the right arm bent longer in the downswing.