Journey To The Center Of The Green

By Shane Jones

I wish I could just rename my blog the title of my new entry. However, if I can't it's all good. Anyway it's Sunday, well technically Monday wee hours... So this is part of my weekly blog.

Recently, since my last lesson, back in February (remember Craig is in Florida for a month). I've added a new drill to my repertoire. It's the first move down drill. I have kind of explained it in the "5 Minutes Daily" thread (fingers crossed 20 days to go... Though I was so tired I put yesterday's date for today) It's really not that complex of a drill, and you can do it, with or without a club, I use my spatula at work, if I have a free second or 5. Basically, your trying to keep your trail elbow (In my case the right), close to your body, but at the same time, drop it down like you are going to "elbow drop" Randy Orton or something. (At least that's the feeling I get.) So this little drill actually is helping me with three things I tend to struggle with. 1) balance, 2) occasionally coming over the top, and 3) Flipping occasionally... If I don't have a club in hand, I try to think of the back of my left hand as my "clubface". Hilariously, my left hand seems to actually have some "shaft lean" at "impact". When I do it with a club, I don't have an impact bag, so I use my couch pillow and swing this to impact and I notice the same thing.

I actually had the chance this week to hit my new irons a little with some real golf balls. Word to the wise, don't hit a Top-Flite or Nitro with a blade. (I didn't). They had some gamer Bridgestone B330-RXs that they were using for the monitor... The feel is absolutely amazing... If you are an improving player (5-12 handicap), I would recommend at least testing some out..... For whatever reason a well struck shot off a "Super-Blade" (enter my Exotics CBX Blades) even it is a smidge off the heel or toe... It actually holds it's line quite well... I still have the ability to hit some high shots, I suppose... (the data agrees too) for the most part, my trajectory is a little lower... now I've only tested indoors because let's face it, I live in Upstate New York, and the weather can't make up it's @#$%ing mind. (Like Steve Martin's boss in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles). I cannot wait to actually go outdoors and hit these on the practice area at Newman, in reality on the course.

If any of you have read my 2018 Golf Goals thread my main key two were: 1) Average 9 GIR a round 2) Get my handicap under 5. I actually have a 2019 goal, however, it might require a lot. And @iacas would have to make the decision of having a cook on his team, who is way too smart to be a damn cook, who like to crunch numbers, like he does. I hope finances, family stuff, and my paid vacation work out to the point, where I can travel to the West Coast in 2019, and represent the East team and keep the Newport Cup. But @iacas, I don't know if you'll be able to stand all of my Exotics gear. I don't really do well in Blue, unless it's Newport Cup team East blue.