Luddite New to Sand Trap

[CogSciClinton]

Hello, I'm Clinton from the Bay Area. I first played golf at 15 years old in Texas with my buddies and was stunned at how difficult it was. I could not get the ball more than 20 feet into the air. I had no distance. I had no idea what I was doing. None of my friends did either, yet we were all teaching each other how to strike the ball.

Fast forward 15 years and I tried to pick the game up with more consistency, took lessons here and there, played 4-5 times per year and practiced a few times per month. I got better. But not good. I could not strike anything longer than a 5i with any consistency and everything else had terrible dispersion. My drives were an exercise in masochism and shame.

About 8 years ago, I started practicing a little more. YouTube was starting to show great golfers making short tutorials. I became more interested in improving. Yet, I still could not hit the woods, especially the driver. I took a few more lessons, but my average score was near 110, best score 99. I gave up hitting a driver altogether, didn't even bring it in the bag "just in case." I played a 2-iron off the tee and those were painful rounds.

Three years ago, I started practicing at least once a week, sometimes twice a week. I got a player's card and bought a package of lessons. Then COVID hit and there was nothing to do out here for months. The only place open was the golf course. So that's where I went. Every day after finishing work, I would go to the range and hit as many balls as I could until I ran out of energy.

About a year ago, I went to a driver workshop. The coach spent five minutes on my driving technique. I practiced those few tips for three months solely and quickly became better than I ever dreamed at hitting woods. It changed my entire perspective on what's possible for me as a golfer. Today, I consistently carry the driver 260 yards. I've hit it as far as 330 yards in a round. The woods are some of my best clubs now. I switched out the longest irons and replaced them with woods 3, 5  and 7. I don't hit any hybrids.

Today, I am still practicing 5-6 days per week for 1-2 hours. 60% of my practice is approach shots to the green under 150 yards, 30% is hitting woods, 10% is putting and chipping. 100% of my practice involves hitting toward specified targets. I periodically get help from a professional. The last round I shot was an 83.

The great Mr. Smith, who fits my clubs and changes my grips, asks all his customers to describe how they think about golf in one word. He writes it down on an index card and posts it in his shop. My card says "bliss."

 

[Vinsk]

Welcome to TST! Bliss is a good word. Here you’ll find some excellent resources and some damn fine people to share anything golf and more. Cheers!

[dennyjones]

Welcome to TST @CogSciClinton.  We're glad you've joined.   I admire your dedication to improvement.   Keep it up!

[cdh79]

Welkom! 

Covid really pushed a lot of people towards spending a lot more time with golf (also here in NL), as it was one of the few sports that one could still do. That and running were the only things that I could do (as the pools were closed, which is where I spent a lot of time as well).

Glad to hear that I am not the only one who spends 5 to 6 (sometimes 7) days a week trying to improve. Congrats on your 83, looks like you're about to break 80 very soon!

[pganapathy]

Whenever I live on our coffee estate with my parents, I try to golf regularly.  Work starts at 4pm and I try to put in a morning round every other day.  There have even been weeks when I did daily rounds.  However, I have never had the discipline for practicing hours on end every day.  I respect people who can do that.  No wonder OP improved so much with two hours a day every day of hitting drills and practice 👍

[Nave]

Welcome to TST. Thanks for your great introduction. You've found the best forum online.

[nvkevin]

Welcome, and congratulations on your dedication and success.   Keep up the hard work and you will see many more of the same benefits.