My Intro and Road to 0.0

[enis750]

Well, this is my 1st blog...so it's probably going to be long, have mis-spelt words and ramble on....so either sit back and enjoy or hit the back button

Quick point form intro:
-29 yrs old, married, 1.1 kids (1 on the way), Mortgage Broker
-golfing for 15 + yrs
-played H/S golf to a 2.1hcp
-have 6 or so tournament wins under my belt-both H/S and provincial
-had an invitation to golf school and F'd up w the law and lost that invite (I wont get into this )
-this is my first year I could afford a membership since H/S - pretty stoked about this
-my current HCP is actually an average of my 50 rounds I played last year..I know it's not right, but I bet I'm closer to a 2 right now

....ok you know me know

Like mentioned above, this blog is about my Road to being a Scratch or better golfer. I often question, do I have the time to do this? Why am I doing this? But it's clear every day....I am obsessed (to the point of OCD obsessed) w Golf. I am not cocky, simply confident. I have an unreal natural ability to play this game. I am 100% self taught..and it shows in my swing, as it's far from conventional. It's loose, I have a lot of movement in my hips...but it works and it works well. I will attach a link to it, but please don't give me any pointers w it (not to be an ass, but I dont want anything getting in my head).

http://img199.imageshack.us/img199/1719/mov03826.mp4 - side

http://img231.imageshack.us/img231/1029/mov03829.mp4 - behind (let me know if the links dont work)

I have a plan in place this year to practice every morning during the week, mostly on short game. I am a decent ball striker and rarely struggle with this aspect. Being able to get up and down is so important to me. I practice wierd things, like putting when butted up against the fringe, hitting out of bad lies (like in a divot), up against the lip in a bunker etc....stuff like that. Hitting balls from 15-120 yds will also be a constant focus for me. I aspire that Rickie Fowler's averge is 3ft to the pin, from 100 yds in...I want this average too.

It has been a long winter to say the least. The past 3 winters I spent my time in the backcountry snowmobiling. As of this year, I have given up that sport. It so dangerous, its not even funny. The avalanches the past few years have been so gnarly and taken so many lives, I dont want to be a statistic. So I now have one passion and hobby...GOLF. I only hit the indoor range twice this winter and havent even touched the putter...I wonder what this is going to do to my putting this year...anything? hmmm...... I just hate hitting from mats.

I look up to todays "young guns" like Rickie Fowler, Rory McIlroy, Adam Scott, Camillo Villegas etc. These guys inspire me every time i see them play. I also look up to some of the experienced vets, like Couples, Woods, Els etc....

Another reason I joined a club this year....now don't laugh at me.....is to meet someone else that can play on the same level as me. All my friends (love em to death) ....are brutal...painfully brutal. AND ALWAYS WANT POINTERS. Im not a teacher, in fact I hate giving them pointers. But i suck it up, because they are my friends. Im hoping to play a few men's nights and meet up with someone that can "hang" out on the course and hold their own. I need that competition to move forward. The club Pro isa client of mine, also why I bought my membership from him. Older guy, been through a lot in life - but WICKED dude. Not sure how good he is anymore, bu my guess is that he has forgotten more about golf, that I will ever learn. I don't take well to instruction, because I have never had any. If something is wrong, I can figure it out. If i have a rough summer, HE will be the guy I go to. I feel like I can trust him w my swing. I don't want it messed with...I like it.

Anyways.....this has been long enough
Hope you werent bored to tears...and i you were....well i gave you an out to hit the back button at the top, remember???

[iacas]

I have the feeling you're going to regret your decision not to use a teacher. There are unorthodox swings on the PGA Tour and you can get down pretty low with a "bad" motion, but eventually you're going to hit a ceiling and you're not going to be able to fix things.

Good luck, but I'd reconsider that part of it all.

[sean_miller]

I couldn't offer any tips on setup, grip or swing even if I tried. The swing I see is flat out athletic and you seem to be very balanced. The club's on plane and there's good contact.

Edit: I agree with the instructor advice above. But, I think you're maybe considering testing the waters on that front?

Congrats on havng the balls to park the sled. One of the guys in my weekly indoor sim-golf group hits all the avalanche potential spots you see on the news. Whenever there's a catastrophe, he says - "oh, we don't go to that mountain this time of year". I keep my mouth shut, thinking, "right . . you were there a whole two weeks ago!"

[enis750]

I have the feeling you're going to regret your decision not to use a teacher. There are unorthodox swings on the PGA Tour and you can get down pretty low with a "bad" motion, but eventually you're going to hit a ceiling and you're not going to be able to fix things.

I wouldnt say that I WONT use a teacher......if the time comes, I certainly will consider it

But until it's broke, I don't see the need to fix it But I can understand where you say, I may hit a ceiling....I may just get to a point where I cant get any lower, without proper instruction Thx for the advice~!

[enis750]

I couldn't offer any tips on setup, grip or swing even if I tried. The swing I see is flat out athletic and you seem to be very balanced. The club's on plane and there's good contact.

As i replied above to Iacas..not against the idea of an instructor...just when the time is right

I plan on entering a few tournaments this year as well....this may be time to seek instruction, to help prepare for these Sled - yep..Im not afraid to tell it how it is. I agree that you can be killed walking accross the street, driving a car or even taking a golf ball to the head. But, riding in those conditions, you are putting yourslef in danger, at a much higher rate. I like being alive !! haah!

[iacas]

I wouldnt say that I WONT use a teacher......if the time comes, I certainly will consider it

It's "broke" right now. You're much nearer to the ceiling than you think AND your rate of improvement has likely already slowed quite a bit.

[enis750]

It's "broke" right now.

to you.....

once the snow melts and I can actually get out and dust the rust off, then I will consider my options

[iacas]

OK. I won't try to help you beyond this: you do things in your swing that are going to limit you. Period. By putting off getting help, you choosing to ingrain them further and delay how much AND how soon you can improve.

Even the unconventional swings have some conventional parts. Yours is lacking some of those. It's held together as they say with chewing gum and bailing wire. I was self-taught for a long time, too - and wasted some good years simply to be stubborn.

[enis750]

OK. I won't try to help you beyond this: you do things in your swing that are going to limit you. Period. By putting off getting help, you choosing to ingrain them further and delay how much AND how soon you can improve.

hey not trying to NOT take your advice...don't take it that way

obviously you have valid points....I see that as mentioned above when the time comes for instruction, I guess I will seek out proper help to be honest...kinda scared to pull the trigger on that end....maybe its not that I dont WANT help...scared to ask for it? I golf well now...I dont want to NOT golf well, becasue of bad lessons....maybe thats my issue

[Fairway_CY]

I dont want to NOT golf well, becasue of bad lessons....maybe thats my issue

I kinda said the same thing to my wife the other day. I'm happy with how the ball is leaving my club face (90% of the time). I just joined a club that plays tournaments every other weekend... and I don't want to change anything right now that will force me to play 10-20 shots above my current handicap. I told her I'd like to take lessons at the END of this season and prior to NEXT season... but right now, I'm petrified to change something that's working for me.

Now... I realize it's not working as it COULD... but it's making ME happy with how my game is progressing. CY

[iacas]

To the last two comments, if you have a good instructor, you'll leave your lesson hitting the ball better. The old saw about "you'll get worse before you get better" is leaned upon by bad instructors . The only time you should ever leave a lesson hitting the ball worse with a good instructor is when, say, it's over the winter and you want to work on several things at once. It's how you effect the largest change in the shortest period of time - but it's not the way a good instructor goes about changing a player's swing who is actively playing.

That's not to say that in order to get some sensations you won't hit a few bad shots during the lesson. Your body has to accommodate the new sensations or positions, after all. But you should start to see improvement virtually immediately with a good instructor.

No real exceptions.

[sean_miller]

My buddies think I swing flawlessly, but people who actually understand the swing, see that I have many things to work on.

[James_Black]

Put it this way.
On your own you'll be able to get down to scratch.
The difference in your game is only a couple of putts a round.

If you want to keep going to Pro level and maybe further your going to need to get help.
What everybody is trying to say is to start the lessons now before you ingrain your swing too much.

By all means stick to your current swing but if you want to go further which I think you do, your going to need a more precise swing.

[enis750]

To the last two comments, if you have a good instructor, you'll leave your lesson hitting the ball better. The old saw about "you'll get worse before you get better" is leaned upon by

half the battle here in Canada is finding proper instruction

a lot of the club pros here are more focused on bringing in sales through power carts and range passes I have played some that are no better than me we dont have a lot of guys (especially where i live) that are aspiring PGA or CPGA pros we dont have "mini tours" in SK, like there is more out east again this is why its tough to find someone that wont give bad instruction and there is no way im walking into Golf Town and getting instruction from some "PRO" there and yes, lessons are expensive..i dont wanna blow cash on some joe blow that will mess me up BUT....i guess a person can do some research and find someone.....I hope.....

[iacas]

we dont have a lot of guys (especially where i live) that are aspiring PGA or CPGA pros

Good Player != Good Instructor

It's often the case, but it's not always true. Yes, research. Good luck.

[Valleygolfer]

Your swing mechanics look about as bad as mine does, however it looks like you get on plane just fine. I guess I don't understand certain portions of golf but if you hit it where you want it and know your distance and practice keeps improving you consistency, why mess with it. I know my swing is deranged and inconsistent so I am working hard on fundamentals and needed help. I guess you will know when it is time for help. I think anyone can have a hitch at any time in their playing career that knocks them off. Since Iacas is the pro he probably is right but maybe he can explain my flawed logic.