Journal - My quest to the 80's - (Continued from the WALL 93-96) thread

[xburbx]

So this will be my official journal on these forums.  I will document my rounds and activity this season.  My buddy that plays a lot of rounds with me will be able to confirm scores.  There is always the chance that I will get lazy and not update the journal but we'll see.

Background - Started 2 years ago. No lessons.  Playing roughly at a 23-25 cap right now.  I will play 50+ rounds this summer.

Local Course - Hanover Golf Course - New Jersey - Good course

Goal - Play in the 85-90 range 10+ rounds in a row.

I figured I would start with an upload of my swing and my buddies.  All comments are welcome.

- Some things about my swing

A. Same routine when stepping up

B. Loose grip with slightly strong grip

C. Slight SnT lean.

D. Take away is attempted loose swing back motion

E. Recent addition - keep right shoulder on same plane and finish with it snug to my chin

My Swing -

Tonight we hit the range and played a game.  We took 20 balls with a 3hybrid or wood and played a +- in contact.  Every good contact in a row was no penalty.  If one of us hit a bad shot we had to keep hitting until we hit a good one.  First to run out of balls loses.

Wood - 17 out 20 Ian

19 out 20 Chris

Iron - 19 out of 20 Ian

17 out of 20 Chris

[Ctp722]

That was probably the worst out of all my filmed swings that day. Probably best to watch that video

[xburbx]

CTP is my buddy that I spoke about above.  Another note is that is one of his worst swings of the day, but I figure it makes sense to put up the swings where we mess up so we can learn how to not do that again.  Also, I will do my best to track stats on OOBGOLF.com to report back.

[jshots]

Sounds like a fun game on the range lol. Also in your swing...

get a shirt that fits right and tuck it in! lol

[LankyLefty]

Only way to get back to the 80s is through the use of a Hot Tub Time Machine.

[xburbx]

Its funny because that is the biggest oversized polo I own of my golf shirts and I actually had a swing get caught on it during that round.  Maybe I should go bigger and wear jeans? Or if I jump in the hot tub time machine I can find some nice wind breaker adidas pants to wear from 1985.

Joking aside, if the rain holds off, I am going to try to get out there for a round today.  If it doesnt, I'll probably still try to get out there.

[xburbx]

Got in 8 holes today before I was soaked and thunder started.  striking was good with that shoulder adjustment.  i hit 6 out of 8 fairways and the two i missed were playable from the rough

[xburbx]

So I figured I would update since yesterday.  After the new found rear shoulder plane adjustment I found out that a draw can turn to a hook real quickly.  I struggled with it all day Friday and the first 18 holes today.  Yesterday after I played, Chris and I went out to the range after to hit some balls.  It is funny how much better striking on the range is than striking on the course.  Today was a lot of golf.  I played 18 holes and had an awful round mostly plagued by not containing the hook.  After I went to the range and hit about 30 balls.  Then jumped back on for another 18.  I was mentally frustrated after the first 18 so it carried into the first 9 of the second 18.  On the turn I ended up teaming up with some course regulars that were real funny guys.  They broke my frustration with humor and it also forced me to play better because they were good.  I didnt want to be "the bad player" in the group.  They are roughly 10 handicaps so I felt the pressure.  I was able to finally start clicking.  I stopped trying to wrap my backswing around the back of my kneck and started hitting controlled shots.  The results were much better..

Friday - 18 holes - 96

Saturday - First 18 - 99

Saturday - Second 18 - 51 front and 42 back - for a total of 93

The 42 was shot with that group I joined in with.

Todays summary

Improve on

- Loosen the grips just enough to hold the club and relax

- Off the tee, use a 3/4 swing instead of over selling the back swing.  It might look pretty but it doesnt hit fairways

- Finish step after swing forward not backwards.  Helps to show weight transfer was correct

Did well

Didnt leave putts short

Read the greens for short chip shots

[NEOHMark]

FWIW, you seem to be opening the clubface awfully early on your backswing.  I paused it when the clubhead was at waist height, and the face is almost pointed skyward.  I believe most instructors would like to see the face of the club roughly perpendicular to the ground at that point of the backswing.  I'm curious as to what your natural ball flight path is?  Draw, fade, etc?

[xburbx]

Yea, I always wondered if I did that because I can feel it in my swing.  You can also see in my swing that I flatten the plane which would cause a slice.  I don't slice often, but I was able to catch it on that shot.  I guess it explains it.  As far as club face open early, my ball flight path since keeping my shoulders on the same plane is a hook to answer your question.

I am going to try and get back out there today after going to the Phillies game I was invited to.  I want to see if I can carry the momentum from the end of yesterday.

[anotherday]

Good stuff so far. I'm a 21 handicap and I'm looking at the same goals as you are. Trying to stay consistently in the low 90's and then start moving towards the 80's.

You mentioned a few things that are dead-on with what I'm working on also..

- Making sure to end up with weight forward and not backward..

- 3/4 swing to get a controlled shot as opposed to the full swings that end up "Long and Wrong"

Also, playing with others I don't know seems to slow me down too. The goal goes from getting a hole-in-one every time to "just it somewhere safe." I find that when I kinda casually track my score without any real awareness of my day overall, I find that I shoot much better scores. I think it is because I will be more likely to have the same reaction to a bad hole as I would to a good one... it keeps the emotions in check a bit. You ever have a great score that made you look back on your blow-up hole and think.. damn that could have gotten me into the 80's? Those give me some reassurance that it is just a matter of time.

One thing I had in the back of my head is that Bogey Golf is shooting a 90.. So accept the bogeys and doubles as they come, grab some pars, and sneak a birdie in there when you can.

Good luck with the quest to 80's.

[xburbx]

Played 18 today with Chris.  We both had a great round.  He shot a 90 and I shot a 91.  If only every day was like that.  A things that were done well.

- Made sure my practice swing would divot impact in front of the ball and not just practice swing to just swing.

- Took nice easy swings at the ball and kept the grip very loose - swing tempo was good

Chris had a lot of driver success today because of a little tip I got from those guys I played with yesterday.  They mentioned that a few times my natural step after my shot was backwards.  It is not that I am off balance, but after I would hit, I would step back to watch the ball rather than forwards.  The point being, a few times my weight transfer wasnt correct.  I told Chris this and he forcing a casual step forward after his drives.  The result was a lot of good drives on the fairway.  Of all the rounds we have played I would say today was the most he has ever hit fairways and kept the ball controlled.  If it continues for him, it will be a huge stroke saver.  He hit roughly 50% or more of the fairways.

[Ctp722]

Makes total sense eventually I will take away the step. BUT if you weight shift is forward that means your first step while watching the ball would be forward. I can't even think of the number of times Im walking backwards and praying I stay in bounds. It just over emphasizes the point.

[xburbx]

So Chris and I went out for a late day round today.  We both played well.  We have taken on playing match play to make sure each hole counts.  We both were striking the ball well and I believe it is due to the forward step.  I think we might have had 2 chunked shots between the two of us.  We got up and down pretty well but I think we will start picking up more strokes by being on the green more frequently from 100 and in.  Giving the chance to 1 putt beats a bump from the fringe or close rough.

Ian - 90 total - 48 back - 42 front

Chris - 92 total - 49 back - 43 front

We both took a blow up hole for an 8 so those scores look nice in regards to getting to the goal.  The course we play at has the longest par 5 in new jersey so the 2nd and 3rd shots are really important.  This is where we got hurt on the card.

Chris has made the largest leaps forward in his game between the two of us in the last 4-5 weeks.  He started the season at a 97-100 golfer.  I have made improvements, but not nearly as big as his.  I like that his game made big such forward progress because it makes us both play better.  It makes match play interesting.

On another note, I want to meet and play with the really good players at the course.  I took away a lot from the round I played with the course regular from Saturday.  Playing a round with a guy that shoots under a 10 handicap and that is willing to give advice is gold.

[Ctp722]

Range afterwards has been making a difference about 30-40 balls

[xburbx]

Yea.  Range has made a difference for sure.

[CSStriper]

First post for me but wanted to sign up and chime in because I have played this course.  I started playing the game less than a year ago and have played Hanover twice.  My rounds were 106 and 113.  Seeing you guys shoot in the low 90's is great as this course is challenging to me.  That damn 18th hole gets me every time!!!  I usually tin cup it and bounce it down the road on the right prolly onto the property owners front porch.  I will continue to look for your posts on your achievments and low scores.  Just knowing someone is shooting low 90's at Hanover makes me want to practice more to be able to do it also.

I play Springfield every Saturday morning.  Not comparable to Hanover but when money is tight and the guys I play with have a 645 tee time it works out perfectly for me.  Plus just starting out Springfield just makes sense.  However Hanover is a great course and wish I played there more often.

Other courses I have played in the area are Miry Run, Fort Dix, and Olde York.

[Ctp722]

Miry Run has the same owner/operator as Springfield and I completely agree you should play that course as a beginner. It's a short course but you're still working all aspects of the game.

Willow Brook and Rancoacas are some courses you should try around the area as well.