"5 Minutes Daily" Practice Challenge July 2017

[WUTiger]

July 24

I ended up with a second set of irons - TM SLDRs - in summer of 2014. Since then, I've accumulated other TM clubs, most several years old, and now have a backup bag. The clubs are in a TaylorMade 5.0 stand bag I got on clearance this weekend.

So, today I went to a local practice range and went through the bag with a small bucket of balls. SLDR irons worked OK, as they had in past. Other clubs, which cost between $20 and $40 each:

• TM Dual r5 3W, with TM 5.55 MAS2 R-flex shaft. Shots fairly hot, but came off a bit low.
• TM Rescue Dual 4H, w/ TM 65 Hybrid Ultralight R-flex shaft. Shots tended to draw or hook; I would need to get a wrench and move the 14-gram screw out to toe, so toe doesn't close down so fast on downswing.
• TM Burner Rescue 3H, w/ Burner RE.AX Superfast 65-gram R-flex shaft. Shots OK, but I was spraying them (pull or push, not curve).
• TM Tour Preferred 56.12 SW, w/ KBS Tour-V Wedge Flex shaft. Solid club for pitching; no bunker at range, so I couldn't practice blast shots. Have tried it out of sand elsewhere... seems to work well.

I've tried the TM TPA VIII putter before on putting green, but didn't use today.

Driver: Guest appearance by KickX Blast Driveway 12.5 driver. Most of TM drivers of any quality start used at about $100. A bit more than I want to spend on a guest bag.

Blast D delivers a medium-height, fairly consistent shot, and can be used off fairway if you have good cushioning under ball. But, it's more than 20 yards shorter than my regular driver.

[todgot]

July 24:  The wife and kids went to Silverwood today which is a water and amusement park about an hour away in Idaho... so that meant time for a good range session after work.  I tried to get some video for a member swing thread but not sure how it turned out.  It is a time investment to get a decent swing on video.  Anyway, worked on getting set up with my driver and getting into a good position on the back swing which just makes the rest of the swing just happen.  I also spent about an hour on the pitching and chipping green working on some shots from different lies.  Ended up on the putting green as it got dark practicing 5 to 10 footers.  Again concentrating on set up and just hitting my intended line. 

Edited July 25, 2017 by todgot

[boogielicious]

July 25 - Playing 18 today at the course where I most likely tore my meniscus. This course will suffer my wrath!!!! 

[socialputts]

7/25

Went to the practice range over lunch.  Hit a large bucket with my 54 and 58 degree wedges to 2 pins, taking turns from 30 yards.  Still chili dipping occasionally, but when I complete my swing with rhythm the result is great. 

Also practiced lag putting.  Adjusted my approach to have a crisper stroke with a shorter backswing.  Seemed to help with solid contact but still working on distance control.  Hoping to play 9 holes tomorrow and take what I've tried to the course. 

[onthehunt526]

7/25/17:

Worked on setup today. Didn't realize how much my eyes were deceiving me. Getting ready for the Club Championship this weekend. Just hoping to have fun. Look for detailed posts on Saturday and Sunday.

[todgot]

July 25th:  Tuesdays are a long day at work for me at two locations.  After work it was back to the lab again and working on Driver at the range.  I was able to record some swings yesterday but was not happy with camera work since it was my first attempt.  I noted my left forearm was rising above my right on the back swing too soon so I was working on having more of a one piece takeaway and not getting too inside.  I'm going on a golf trip this weekend and it's not a great time to be working on things... but I was tinkering.  Ended with some time on the pitching and chipping green.  Now I'm back at the office finishing up some paperwork  (still wearing my golf shoes I might add).

[Shindig]

I missed yesterday, July 24, with no good reason, so I'm out for the month's contest.

That doesn't mean I'm not going to keep practicing!  30 balls at the range today (mats, outdoors), working on S-L-O-W practice swings and slow hitting swings, making sure that every swing was an attempt to work on both my priority pieces AND do so at a slower speed, as was pointed out to me a few days ago that I'm not as cognizant as I should be about it.

The piece was kicking my left knee towards the ball in the backswing, keeping the club face closed, and restricting the follow through.  Easy to practice each in isolation, easy to hit them all at a slow speed, and got some good ball flights.

Success rate for the S-L-O-W portion:  90%.  I hit three balls at full speed once I stepped up to the ball.  Unfortunately for me, all three were great shots, so I looked a little foolish saying darn and "that's not what I wanted" after hitting them.

I then spent 45 minutes at the putting green, working 30 on 4' putts (around the clock, eventually made all 12 in a row) and then rolling some from 12' (made 3 in a row at one point, which was nice).

[onthehunt526]

7/26/17:

Hit some iron shots this morning trying to feel as if at set-up my toe is slightly off the ground.

[boogielicious]

July 26 - Mirror work at the gym. Focused on the same feels with shorter swings getting the hips more open at impact.

[socialputts]

7/26

Practiced my putting stroke with an emphasis on the lengeth of backstoke, length of follow through and keeping my head steady (no peeking!)

[WUTiger]

July 26

Practiced wedges for 20 minutes before work: close-in (20 yards or less) and half wedges. I'm starting to get better touch with close hinge-and-hold shots.

I hit four balls at a time, and then tried for one-putt. On most of stations, I sank either 1 out of 4 or 3 out of 4.

On some of the misses, I was rushing putts. This costs me a stroke or two every round - aggravated by pressure to play fast when someone else in group falls behind. 

Edited July 26, 2017 by WUTiger
To correct grammar.

[Shindig]

July 26. Went to the range (outdoor, mats).  Worked on the same priority pieces as yesterday, including the emphasis on hitting slowly (each swing).  I hit some really great shots today. 

I also did some around-the-clock at the putting green from about 4'.  I didn't get all 12 in a row, but I did get some good runs of 7-8 going.

25-for-26 for the month.  

[todgot]

July 26:  Busy day at work trying to tie up all the loose ends before leaving on my 4 day golf trip to Kokanee in B.C. Took time during packing to work on shoulder turn and moving my tailbone toward the target on the back swing.  Hit 30 pitches and chips in the back yard.  Worked with the orange whip for a few minutes also.  Hopefully I can post from Canada. 

[WUTiger]

July 27

Another rainy day. Practiced putting inside for 10 minutes.

[boogielicious]

July 27 - Mirror work at the gym. Focused on turning the left hip back at P5.5. I'm supposed to play 9 later with the league, but the weather looks sketchy.

[onthehunt526]

7/27/17:

Setup with irons today. Namely focusing on being in a good setup position with at address. With my toe (of the clubhead), slightly off the turf to varying degrees. Hit a few shots this way, and hit them pretty straight. Seems like the weak sauce block out to the right is fixed.

[socialputts]

7/27

Playing 9 after work.  Going to focus on keeping it in play (maybe keep the driver in the bag..at least on hole #1) and lag putting.  Need to eliminate 3 putts.....might need to chip it closer. 

[Shindig]

July 27.  Played 18 today.  I got hit from behind on the freeway on my way to the course so I probably didn't play as well as I would have otherwise (among other things, I didn't get to the range to warm up before the round).  I hit 1 GIR and 4 near-GIR, shot a 90 anyway.  I putted really well... so that practice may have paid off, or this could be an anomaly.  Hopefully the former.