It's been a while...

...life gets in the way of golf far too often. However, I've had some progress. I've had some sessions at the range, using the practice "challenges" suggested by Neil Plimmer and VISION54; these give deep practice, and I do my best to use my full routine on every shot, also picking a target.

I've also been doing putting drills at home- Dr Parent's putting games for touch and feel (his game for touch is suggested in slightly different forms in a few of the blogs I'm following), as well as the "ladder out/cluster back drill" (hit putts, with ball going twice as far each time, and then back to starting point. Do it with eyes closed for an even bigger challenge)

That's the good points. The bad is that I haven't done enough of it yet. Not nearly enough. There is mitigation- I took golf up during a long period of illness, with lots of time off work, nearly three years. I've been returning to work, and am trying to get to full time. I'm getting there, but tired. However, I need golf now, and will try to accommodate it around family life as much as I'm able. With it getting lighter at night this should be easier. Mrs Geek is being fantastic, but I can't ask too much of her; will try to make my medal rounds early Saturday mornings for example.

Have managed at least one practice a week but will try to up that to 2-3 times. Encouraged by results on the course though.

In the past I've had real issues getting my club down square, pushing and pulling the ball to the point where I was almost screaming in frustration. I stared and stared at it until it looked ridiculous whatever I did, like when you spend too long looking at a word and it's alternative spellings until they look like hieroglyphics. And every time I thought I'd got it down, it'd start happening again, and again and again.

And then I decided to forget about it- went for what I term an "outward" focus. I would go through my new routine (from the wonderful Golfer Within series of Roseanna Leaton's) which is select target, abdominal breath whilst blinking once then slow programming swing behind ball, then stepping into my setup, putting club down whilst looking at the target. And then not changing position, not even a little bit. Then one last look at the target, place tongue just behind teeth and focus on keeping it in place, relaxing feet and turning back to the ball, then immediately starting my swing, rather than my old habit of trying to stare thee ball into submission. I have in the past used a clearkey with excellent effect, but I'd started to rush my last one (easy-peasey-lemon-squeezy) and thus my swing, so the tongue trick is taking the place of it just now; I may substitute the phrase "Never Eat Shredded Wheat" if the tongue trick loses it's magic.

Results with this are absolutely fantastic. I feel very positive about this season. Goals include: 4 off handicap and breaking 90. I'd also like to experience the pressure of being in contention in a competition, so I think Stableford competitions are the best chance of that.

I'm also invovled in some very interesting discussions on Twitter (@mightyalmac). Should you happen to chance upon this blog, feel free to look me up.

Statistics tell us that the average handicap has not decreased in 20 years, which probably constitutes a rise in real terms given improvements in clubs,courses and balls.

I am determined to buck this trend- I will improve!
(of course, there are likely to be frustrations along the way- I hope to chronicle these with a degree of humour and humility, but will settle for one out the two ;-)