...I "teased" this a bit on Tuesday's post. On Monday night, some distance from a course, green or range, I discovered what is currently the single most important factor for me if I wish to improve at golf. It's something I always thought of as important, knew I was far from perfect at it and I've already done a few things to try to improve it; however I was unprepared for just how limited my situation was.
I'm talking of course about flexibility. I know I'm not supple- I was a tall teenager, at an age where all you want is to fit in, so you hunch to try to shrink back into the herd. I also played rugby, and finished up playing prop forward as my fitness levels fell (and abdominal girth increased!) what weights I did focused in the main on the obvious muscles and not their opposing groups. Added to that I have a job where I'm often hunched over trying to speak with an older person and you have a recipe for poor flexibility, even if you don't consider my years of lower activity before rediscovering sport through golf.
I'm very lucky to work (day-job work!) with an excellent physiotherapist (thanks Lisa!), and even luckier that she does some shifts for a sports injury clinic with Karen Young, a young, dynamic yet vastly experienced physio who in 2005 was appointed Lead Golf Physiotherapist for the Scottish Institute of Sport, co-ordinating and providing physiotherapy for the male and female Scottish National golf squads. £30 for a 30 minute consultation that over ran substantially. I shudder to think what the medical equivalent would cost privately.
Karen gave me an extremely thorough once over, and found that I have numerous physical restrictions, one in particular (absence of rotation in mid spine, meaning swing is all done by my arms) that's restricting my length.
I have a set of exercises to do, and now do some if working at my desk and needing a quick break. I've undertaken to do a half hour every day, and although I was tempted to aim higher I know what happens if I am over-ambitious; I shall stick to this for a while and perhaps step it up at a later date.
This might all sound like a piece of nonsense, but both Kendal and Scott commented on how rigid I looked at address, and had targeted relaxation as what they thought I should focus on. I had of course found this difficult to do, and now know why this was the case. I therefore think that my flexibility was the rate limiting step of my improvement, so I'm delighted to have tackled it. There is work to be done, but it's amazing how easy it is to motivate yourself when you have the utmost faith in your physiotherapist's assessment.
Some may be wondering why I didn't choose TPI; don't think there's anyone near me, and also would have chosen Karen's expertise over a TPI-certified instructor; this isn't as much a comment on TPI as their goals are for the most part laudable, but I don't feel that even a motivated golf pro with a good knowledge of anatomy and physiology could work at Karen's level following a few courses. If you're a golf pro reading this and disagree, imagine if the tables were turned and she were to go on courses of equivalent duration and then look to teach golfers.
That's not to say don't use TPI as I would have happily gone if they had been the only therapists nearby. All I'm suggesting is that you ask around to see if there's anyone like Karen near you, giving you the option of seeing one or other.
For anyone in close to Aberdeen and keen to see Karen, her biography is on their website. I can't speak highly enough of her.
Enough of this (this was meant to be a short post!) I'm awa' off tae stretch.
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Friday, 11 June 2010
Tuesday, 8 June 2010
The second round of the Murray Cup..(101)
Thankfully the weather was better this week, and although a touch damp golf was a lot more of a pleasant experience. The weather last week led to a very high number of walk-offs, and I turned up to find my partner hadn't. This wasn't an issue as the next golfer to turn up was David, a chap I'd met in the previous round as the groups rejigged to accommodate those who had a burning desire to be otherwhere. David's an enthusiastic ad supportive 13 handicap, and after I'd fessed up my lack of tournament experience on the first green, he happily kept me right, and was always keen to see the positive in any situation, much like I try to do. Both of us look on golf as something that is enjoyed regardless of score, so it was a lot of fun. It quickly dawned on me that he'd read Zen Golf, and we chatted a little about that. I'm looking forward to meeting him again out on the course.
Because of the rain (I usually use Sengyma's GolfCard on my phone) and the fact my long game didn't really fire at all on the front nine slowing us down a fair bit, I didn't keep any stats on the round. This is a bit of a shame, as I'd love to have seen my putting numbers. 3 or 4 up and downs, a chip in on 18 for a "sandy" and only one 3-putt (An annoyingly dribbly little push, a tired effort from 2-3 feet on the 17th). I hit 3 pars, and had a really good back 9 45.
My front 9 wasn't quite so good at 56- once again a slow start. I was on the tee sharp, but not early. I know I keep saying this, but this time there's a little mitigation. Mrs Geek was out at a friends Hen Night (Batchelorette party for American readers) and as my parents were visiting, I picked her up in town at 2am. And of course because I knew I was up early I found it pretty tricky to get back to sleep- typical!
I used my full routine for almost all of my shots, and picked a target for about the same number. My putting, what I'd worked on most in the week, was excellent. I sunk a number of 8-10 footers, and had others that weren't far away.
What to improve? I made a number of poor decisions; often my 6-wood is great, even from semi rough but it didn't work well for me, and there were a number of shots where I didn't reproduce my practice swing by either trying too hard to hit it pulling me out of position or by coming out of tempo, into a quickening swipe. I tried for too much out of the rough on a number of occasions, and my plan is now to aim for a place just ahead of where the previous shot would have finished, had it been a good shot.
Although I had a chip in and a few up and downs, had my short game been more consistent my front nine wouldn't have been quite so high, and my back nine would have been even better. Chipping is the next focus for practice. I think a large number of my chips will be using a hybrid with a putting stroke, and I may explore using putt-chips with other clubs (my Niblick, 7 iron etc) and as I'm playing links golf I'll need to work on my bump and runs- tried one but not a great idea to try a shot you haven't rehearsed on a competitive round, but hey ho. If you've finished learning, you've finished living, so I'm glad I'm still learning lots.
I'm also having a wee bit of difficulty remembering my shots- largely because I was often so absorbed in the process, but also because I didn't review the feedback post shot, something I'm keen to add to my routine (this should only take a quick second or so of holding the follow through and assessing the result)
My brother (the Law Geek- sorry bro, but anyone who blogs on international law with such gusto merits the title!) has suggested that perhaps not every post has to be quite so long, so I'll leave my posts on www.3goodshots.com and what I got up to on Monday night (if that's not enough of a tease, I believe that it's probably the single most important step to allow me to improve at this game). I also promised Mrs Geek I wouldn't be up too late blogging and it's quarter to one already, so I better get off to bed. I'm really starting to enjoy the process of blogging, and do feel it's helping with my journey in golf improvement, and have been really quietly pleased by the helpful and supportive feedback I've received, both on here and on Twitter. Thank you- you know who you are ;-)
Because of the rain (I usually use Sengyma's GolfCard on my phone) and the fact my long game didn't really fire at all on the front nine slowing us down a fair bit, I didn't keep any stats on the round. This is a bit of a shame, as I'd love to have seen my putting numbers. 3 or 4 up and downs, a chip in on 18 for a "sandy" and only one 3-putt (An annoyingly dribbly little push, a tired effort from 2-3 feet on the 17th). I hit 3 pars, and had a really good back 9 45.
My front 9 wasn't quite so good at 56- once again a slow start. I was on the tee sharp, but not early. I know I keep saying this, but this time there's a little mitigation. Mrs Geek was out at a friends Hen Night (Batchelorette party for American readers) and as my parents were visiting, I picked her up in town at 2am. And of course because I knew I was up early I found it pretty tricky to get back to sleep- typical!
I used my full routine for almost all of my shots, and picked a target for about the same number. My putting, what I'd worked on most in the week, was excellent. I sunk a number of 8-10 footers, and had others that weren't far away.
What to improve? I made a number of poor decisions; often my 6-wood is great, even from semi rough but it didn't work well for me, and there were a number of shots where I didn't reproduce my practice swing by either trying too hard to hit it pulling me out of position or by coming out of tempo, into a quickening swipe. I tried for too much out of the rough on a number of occasions, and my plan is now to aim for a place just ahead of where the previous shot would have finished, had it been a good shot.
Although I had a chip in and a few up and downs, had my short game been more consistent my front nine wouldn't have been quite so high, and my back nine would have been even better. Chipping is the next focus for practice. I think a large number of my chips will be using a hybrid with a putting stroke, and I may explore using putt-chips with other clubs (my Niblick, 7 iron etc) and as I'm playing links golf I'll need to work on my bump and runs- tried one but not a great idea to try a shot you haven't rehearsed on a competitive round, but hey ho. If you've finished learning, you've finished living, so I'm glad I'm still learning lots.
I'm also having a wee bit of difficulty remembering my shots- largely because I was often so absorbed in the process, but also because I didn't review the feedback post shot, something I'm keen to add to my routine (this should only take a quick second or so of holding the follow through and assessing the result)
My brother (the Law Geek- sorry bro, but anyone who blogs on international law with such gusto merits the title!) has suggested that perhaps not every post has to be quite so long, so I'll leave my posts on www.3goodshots.com and what I got up to on Monday night (if that's not enough of a tease, I believe that it's probably the single most important step to allow me to improve at this game). I also promised Mrs Geek I wouldn't be up too late blogging and it's quarter to one already, so I better get off to bed. I'm really starting to enjoy the process of blogging, and do feel it's helping with my journey in golf improvement, and have been really quietly pleased by the helpful and supportive feedback I've received, both on here and on Twitter. Thank you- you know who you are ;-)
Wednesday, 2 June 2010
A leap of faith
I've had a funny week. I went out on Sunday in the Murray Cup, the championship between the 3 clubs that play on the course but hit a miserable 116 in the rain. I'd got distracted, was again rushing onto the tee. The rain just never let up, and I was pretty under prepared. The rain doesn't usually last that long here, but I'd also forgotten there's a difference between playing a competitive round and a bounce round I'd never have completed the latter in that weather. No umbrella, no umbrella holder, no wet weather gloves, and I hadn't tied my waterproof trousers tightly enough so they slid down (think 15 year old skater boy style) so I got drenched. Actually that last point is probably academic as the rain was heavy and unrelenting, so saturation was unavoidable. I've been drier SCUBA diving.
On the positive side- I stuck it out, I finished on a day when many didn't. I didn't attribute my score to the rain; I know it's the same weather and course for everyone and as an outdoor sport the weather is an unavoidable factor. I had a discussion on Twitter with a coach who had inferred I was attributing my score to the weather; he had asked if there were players who were better in the rain. My assertion is that that's not true; I don't think anyone looks forward to it, but there are players who are less affected than others, those that look at something that is unavoidable and think "I'm good in the rain and others aren't" This must be the best way to deal with a situation like this, and I'm going to be one of these players. I'm going to upgrade my wet weather gear, buy a good umbrella holder, gloves and never be caught without my umbrella again.
The main problem was that I didn't have any process, really almost none. Didn't pick a target, didn't make clear decisions, just hit horrible shots. I always had a count of my shots going in my head, focus was on result over process all the way.
A couple of formulae from the late Jack Burke, on this topic.
R/P = 0
P/R = $
( if P=process & R=result)
Emphasise process over result to be "in the money"
So why am I not able to be in the process more? It's not that I haven't mentioned it. I know what I need to do, so why am I not doing it? There's two principle reasons, one theoretical, the other practical, and they relate to each other.
I'd read a lot, and accepted what I'd read, but hadn't fully believed. I was able to regurgitate the theory, but more than that is needed. It's not enough to know, you must believe. I needed to take a leap of faith, to learn how to be totally absorbed in the process. I'm lucky to have got my experience from the Instinctive Golf short game day to draw on.
But that's not the whole reason; after all, I've been out with the intention to be more process focused often and yet not managed to sustain it. So why? Fortunately I don't have to look too far. My practice sessions frequently descend into "scrape & hit", deviate from my original intention and can end up with me just repeating the same mistake repeatedly.
In short, absolutely no focus. And then I wonder why I can't focus on the course?
So I made a plan, and I think it's a good one. I'm going to have two focused practice sessions a week; mostly putting and short game, with the range as a wet weather back up. (I would plan more, but work is pretty busy, Mrs Geek's already taking up an awful lot of slack at home and I'm guilty of making grandiose plans that I stick to for a short time and then when I can't keep up the whole plan goes, so this one is more modest and achievable). I've got a lot of practice plans from both Instinctive Golf and VISION54 that I'll use as well as using Dr Joe Parent's mind training sessions twice a week to improve focus. I'm also going to see a phsysiotherapist with vast experience in golf to look at what physical restrictions I have and for a personalised stretching program. I'm going for an Instinctive Golf long game clinic on the 30th too. I may also try and catch up with Scott Dixon (@scottdixongolf on Twitter) for a more personalised session around that time, perhaps an on course lesson to look at strategy and firm up a practice plan.
Will it work? I don't know but I think it might. I've had a practice session, and went out for a round on the nearby 6-hole par 21 course with a colleague (& hopefully new golf buddy) and hit 26- my best ever score on the course. Didn't even hit my best shots, but had a chip in (for a double as I'd been 3 off the tee ;-) No 3 putts, didn't have to hit 2 short game shots on any hole, but kept in the process very well, and I'm really proud of how I dealt with it when the thought came into my head on the 4ht green and the 6th tee that this could be my best round. In the past I'd either have got excited about it, or thought "oh no I mustn't think about that it'll ruin everything"- a self fulfilling prophecy if ever there was one. Instead, I used Dr Parent's "Labelling and Returning"- I just thought very matter of factly "That's the future. Come back to the present" (no "...or else" addition) and it worked very well.
A leap of faith. It might just work.
On the positive side- I stuck it out, I finished on a day when many didn't. I didn't attribute my score to the rain; I know it's the same weather and course for everyone and as an outdoor sport the weather is an unavoidable factor. I had a discussion on Twitter with a coach who had inferred I was attributing my score to the weather; he had asked if there were players who were better in the rain. My assertion is that that's not true; I don't think anyone looks forward to it, but there are players who are less affected than others, those that look at something that is unavoidable and think "I'm good in the rain and others aren't" This must be the best way to deal with a situation like this, and I'm going to be one of these players. I'm going to upgrade my wet weather gear, buy a good umbrella holder, gloves and never be caught without my umbrella again.
The main problem was that I didn't have any process, really almost none. Didn't pick a target, didn't make clear decisions, just hit horrible shots. I always had a count of my shots going in my head, focus was on result over process all the way.
A couple of formulae from the late Jack Burke, on this topic.
R/P = 0
P/R = $
( if P=process & R=result)
Emphasise process over result to be "in the money"
So why am I not able to be in the process more? It's not that I haven't mentioned it. I know what I need to do, so why am I not doing it? There's two principle reasons, one theoretical, the other practical, and they relate to each other.
I'd read a lot, and accepted what I'd read, but hadn't fully believed. I was able to regurgitate the theory, but more than that is needed. It's not enough to know, you must believe. I needed to take a leap of faith, to learn how to be totally absorbed in the process. I'm lucky to have got my experience from the Instinctive Golf short game day to draw on.
But that's not the whole reason; after all, I've been out with the intention to be more process focused often and yet not managed to sustain it. So why? Fortunately I don't have to look too far. My practice sessions frequently descend into "scrape & hit", deviate from my original intention and can end up with me just repeating the same mistake repeatedly.
In short, absolutely no focus. And then I wonder why I can't focus on the course?
So I made a plan, and I think it's a good one. I'm going to have two focused practice sessions a week; mostly putting and short game, with the range as a wet weather back up. (I would plan more, but work is pretty busy, Mrs Geek's already taking up an awful lot of slack at home and I'm guilty of making grandiose plans that I stick to for a short time and then when I can't keep up the whole plan goes, so this one is more modest and achievable). I've got a lot of practice plans from both Instinctive Golf and VISION54 that I'll use as well as using Dr Joe Parent's mind training sessions twice a week to improve focus. I'm also going to see a phsysiotherapist with vast experience in golf to look at what physical restrictions I have and for a personalised stretching program. I'm going for an Instinctive Golf long game clinic on the 30th too. I may also try and catch up with Scott Dixon (@scottdixongolf on Twitter) for a more personalised session around that time, perhaps an on course lesson to look at strategy and firm up a practice plan.
Will it work? I don't know but I think it might. I've had a practice session, and went out for a round on the nearby 6-hole par 21 course with a colleague (& hopefully new golf buddy) and hit 26- my best ever score on the course. Didn't even hit my best shots, but had a chip in (for a double as I'd been 3 off the tee ;-) No 3 putts, didn't have to hit 2 short game shots on any hole, but kept in the process very well, and I'm really proud of how I dealt with it when the thought came into my head on the 4ht green and the 6th tee that this could be my best round. In the past I'd either have got excited about it, or thought "oh no I mustn't think about that it'll ruin everything"- a self fulfilling prophecy if ever there was one. Instead, I used Dr Parent's "Labelling and Returning"- I just thought very matter of factly "That's the future. Come back to the present" (no "...or else" addition) and it worked very well.
A leap of faith. It might just work.
Wednesday, 19 May 2010
A frustrating 48 at Gairloch
(scorecard and stats here )
...Got out for 9 at the inlaws, and started so well (for me)- Bogey, par, par with two nice consecutive up and downs, and with a lip-out for par (and another up & down) on the first. In fact I managed a 'sandy' on the 2nd, only my second ever. I've added a 42 degree Cleveland Niblick to my scoring arsenal, and I'm loving it. Good for chips from tight lies with a putting stroke, standard chips, pitches and right up to full shots. It's replaced my 44 degree PW, and compliments my Eidolon wedges (48,54,60 degrees)
Trouble started on the 4th, the green keeper chatted for a bit, I set up, felt uneasy, backed off and changed my aim. Deliberately, but was too aggressive (hoping for another par) hit trees, had to take an unplayable as ball was beside tree, dropped ball and it rolled to the bottom of the hill (not sure on the rules on this, will have to check!) was further from the hole, so played it there, down in 3 for a triple.
Round went a bit more poorly after that, had a heavy chip (head up) and pitch at the next two holes, a 3 putt on the next, but came to the 8th with a good score possible. The 8th is a card wrecker lurking. The only par 5 on the course, it's the only true links hole on the course, with heavy reeds and OOB all down the left, and the fairway drops off on the right (although there are other fairways nearby, the course is ingeniously folded into a tiny parcel of land). You can then play over a deep rough filled gully (very deep, both the rough & the gully) cutting the corner, or play to the top off the bluff, where there's a very steep sided hill, with yet more deep rough before the fairway carrys on, dog legging left. Hit it too straight and too far over the fairway, and there is (you guessed it) still more deep rough. And as it's played blind, it's a lost ball more often than not. The green is big and has some wicked borrows, as do all of the greens there. The course isn't long, but it's by no means easy. The course record is apparently 1-under.
My drive just bounced off the right hand side of the fairway into the rough. I played smart out, with a 1/2 9 iron, a bit shorter than I intended. I was just at the gully, and decided to play over it with my 6 wood- usually a club I'm very comfortable with, and feel even my mishits are useable. Sadly the draw of the gully (known to members and myself as 'the hole') was too much. Too keen to hit over, I tensed and topped it in. It landed halfway down, and took 2 shots to get ball out onto the semi rough on at the foot of the hole. A 7 iron (should have played a 6) fell short of the green, then an indifferent chip and three putt for a vexing 10. Nearly redeemed myself a little with a par at the last, but my putt (on intended path and pace) just went over the 'cellophane bridge the horseshoed out, leaving a tap in for a bogey.
Although I'm disappointed with this round, a number of things went very well, and I want to record them. I was in the sand twice, got up and down from there once and very nearly twice. Was thoroughly involved in the process for these shots, and they came out as I'd envisaged. I was in a wee 'dwalm' after they'd been hit, it took a second to connect in my head that the ball I was seeing was the one I'd just hit, a sure sign of being absorbed in the process. I managed to stay in the process (not always as well as this, but still pretty well) on a much higher percentage of shots, my putting is improving and can improve still further, just by doing more of what I've been doing (and so I feel on the right track) I had a number of good chips and pitches, again arising from a process focus. I was aware when I started to go too far into the future (eg when I started to think about what I'd say on here!) and I'm starting to catch that. I experimented with thinking of the riff fro the White Stripes "7 Nation Army" any time that happened (it's very useful to block out the most irritatingly persistent "earworm" tunes) and it was useful.
So what went wrong? Not enough process. Although more in the process on shots, I was still too aware of my scores so far and my potential final score- that was what led me to try hitting over the 'hole' (need a 5 to keep my score good) and then stopped me just taking an 'unplayable' drop when the ball went into the gully. Thinking of the gully as 'The Hole' hasn't been helpful either- would have played a big part in increasing tension before and during my swing, and the head lift that all caused me to top the ball. I should have played safer in the fairway if in any doubt. I was about 180 back- 2 3/4 niblicks would have done it. Putting needs more work but has improved considerably with the work I've done, and aiming and setup with my "gamer" mallet has definitely been improved by a few sessions with the backup blade- having to work out how to set up and aim the blade, getting used to it then swapping back and re-learning the mallet. Found this out by accident as the blade was at my folks' where we'd been on holiday, with no space to take my main bag, so was using a spare bag I'd left there for my brother, now in Sydney (I'll put it back before you come back Euan!). Discovered by accident, but as a method it'll stay in the bag- might even try it with other clubs too (eg less offset irons, different loft driver etc).
I need also to look at how to get out of trouble efficiently and with the minimum of damage. I'm reading Dave Pelz' Damage Control, and will see how that goes. I may also look at Seizo Mazer's Game Sense for this and strategic advice- I like the audio book idea, and also have Zen putting on audio book for the commute.
Instead of getting discouraged, I'm looking at how far my game has improved in the last while. My best scores may not be that much better than last year, but I'm getting them much more frequently and my worst scores are much better. My best shots are again similar, but my worst shots have improved greatly. It would be wrong to lose the faith, I'll keep inching along the plateau until my scoring improves ;-)
See you on the putting green!
...Got out for 9 at the inlaws, and started so well (for me)- Bogey, par, par with two nice consecutive up and downs, and with a lip-out for par (and another up & down) on the first. In fact I managed a 'sandy' on the 2nd, only my second ever. I've added a 42 degree Cleveland Niblick to my scoring arsenal, and I'm loving it. Good for chips from tight lies with a putting stroke, standard chips, pitches and right up to full shots. It's replaced my 44 degree PW, and compliments my Eidolon wedges (48,54,60 degrees)
Trouble started on the 4th, the green keeper chatted for a bit, I set up, felt uneasy, backed off and changed my aim. Deliberately, but was too aggressive (hoping for another par) hit trees, had to take an unplayable as ball was beside tree, dropped ball and it rolled to the bottom of the hill (not sure on the rules on this, will have to check!) was further from the hole, so played it there, down in 3 for a triple.
Round went a bit more poorly after that, had a heavy chip (head up) and pitch at the next two holes, a 3 putt on the next, but came to the 8th with a good score possible. The 8th is a card wrecker lurking. The only par 5 on the course, it's the only true links hole on the course, with heavy reeds and OOB all down the left, and the fairway drops off on the right (although there are other fairways nearby, the course is ingeniously folded into a tiny parcel of land). You can then play over a deep rough filled gully (very deep, both the rough & the gully) cutting the corner, or play to the top off the bluff, where there's a very steep sided hill, with yet more deep rough before the fairway carrys on, dog legging left. Hit it too straight and too far over the fairway, and there is (you guessed it) still more deep rough. And as it's played blind, it's a lost ball more often than not. The green is big and has some wicked borrows, as do all of the greens there. The course isn't long, but it's by no means easy. The course record is apparently 1-under.
My drive just bounced off the right hand side of the fairway into the rough. I played smart out, with a 1/2 9 iron, a bit shorter than I intended. I was just at the gully, and decided to play over it with my 6 wood- usually a club I'm very comfortable with, and feel even my mishits are useable. Sadly the draw of the gully (known to members and myself as 'the hole') was too much. Too keen to hit over, I tensed and topped it in. It landed halfway down, and took 2 shots to get ball out onto the semi rough on at the foot of the hole. A 7 iron (should have played a 6) fell short of the green, then an indifferent chip and three putt for a vexing 10. Nearly redeemed myself a little with a par at the last, but my putt (on intended path and pace) just went over the 'cellophane bridge the horseshoed out, leaving a tap in for a bogey.
Although I'm disappointed with this round, a number of things went very well, and I want to record them. I was in the sand twice, got up and down from there once and very nearly twice. Was thoroughly involved in the process for these shots, and they came out as I'd envisaged. I was in a wee 'dwalm' after they'd been hit, it took a second to connect in my head that the ball I was seeing was the one I'd just hit, a sure sign of being absorbed in the process. I managed to stay in the process (not always as well as this, but still pretty well) on a much higher percentage of shots, my putting is improving and can improve still further, just by doing more of what I've been doing (and so I feel on the right track) I had a number of good chips and pitches, again arising from a process focus. I was aware when I started to go too far into the future (eg when I started to think about what I'd say on here!) and I'm starting to catch that. I experimented with thinking of the riff fro the White Stripes "7 Nation Army" any time that happened (it's very useful to block out the most irritatingly persistent "earworm" tunes) and it was useful.
So what went wrong? Not enough process. Although more in the process on shots, I was still too aware of my scores so far and my potential final score- that was what led me to try hitting over the 'hole' (need a 5 to keep my score good) and then stopped me just taking an 'unplayable' drop when the ball went into the gully. Thinking of the gully as 'The Hole' hasn't been helpful either- would have played a big part in increasing tension before and during my swing, and the head lift that all caused me to top the ball. I should have played safer in the fairway if in any doubt. I was about 180 back- 2 3/4 niblicks would have done it. Putting needs more work but has improved considerably with the work I've done, and aiming and setup with my "gamer" mallet has definitely been improved by a few sessions with the backup blade- having to work out how to set up and aim the blade, getting used to it then swapping back and re-learning the mallet. Found this out by accident as the blade was at my folks' where we'd been on holiday, with no space to take my main bag, so was using a spare bag I'd left there for my brother, now in Sydney (I'll put it back before you come back Euan!). Discovered by accident, but as a method it'll stay in the bag- might even try it with other clubs too (eg less offset irons, different loft driver etc).
I need also to look at how to get out of trouble efficiently and with the minimum of damage. I'm reading Dave Pelz' Damage Control, and will see how that goes. I may also look at Seizo Mazer's Game Sense for this and strategic advice- I like the audio book idea, and also have Zen putting on audio book for the commute.
Instead of getting discouraged, I'm looking at how far my game has improved in the last while. My best scores may not be that much better than last year, but I'm getting them much more frequently and my worst scores are much better. My best shots are again similar, but my worst shots have improved greatly. It would be wrong to lose the faith, I'll keep inching along the plateau until my scoring improves ;-)
See you on the putting green!
Sunday, 16 May 2010
No Medal this week
...as I've been on holiday, doing the tour of the Grandparents' and ending up on what was my Grandparents' croft on the Eilean a' Cheo (Isle of Skye) as Mrs Geek was doing a Gaelic course at the college there with her Mum (hereafter referred to as Granny McGeek). Neither of us goes to see our parents as often as we should, so golf practice was limited. I did manage to sneak onot the Bob Torrance School of Golf's training ground for some much needed putting practice, and practice aiming chip and pitch shots with foam balls in my parent's back garden. I've had recurrent problems with not being able to consistently 'get' what the clubface should look like when it's down square, so I've been working on that. I also picked up my spare putter from my folks', and spent a bit of time on working how to optimise my set up with that, and as it's a blade and my main putter is a 2-ball it's meant that I've had to look at my main putter again, a much needed back-to basics.
I did manage to sneak out last night and drive up to the only golf course on Skye, but this was a washout as I'd forgotten some medication and as my morning dose wore off my game disintegrated. I managed to lose 5 balls, unusual for me these days, and then developed a case of the shanks. Interestingly, I've been involved in a discussion on Twitter, as a mental game coach in training asked another coahc what proportion of poor shots were due to mental errors, and what portion due to physical errors. My feeling is that it's impossible to disentangle the two, they're both present in every poor shot, the proportions vary. My experience with my medication backs this up, as every time I've been trying to hit shots when I've forgotten a dose I develop a case of the shanks, something that is not usually a feature of my game, thankfully. I cut my losses and headed home after the 6th hole, but will return there. It's an interesting course, by the sea at the foot of the Red Cuillin mountains, but a heathland rather than links course, although the two of course play similarly. It's a functional course, not perhaps the best in design but fun to play your way around and the setting is little short of spectacular. There is plenty to marvel at, and it's easy to avoid getting caught up in mechanical thoughts between shots here.
Their website can be found here
I also manged to get out today for 9 holes at Gairloch, where my in-laws reside; my score can be found here. It only tells part of the story. I put my first drive out of bounds, but after that played solidly and only just missed a 5-foot putt for a 5. I then started to play really quite well, not in the zone but near enough to catch a brief glimpse of what it could be. I was calm and relaxed, playing swiftly but unhurriedly, and none of my putts missed by much, but unfortunately I wasn't able to block out the excitement of potentially scoring well, and with this hope came the undercurrent of fear.I don't know what came first, the decrease in quality of my shots or me slowing down, but whichever initiated it, they exacerbated each other and exasperated me (not actually that much on the course, but I feel keenly that I had an opportunity to get a good score) I got ahead of myself, and although I did bring myself back into the present, I didn't manage to banish the twin demons of hope and fear entirely. The 8th at Gairloch is one of the 2 "links" style holes and is for many a place of poor memories, poor shots and even poorer course management decisions. I was guilty of all 3, although I feel I can keep the memories at bay. I pulled my drive into the left hand rough, but avoided the gully of lost balls and the maram grass at the side of the hill, but aimed and played my six iron poorly. I was looking to get to the top of the cliff that overlooks the contiunation of the fairway as it approaches the green, but hit it right. Not a push, just a too-casual aim, and I found myself with a sloping uphill lie but with the ball beneath my feet. I then chose to try a 6 wood, rather than hitting say a half 9-iron up to where the second shot should have been played, and pull hooked the ball into some thickish rough, took a further 2 shots onto the green and then three putted. Hit my tee shot at the 9th into a bunker, had to stand outwith the bunker and reach down for a ball well below my feet on a downhill lie. Left first one in there, second came out about 2 feet, and then chipped and 2 putted.
I can't be too upset. Given how things looked and felt last night, I'd have quite happily taken a 47 for 9 at Gairloch the next day. I had a lot of putts that weren't far away and that's getting better. I'm (starting) to get more conscious of trying a shorter back swing but without stiffening up. I had the feeling of playing fairly effortlessly and smoothly. Although I perhaps didn't handle the feeling of a round going well particularly well, I didn't disintegrate and I hope to have many more chances to deal with that feeling- after all, if it comes more often it means that I'm getting better, playing better and scoring better. And I'm improving as a golfer. Bit by bit, in a fairly attritional fashion but there is forward movement. I'm also really pleased that I put last night's poor round aside and didn't let it affect my game. Fatigue may also have played a part - had a fun but exhausting weekend of the kids to myself, and had driven for 3 hours before playing; Hadn't drunk enough and was really hungry by the time the 8th hove into view- all things that are easy to remedy when I have my usual bag and trolley, as I'd just packed a pencil bag to save space.
So what to change? Missed a couple of putts from short distance (I'm fairly certain deceleration is the culprit) so I'm going to hit consecutive 3 footers at home, aiming to reach 25 or so. Hopefully I'll be able to get out onto the putting greens too, a couple of nights to try things like spiral impossible, never up never win and other putting drills from Instinctive Golf. I'd been keeping up my stretching but fatigue has limited me the last couple of nights so will readdress that from Tuesday at the earliest. I'm starting to really think about how to setup and aim consistently with all of my clubs, putter to driver; I've also replaced my 44(!) degree Pitching Wedge with a 42 degree Cleveland Niblick, a hybrid scoring club. This compliments my Eidolon wedges (48,54,60 degree) rather well, and I practiced chipping with it off of tight lies. Seems to be best to use a putting stroke for short chips, standard chip for longer ones; the putt/chip works rather well from tight lies. The other thing to do is to keep an eye on my routine, to do my best to keep the amount of time taken fairly constant, and fairly swift in keeping with my behaviour style.
Home tomorrow hopefully, and I'll drive my wife daft by making a small detour to the club to get my name down for next Saturday's medal...
(Interested in trying to apply theories, practice drills and to talk about them with other golfers? Try the Golf golf and more Golf blog. I'm happy to hear any suggestions anyone may have for ideas to try out in that forum.
I did manage to sneak out last night and drive up to the only golf course on Skye, but this was a washout as I'd forgotten some medication and as my morning dose wore off my game disintegrated. I managed to lose 5 balls, unusual for me these days, and then developed a case of the shanks. Interestingly, I've been involved in a discussion on Twitter, as a mental game coach in training asked another coahc what proportion of poor shots were due to mental errors, and what portion due to physical errors. My feeling is that it's impossible to disentangle the two, they're both present in every poor shot, the proportions vary. My experience with my medication backs this up, as every time I've been trying to hit shots when I've forgotten a dose I develop a case of the shanks, something that is not usually a feature of my game, thankfully. I cut my losses and headed home after the 6th hole, but will return there. It's an interesting course, by the sea at the foot of the Red Cuillin mountains, but a heathland rather than links course, although the two of course play similarly. It's a functional course, not perhaps the best in design but fun to play your way around and the setting is little short of spectacular. There is plenty to marvel at, and it's easy to avoid getting caught up in mechanical thoughts between shots here.
Their website can be found here
I also manged to get out today for 9 holes at Gairloch, where my in-laws reside; my score can be found here. It only tells part of the story. I put my first drive out of bounds, but after that played solidly and only just missed a 5-foot putt for a 5. I then started to play really quite well, not in the zone but near enough to catch a brief glimpse of what it could be. I was calm and relaxed, playing swiftly but unhurriedly, and none of my putts missed by much, but unfortunately I wasn't able to block out the excitement of potentially scoring well, and with this hope came the undercurrent of fear.I don't know what came first, the decrease in quality of my shots or me slowing down, but whichever initiated it, they exacerbated each other and exasperated me (not actually that much on the course, but I feel keenly that I had an opportunity to get a good score) I got ahead of myself, and although I did bring myself back into the present, I didn't manage to banish the twin demons of hope and fear entirely. The 8th at Gairloch is one of the 2 "links" style holes and is for many a place of poor memories, poor shots and even poorer course management decisions. I was guilty of all 3, although I feel I can keep the memories at bay. I pulled my drive into the left hand rough, but avoided the gully of lost balls and the maram grass at the side of the hill, but aimed and played my six iron poorly. I was looking to get to the top of the cliff that overlooks the contiunation of the fairway as it approaches the green, but hit it right. Not a push, just a too-casual aim, and I found myself with a sloping uphill lie but with the ball beneath my feet. I then chose to try a 6 wood, rather than hitting say a half 9-iron up to where the second shot should have been played, and pull hooked the ball into some thickish rough, took a further 2 shots onto the green and then three putted. Hit my tee shot at the 9th into a bunker, had to stand outwith the bunker and reach down for a ball well below my feet on a downhill lie. Left first one in there, second came out about 2 feet, and then chipped and 2 putted.
I can't be too upset. Given how things looked and felt last night, I'd have quite happily taken a 47 for 9 at Gairloch the next day. I had a lot of putts that weren't far away and that's getting better. I'm (starting) to get more conscious of trying a shorter back swing but without stiffening up. I had the feeling of playing fairly effortlessly and smoothly. Although I perhaps didn't handle the feeling of a round going well particularly well, I didn't disintegrate and I hope to have many more chances to deal with that feeling- after all, if it comes more often it means that I'm getting better, playing better and scoring better. And I'm improving as a golfer. Bit by bit, in a fairly attritional fashion but there is forward movement. I'm also really pleased that I put last night's poor round aside and didn't let it affect my game. Fatigue may also have played a part - had a fun but exhausting weekend of the kids to myself, and had driven for 3 hours before playing; Hadn't drunk enough and was really hungry by the time the 8th hove into view- all things that are easy to remedy when I have my usual bag and trolley, as I'd just packed a pencil bag to save space.
So what to change? Missed a couple of putts from short distance (I'm fairly certain deceleration is the culprit) so I'm going to hit consecutive 3 footers at home, aiming to reach 25 or so. Hopefully I'll be able to get out onto the putting greens too, a couple of nights to try things like spiral impossible, never up never win and other putting drills from Instinctive Golf. I'd been keeping up my stretching but fatigue has limited me the last couple of nights so will readdress that from Tuesday at the earliest. I'm starting to really think about how to setup and aim consistently with all of my clubs, putter to driver; I've also replaced my 44(!) degree Pitching Wedge with a 42 degree Cleveland Niblick, a hybrid scoring club. This compliments my Eidolon wedges (48,54,60 degree) rather well, and I practiced chipping with it off of tight lies. Seems to be best to use a putting stroke for short chips, standard chip for longer ones; the putt/chip works rather well from tight lies. The other thing to do is to keep an eye on my routine, to do my best to keep the amount of time taken fairly constant, and fairly swift in keeping with my behaviour style.
Home tomorrow hopefully, and I'll drive my wife daft by making a small detour to the club to get my name down for next Saturday's medal...
(Interested in trying to apply theories, practice drills and to talk about them with other golfers? Try the Golf golf and more Golf blog. I'm happy to hear any suggestions anyone may have for ideas to try out in that forum.
Wednesday, 12 May 2010
Saturday 8th of May: 99 (Medal, Kings Links)
Details of the round can be found here
Another blowy day, and an improvement of 5 strokes on last week. My back 9 was pretty impressive by my standards, pretty solid "bogey" golf, with a par on the last. My putter hadn't really been firing on the front 9- more on that later- and as I made the turn I realised that I'd been tight and tense on the greens, and that more than anything was affecting things. I gave myself a little shake, accepted that I hadn't worked enough on putting technique or touch & feel drills during the week, and that on the course wasn't the time or place to sort it or to remonstrate with myself (there is also mitigation, honest!), but what I could do was relax and hit putts free from tension and as smoothly as possible. This worked very well for me- got a 4 at the very tricky 10th (elevated tee, elevated green with harsh bunkering and linksy gorse nastiness in the gully between) and played much better. Only slight blemish on the back 9 was a triple at the 17th; was by the green in 3, then thinned a chip way past the flag from a tight lie (for a moment I thought it might hit the pin and drop in or at least slow a bit, but no. Was annoyed as I usually play the Hybrid chip from that sort of lie, but had hit a poor one on the 15th, turning a look at par into a double bogey 7 so went for a 9 iron chip) Then I tightened up over the putt back, and three putted. Sank an 8-10 footer on the last for a scrambled par though, which made things look brighter. Sand play was pretty good, always out in one apart from the first. Although stats show lots of missed fairways, that's not all the story; many of the misses on the back 9 were where I was in semi rough, at a reasonable distance with a fairly clear shot; I may stop recording these as missed fairways as I'd rather have that than hitting a fairway 20 yards off the tee after popping the ball up). I didn't start the round well so I'm really proud of the way I stuck in to get a reasonable score- playing to my handicap for the first time in competition, on a day where one of my playing partners (18 handicap) NR'd, and the other (12) scored 95.
On the downside, I started poorly. I got to the club at an OK time, but as the other lads weren't there, I got caught up reading waiting for them and as a result we were rushed onto the tee- no stretching, no quiet time, no playing the preparatory NLP mp3, nowt! Still, drove the green off the first tee. Sadly it was a duck hook onto the 14th green...
I also hadn't done any putting preparation. I'd had an appraisal at work, an annual review, and because of illness my last to had been difficult; I was thus anxious about this one and spent a long time preparing. Although it went very well, it used up a lot of energy, so not much putting practice was had. And by the time I got home on Friday I was exhausted, so didn't really prepare.
I missed stretching on Friday and the following Monday, and only got a half set done before the round.
On the whole, though I'm pleased. Pleased with how I golfed my ball around the back 9 the back 9, at the way I changed my state, at how I hung on despite it not going well, at the par putt after the 3 putt on 17, at being able to accept my putting as it was and then focus on maximising how I used the stroke I have. No technical thoughts to speak of on the course, and I was unhurriedly swift. Kept energy on a much more even keel with fruit, sandwich and low fat cereal bar, and drank more water.
What needs to improve? Putting- short, long and lag. I am a wee bit frustrated that I'm making the same mistake repeatedly- I want to be making new mistakes! This therefore needs work. I don't want to be saying this after my next medal round (not the 15th, as I'm on holiday) so will use this as a motivator if I'm ambivalent to going out when I have the opportunity. My preparation was also poor on the day (again something I said last week) so will lay things out Friday, and get to the club earlier. Need to find a way to get into focus before the first tee, rather than muddling on into the middle of the round. Have added a Cleveland Niblick (42 degree) in place of my 44 degree PW (!- what business does a PW have being 44 degrees? it's a piece of nonsense just done to say clubs go farther...)
Because this handicap is coming down, like it or not!
Right, I'm off to stretch before bed. Toothbrushing exercise before brushing teeth...
If you're interested in joining a golf group where we try out ideas and theories and then discuss them, please have a look at http://ggandmg.blogspot.com, or have a wee search on Twitter for the #ggmg hashtag; join our conversation!
Another blowy day, and an improvement of 5 strokes on last week. My back 9 was pretty impressive by my standards, pretty solid "bogey" golf, with a par on the last. My putter hadn't really been firing on the front 9- more on that later- and as I made the turn I realised that I'd been tight and tense on the greens, and that more than anything was affecting things. I gave myself a little shake, accepted that I hadn't worked enough on putting technique or touch & feel drills during the week, and that on the course wasn't the time or place to sort it or to remonstrate with myself (there is also mitigation, honest!), but what I could do was relax and hit putts free from tension and as smoothly as possible. This worked very well for me- got a 4 at the very tricky 10th (elevated tee, elevated green with harsh bunkering and linksy gorse nastiness in the gully between) and played much better. Only slight blemish on the back 9 was a triple at the 17th; was by the green in 3, then thinned a chip way past the flag from a tight lie (for a moment I thought it might hit the pin and drop in or at least slow a bit, but no. Was annoyed as I usually play the Hybrid chip from that sort of lie, but had hit a poor one on the 15th, turning a look at par into a double bogey 7 so went for a 9 iron chip) Then I tightened up over the putt back, and three putted. Sank an 8-10 footer on the last for a scrambled par though, which made things look brighter. Sand play was pretty good, always out in one apart from the first. Although stats show lots of missed fairways, that's not all the story; many of the misses on the back 9 were where I was in semi rough, at a reasonable distance with a fairly clear shot; I may stop recording these as missed fairways as I'd rather have that than hitting a fairway 20 yards off the tee after popping the ball up). I didn't start the round well so I'm really proud of the way I stuck in to get a reasonable score- playing to my handicap for the first time in competition, on a day where one of my playing partners (18 handicap) NR'd, and the other (12) scored 95.
On the downside, I started poorly. I got to the club at an OK time, but as the other lads weren't there, I got caught up reading waiting for them and as a result we were rushed onto the tee- no stretching, no quiet time, no playing the preparatory NLP mp3, nowt! Still, drove the green off the first tee. Sadly it was a duck hook onto the 14th green...
I also hadn't done any putting preparation. I'd had an appraisal at work, an annual review, and because of illness my last to had been difficult; I was thus anxious about this one and spent a long time preparing. Although it went very well, it used up a lot of energy, so not much putting practice was had. And by the time I got home on Friday I was exhausted, so didn't really prepare.
I missed stretching on Friday and the following Monday, and only got a half set done before the round.
On the whole, though I'm pleased. Pleased with how I golfed my ball around the back 9 the back 9, at the way I changed my state, at how I hung on despite it not going well, at the par putt after the 3 putt on 17, at being able to accept my putting as it was and then focus on maximising how I used the stroke I have. No technical thoughts to speak of on the course, and I was unhurriedly swift. Kept energy on a much more even keel with fruit, sandwich and low fat cereal bar, and drank more water.
What needs to improve? Putting- short, long and lag. I am a wee bit frustrated that I'm making the same mistake repeatedly- I want to be making new mistakes! This therefore needs work. I don't want to be saying this after my next medal round (not the 15th, as I'm on holiday) so will use this as a motivator if I'm ambivalent to going out when I have the opportunity. My preparation was also poor on the day (again something I said last week) so will lay things out Friday, and get to the club earlier. Need to find a way to get into focus before the first tee, rather than muddling on into the middle of the round. Have added a Cleveland Niblick (42 degree) in place of my 44 degree PW (!- what business does a PW have being 44 degrees? it's a piece of nonsense just done to say clubs go farther...)
Because this handicap is coming down, like it or not!
Right, I'm off to stretch before bed. Toothbrushing exercise before brushing teeth...
If you're interested in joining a golf group where we try out ideas and theories and then discuss them, please have a look at http://ggandmg.blogspot.com, or have a wee search on Twitter for the #ggmg hashtag; join our conversation!
Wednesday, 5 May 2010
Toothbrushing Exercises
I read about an interesting concept: the toothbrushing exercise. This refers to things that you accept will just have to happen for things to be as you want. After all, if you don't brush your teeth they decay and fall out. I didn't manage to stretch on Monday, but after hurting my back yesterday, I figured I had to. I want to acheive a lot in golf, so with only taking the game up in my thirties I have to look after myself so stretching has to become a toothbrushing exercise. There will be others. What's yours?
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