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SATTHMNS
121 Posts |
 Posted - June 03 2009 : 09:35:34 AM
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I thought i might as well start my own Practice log here for 2009
After my problems of late I went to the range to really work on it last night. I did have better results.
I hit my Driver much better, no pushed shots, a couple of pulls ,
but many straight long shots. I felt much more power also.
My iron shots were better, I still pulled quite a few and hit too many fat shots. Probably dipping I would guess or just trying to swing too hard. They are very frustrating though.
One big thing I tried to work on was to swing more under control and really try to feel the left shoulder pushing back on the back swing and pulling through on the down swing. Basically swing easier and not try to kill the ball which is my nature.
PROBABLY THE BIG THING I DID WAS TOO REALLY REALLY WORK AT KEEPING MY HEAD BACK BEHIND THE BALL AS LONG AS POSSABLE, UNTIL MY BACK SHOULDER KIND OF PULLED IT UP IN THE FOLLOW THROUGH. I really believe this is one of my biggest problems
So when I was able to swing much more under control and keep my head back over my right trail knee i was hitting the ball a lot more on target. (now I just need to be able to continue that)
Also worked some on my chipping, still struggle there quite a bit, while on the range I am hitting them much better still a long ways to go though. When i went to the practice green I am really struggling big time. I started out either leaving them way short or blading them across the green. I kept working on it and loosed up my arms shoulders etc. and tried to concentrate more on the ball and had some better results at the end.
In the end I had one of my better range sessions and can see what works and doesn't for the most part, now it is time to get it down so I can do it consistently.
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jclenden
USA
206 Posts |
Posted - June 03 2009 : 12:30:58 PM
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| I look forward to reading your log. It's helpful to hear what other people have learned about their swings and how they set about improving their game. |
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flopper
Sweden
320 Posts |
Posted - June 03 2009 : 12:31:18 PM
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woohoo, keep it up.
Regarding chipping, left leg weight, and then, arms swing its much like the trow a bucket of water down the ball where the hands stay passive and the arms guide it down.
this allows a good contact and one I could do well on practice greens.
Just not yet for actual play.
But I am also doing some practice to test how to play shots with chips and pitches.
From 11hcp to tourpro level 2009?
Got it how to swing Symple. Same swing with superb puttning. Low 70 scores here I come! |
Edited by - flopper on June 03 2009 1:44:09 PM |
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SATTHMNS
121 Posts |
Posted - June 04 2009 : 12:54:44 PM
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I played in the mens league yesterday. I play 9 holes first before the league started with 4 guys and it was very ugly.
Pop up Drives, a few pulled , weak pushed shots. I did hit one monster Drive it carried about 270 yards, then I hit my next 6 iron shot on the par 5. Awful pitching and chipping. I didn't bother to add up my score but it was in the 50's for sure.
The next 9 holes that was my official league round I started out good. after the first 5 holes i was two over par. (which is very good for me) I pared the toughest holes on the course and could have birdied it. I was hitting the ball much better. (short game still not good but better than first round. Pitching still not good.
Then I got to the long par three what we call the volcano hole. it is an elevated green. I ended up down to the left with a pulled 6iron shot and ended up with a 6. Then the next par 5 pulled a Drive out of bounce and a double . The next hole a par 4 and hooked the ball out on bounce then the next one sliced right and under a tree so I ended up 4 over. so in those three holes i was 9 over par.
The last par 5 I hit a great drive and was on in two Putting for Eagle. Ended up three Putting for par so I ended up 11 over par. My handicap is 10 over for 9 holes. (which is pretty sad for as much as I practice) |
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flopper
Sweden
320 Posts |
Posted - June 05 2009 : 09:19:52 AM
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I would ask myself the question, what would it be like to be more consistent?
And find out how that would feel playing like that.
Consistency in my book is when I am able to have the same focus of attention trough the round.
And also play the shot each one at the time.
I dont care where the ball ends up, if it dosnt end up where I wanted, I adjust by going back to the focus of attention.
I am consistent, but short 
I have the few last rounds seldom been into any trouble, unless I was tired or just simply upset.
Golf wise, I play decent, just the short game that still has had some flaws due to having a few flaws out on the course.
Practice range I nail the short game.
What I do, is to ask myself, in how I want things to be, as I play golf I came up I want to be able to have the distance which would make me into lower distance pro´s, now if that wasnt the case, I could play my home course and most likely shoot par or better during the summer with the current game and swing.
So, if I want to have more distance, I ask myself how that would be like and playing like this on the course with the distance I would want.
I basically elicit the perceptions in how it feels like and how I think as I am able to do that.
Now, if everything I have is present with skills, abilites etc..then I am able to with a few rounds have such an experience playing.
I did this with consistency for the long game and are doing this for my chipping/pitching for tomorow.
So, I organize my perceptions, the focus of attention, and start to notice what is present in my attention when I am able to play as I define along the way.
I want my chipping and pitching to be more consistent.
If that was the case for me, how would that be like?
So this starts for me to point my attention to where I want it to be.
Even though I might not exactly know it before I start this.
For me this points me to the club I use and where the ball will land so when I step up to make the shot, I am able to understand how the ball will interact with the green and grass and how much roll and bounce I get.
Understanding that, allows me to project and see where the ball lands and how it behaves.
This for me creates a certain sense, a feeling combined with a position where I just know this is the right thing to do.
Then I make the shot.
In my regard, as many seldom are aware of, our consiousness, shifts alot when we do things, our mind wanders a bit, so any issue we have is either, blocks or limitations based upon beliefs or a lack of skill.
Distance for me is more skill based so even if I try I cant get it due to a lack of skill to perform.
If its belief based, then its often casused by expectations about ones capacity or result.
Both are easly handled by focus on one shot at the time, and playing it as one would want before making the shot.
This takes away the result and capacity issue.
As I wrote in my thread, as I relaxed, my whole body could be engaged into the motion, which for me was crucial to get the aha of understanding how the body is suppose to feel and be like when swinging.
So, as I get that aha, I then continue to do this until I can say its somewhat stable to start adjusting.
Whole body motion first becoming stable, then I can start to adjust details.
/rob
From 11hcp to tourpro level 2009?
Got it how to swing Symple. Same swing with superb puttning. Low 70 scores here I come! |
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SATTHMNS
121 Posts |
Posted - June 08 2009 : 11:06:50 AM
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I have been to the range since my league round on the 6/3/09.
I felt i think for the first time at the range that I was really keeping the triangle in tack that Mike talks about in the own your swing DVD. I was really concentrating on turning the shoulders to power the swing with passive arms. I was hitting the ball better than ever when I did that properly. I was right on target hitting the practice greens on the driving range.
(the only problem I had was hitting some fat shots with my irons and when I didn't keep my head behind the ball. )
I played 9 holes in the couples league on Friday night. I did not hit the ball near as well as on the range. I was hooking or pulling a lot of my Drives, which was the oposite of last time. (well i did pull some the other times too) But this time i did not push or slice any of the Drives. Now last time I was pulling all my irons , this time I pushed most of my irons.
THE OTHER BIG BIG PROBLEM WAS A LOT OF FAT IRON SHOTS !!!
I find fat shots so frustrating. It seems like it happens a lot right after a good Drive too. I even seemed to hit many short pitch shots fat. Is this caused from using the arms too much and not the core power or looking up too soon?
The only thing more frustrating are the pulled or hooked shots out of bounce.
We had rain all weekend so i couldn't get back to the range to work on it. Hopefully tonight I can get back to work at the range. |
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flopper
Sweden
320 Posts |
Posted - June 08 2009 : 12:22:10 PM
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your most likely change your head down.
moving up and down.
if you have sunny days, you can check this with the shadow drill if the head moves a lot.
I would assume if you did hit a shot using the t-lock stance, that wouldnt cause any fat shots.
if that would be the case, then, likely, a conventional golf swing flaw you might have residues for you.
The only time I hit fat, is when I get to step into the ball.
Moving down with body instead of letting the body move into proper position.
My suggestion would be, check if your head stays back, and if your shifting towards the forward leg to do a weight shift is occouring, which would let the body get into a to forward tilted which then would make the arms to go down to steep getting the fat shots.
(no idea if that is the case, it just seemed plausible)
I hit great iron shots, now I just need to get driver there also 
From 11hcp to tourpro level 2009?
Got it how to swing Symple. Same swing with superb puttning. Low 70 scores here I come! |
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SATTHMNS
121 Posts |
Posted - June 16 2009 : 5:22:07 PM
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IO seemed to have lost it. Last Tuesday i went the range and could not hit the ball at all. Nothing worked you would have thought I had never picked up a golf club in my life. No matter what i did i couldn't get it back. Oh I did hit a couple of good Drives but could not hit it at all.
I went to the range yesterday and a little better. I could hit full swing shot ok not great, but still could not make good contact with short shots , chips or anything with my feet close together. If i didn't top it or hit them to the right they were still week shot right. A few ok irons but still bad .
Frustration is all i can say !!! |
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SATTHMNS
121 Posts |
Posted - June 17 2009 : 09:18:14 AM
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Went to the range last night with better results. Basically with the T-lock stance I was hitting the ball pretty good. Some not that straight but at least I was hitting the ball well with power again.
I didn't have a lot of time though, so i didn't work on chipping or short shots . (although I did try a few chips on to the green right before i left with good results. |
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simpleswing
951 Posts |
Posted - June 17 2009 : 12:53:00 PM
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Hi Mike,
Remember the more specific information you put in your posts about your bad shots the more we'll be able to help. For example, saying "could not hit the ball at all" could be a lot of things.
You also said, "I went to the range yesterday and a little better. I could hit full swing shot ok not great, but still could not make good contact with short shots , chips or anything with my feet close together. If i didn't top it or hit them to the right they were still week shot right. A few ok irons but still bad ."
That gives me more to work with. When you can not hit balls solidly with your feet together that tells me the problem is with your upper body. (That's because with your feet together your lower body generally can't move around enough to really screw up your shots.) It also sound like your moving your head up and down. Check out the swing with the Shadow Drill http://simpleswing.forumco.com/topic~TOPIC_ID~647.asp to see what's moving.
I'd be willing to bet your taking the club back way off plane and that you weren't doing a Set-up Waggle http://simpleswing.forumco.com/topic~TOPIC_ID~332.asp before every swing. Doing a set-up waggle will really help keep you on-plane and make a much more consistent swing.
Still looking forward to seeing a video from you. 
Joe Davidson
Simple Golf |
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SATTHMNS
121 Posts |
Posted - August 02 2009 : 6:04:55 PM
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I had not been playing very well at all. i have been very frustrated. I had lost it completely then after a break started again hooking everything. Then last Thursday I started pcuhing Drives very bad and a few slices. A lot of out of bounce shots.
I went to the range yesterday and Worked on it and i played in a best shot yesterday afternoon and hit the ball VERY WELL. I did hook two Drives OT. But on the whole it was one of my best ball striking days. I found out at the range I was not following through with my swing and that was why i was pushing everything so bad. I really focused on whipping the shoulders and it resulted in great ball stiking. I hit a 4 wood 250 yards to the center of the green one of my longest fairway shots ever. (we missed the Eagle putt though.
I think i am finally feeling it and I understand how the swing really works much better. |
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mikeoleary
535 Posts |
Posted - August 03 2009 : 5:47:58 PM
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Mike
we id'd your 'swing faults' at clinic, i'm sure most still applies so focus on relax grip tension, keep front arm straight for lever power THRU swing and finish// why don't your really focus on Own Your Swing DVD, best for you as you 'get it' this one really focuses on top of bs and finish and as you are realizing if you get those 2 positions correct then = good shot every time.
let me know if we need to do a phone lesson
good luck
take care/ tell your wonderful lady hello
Mike O |
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SATTHMNS
121 Posts |
Posted - August 04 2009 : 09:49:17 AM
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Thanks Mike
I was hoping to get down to Fla. to see you over the winter, but couldn't make it. Business has been very slow since last fall.
(you don't have any clinics here in the Midwest any time soon do you ? I have not seen any schedules on the board. Hopefully I can make it to Fla. this winter.
I will work on the fundamentals from the "OWN YOUR SWING DVD"
I am certainly convinced without doubt that SPS is by far the best swing method. I know when I do thing correct I hit long straight shots. It is so much easier to do than any other swing method. When I played in our best shot on Saturday i played with two friends who have much lower handicaps than I do and one is a scratch golfer and I hit the ball better than they did (besides my two pulled Drives ) My wife even commented that she had never seen me hit thew ball that well ever. (it was a 3 couple best shot alternating guys and girls)
I really felt like I discovered at the range a lot of what i had been doing wrong , so hopefully I can continue in the right direction now, i am very excited to get back there tonight. |
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SATTHMNS
121 Posts |
Posted - August 05 2009 : 11:01:36 AM
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I went to the range last night with pretty good results.
I started out by hitting short wedge shots, very short ones until I got them down.
I then started hitting longer wedge shots until I felt comfortable that I was hitting them well.
Than started hitting 56 wedge shots to a flag surrounded by a 8 Ft mowed green about 75 yards out. I was pretty much hitting it almost every time or very close. (of course a few bad ones but very few) After a lot of shots on to that little green, I moved to the next one with a 53 wedge. This one was about 90+ yards or so. I was hitting that little 8Ft green almost every time. (even better than the 75 yard one.)
I then took my standard pitching wedge and was hitting it towards a 130 yard little green, short on some but there was no other green to hit to. I then went to the 9 iron and hitting them pretty good but not as good as wedges. (I think i started swinging too hard at times) Did hit some really good ones on to that little green area.
I then went to the 8 iron and was pulling some, probalby swinging a little too hard still. Did get them straightened out some. Then went to the 7 iron, i settled down and hitting them pretty good. Pulled a few.
I tried a 4 iron which I usually can't hit at all (and usually don't even have in my bag), and hit some poor ones to start out .
I then started crushing them them, a few pulled, then some straight and long at the end.
Drives the few i hit were pretty good, fairway woods not bad , but not as good as i wanted. (some 4 iron shots better.)
On the whole I followed up my good day on Saturday with another good day on the range. Much better by far than normal. What seems to be working well for me is really spending a lot of time on my short wedge shot to start out. now I have always started with my wedges but the last two times out I spent a LOT more time with them and a lot less on the long clubs. this seems to be what i need right now to get the SPS turn and shoulder whip down better.
The last two times out at the range have probably been my best two in a row ever.
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simpleswing
951 Posts |
Posted - August 05 2009 : 4:18:54 PM
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Hi Mike,
I'm so happy to see you start your practice session by hitting a bunch of wedges. I hope you are keeping the feet pretty close together and your weight on your front leg on those because that will increase your accuracy and consistency. Hitting those wedge shots helps groove your swing which will make your whole practice session better. It's easier to let the core (shoulders, chest & abdomen) power the swing when it's just a wedge. With longer clubs all too often we start "hitting at the ball" instead of just swinging the club like with do with the wedges.
I see that you're hitting the ball better but more importantly I see that you're starting to really understand the golf swing much better. Good job.
Joe Davidson
Simple Golf |
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mikeoleary
535 Posts |
Posted - August 05 2009 : 8:12:06 PM
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Mike S
great to hear productive practice session and better ball striking/ try something for me as this has worked for several of my most recent golf school students/
measure your wedge swing speed/ not in terms of your club head speed but how hard you swing with body ie shoulders and chest... define it/ meaning I show and tell my students your core turn is as you coil and uncoil is 25 mph back and 50 mph on uncoil or downswing.
ok so if you swing your wedge or your body uncoils at 50 mph (relative but assign any number as you quantify body swinging club).
the idea here is to swing all your clubs at this speed/ no faster hands or arms!!!
so for next practice swing all clubs at same core turn speed/ knowing you lol swing 4 iron or driver at wedge speed will be hard at first but I know you once you 'slow' down swing and allow shoulders to uncoil and be the power source that the distance and accuracy you gain will be amazing.
let me know if this helps at all
good luck
Mike O |
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SATTHMNS
121 Posts |
Posted - August 06 2009 : 11:29:48 AM
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Thanks Joe and Mike for your help
I played yesterday in the mens league. I hit some good shots but plenty of poor ones too. I know I am not going to hit every shot great , and some days you will have good days and some bad. I expect bad days at times. Yesterday was not a great day, but I have had worse also.
I hit one Drive OB to the left a big pull. I hit one way right huge push OB. A few others that went weak and far right. The longer club I hit the worse they seem to be.
I will work on what you suggest Mike with the core turns. I know that is a big problem I have I try to swing to hard and end up not really turning the core and slide or end up more of an arm swing. I certainly do not have the same swing with all clubs like you show on the DVD playing lessons and you mentioned in your post. i know I try to swing much harder with longer clubs and that is one of my big problems.
I am still know I have a lot of work to do, i understand the swing better. I just need to get it to the point where I can repeat it with out thinking about it. |
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SATTHMNS
121 Posts |
Posted - August 06 2009 : 2:37:06 PM
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I went to the range over the lunch hour today. Hit mostly wedges again. 56 W , then 53 W , than standard PW, Very good ball striking.
(feet close together )
One nice thing about this time of day is the Sun is behind me so i can see my shadow. (Joe's shadow drill) This was a big benefit for me because i move my head around way too much at times.
I then went to the full swing with full swing stance . I realy concentrated on keeping my head back and not looking up until the ball is gone. Very good with the PW full swing. I then went a 7I started out good then some poor. I even started pushing some.
(I don't understnd why really, maybe quitting on the swing and not following through, although with the square club face that should not happen)
I also tried Mike's idea of differnt core speeds.
This is something I like but need to spend more time on it. I did start this with my wedges also my other clubs.
I tried hitting my 4 wood, but not very many good shots at all. Then my Driver, started out with some pop-ups which can be a problem with me. I made a big effort to turn the core and make sure I am making a FULL shoulder turn. Which i came to realize I have not been doing with the longer clubs good as i should have. When I did make the full back swing and tried to keep my arms more passive and turn the core I hit some GREAT shots.
(kind of odd that I seemed to be making a fuller turn with short clubs at times than my long ones, ?I think I get to quick with my back swing trying to swing faster and then don't end up making a ful back swing and then a full follow through. )
Well I am going to try to do more of these lunch time range sessions. I was only there about 45 min. but for sure it was well worth it. |
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simpleswing
951 Posts |
Posted - August 10 2009 : 2:19:38 PM
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Hi Mike,
When you say you pop up some of your drives, where do you play the ball in relation to your front shoulder. (I'm wondering if you're playing the ball behind that front shoulder).
I'd like to see you hit some balls with the ball opposite your left shoulder or even a little forward of your shoulder so you catch it on the upswing.
I'm wondering if those pushes are causes by a collapse of the left knee. (the left knee moving so much toward the target that it over tilts your hips and can throw your whole upper body out of position. If that's the problem the Back Heel Up Drill http://simpleswing.forumco.com/topic~TOPIC_ID~326.asp should end the problem right away.
I would still like to see some video of your swing.
Joe Davidson
Simple Golf |
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SATTHMNS
121 Posts |
Posted - August 10 2009 : 4:13:42 PM
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I do keep the ball pretty far forward . I have had a problem quite often with any type swing, so I am sure it is me not SPS. It maybe a problem with keeping my head still or over the back knee also.
I'll try to get you a video if i can.
Mike |
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SATTHMNS
121 Posts |
Posted - August 13 2009 : 09:13:11 AM
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I played in the men's ;league last night it was awful to say the least.
I started out hitting pulled shot OB, then second round was a couple
failure.
I hit 7 more ball OB. four to the right BIG pushed shots and 3 pulled--hooked shots. So there is no pattern to it.
A few fat shots, a topped fairway wood shots too.
Now i did hit some good shots too, but I just am really struggling with my tee shots for the most part. I was very frustrated with my golf game.
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2009 Practice etc.
