Bellingham Golf

Played Shuksan GC today, a challenging course by my standards. Shot a 91 with every last swipe accounted for. Not too bad for a chop. My swing was in better shape today than last time. Less hooky.

WITB

Haven't played much golf in five years. During the past few months I have played 2-5 times a month, hit the range more frequently, and even took a lesson. The lesson did more for me that any past instruction. My instructor basically set me up for a draw which I have been hitting fairly consistently for a couple of months now.

I have purchased three clubs this summer: driver, 3-wood, and putter. All of these clubs are fairly outdated but I couldn't be happier with them. For the first time in a long while I feel that I have a set of sticks that can be trusted… from top to bottom.

Driver: Callaway FT-iZ Tour, 10.5°, Stiff, 44"
3 Wood: Adams Speedline LP, 15°, Stiff, 42"
Hybrids: Adams A3 Boxer, 3-5, Stiff
3H 19°
4H 22°
5H 25°
Irons: Adams A3 3-PW, Stiff
6I 29°
7I 33°
8I 37°
9I 41°
PW 45°
Gap: Titleist Vokey Tour Chrome, 48°
Sand: Titleist Vokey Tour Oil Can, 54°
Lob: Titleist Vokey Tour Oil Can, 58°
Putter: Cleveland Classics Black Platinum 2, 33", Super Stroke Ultra Slim

Grad School Winding Down

As school winds down, I have played more. For the past 5 years I played perhaps two to four times per year. It's good to swing the club again. During that time, I could reasonably expect to shoot in the low to mid 90's. And in an effort to get better, I got significantly worse... swing thoughts all over the place and too many things going on in the swing.

Yesterday, I took a half-hour lesson. The instructor was friendly, looked at my swing for about six balls down the line and head on. Then he put me on video. He identified and suggested three things:

• Stronger grip more in the fingers.
• Spin tilt which put my head on the back side of the ball rather than in front of it.
• Swing thought: "Hit the inside of the ball."
• Process thought: "Thought box and swing box." When you enter the swing box, there is no more thinking. Very useful.

My first swing with an 8-iron was a beautiful high draw. I took the new positions to the course and hacked it up a touch due to short game and mid-iron play. I think I need to look at set-up with the irons. However, I had a different ball flight and hit some shots that would have been impossible with the old motion. Piercing draws with a 3-hybrid are gorgeous. My driver was an asset, rather than a liability.

I had some fun.

Throw a bag of balls

Throw a bag of balls (video) toward the target.

Divot Past the Ball

Bobby Clampet's general observation that the further past the ball one's divot, the lower his handicap seems to hold true. An interesting little graphic illustrates the idea.

Three Points

I'm not sure of the merit of this idea, but I'm applying it to my practice lately. I hope to test it out in the real world soon. Here's the idea:

1. Keep my feet planted. Left foot/right foot.
2. Keep my head still: Little lateral or vertical movement.

Three points: left foot, right foot, and head.

The idea is that it will help stabalize my whole swing. Less movement should equal better spine angle and crisper contact.

Thats the idea anyway.

Another 9

My buddy Ryan showed up today with his family. We went and played the Willow's Run par-3. I'm certain I was coming over the top.

1. Keep your right elbow in.


2. Swing the club around your body.