Tuesday, August 5, 2014

lord it's been some time

Alright so not the constant posting that I had been hoping for but isn't that how a blog works?  It's not like good golf isn't a goal but it also isn't easy.  The game is 95% mental and 5% non sucking swing and if you've got that you've got yourself a pretty good golf game.  This spring and summer were not easy or fun and it had a serious effect on my game.  Quick summary without too many unnecessary details:
- Started to see John and coaching was going just okay.  In the end I found out he wasn't the right fit for me as his style wasn't my thing and he didn't explain things in a way that clicked for me.  I think he is an excellent coach and I am a much better golfer when I use the set up that he taught me.  I will for sure have this set up into the absolute indefinite future.  While every coach  I have from now forward will have their own idea of the right setup I really like John's and I think that it's really sold and build for swinging from the lower body.
- Not that it matters.  John moved to China to teach golf there to Olympic hopefuls.
- Emotionally this summer hasn't been easy.  A rough life carries straight out onto the course and I actually left the course in one instance where I couldn't pull my shit together emotionally enough to even play.  No wonder Tiger fell off the scene when his wife chased after him with a golf club.

Last week though I decided I've had enough bad golf games and called my friend Jeff.  He isn't exactly a PGA swing coach but he is good at reminding me of the things I'm doing wrong.  He calls me out all the stuff that John called out and the most important thing?  He doesn't use gimmicks.  None of this oh well if you hold your club like this you will fix your swing cause it's so closed at impact that you can't possibly slice the ball.  No.  Jeff says something and it must be how he says it or how he explains things but they click with me right away and it's easy for me to fix things on the spot.  He also gets me motivated to play well and that's what it's all about... motivation to  play well and motivation to practice.  I'm telling you, practice is key.  You've got to practice... and not just like once a month, once a week, twice a week.... but like at least one round a week and practice a couple times a week.  Clubs in hand three times a week to maintain playing the same way you play every week.  Add a swing coach, time on the putting green with drills and sticks, working out, yoga, range time and chipping.  Hours of chipping... then... then watch your handicap drop.  Simple as that right?  Who has all this time???

Lunch Monday:  Putting... After work Monday:  Meet with Jeff and work on swing.
Tuesday:  Yoga at lunch, swim after work
Wednesday: Yoga at lunch, range after work with chipping
Thursday: Yoga at lunch, curling at night
Friday:  Swim at lunch if lucky or yoga, short game or practice after work.
Saturday:  Yoga or 18 holes.
Sunday:  Comedy Golf

So... the time exists.  But... it is really hard to get that practice in.  Kevin is gone all week working on the east coast and I have no kids and by looking at my calendar you probably think no social life either :)  I used to curl as much as I play golf and I got really pretty good at it.  Curling isn't accessible here so I've replaced the obsession with golf.  Love it.  Shot one of my best rounds this weekend and now I cannot wait to get back out and play again.  More goodies to come!  Thanks for sticking with me, it's onward and upward from here!