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The Goofy Game of Golf Trying to Execute the Answer

This week I am going to discuss how to try to apply the answer to putting and the short game. Originally this was just going to be a putting blog, but the weeks play changed all that. At first I thought I was going to write about how trying to execute the answer in putting and the short game could be different than trying to execute it  in the full swing. This week changed all that. I played two rounds this week. Lets look at each round in depth on how it applies to the answer.

On Wednesday under some brutal conditions, 38 degrees with a pretty good breeze and some periodic mist, I managed to shoot a 75, although it was from the white tees at Scenic Valley which is pretty short, but considering the conditions, this was a really good round. I developed a swing that day that was very flat, but got me turning well, even though my body was pretty frozen.  I had my best putting day, since finding the answer, by making some good putts on the back nine to birdie 3 of the last five holes, and even though they were wrapped around a double bogey, I shot one under on the back. I found a particular putting method that worked really well that day. There are two things that make putting different in trying to execute the answer. Putting itself, although relatively simple, can have dozens of ways to make a stroke. Lets face it, one of the things I am not going to do in trying to find my “that day swing” is to put my left hand low. Plus putting results are more black and white. Its either a miss or a make. If you recall last week when I started my nine hole round, I hit a 7 iron with a particular swing, and I considered the shot while not great, very acceptable. I continued to swing that way the rest of the round with good results. I also felt because putting is different, that a successful technique maybe tranferred from one day to the other.

Well today’s round proved me wrong. I had a horrible day putting and my short game was even worse, which led to an 81. The method that I had used on Wednesday failed miserably today and some preconceived short game ideas also were busts. My long game today was again pretty solid with a swing that found me making a solid move to my right side ala Curtis Strange. I did find a putting method on the back. that got me back to shooting a 38, highlighted by an eagle on the par 5 tenth hole.

What are the conclusions here?  You must allow all three phases of your golf game to  just happen, and not try to make them happen. This is much more difficult to do when it comes to putting and the short game. When you make a full swing there are many things happening to your body. You are turning, twisting, shifting, changing direction and cocking your wrists. All these movements can be felt and lead to you finding your that day swing. In the short game and putting there is not near the movement involved. So it is much more difficult to execute those aspects of the game with an open mind and not revert back to some previous technique. Its even harder to forget what was successful in the previous round. However, you must do this if are going to go into each round with that open and free mind that will allow all three parts of your golf game to function at its best for that day.  A very productive week and there is an outside chance for some more golf this week, as I plunge forward to execute the answer.

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The Goofy Game of Golf Trying to Execute the Answer

This week we are going to discuss the long game, and how to apply the answer. This was a perfect week to show how the answer works. I played 18 holes on Tuesday, 9 holes on Saturday and 18 holes today. I am going to take the week in chronological order and see how I applied the answer to each round with the full swing. Remember the answer is to find your “that day golf swing” as quickly as possible.

On Tuesday I had my first unique experience since finding the answer. I started off the round with some poor ball striking. I was hitting everything to the right and it took me until the 9th hole to find my “that day swing”. What got me back on track was to hit all shots, beginning on number 9, which was an uphill par 3, with a draw. That for me is unusual, because my basic shot is a fade. Once I started hitting everything from right to left, I hit some quality shots to play the last 10 holes 2 over par, and was able to salvage a 79. Even though it was tempting, I knew in my next round, that I would not start hitting shots from right to left or even try. This is the new key in playing golf. The problem with this round was that it took me too long to find my swing.

On Saturday I had some time to play 9 holes and the first hole is a par 3. I tried to get a feel for the day with the first swing. I hit a 7 iron and it was not a bad shot and found the green about 30 feet from the pin. I noticed with the first swing that I seemed to take the club a little back inside more than I usually do but since the shot was pretty good, not great, but acceptable, I allowed the club to take a similiar path on my next drive and proceeded to have a pretty good ball striking day and managed to shoot 39 with some mediocre putting. Again I walked off the 9th green knowing that this would not be my swing for tomorrow.

Today with temperatures in the mid to upper 50’s, and a moderate to gusty wind, I stood on the first tee with a helping wind, and just blistered the opening tee shot. What  I noticed on this swing, is that I had a full wind up with some pretty good wrist cock, maybe too much wrist cock, and a little bit of a pause at the top. I kept that feeling all day and had one of my best driving days of the year. I made a slight adjustment at address, during the round where I got my weight distributed toward the middle of my feet, and had a great ball striking day. With a passable short game and some decent, but not great putting I shot a one over 73. I know I will have to approach the next round with that same open mind and not try to dupicate the feel of this great round. I did not try to control the wrist cock today, even though at times, I think I over did it, but that little natural pause made all the difference in the world. I did not try to consciously do the pause, it was something that just happened today and I went with it, with great results. I know now to just forget about it for the next round. So there you have it, the answer in action. Obviously, if I get off to a bad start, I will have to find that swing quicker but I have some ideas on that. Maybe if I never get off to a bad ball striking day again, I won’t have to worry about it HAH!

It looks like there is a chance to get one or two rounds in next week. Even if I don’t, next weeks blog will be, how to apply the answer to putting. Things get a little tougher there. See you next week.

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The Goofy Game of Golf Trying to Execute the Answer

The answer produced results this week, with rounds of 74 and 77, in some pretty tough conditions of temps in the low 40’s and some breeze, although the wind could have been worse. Both rounds were produced despite some mediocre to poor putting. The 74 round was highlighted by hitting the first ten greens in regulation. Its difficult to apply the answer to putting and the short game but progress is being made. Today I am going to write about some of the things the answer explains and some things that are gone forever from my golf game.

Like most of us, I take some notes after each round on some of the things that I thought I was doing well, and how they might help me in future rounds. Here are some examples of some of these notes. Hit the driver on the downswing. Shoulders must control the swing. Get balanced at addres. Keep the legs quiet. Full wrist cock on less than full shots. Keep swing on shoulder plane. Stretch the left side on the back swing. I will never write notes or similiar notes like that again, now that I have the answer.

For those of you that get to warm up before a round, one of four things can happen.  A good warm up and good play. A good warm up and bad play. A bad warm up and good play. A bad warm up and a bad play. The answer explains all this.

The answer can explain why scores flucuate so much from day to day, even on the PGA tour. Many blogs back I gave the example of Peter Lonard, when he won the Heritage, his only win on the PGA tour with rounds of something like 66, 74, 67, and 75. The answer can explain this.

The answer expains why you can’t take you game from the practice range to the golf course. I have explained this in another blog but the answer confirms this.

Sometimes we will finish a round very strong because of a  swing thought but when we try to  apply  the same thought to next round we fail miserably. The answer explains  this.

I have often questioned the value of the practice swing, but because of the answer the practice swing is absolutely necessary.

There are many other things in the game that the answer explains and I will probably discuss them in future blogs. Even though I said higher handicap players still will need more than just the answer, it will still benefit them. I will reveal the answer next week. I am revealing the answer next week, even though I still haven’t figured out for sure how to execute the answer, because I am sure this is the answer. I don’t know why this is the answer but I just know that it is.  Once the answer is revealed maybe someone else will find a way to execute the answer. My golfing season is winding down and will not have many more opportunities to try to execute the answer but spring is just around the corner. NEXT WEEK THE ANSWER.

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The Goofy Game of Golf Trying to Execute the Answer

Well, for a man claiming to have found the answer to the game of golf, the play was not very good for the week. I was able to get four rounds in this week but failed to break 80 in all four rounds. I have built in excuses already, from not feeling well on Tuesday to some very tough conditions on Saturday. Trying to execute the answer in the short game and putting is proving to be  much tougher than executing it in the long game. I probably struck the  ball better this week, than any time this year, but the short game and putting was so bad, that this killed any chance I had of having a good number. I do feel that I made some progress in this area but time will tell. This week it looks like I will be able to get in 9 tomorrow and 18 on Tuesday and possibly Wednesday but after that the weather is going to turn ungolfable for the rest of the week. While I am not going to reveal the answer today, I am going to write about what the answer is not.

The answer is not for someone with a handicap of over 12. The answer does not replace the fundementals of grip, stance, posture, and alignment. If your handicap is over 12 then you got some work to do in that area and in areas of the swing itself.

The answer is not the shoulder control swing that I developed. I still like this as a way to describe the golf swing and as a teaching aid but it is not the answer.

The answer is not, what I termed the mind body connection. The mind and body have to be in sync but it is not the answer.

The answer is not visualization and only thinking of your target. We all hear of stories of players getting in this mode and shooting a great round but why doesn’t this work every time. It’s simply is not the answer. However, visualization and being target oriented, may be a step in getting to the answer.

The answer is not something new or earth shattering and is quite simple. It will require an open mind, particularly when it concerns your own golf game. Once you accept  this as the answer it will rid your mind of many golf thoughts, that you have clung to for years.

Next week I will write about all the things that the answer explains in this goofy game. Hopefully I will find even better ways in executing the answer.

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The Goofy Game of Golf Searching for the Answer

Its been three weeks since the last blog even though I intended to blog on a weekly basis. Since the last blog my rounds have been 79, 75, 79, 75, 80, 75, and 71. The 71 was a one over par, so I have yet to have an even par round. Even though there is more golf to played in the Burgh this year, there will be no more scores to turn in. Despite being unsuccessful in obtaining what I considered the ultimate mind body connection my handicap went down from 4.1 to 3.7, after reaching a June high of 5.8. I have already played my 100th round of the year for the third consecutive year.

I have good news and I have bad news. Now, ususally when someone says that, most people want the bad news first. I am going to give the good news first because the bad news won’t make any sense. The good news is, and it is very good news, that I have found the answer. The bad news is that I haven’t figured out how to execute the answer. So because I have found the answer the blog will have a new title. It’s going to be called “The Goofy Game of Golf Trying to Execute the Answer”. Am I going to reveal the answer today? NO! Am I not going to reveal the answer because I am a no good S.O.B? I am a no good S.O.B. but thats not the reason. I have two reasons that I am not going to do it today. I am 95% sure this is the answer, but since I just discovered it, about 10 days ago, time will tell. Secondly I would like to be able to find the best way to accomplish the answer before I reveal what it is. Naturally, if I am right about this, my scores should reflect that the rest of the year, and into next year. Now if I feel this is the answer by July 1 2015 but I am no closer in finding a way to execute the answer, then I will reveal the answer. I may do this even sooner if I am totally stump, but I feel now, that I want to try through June of next year.   This has already freed my game up immensely and I will be even going back to practicing but for a different reason. As weeks roll by, I will discuss certain aspects of my game, and how finding the answer has changed them, hopefully for the better. There is about 2 to 4 weeks of golf left in the Burgh and maybe more, so we will see how I do in the coming weeks. Maybe I will find the how to the what faster than I expect. I should be able to play 2 to 3 rounds this week and we will see how it goes.

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The Goofy Game of Golf Searching for the Answer

Have been back in the the Burg for about 12 days and the game just continues to motor along at about the same level. Despite having a slight cold and some windy weather I shot the last four rounds 76, 83, 77 and 78. This has been a generally frustrating season but I think I have learned some things, which I will pass along during the off season and discuss some of my futile attempts to connect the mind and the body.

But tonight’s blog will be focused on the big bad Ryder Cup. I think this Ryder Cup has been more controversial after the matches, than during, thanks to Phil Michelson’s ridiculous and inappropriate remarks at the post Cup press conference. The Americans have not won a Ryder Cup in Europe since 1993. The Europeans have won the last 6 out of 7. The reason they have dominated the Cup for the last 20 years is they are simply better. Thanks to the PGA, and them coming up with the Presidents Cup, here is living proof. The Presidents Cup has been around for almost 20 years, and who has dominated those matches, the American team, by retaining the cup all but once. It has nothing to do with who the captain is, or using some pod method, or whatever the hell Phil was talking about. The American team is simply better than the International  team. So the question should not be who to pick for a captain or how we pick our team, the question should be, why is the European team better and they have been better for a long time. They rode the underdog role, thanks to the American press, about 2 cups too long. I think there are 2 reasons that the Europeans are now better. One happened awhile back when the smaller British ball was taken out of play. In the 1960’s when Jack and Arnie came over to play in the British Open they changed over to the smaller ball. In 1974 the British ball was not allowed in the British Open but it wasn’t until around 1990 that the ball was banned from all European events and so now everybody plays with the same size ball and this made the European players better ball strikers. The second reason the Europeans are better players is that they play in tougher weather conditions and on courses that are not in the pristine condition that the United States courses are in. They also seem to play on courses that have more terrain and slopes. Therefore the Europeans have to manufacture more shots. In fact when the AT&T tournament had a pretty bad run of weather over some years, there was talk of even changing the date of the tournament to improve the conditions for our poor PGA players.

I think the only way the Americans are going to get competitive in the Ryder Cup is they are going to have to play in more overseas events or the PGA is going to have to  play a little riskier venues where the weather is not always going to be perfect. I hate to even have to put this down in print, but by the way Phil when you lose 16.5 to 11.5, its not the captain. See you next week.

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The Goofy Game of Golf Searching for the Answer

After about a month’s hiatus the blog is coming from San Diego where the golf game is taking a little hiatus, as it is fun and good times with the grandkids. The golf game continued on a nice run for 2 more rounds with a 72 and a 77. Then I went into a real tailspin, with rounds of 84, 82, 87, 77, 81, 80, and 81. These were played on some courses that were not even that hard. On September 17th I played 36 holes. The first 18 was at Village Green and I shot 81. Then on to Indian Run,  and I bogeyed  the 1st hole, bogeyed the 2nd hole and double bogeyed the 3rd hole. Now the 3rd is a pretty short par 4 with some trouble on the right, which of course I found, which lead to a chip out and the subsequent double bogey. Going to the 4th hole, needless to say, I was in a state of frustrated despair. I just made that up “frustrated despair” but I really like it. Any way from that point on, something just clicked in the other direction and I played the next 15 holes 2 under par and shot 73. I followed that up with a 75 at South Park and another 75 at Scenic Valley. The 75 at Scenic Valley was a grinding 75 where I made a double bogey, 2 bogies, a birdie and 14 pars. I  hit a lot of mediocre shots and missed 2 short putts but managed to shoot a pretty descent round. So what happened. How did I go from an 80 shooter to playing the next 51 holes 4 over par. Without any detailed explanations, here are the highlights.

Ball position seemed to be a key factor on the physical side of the game

Maintaining a calm demeanor

Better shot evaluation during the round.

Playing the proper shot

Making final adjustments before executing the shot.

Being instinctive

Its only 51 holes and time will tell if any of the above will keep me scoring and avoiding frustrated despair. How did this all come about after the 21st hole on Wednesday September the 17th. I have no idea. I won’t get back to the golf groove until October 1 and right now I am just enjoying this beautiful weather and being a grand parent.

I know the Ryder Cup is coming and I will be watching it, but I must say that I don’t get as excited about it as I once did. I think some of the luster came off the Ryder Cup, when they started the President’s Cup. I think more interest would be created if we went back to every other year and all three teams would play each other at the same time. You would have to tweak the format a little bit by doing only alternate shot and singles. I think best ball may be a little time consuming. Maybe they could do a scramble. Just think how great the strategy might be. Your ahead in one match but behind in the other match. Do you gamble to catch up on the one side or play more conservatively to maintain the lead in the other match. Having a three team match would be great and the Americans would only have to play every other year like everybody else. See you in about 10 days.

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The Goofy Game of Golf Searching for the Answer

Back after about a 2 and 1/2 week hiatus. My play has been interesting if not spectacular. Of my last 19 rounds, 15 of them have been between 73 and 77, with the other 4 being 78, 79, 80, and 81. Most of them have been between 75 and 77 with the last three, being 77. I know there are some people who would die for a “streak” like that, but I am feeling frustrated. I have not shot a par round this year and I haven’t felt like any one part of my game has been all that solid. I did go through one stretch when I hit my irons really well, but other than that I have had my usual problems. But I have been able to rake it around, and shoot in the mid seventies pretty consistantly. I don’t have any conclusions drawn from the last two weeks of play, but that’s just the way it has been.

We, as golfers, are always talking about how hard the game of golf is, for various reasons. Rather than say the game is hard, I think we should change the wording, and thus the thought process, from hard to complex. Lets give a prime example. We all talk about how important it is to know how far we hit each club. This is true only to a certain degree. I hit my 50 degree wedge 110 yards. Sounds simple enough doesn’t it. So if I am 110 yards from the middle of the green I should hit my 50 degree. However, there are 80 combinations of the way the ball is lying on the ground, and in the grass, and the conditions that we are playing in, that will affect how far that ball will travel. I am not going through all those combinations now, but trust me there are that many, especially here in Western Pa. It is our awareness and how we evaluate those conditions that will dictate how successful we are in executing a good shot. We are talking about conditions that can make a difference of 20 or 30 yards on a shot of only 110 yards. It is even more so on longer shots. So pay attention and think complex not hard.

Finally and maybe even least, Tiger Woods is going to  swing number 5.  A quick review. Swing number 1 won the Masters by 12 shots.  Swing number 2 won 7 majors and 20 sum odd tournaments. Swing number 3 won 6 majors and 20 sum odd tournaments. Swing number 4 gave him a dominate 2013 where he was player of the year, again No. 1 in the world, but alas no majors. You noticed I haven’t mentioned any names. I don’t think the names are important. But who will guide swing number 5. Will he go back to one of the old swings. Highly unlikely. I know I am in the minority but I think Tiger will come back full blast and even past Jack Nicklaus. Of course there is one big if. He has to get healthy. If his back and knee continue to be a problem, then he is done. He may win one major on just talent and guts, but he will never be a force unless he has all the physical tools. So what will swing number 5 be like. Maybe he will swing like Lee Trevino. I think he should swing like Annika. Was there ever a better more fluid swing in the last 50 years. That premature release of the head should take the strain off the back. So Tiger, go find Annika’s coach, and make swing number 5 the most fluid and stress free swing since Sam Snead.

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The Goofy Game of Golf Searching for the Answer

About another 2 week hiatus from blogging, but reading some other golf blogs, which I haven’t done for awhile, inspired me to put some things down in print today. First it is an unusual Sunday in that I am not golfing today because I will be heading to the Pirate game later today. My play has been interesting as ususual. I am on a nice run right now with about 8 rounds in a row below 80 and I have put together some really good nines but not a total round. I have had one 2 under 9, two even par nines, and one 1 over nine. Working on a lot of things right now which I may get into in later blogs. Here is what inspired me.

1. THE ZONE. Ah yes the zone. We have all been there or at least think we have been there. I have no suggestions on how to get into the zone, but here is one thing that I find very interesting about the golf zone. Sometimes you can find it in just one part of your game. I have had days when I know I am going to hit every, and I mean every, drive right down the middle of the fairway. In fact it is almost comical. By the time I get to the thirteenth driver hole sometimes I almost start laughing because I know the drive is going right down the middle. I can say the same thing has happened with my irons and putting. What I find amazing is that even though this one part of your game is in “the zone” the rest of your game sucks.

2. THE DECLINE IN GOLF PARTICIPATION.  Even though I think it does not hurt golf to have a popular superstar, I don’t think it is a major factor in people playing or not playing the game. There are many reasons that golf has declined. Rather than discuss them let me just list them,  without really expounding on any of them, but they could be fodder for future blogs.

1 Time and money. Golf is time consuming and can be expensive

2. Golf is paying the price for not encouraging diversity.

3. USGA  for not making a set of rules for the average golfer that will make the game faster and more enjoyable. Other than when they have a national tournament they do very little to promote the game.

4. Golf Courses for shooting themselves in the foot so many times that they can only walk on their kness. Here are a few examples. Setting up golf courses too difficult on the weekends with some very tough pin placements. Not making any effort to speed up play. Not having enough tee boxes. Not maintaining cart paths. Trying to squeeze too many people out on the course. New golf courses are just too difficult.

5. The PGA for having no true standard of teaching the game. Golf instruction is pathetic. If the PGA was responsible for teaching children to read then 80% would be illiterate.

6. Desperation. There is nothing wrong with the game and ideas such as a bigger hole and 12 hole rounds are ridiculous.

7. The Tour. The way they handled the Dustin Johnson situation and other negative aspects of players. Enough said. Do next to nothing to promote the game except for their own gain.

The game will survive if for no other reason the attrition of golf courses. As more and more shut down there will more players for the ones that survive. See you again when I have it all figured out.

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The Goofy Game of Golf Searching for the Answere

I haven’t blogged for about 2 and a half weeks for various reasons. My grand kids were in town for a week and golf took a back seat for that week. But most of all just not a lot of progress made on finding the answer. The scores the last two weeks have been about the same with most in the mid 70’s and a couple of 80’s tossed in just to make sure that I know I haven’t found the answer. There has not been a lot of stimulus to write, but today I thought I would like to discuss a subject not directly related to golf, but with some of the things that I am doing right now, it may have more meaning, if by some flukey chance, these things turn out to be successful.

I would like to discuss our perceptions, or the way we perceive things. In some cases this could be about a particular subject. Let’s take the example of Obama Care. There is one side that feels this is the greatest thing since sliced bread. The other perception is that Obama Care threatens the very existance of the American way. Each side argues passionately for their point of veiw and thinks the other sides perception is skewed or wrong. This ends up with neither side  coming close to convincing the other side to change their mind. I can tell you that that there are two areas where our perceptions are definitely skewed or wrong. This is in the area of time and speed. Time is a constant. A second is a second, a minute is a minute, an hour is an hour and so on and so on. But in your feeble little mind 5 minutes can seem like an eternity, if you are waiting for someone or standing in line. On the other hand if you are engrossed in a book or a video game, an hour can fly by in the blink of an eye. We look up from the game or book and say, “Oh my God where did the time go, I’m going to be late for work”.  The same thing can be said about speed. Most of us have to drive a little way through congested streets and neighborhoods to get to the freeway or interstate. When you first get on the interstate and get into the flow of traffic and hit the 55- 65 mph speed you really get that feeling that you are hip hopping right along. Before long however, as the traffic keeps moving you accelerate up to 75 and 80 mph and don’t even know it, because now that feels the same as when you were going 65. Then when you get off the interstate, maybe on a two lane highway, where the speed limit is 55, that will feel like you are just crawling. Even though the speed can be pretty much the same if will feel different depending on when and where you are doing that particular speed.

Now what does this have to do with golf. Your golf swing has these two components, time and speed. There is a certain amount of time you will have to take to make a golf swing. Your swing, and I am not talking about the amount of clubhead speed you can generate, will also have a certain speed. It will be your perception of the time and speed of your golf swing that will dictate how you make adjustments during a round of golf. My guess here, and I am dealing from my own experience, that these perceptions are wrong. I am not sure how they are wrong and they may not be wrong all time. I may have some conclusions on this in a later blog. Anyway, just food for thought, don’t let it give you indigestion. See you when I have something to write about again.