KellyBo & Gray -- Diary of taking Lessons

Funny how ypu guys have been discussing golf with your wife. I am one of the lucky guys who has a wife who shares the same passion as me with regards to golf. At first I was a bit worried when she decided to give golf a try, that she would love it and I would never be able to play alone or with friends. The first time she played golf with me and my officemates, she immediately understood the basic rules. I bet golf is really important to me as it is with every member on this forum.

I just feel blessed to have a partner who enjoys my hobby as well. We're all lucky to have a wife that not only allows us to indulge in the game of golf but also enjoys it with us herself.
 
Funny how ypu guys have been discussing golf with your wife. I am one of the lucky guys who has a wife who shares the same passion as me with regards to golf. At first I was a bit worried when she decided to give golf a try, that she would love it and I would never be able to play alone or with friends. The first time she played golf with me and my officemates, she immediately understood the basic rules. I bet golf is really important to me as it is with every member on this forum.

I just feel blessed to have a partner who enjoys my hobby as well. We're all lucky to have a wife that not only allows us to indulge in the game of golf but also enjoys it with us herself.


It truly is a great treat to have both partners enjoy the same sport. KellyBo and I are in Mississippi this week playing two course at Dancing Rabbit. Quite the challenge but soooo much fun on the course and in the casino! Come join us all in Florida in September!
 
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It truly is a great treat to have both partners enjoy the same sport. KellyBo and I are in Mississippi this week playing two course at Dancing Rabbit. Quite the challenge but soooo much fun on the course and in the casino! Come join us all in Florida in September!

^Oh, I would love to but my my mother in law is celebrating her birthday this week so it would be a very busy one for us as we are spearheading the week-long celebration. Anyway, enjoy and keep us posted for any upcoming ones you have.
 
KellyBo and I go for lesson #3 tomorrow morning at 10:00 a.m.! Looking forward to it. We went out today and hit the ball around a bit and I was pushing the ball out to the right. She said let's go to the range and work with your rods. Sure enough once I laid the rods down and got my hips and shoulders squared I was was puring it right up the middle with irons :eek:).... It's cool when your wife starts to recognize faults with your swing and can offer an instant tip that get's the swing back on plane.... I love it and look forward to us growing together in this game. On another not her little pinky finger was hurting as she uses the interlock grip. I told her to try the baseball grip and she was striking everything solid with no pain!!! Ok so now we go back to the coach tomorrow and work on some new stuff.
We will let you know what comes up next in our journey...
 
Lesson #3:

Great lesson today! I got fitted for new Ping G15 irons 5-SW. I was between a men's RL and R flex shaft. I ended up getting yellow dot with men's regular light flex graphite. It just felt a bit better and I got better flight with it. He also ordered regular men's size grips which are bigger than I need but he said they will be better since I have arthritis in my hand. I was hitting the ball really well in practice today. I now have a slight draw instead of a fade. I have a much better swing that is on plane instead of my old upright swing with caused me to fade or slice. I hit the ball much better when I don't take my swing so far back and don't try to kill it.

I told my coach that I am the world's worst putter. He told me he used to hold that title but now he is a great putter. He took me to the putting green and talked to me about looking at the natural lay of the land. Look farther than just the green. If there is a creek, think about the way the water is flowing. He made me read a putt...I read it breaking right to left when it was left to right. He told me to look where Bill was standing and then where I was. Bill was on a slight hill and standing at least 1-2 feet higher than me which should have clued me in on the putt.

Putting drill for today: He had two huge nails with string tied on them. He put one nail in about a foot behind the putting hole and then the other one about 10-15 feet from the hole where there was a STRAIGHT putt. He told me to align the ball with the string and practice putting straight on the line. The putter actually fits under the line and can be lined up with the string. I immediately received feedback that I was closing my clubface on my putter a little (went left). It made me open my face a little and I started hitting straight into the hole. Then he found a line that had about a foot break to it. He lined the nails up for the line that would break. I still putted straight on the line but the ball broke into or close to the hole. GREAT DRILL! I will take pictures for you when I go practice this drill later.

Another thing that I am happy about is that I have changed my grip from an interlocking to a baseball grip. I have arthritis in my right hand and the interlocking was getting very painful to my middle finger and pinky. I didn't think changing grips would be easy but it really is a better grip for me. I'm not afraid of the pain and feel like I am hitting much better now.
 
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Another thing that I am happy about is that I have changed my grip from an interlocking to a baseball grip. I have arthritis in my right hand and the interlocking was getting very painful to my middle finger and pinky. I didn't think changing grips would be easy but it really is a better grip for me. I'm not afraid of the pain and feel like I am hitting much better now.

The grip change is much easier when the old grip had pain and the new one doesn't. Keep up the work with the putting- once you get the hang of it your scores will plumet.

Also, congrats on the nice new clubs. Hearing stories about people buying their new babies is making me all sad and lonely. I MUST hold off until after the THP outing in Sept. Only then will I let myself buy new irons!
 
GRAY'S LESSON # 3

Ok so my lesson today was a bit simpler than KellyBo's. Since she does not have that flat swing she was working on all sorts of shots with different irons etc. Coach had me hitting those little pitching wedge shots with a half swing and very little lower body movement. It was a hitting down and through drill with a short tee about a half inch in front of my ball. I had to strike down and through the ball until I brushed through the tee in front of my ball. Boy was I sweating. He really got my attention when he pulled this strange looking contraption out that looked like a high jump bar but it was only two feet off the ground. He said he wanted me to try to hit under that bar with my wedge. The purpose was to keep my swing down and through the ball instead of leaning backwards and trying to help the ball into the air. After several tries I was hitting some solid little punch wedge shots. I also had my plastic ball buckets on the right back foot and one outside of the left front foot to make sure my swing path was square through the shot. I had my yellow and white little plastic sticks parallel to my feet as well. Heck after losing about two pounds worth of sweat I had that sweet little down and through shot feeling pretty good!

I took a water break and asked him about my drivers. I told him I hit the R9 much more consistent than the Cobra S2 because I could work with the MWT on the TM. He set up a Ping G15 9 degree with a lighter (59) shaft which he said would help me feel the head better. Well I tried it and hit the club pretty good. Then he told me to take my S2 and swing like I did the pitching wedge drill. My S2 has the 65 gram shaft and is 46 inches long. I used the down and through move on the Cobra driver and it was nuked! I hit three or four more big soft draws with it and he said he would not change one thing with my driver except I need to drive through the ball just like we practiced on my wedge drills. WOW this guy is so much fun to take lessons from. Kelly has a new set of Ping G15 irons custom fit coming in 10 days so she is thrilled. I am thrilled that I am finally hitting a ball with a feeling it is being compressed with pure solid contact. I have many hours of practice to put in however I know the correct way to pratice and not just beat balls. I look so much forward to the next few months!
 
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Good stuff Gray, now rehydrate!
 
Due I must to have drank eight bottles of water (not beer) :eek:)...... after today's lessons. We have three more lessons and it's been the best money I have ever spent on golf period. I will sign up for six more lessons if Kelly and I need to continue our growth. We have a burning desire to reach a certain goal or level if you will. It's going to happen.......... I love it and I love the challenge.......
 
great stuff gray keep up the good work!
 
Re: KellyBo & Gray -- Diary of taking Lessons

I love hearing the progress you two are making, especially all the fun you're having with your new swings. Keep up the good work!
 
great stuff gray keep up the good work!

Thanks Buddy! I look so much forward to meeting you in Florida one day soon!


I love hearing the progress you two are making, especially all the fun you're having with your new swings. Keep up the good work!

Dirt -- You are an inspiration and know the right buttons to push to make people want to keep improving. You must have been a coach somewhere down the road ? :eek:)... Thanks good buddy!

I feel like I have a personal challenge that is pushing me to practice and work harder than I have ever put into a sport. It's hard work but it's going to be rewarding when the right time comes :eek:)...........
 
Re: KellyBo & Gray -- Diary of taking Lessons

That's why I love this sport, it is a constant challenge. If things came easy, where would the fun be? I hope I can make a visit down south to learn how you southern boys swing the sticks.
 
Playing Results from Lesson 3:

I was so excited about how I was hitting the ball at practice yesterday that I had to go out and play 18 holes so I could see if it was real. You know how it is to hit the ball great on the range and then you go play terrible! Since Gray had to go to work, I headed to the course to play by myself.

Our first hole is a par 5 and I got a birdie. It seemed effortless and my excitement grew. I had to play through a foursome on the next hole so of course I double bogied after pulling my drive left into the woods! Darn it!

Then came par 3 - was on with a downhill putt. 3 putted for a bogie. UGGHHH!

Went on to shoot an 85 (red tees) which could have been much better if I could putt better. My chipping was much better than usual. My irons were so crisp that I hit too long on some shots. I am going to have to go up a club now that I know the proper way to hit irons. I could not believe how well I was hitting my 4-5 hybrids. Longer than ever!

It's weird that I am now struggling with my 3 wood and driver and those are usually easy for me. I have changed my grip to a baseball grip and am swinging more with my shoulders. I had a tendency to pull my drives left today and I was not making solid contact with my 3 wood. I will have to get on the range and figure that out.

Since I work at the golf course 1/2 days M-T, I will be on the practice putting green a lot this week practicing the putting drills. I have to improve there or my scores will never improve.
 
That's why I love this sport, it is a constant challenge. If things came easy, where would the fun be? I hope I can make a visit down south to learn how you southern boys swing the sticks.


We would love to have ya Dirt! Are you going to make the Florida Outing?
 
it's amazing how both of you are working on completely different facets of the game and both of you are excited about what you're working on and both of you have the desire to get better. i love keeping up with your progress and just wanted to say thanks for sharing.

kellybo, new g15's huh? that's awesome, can't wait to see some pics and hear all about them. gray, keep sweating, that's what it's going to take. good luck guys.
 
Re: KellyBo & Gray -- Diary of taking Lessons

We would love to have ya Dirt! Are you going to make the Florida Outing?

I wish. I have to be in a wedding that weekend.
 
it's amazing how both of you are working on completely different facets of the game and both of you are excited about what you're working on and both of you have the desire to get better. i love keeping up with your progress and just wanted to say thanks for sharing.

kellybo, new g15's huh? that's awesome, can't wait to see some pics and hear all about them. gray, keep sweating, that's what it's going to take. good luck guys.

Very kind words from someone whom I have grown to respect very quickly.... KellyBo is doing much better with her lessons. Her progress is showing and she is hitting some beautiful shots. On the other hand I am struggling to change my take away and swing plane. I have to do it and I will but it is painful right now. I just hope I get my act together before the second week in June (Club Championship) or I might on the range working instead of competing..... Kelly and I are going out tomorrow just to hit balls, work with the drivers, and then with the irons. No golfing just hitting balls. It's fun to have a team mate to work through these golf problems.......
 
Had all intentions of only practicing today because I'm really off on my drives right now. When we got to the course today, a couple we know asked us to join them. Big mistake for me. My confidence was down and I needed to work out some things and I played poorly. Luckily it started raining after 12 holes so I was able to go home! I am thinking of going back to the range now and doing what I intended. I am pulling most of my drives hard left...rare for me not to be consistent on my drives and it is so frustrating. I'm pulling my long iron shots a bit too.
 
It's weird that I am now struggling with my 3 wood and driver and those are usually easy for me.

Same thing for me atm. Have been struggling with the irons for the last few weeks. Tweaked my grip a bit and struck gold! But now the driver is giving me trouble. Odd.
 
Golf has been bad for the last couple days. I don't know what has happened but I stink pretty bad. Gray is struggling too. We will go back tonight and practice drills...NO PLAYING! Hope my new clubs come in by Friday.
 
i've read both your and gray's posts kellybo and it seems to me that maybe you both are putting way too much pressure on yourselves to see some instant progress, especially on the scorecard. i think if you both just try to keep things simple that might help. what i mean is to just take every little thing one step at a time. ideally, you step up to the first tee, you pull the appropriate club based on what you want, and then your goal should just be to put it in the fairway. clear your head of thoughts such as, i need to hit down on it, i need to keep my hands forward, i don't need the club to get to flat. it's hard to focus on one task, ie, hitting the fairway, with all that stuff in your head. anyway, just my opinion on the matter.
 
Thanks TC! I think we have made the mistake of playing more than practicing this week. You have to tweak changes to your swing before you go play or it will hurt your confidence for sure. We went to the range tonight. I hit about 6-7 drives before lightening scared us off the course. Other than that, I didn't get to play today and I think that's a good thing for me. I needed a day off. I did hit some pretty drives on the range and only one bad pull so there is hope. I also got good advice from the Pro on this site. I'll have to try his tip of placing the tee a few inches in front of my ball and hitting through it. Gray knows he has a ways to go before he gets his changes to be habit. He has a 40 year habit he is trying to break. I feel for him!!!
 
Thanks TC! I think we have made the mistake of playing more than practicing this week. You have to tweak changes to your swing before you go play or it will hurt your confidence for sure. We went to the range tonight. I hit about 6-7 drives before lightening scared us off the course. Other than that, I didn't get to play today and I think that's a good thing for me. I needed a day off. I did hit some pretty drives on the range and only one bad pull so there is hope. I also got good advice from the Pro on this site. I'll have to try his tip of placing the tee a few inches in front of my ball and hitting through it. Gray knows he has a ways to go before he gets his changes to be habit. He has a 40 year habit he is trying to break. I feel for him!!!

and that's exactly why he's glad that you're in the trenches with him.

i just don't want to see either of you burn yourselves out, that's all. i know both of you are committed to making these changes and making things work, but sometimes one can want it too badly. to me, it's a lot like my job, the more i want someone's business the less likely i'll get it, if i come up with a gameplan, stick to it, trust it, then usually it works out. i guess i'm just trying to be like a hippie teacher or something, haha.

the lightening was probably a good thing. just get of the course/range for a bit and don't think about your "new" swing.
 
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