El Bandito
Active member
As some of the UK Hackers can testify, I have a swing entirely my own. In the last 3 years, I have progressed from 'danger to myself and others' to my best handicap of 18. I took a 'clinic' in Egypt of all places which got me going in the right direction. Thereafter, I did a fair amount of reading, listening and self-diagnosing.
I have reached a point where I have layered so many tips and techniques on top of each other, that frankly, I have not the faintest idea what I'm doing any more.
I can still hit some good shots and from time to time can string together some decent holes. However, those strings were getting fewer and further between and frustration was beginning to mount.
So, on Saturday, being a little cash laden (UK Spring Cuppers know why!) I bit the bullet and handed a roll of cash to my club pro and asked him to fix me.
This morning we met for my first 30 minute lesson. Me being me, I had spent a lot of Sunday internally analysing where my problems were stemming from. As a consequence, when asked to hit a few nine irons, I hit the four best consecutive shots that I have hit in a long while.
Now, Terry (my pro) and I have history. Last year, I won a medal competition and the prize was to play with him in a pro am. So, he knows roughly what he is taking on. We get on well, and both prefer direct blunt communication.
So after my four cracking irons, I turned to him and asked for his thoughts.
He looked me in the eye and said..."it's a miracle that you ever hit a decent shot." That's direct for you!
1. I sway my head off the ball.
2. My front hip (right, I'm a leftie) does impersonations of a prosthetic, ie does not move at at all.
3. I take the club away on the inside.
4. The swing is so flat, Terry believes I might have a future in baseball.
5. The inside back swing pulls me back on my heels, moving my head even more.
Looking for a positive, Terry pointed out that if I could hit a good nine iron while executing a diving header, then he felt prospects were good for improvement if I could learn to stand still.
and so it began....
Hitting shots with Terry holding an iron against my head, learning to start the backswing with my knees, holding different positions.
i hurt in places where I had no idea there were even muscles! A tiny 30 minute lesson and I feel worse than after 36 holes walking!
Its going to be a long difficult journey, requiring some focused practicing, some real persistence...but aches and pains notwithstanding...it's going to be a lot of fun....
"you realise that you are going to hate me during this process?" Said Terry.
"I never liked you much anyway" I responded
Should be a blast!
I have reached a point where I have layered so many tips and techniques on top of each other, that frankly, I have not the faintest idea what I'm doing any more.
I can still hit some good shots and from time to time can string together some decent holes. However, those strings were getting fewer and further between and frustration was beginning to mount.
So, on Saturday, being a little cash laden (UK Spring Cuppers know why!) I bit the bullet and handed a roll of cash to my club pro and asked him to fix me.
This morning we met for my first 30 minute lesson. Me being me, I had spent a lot of Sunday internally analysing where my problems were stemming from. As a consequence, when asked to hit a few nine irons, I hit the four best consecutive shots that I have hit in a long while.
Now, Terry (my pro) and I have history. Last year, I won a medal competition and the prize was to play with him in a pro am. So, he knows roughly what he is taking on. We get on well, and both prefer direct blunt communication.
So after my four cracking irons, I turned to him and asked for his thoughts.
He looked me in the eye and said..."it's a miracle that you ever hit a decent shot." That's direct for you!
1. I sway my head off the ball.
2. My front hip (right, I'm a leftie) does impersonations of a prosthetic, ie does not move at at all.
3. I take the club away on the inside.
4. The swing is so flat, Terry believes I might have a future in baseball.
5. The inside back swing pulls me back on my heels, moving my head even more.
Looking for a positive, Terry pointed out that if I could hit a good nine iron while executing a diving header, then he felt prospects were good for improvement if I could learn to stand still.
and so it began....
Hitting shots with Terry holding an iron against my head, learning to start the backswing with my knees, holding different positions.
i hurt in places where I had no idea there were even muscles! A tiny 30 minute lesson and I feel worse than after 36 holes walking!
Its going to be a long difficult journey, requiring some focused practicing, some real persistence...but aches and pains notwithstanding...it's going to be a lot of fun....
"you realise that you are going to hate me during this process?" Said Terry.
"I never liked you much anyway" I responded
Should be a blast!
