Bullitt5339
New member
I'm creating this thread to track my progress back from a serious injury and my journey back to playing decent golf. I wouldn't even be attempting this if it wasn't for a few THPers who have really made me want to push through and get back on the course, you guys know who you are and I thank you for bearing with me. Here's the back-story:
Many of you know that I am partially disabled which limits my golf swing because my left ankle is fused together, so I have very little rotational movement in it. In spite of this, I once was able to play decent golf, not great but decent and got my handicap down to around 12 about 4 years ago. A little over a year ago, after struggling with my golf swing quite a bit, I accidentally hit a root during my swing and disconnected a ligament in my right elbow which was a very slow recovery process, about 9 months before I could even attempt to take a full swing with a golf club.
Finally in February, I really wanted to start playing again and as soon as I was able to swing a club, there were 2 guys that I knew I needed to get back on the course with. Ron (lightningbolt44) and Marc (Trout Bum). In fact, my 3rd round back was with these two on a very difficult course, Tot Hill Farms where I promptly shot a 118. Didn't matter, I was having a blast and happy to be back on the course and I realized how much I really missed being on the course with good friends.
I then hooked up with an assistant pro for lessons who put me on the right track and fixed a few things with my swing. My main fault was almost letting go of the club with my left hand on my backswing and then regripping it, which would make the face slide open and I would hit high flop shots that went way right with every club. My 6 iron looked like a gap wedge, and no I'm not kidding..... Ask Marc or Ron.
Through 3 lessons, a lot of practice and a few rounds, I went from 118 to 116, 108, then 106. After my last lesson, my instructor wanted me to go see the equipment guy at the club to check the fitting on my clubs, he said they looked too long for me. After a fitting and having my clubs cut down and the lies adjusted, I went out the next day, hit 30 balls on the range and then went and walked 9 holes and shot a 48...... Now we're making some progress. 2 days later, went out and played 18 and shot 96. Back to the range and then played again a couple days later and shot a 91. Wow, OK. I haven't shot 91 in a couple years.
Then yesterday, I went and played a longer and more difficult course with some great THPers and shot a 97. For being a course that I had never played and of course not knowing exactly how to play the holes, I was pretty happy. Missed a lot of putts for par that I should have made and was a little wild off the tee, so it could have been a lot better with minimal changes.
The plan for this week is to put some effort into short game. My putting, while it hasn't been bad, has been just enough off to keep me from scoring really well. My chipping has gotten a lot better since the first few rounds back, but still leaves a lot to be desired. Upon the recommendation of my instructor, if I don't have to carry any trouble, I have been using GW and PW exclusively around the green and keeping the ball on the ground as much as possible, which has really helped a lot. I just have to learn a bit of distance control and force myself to be a bit more aggressive as my tendency is to leave the ball short.
So..... putting and chipping practice all week, along with some general range work to maintain the changes I've made in my full swing.
Many of you know that I am partially disabled which limits my golf swing because my left ankle is fused together, so I have very little rotational movement in it. In spite of this, I once was able to play decent golf, not great but decent and got my handicap down to around 12 about 4 years ago. A little over a year ago, after struggling with my golf swing quite a bit, I accidentally hit a root during my swing and disconnected a ligament in my right elbow which was a very slow recovery process, about 9 months before I could even attempt to take a full swing with a golf club.
Finally in February, I really wanted to start playing again and as soon as I was able to swing a club, there were 2 guys that I knew I needed to get back on the course with. Ron (lightningbolt44) and Marc (Trout Bum). In fact, my 3rd round back was with these two on a very difficult course, Tot Hill Farms where I promptly shot a 118. Didn't matter, I was having a blast and happy to be back on the course and I realized how much I really missed being on the course with good friends.
I then hooked up with an assistant pro for lessons who put me on the right track and fixed a few things with my swing. My main fault was almost letting go of the club with my left hand on my backswing and then regripping it, which would make the face slide open and I would hit high flop shots that went way right with every club. My 6 iron looked like a gap wedge, and no I'm not kidding..... Ask Marc or Ron.
Through 3 lessons, a lot of practice and a few rounds, I went from 118 to 116, 108, then 106. After my last lesson, my instructor wanted me to go see the equipment guy at the club to check the fitting on my clubs, he said they looked too long for me. After a fitting and having my clubs cut down and the lies adjusted, I went out the next day, hit 30 balls on the range and then went and walked 9 holes and shot a 48...... Now we're making some progress. 2 days later, went out and played 18 and shot 96. Back to the range and then played again a couple days later and shot a 91. Wow, OK. I haven't shot 91 in a couple years.
Then yesterday, I went and played a longer and more difficult course with some great THPers and shot a 97. For being a course that I had never played and of course not knowing exactly how to play the holes, I was pretty happy. Missed a lot of putts for par that I should have made and was a little wild off the tee, so it could have been a lot better with minimal changes.
The plan for this week is to put some effort into short game. My putting, while it hasn't been bad, has been just enough off to keep me from scoring really well. My chipping has gotten a lot better since the first few rounds back, but still leaves a lot to be desired. Upon the recommendation of my instructor, if I don't have to carry any trouble, I have been using GW and PW exclusively around the green and keeping the ball on the ground as much as possible, which has really helped a lot. I just have to learn a bit of distance control and force myself to be a bit more aggressive as my tendency is to leave the ball short.
So..... putting and chipping practice all week, along with some general range work to maintain the changes I've made in my full swing.
