Range time a few weeks ago

I played in the Mesquite Amateur tournament at the end of May and beginning of June. I have to say it was not what i would consider a good ball striking tournament and definitely was not a good tournament for putting. I did hit the ball well enough to only miss a few fairways and about to greens per round in regulation. However statistics can be misleading even though they look good on paper. I didn’t hit the ball close with any club through out the tournament and very few shots were tracing the flag stick through out the tournament. So because of this i put undue pressure on my putting to help me from a bad ball striking tournament.

Returning from Nevada i knew i had to change something because not only had a lost distance but accuracy as well. I had not spin on the ball out of the bunkers or around the green.

Going back through my notes that i have taken over the years and trying to watch the US Open i discovered something and couldn’t wait to try it out on the Range. I discovered by trying to make my swing path wider my right arm was getting to far away from my body on the back swing. This caused me to move too far into my left hip and was not allowing me to transition properly through the forward swing. I was loosing power or a power leak.

I remembered a few drills that I have done in the past to get the feeling of swing the club back properly as well as making me move my body and not just swing the club with my arms.

The first drill i used was the head cover under my left arm pit to get the feeling of the back swing. I was hitting most every shot on the toe before the drill. I started with shorts shots about 20 -30 yards. Then increased the motion to where i was swinging the club half swing. The difference was amazing, i started hitting the ball the middle o the face and the swing had more force to it even though i was not swinging harder.

As i moved to swinging the club more full i also noticed that i was moving my shoulders and body more than i had previously. This was a great feeling and i worked on it for quite a while.

I came back the next day and started with the head cover under my arm pit again and the same result happened. As i took my practice swing i notice that the toe of the cub was point toward the sky waist high on my back swing and it also point toward the sky at waist lever on the forward swing. This was the exact drill my former coach had me do over and over. He called it opening and closing the door. Then i could remember he had a sequence of timing as well and i could hear his voice saying back and through. I hit the ball better than i had hit it in a long time.

Golf can be so frustrating at times but others it is just a pure joy to play and make contact with the ball.

I knew all the proper ways to swing the club. I have done it that way for most of my career. However sometimes we get lost either trying to hit the ball further or even better. I was truly lost before I remembered this drill.

The funny thing was I wanted to film it so i would know what it looked like, but little did i know i had a few years back filmed this exact sequence before. When i had done the same thing and hit the ball well then as well.

I know i will never be as good as i once was for many reasons. However it doesn’t mean i cant have fun and enjoy the game. I truly am thankful for my former coach Henry Ransom for taking the time to teach me the fundamentals of the game of golf. If it wasn’t for him and his insistence for the fundamentals i probably wouldn’t have ever played the game at a high level. Or been able to teach the game.

I have now been opening and shutting the door on the range for close to a month and my distance has come back and the height of the ball has as well.. i am putting more spin on the ball my short game has improved and especially my bunker play. I am not scared to swing through the sand now.

I would as always highly recommend taking a lesson when you are struggling with your game. Form your PGA golf professional. I will recommend the Professionals at my club Traditions, and also Robert at Walden on lake Conroe. I am sure there are any qualified instructors in your area as well. It is well worth your time and money to take a lesson form someone who knows about the game. It is always better to have a second set of eyes.

Lastly i would recommend that when you are hitting the ball well. Take a video of your swing. Don’t watch it just store it for when you do struggle you can watch it and if you cant discover what the cause is take it to you professional and he will b able to see what the difference is in you swing.

As always

Play by the rules

And practice the short game 3 times as much as your long game. Putting is usually have your score, definitely50 yards and in.

And most importantly have fun, enjoy the day, and the people you are with.