Can't get any closer...

Just fired my personal best "80" today at Green Harbor Golf Club in Marshfield, MA. My goal for the season is to score in the 70s before my son arrives in August. I definitely left a few out there today so I'm confident I can break 80 soon.

Best Swing Tip

Lee Westwood appeared recently on the Golf channel to give the best tip he's ever received. He explained that staying level throughout the golf swing will allow you to return to the club consistently to the back of the ball. His coach Pete Cowan described that you want to imagine your chin is resting level on a shelf. You can move your chin laterally but never up or down. I actually found this tip earlier in the year from another source and it has been the biggest contributing factor to my improved ball striking. I have gone from a 16 to a 10 handicap in a couple months. See the actual video clip down below.

Getting Closer....

Shot my personal best 82 at Ridder Farm. 1 birdie, 2 double bogeys, 1 triple bogey and a boat load of pars.

 

What does Olympic Snowboarder Shawn White know about playing great golf?

I just saw a tv commercial for the upcoming Winter Olympics (Sochi) featuring gold medal winners. One of them is gold medalist snowboarder Shawn White who, in his own words, defines the ideal state of mind for optimal performance. He says you need...

"...complete focus with a bit of not caring." 

I like what he's getting at here as I think it can be applied to most activities in our lives. Its not that Shaun White doesn't care about what he's doing, its that he doesn't care about the outcome. There's a difference. There are many times out on the golf course where I'm focused but also overly consumed by the stifling expectation of results.

Round: 2013 Deutsche Bank Championship / TPC Boston

I was lucky enough to play a private company outing at TPC Boston the day after the final round of the Deutsche Bank Championship. The combination of watching the tournament on Monday and then playing the course in tournament conditions, made for a weekend I'll never forget. We played a fourball tournament with longest drive and shortest to the pin prizes. As we got out to our first hole we noticed the pins were in the same locations as the final round. This did not make things any easier for us! The management staff left all the tournament grand stands in place which added to the experience for sure. Overall, I didn't play my best but I made sure I enjoyed every step of the way. The course is gorgeous and the amenities were impressive. What I liked most was the fairness of the setup. You have to put the ball in the right places, and if you don't, the penalty can be brutal (ie. the 18th green complex is insane). My struggles lied on the greens. I've never played on such extreme slopes and changing of speed. I really couldn't get a feel for them which resulted in many three putts. When it was all over, the experience was pretty inspiring. If I am lucky enough to get another chance to play TPC Boston, I will be sure to prepare to give it my best.

Final score: 95

Range Session - Divots from the pros

The caddies direct us to our starting holes!

I was the long drive leader for most of the afternoon!

Digging out of bunker on the 8th

Stuffed my tee shot on the Par 3 16th

16th green

Beautiful 18th fairway

Diabolic 18th green complex

Found the mountainside of the 18th bunker :(

Good indication of what we dealt with on the 18th

The short Par 4 4th

Classy locker rooms!

Putting Key: Rock the Shoulders

I was watching a recent PGATour tournament and picked up on a simple key for the putting stroke. Announcers Ian Baker Finch and Sir Nick Faldo commented on a player's stroke and emphasized the importance of "rocking the shoulders". By rocking your shoulders, you take your arms and hands out of the stroke, which is essential for developing a consistent motion. Over the years, I've found this tip to be the most effective "key" for consistent results.

Clean your clubs...

...and your grips! I can honestly say that I clean my clubs before or after each round. Not only will you have fresh grooves and grips, but your irons will shine like a new set. Don't forget the small amount of dish soap as this is the key ingredient which gives the clubs the shine.

Article found on golflink.com

Step 1

Prepare the cleaning solution. Fill a bucket with only a few inches of warm water. Water levels should be just high enough to submerge the heads of the irons. Ensure that the water is not too hot, as high temperatures can damage clubs. Add a cleaning solution to the water. Most often used is a drop of dish-washing soap. However, professional cleaning products are available at golf shops. Allow the cleaning solution to become soapy.

Step 2

Soak only the club iron heads in bucket of water. Ensure that the heads of the irons are fully submerged in the soapy solution. Make sure that the ferrules do not get wet.

Step 3

Allow a two-minute soak in the cleaning solution to assist in breaking down sand, mud, oils and chemicals on the club heads. Do not submerge woods into bucket. Instead, dampen a cloth rag with the soapy solution and wipe down the heads of woods.

Step 4

Clean the club head grooves. Utilizing a soft-bristled toothbrush (or any non-wire cleaning brush), gently scrub the club head's individual grooves, carefully removing any dried debris and dirt. Additionally, brush over the sole of the golf club and all sides of the head. Be watchful of scratching the shaft.

Step 5

Rinse the heads of the irons. Once you're finished with the scrubbing process, use a garden hose to rinse the club head with warm water (be careful to not let the other club parts get wet).

Step 6

Soak club heads a few minutes longer in the cleaning solution if they still appear dirty. Use a medium-to-hard bristled toothbrush to help remove dried dirt.

Step 7

Wipe down and polish the golf clubs. After a careful inspection of groove and club head cleanliness, use a soft rag or towel to dry the shaft, ferule and club head. Verify that the clubs are thoroughly cleaned and dried before replacing them into a golf bag.

Step 8

Clean the golf club grips. Begin with a fresh bucket of warm water and add a little bit of dish washing liquid. Once the solution is sudsy, dampen a cloth, clean golf club grip and dry with an dry rag. Inspect the grips during this process and determine if replacement is necessary.

TAKE DEAD AIM

'TDA' is the most important tip author Harvey Penick describes in his famous book The Little Red Book. I actually wrote the letter TDA on the left thumb of my golf glove. I remember Louie Oosthuizen drew a red dot in the same place on his glove during the 2010 Open Championship as a reminder to stay in the moment of the present shot. It did wonders for him. I'm hoping it will do the same for me.

Personal Best: 85

I just fired my lowest personal score yesterday at Green Harbor Golf Club in Marshfield. I've been stuck in the high 80s for about a year so it feels great to finally break the mold. It also marked the first time I've had more than one birdie in an 18 hole round. It was my best ever driving round which was a HUGE factor for scoring. I hit a whopping 86% fairways. Putting was the other key factor, with mostly 1 and 2 putts on the back nine. I finished the round off in style with my third birdie on the 18th hole (Photo below). Now if only I can get rid of the double bogeys, I'll be sniffing high 70s!

Giving 100%, All the Time

Today, golfers on the pro tour are spoiled. The tournament prize money has made some of the better players far too complacent with their achievements on the golf course. Luckily, we have a few special players (Tiger, ahem) who are not motivated by the money. This is one of the reasons it will be so hard to accept the inevitable end of the Tiger era. The trait that makes Tiger so special is his perseverance. No matter his score on the scorecard, he is giving 100% on every single stroke. After seeing him grind out a hard earned par out of a water hazard (see video); it reminded me of how many times I let a score get away from me b/c of poor conviction. Let this be a reminder to commit to every shot 100% regardless of prior performance. The essence of zen golf is playing in the present, not the past or future.

Where Are You Looking?

Interesting article found in Golf Digest. I've found these visual cues very helpful.

Weight Distribution Tip

Notes from the book, "The Big Miss"

Hank Haney
"In competitive golf...You've got to build a swing that will eliminate the big miss."

On fatherhood
"No one cares how much you know until they know how much you care."

"Tiger never allowed himself to be satisfied, b/c in his mind satisfaction is the enemy of success."

"Genius is one percent inspiration and 99 percent perspiration."
—Thomas Edison

Swing thought for releasing the club on full shots
"...carrying the ball in the air is achieved with a fuller "throwing" release.

Definition of getting "Stuck"
"The position that occurs on the downswing when the lower body gets too far ahead of the upper body, leaving the arms and hands behind. A more reliable downswing would have the hands and arms coming down more "in front" of the body.

Motto for 2013

Practice more and play less.

I didn't practice as much in 2012 and it prevented me from playing consistent and ultimately beating my best score. I am stuck in a OK plateau and will need to develop a concentrated practice plan in order to improve. There are no shortcuts, practice is a must.

Shots in the wind

Tip from CBS Golf Analyst Peter Kostis

Upwind: Hit it softer (ball tends to stay lofted)

Downwind: Hit it harder (ball tends to get knocked down)

2012 Travelers Championship

Got the opportunity to experience my first PGA Tour tournament. My employer provided me with a bunch of free tickets, so Tony, Lynch, Erik, Erik and I decided to head down to Cromwell, CT for the final round. We made it down there in about two hours and strolled over to the first tee to witness Charley Hoffman's opening drive. We followed his group through the third hole until we discovered Bubba Watson was coming through to the 5th. We anticipated his arrival and camped out behind the par 3 tee box. I was super stoked to finally see the "Sultan of Swat" hit a ball right on down the line. It was about a 230 yd. par 3 with the pin tucked on the right side of the green, protected by large bunkers. Bubba hits a massive hook landing left of the hole a good 50 ft. which slowly rolled closer to the pin to about 10 feet. Amazing. We ended up following most of Bubba's round and became part of the massive gallery. We camped out on the challenging 17th tee box and saw a few great shots by Webb Simpson and Camillo Villegas. After bubba went through the 17th we migrated to the 18th to catch some of the drama that would unfold for Charley Hoffman. It was a fantastic experience and would recommend it to anybody who has any interest in the game of golf. Can't wait for the Deutsch Bank Championship.

On this day: Mark Leishman wins the Travelers Championship

Why You Need Two Swings

Article written by Roger Schiffman for golfdigest.com 

I was playing a quick nine the other evening after work with Golf Digest’s Design Director, Ken DeLago. Ken is a very good player. He can flat-out crush his driver. He told me when he thinks of sweeping the ball on the upswing, he hits it long and true. That’s his key thought. But I observed, after a couple of 280-yard pokes that found the center of the fairway, that he failed to get his wedge approach onto the green. Both times he hit them a little fat. Finally, in frustration, Ken asked me why when you’re hitting the driver well, the irons aren’t so good, and vice versa. It reminded me of an article I once did with Golf Digest Teaching Professional Chuck Cook. Chuck came up with the theme: “Why You Need Two Swings.” Chuck coached Payne Stewart, Tom Kite and Corey Pavin in the 1990s and now teaches Jason Dufner. He told me that the ideal driver swing catches the ball slightly on the upswing, because the ball is teed. Also, the club ideally approaches the ball from slightly inside the target line. But short irons and wedges need a level to slightly descending blow. Why? Because the ball is now on the turf, and you want the club to strike the ball, then the ground. It’s easier to do this if your path is straighter through and the club bottoms out just after contacting the ball. Chuck said that when the top tour players go really low, their swings are balanced. They are hitting both the driver and the irons well. So if this sounds like something you’d like to achieve, try these two key thoughts for starters: When setting up to your driver, tilt your shoulders a bit so the back one is lower than the front one. Also, look at the back of the ball throughout your swing. This will cause you to stay behind the ball better, creating that great ascending blow, which is ideal for the driver. When setting up to your middle to short irons and wedges, keep your shoulders more level and look at the front of the ball throughout your shot. That will keep your weight more forward, resulting in a descending blow that’s perfect for hitting crisp iron shots and pitches. I hope these thoughts help your game this weekend, and let’s hope Ken reads this blog.

On this day: Tiger Woods wins the 2012 Memorial Tournament

Tip: Stop the push to the right

In order to stop pushing the ball right of your target...

Never let your left eye move ahead of the ball.
Stay back on the shot.

Injury Report: Groin

I've decided to take at least 2 weeks off to rest an injury sustained in my left groin. I went to two doctors to have it checked out, hoping it wasn't a hernia. Luckily, it is not, only a mild groin strain. It is aggravating and hurts like hell at times. The only way to get it back to normal is rest. It is hard having to sit on the couch on the weekends only to watch golf on TV.

Round: Woods of Westminster

3 Players (Me, Dan, ? )

Pre-round practice: Range balls

18 Holes
Today is not only my birthday but the 1 year anniversary of my lowest 18 hole score of 87. Last year, I took the day off work and played 18 holes by myself at Ponkapoag GC. It was one of the most gratifying experiences walking off the 18th green, looking at my scorecard, noticing that I shot the lowest round thus far. To this day, it remains my lowest. Anyways, this year, my birthday is on the same day as Mother's day. I was hoping that the course would be clear and I could once a again get out early and try to post another low round. To my amazement, the front nine seemed backed up. I teed off solo but eventually caught up to a friendly twosome on the 3rd hole. I joined both Dan and his buddy (both in their 40s?). Immediately, I could see that Dan was an experienced player. He flushed all his shots (including a 3-iron!) and was solid with the putter. Pars were commonplace and birdies were no surprise for these guys. Now, I forgot to mention that in the last week, I've been dealing with a nagging left groin strain. I told myself it wasn't a great idea playing on this day b/c it was only aggravating it. I was erratic with my drives and iron shots. Never felt comfortable over the ball and began to over compensate for the discomfort on my left side. Bad combination. To my amazement and the others, I converted an unlikely birdie from a tough pitch shot out of the rough. It was nice to get some validation for myself. Later in the round, it got the point I think on the 15th hole, when I thought to call it quits b/c of the groin. Instead, like a stubborn idiot, I kept going and ended up playing beautifully, salvaging a decent score of 87. I tied my career best on this one year anniversary. After the round, I knew I had to take some time off to heal the injury.

Score: 87

Hey, Confidence....Is that you, again?

I won't go into any details about the last two rounds except to note that my scores were in the low 90s. The common theme throughout these rounds was the lack of mental and physical preparation. I'm learning that the nature of my obsessive behavior towards golf in general has somewhat handicapped my performances. Lately, I have been just stepping onto the first tee and letting it rip. So far, I think it's working.

Things that are working

• Balanced swing, maintain spine angle
• Staying back on driver
• Dropping the right shoulder
• Supination of the left wrist
• Following pre-shot routine. Lining up to the target line.
• Reacting to target
• Inner-convo helps to maintain focus on task at hand.

Things that are not working

• Thinking too much over the ball
• Tension at address
• Doubt

Mental Note: The Hips!

At the moment, I am having trouble getting my body to turn through the shot which is resulting in big pushes to the right. Frustrated and nostalgic, I started thinking back to times when my swing seemed effortless. The moment that always comes to mind was a full 90 yd. sand wedge from the 2nd hole fairway at Green Harbor. I remember feeling so comfortable over the ball as I motioned back and then through the shot. The strike was pure as the ball skied high and landed softly within 5 feet of the cup. Through process of elimination, I realized the success of that shot can be attributed to the rotation of my hips which activated my downswing. When executed, your arms and hands should follow and almost drop on an inside path to the ball. Steal this feel!!

The backswing starts in this order:

1. Hands
2. Arms
3. Shoulders
4. Hips

The downswing starts in reverse order:

1. Hips
2. Shoulders
3. Arms
4. Hands

Ben Hogan had this to say about the hips:

"If the average golfer will only start his downswing with his hips, what a world of difference this will make in his swing and his shots, not to mention his score."

Playing Lessons: Nick Faldo

The thing I like most about watching Faldo is his effortless rhythm. He makes the game looks so easy. Whenever I struggle with my swing, I find it refreshing to watch his tempo.

Tee Shots

• Always swing to a target.
• Use the ground. Build a solid stance for optimal power.

General

• It's always easier to hit full shots rather than half shots in down wind.
• See your shot and then get on with it already!
• If you have the opportunity to play practice rounds, play your shots/putts from the worst, most difficult spots.

Chipping

• From off the green, pick your spot where you want to land the ball. Then determine the club to use by how much distance left to the pin.

Putting

• Get as much info as possible. Read the line from both sides.

Tee Ball Heights

I picked up on an interesting tip from Johnny Miller during the telecast of Tiger Wood's victory at Bay Hill. He explained that teeing the ball at different heights allows for different shot shapes.

1. Tee the ball High to hit a Draw
2. Tee the ball Low to hit a Fade


On this day: Tiger Woods wins the 2012 Arnold Palmer Invitational

Round: Braintree (2012 Opener)

Players: Me, Erik, Jay P
Pre-round practice: None

18 Holes
Global warming is ruining our planet but it is also allowing obsessive golfers like myself play golf in March :) It was a beautiful day for a round of golf and the conditions were perfect. I did not have many expectations for score but I was hoping to see some improvements on things I worked on during the off season. My short game was as sharp as its ever been. Unfortunately everything about my swing was off. I did not hit one shot to the left. Mostly everything was slicing or blocked/pushed to the right. I did not have much feel or comfort in my swing to understand the problem. After the round, knowing my tendencies, I have been able to diagnose the following ailments.

• Hips getting stuck and not turning through to the finish. My body stops rotating.
  Result: Blocked/Pushed shots

• Left hand is not rotating; clubhead not releasing after impact.
  Result: Blocked/Pushed shots