2011 Season Summary

Overall, I've had an incredible second season see notables. The first half completely out shined the second half. I think the physical and mental preparation I made during the off-season set me up well to play my best. I found confidence early on and it was contagious; then I inevitably experienced failure and negativity and that also spread like a virus. It's really challenging to maintain consistency throughout the season, unless I create a dedicated practice plan and repeat it.


Most Improved: Driving, fairways hit, short game
Needs Improvement: Greens in regulation, approach shots

Helpful things I've learned in 2011

• Practicing: Need to hit balls as often as possible. Confidence is key and contagious.
  - Create a set of drills to repeat throughout the season. See Golf Digest articles.
  - Go to the range with a plan. See Ben Hogan's approach to range time.
• Swing: ELIMINATE ALL TENSION. Focus on shoulder turn and staying connected. Keep right arm tucked on backswing. Post-up on left leg. Forward press at impact with irons. Be careful with practice swings on living room carpet (tendency to scope the ball).
• Putting: The left hand is the most important component (same for the low chip). The angle of the left wrist should never break down and should be maintained throughout the entire stroke. The right hand is only acting as a guide.
• Putting: Pick out the line, address the ball, feel the speed with practice stroke. Look at the cup once more, then back to the ball, then send the ball on your intended line, keeping your head down the entire time. Lastly: Maintain solid tempo.

Notes from the book, "The Secret of Hogan's Swing"

Never looking back
Important technique developed to deal with disappointment. Hogan described how he walked the golf course imagining an enormous impenetrable wall following right behind him.

"Worst Ball" competition
Opposite to the scramble format, played individually. Each player hits two balls off the tee and picking the worst outcome. Then you hit two balls from that point, pick the worst shot and hit two more. Once on the green, you must make two putts in a row for the shot to count. "If you can score even par playing worst ball", Hogan said, "you're ready for tournament golf."

Different shots, same swing
Never alter your swing mechanics in order to hit a draw or fade. Hit different shot shapes simply by adjusting your stance while keeping the clubface square to the target line.


Understanding centrifugal forceInstruction: With an old practice club, address an imaginary ball with only your right hand, perform a 3/4 backswing, then swing and release the club into the air. "If you load the right elbow on the way down and let the lower body lead into the hitting area properly, centrifugal force releases the club straight ahead as you continue turning around your spine, toward the target."

The missing link to Hogan's "secret"
Combination of the a "weak" right-handed grip (for righties) and an inward turning of the left arm towards the left hip during the downswing. if you train it properly—the turning of the left elbow toward the left hip will automatically square up the clubface at impact.

Key factors to Hogan's teachings

• Swing in unison - By keeping the arms close, setting the elbows inward allows the arms to work together as a single unit.
• Practice is critical to success - Tour players from Hogan's era didn't practice like they do today. Hogan defined the importance of practice, found success and everyone followed. He said, "If you work hard and long enough, you can't help but achieve some degree of success."
• Pre-shot and setup routine - Hogan found that a repeatable swingmust be based on a repeatable setup procedure. He found it essential to keep the entire body in a state of relaxed activation during the setup and throughout the entire swing.
• Hips activate the downswing - "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."

Final quote by Sam Snead
"Good positions do not produce good swings. A good swing produces good positions with lots of motion"

Hogan's Secret: Eliminating the hook

(For right-handers)

Maintain a weak left-hand grip on the club. Pressure points belong on bottom three fingers.