A New Me

Owen_Thomas_14

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Aug 18, 2009
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I'm quite happy the golfing season has finished, as its made me think a bit about what needs done to get lower. Im now going to practice at least 1 or 2 times a week and not just play :o. My attitude wasnt great this year either which highly affected my game so this side of the game needs fixing. Anyone realise they needed to do anything similar? ;)
 
Yup, my biggest improvement needed Is 8i down with particular detail to wedge lengths. Looking at my stats I'm missing far to many greens from 150yards and in, yet back in the summer when I was having wedge only sessions at the range my approaches were atleast 50% more accurate than at present. Short game short game short game all winter as I'm sure short game is where 10/12 handicappers are nailing me at the moment.
 
Sort out the swing first and play as much as conditions allow to bed the changes in without any concern for score or handicap. Once the new season starts to loom I'll get a chipping and putting lesson.
 
Long game for me, although it's never that bad on the range.

I've thought for a while that it's what most needs improving, but playing in the scramble on Saturday confirmed it because I was hitting from the fairway much more than normal.

I hit 8/10 greens from 150yds and closer on the fairway, 4 of them to inside 15'.

It's no wonder I struggle to put a score together when I'm only hitting 5 fairways a round :o
 
Only my first season Owen.
Iv dropped from 21-15.8 but i know that my swing needs attention...
Im currently going through swing change and i reckon the winter is the best time for working on it..I know that it will seriously benefit me come the start of next season..
I practice twice a week on the range and if i play on sundays i practice my putting for about 2 hrs on a saturday....And if i play saturday i practice my putting for a couple of hours on sunday.....I bring my 3 yr old son with me too....He loves it :D
 
Basically my whole swing is being altered because of too many moving parts. I've got away with it for the last few years but now they've got bad. Just now I'm working on mainting the knee flex in the right knee on the backswing and my right hand let's go of the club at the top which brings the club so narrow on the way down and have to work extremely hard to hit the shot. Had 2 lessons so far and a decent improvement.

I'm going to hit the range twice a week and not play that much till I'm getting some consistent swings going and get more confidence.
 
Getting the driving sorted and keeping it sorted. It really has been pitiful this season. The handicap's dropped in spite or it certainly not because of it. In October (9 rounds) I hit 2-3 fairways per round. Average score was 78. Therefore if I can hit more even 7-8 fairways the score is sure to come down.
 
I'm just going to work on a couple of little things. I have a series of lessons booked with young Andrew (those going to Machrihanish will be lucky enough to see his swing which is a thing of beauty.) where I hope to stand a bit taller to the ball and basically turn / turn. Keep it simple.

I hope.

I have also been working on this all season and think I have finally sorted it.

This picture taken at the Ping V's GM day was a bit of an eye opener for me.

PING_resized17.jpg_e_7c49aac8092303d4feaa056f6aa51a81.jpg


Just look at how bent that left arm is at the top!!! Anyway I have straightened that out which has obviously given me more width and room to turn through the ball easier.

Bottom line is, if its dry, not freezing or blowing a hoolie I hope to hit a ball even if its only 30 minutes on the practice area just to keep the swing going.
 
I will be starting with a new swing for next season. All though I reached my goal for this season to get down to single figures, I’ve been told I will probably not get any lower than 6 or 7 with my current swing.

Drive the ball pretty well and my mid- long irons are pretty solid.

8 iron down struggled during August with a case of shermans. Shot 28 over par for 8 holes in a monthly medal which included 4 pars in it and just walked off.
Last half dozen rounds I’ve played have all been in the mid 70 Gross, still feel I need to do this.
 
A few winters ago I revamped my entire game, hitting the range twice a week using nothing more than Ben Hogans 5 Lessons, and got down from 7 to 3 in just over a year.

Need to work on the putting, going through a Sergio phase!
 
Due to work short game practice on course is limited to will be a range jockey till March when the evenings get lighter. Looking to get a more consistent shot shape and improving my dispersion. Three more lessons to take and hopefully a golf season where I can compete and get cut.
 
I'm just going to work on a couple of little things. I have a series of lessons booked with young Andrew (those going to Machrihanish will be lucky enough to see his swing which is a thing of beauty.) where I hope to stand a bit taller to the ball and basically turn / turn. Keep it simple.

I hope.

I have also been working on this all season and think I have finally sorted it.

This picture taken at the Ping V's GM day was a bit of an eye opener for me.

PING_resized17.jpg_e_7c49aac8092303d4feaa056f6aa51a81.jpg


Just look at how bent that left arm is at the top!!! Anyway I have straightened that out which has obviously given me more width and room to turn through the ball easier.

Bottom line is, if its dry, not freezing or blowing a hoolie I hope to hit a ball even if its only 30 minutes on the practice area just to keep the swing going.

The first thing I thought when I saw that was "Butch Wilkins".

Is it just a funny angle or do you get told it a lot?
 
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