DCB
Well-known member
As those of you who have been around for a while may remember, it's just over two years since I had an accident and some rather serious spinal surgery. Having learned to do the simple things like walking, dressing, eating and other basic tasks, trying to hit a golfball again couldn't be all that difficult, could it ?
Well, this past week, I reached another milestone. With a view to playing at an outing in May, I decided it was time to go to see what I could (or couldn't) do at the driving range. I've hit some shots out the back but only with the more lofted clubs, but this was the first attempt at a "full blooded" swing and shots with longer irons and a driver.
Fortunately the range was very quiet, so there was no one there to laugh at my first attempts at a golf swing in over two years. I had fears about my balance and staying upright when trying to swing a full swing. Fortunately, I managed to avoid the ignominy of ending up in a heap in the bay. My head knew what I was supposed to be feeling and how I was supposed to be moving, but it was all very alien to start with. My wife was there trying out a new driver, so she was able to keep me focused tell me how good or bad I was moving. I had a few wonky shots early on but soon found the feel for my centre of balance and movement on the backswing and follow through.
As someone who has played golf since i was a youngster, this was a truly awful experience. It was like learning the game from scratch again. I've had friends who took up the game late and have wondered as to why they couldn't move as freely as I expected them to. Now I know. It was a steep learning experience.
After a couple of buckets of balls, I was striking the short irons fairly crisply off the mat. Even the mid irons were flying in the right direction although nowhere near the distance I used to hit shots, but, I've got a bit of time to try and bed this in and see what I can manage. Having hit my wife's hybrids well, I've gone and bought a couple of hybrids to try and help instead of the longer irons. Seniors shafts all round now to try and help and they seem to be helping so far.
So, on the whole very pleased with my first full range session and the way I was hitting the ball. My backswing is going to have to develop in its own time, but more than happy with my first attempts.
I've got just over a month to find a bit of confidence, but, given that the surgeon operated to "give me some beneficial use of my hands" I'm more than happy with what I saw this week.
Well, this past week, I reached another milestone. With a view to playing at an outing in May, I decided it was time to go to see what I could (or couldn't) do at the driving range. I've hit some shots out the back but only with the more lofted clubs, but this was the first attempt at a "full blooded" swing and shots with longer irons and a driver.
Fortunately the range was very quiet, so there was no one there to laugh at my first attempts at a golf swing in over two years. I had fears about my balance and staying upright when trying to swing a full swing. Fortunately, I managed to avoid the ignominy of ending up in a heap in the bay. My head knew what I was supposed to be feeling and how I was supposed to be moving, but it was all very alien to start with. My wife was there trying out a new driver, so she was able to keep me focused tell me how good or bad I was moving. I had a few wonky shots early on but soon found the feel for my centre of balance and movement on the backswing and follow through.
As someone who has played golf since i was a youngster, this was a truly awful experience. It was like learning the game from scratch again. I've had friends who took up the game late and have wondered as to why they couldn't move as freely as I expected them to. Now I know. It was a steep learning experience.
After a couple of buckets of balls, I was striking the short irons fairly crisply off the mat. Even the mid irons were flying in the right direction although nowhere near the distance I used to hit shots, but, I've got a bit of time to try and bed this in and see what I can manage. Having hit my wife's hybrids well, I've gone and bought a couple of hybrids to try and help instead of the longer irons. Seniors shafts all round now to try and help and they seem to be helping so far.
So, on the whole very pleased with my first full range session and the way I was hitting the ball. My backswing is going to have to develop in its own time, but more than happy with my first attempts.
I've got just over a month to find a bit of confidence, but, given that the surgeon operated to "give me some beneficial use of my hands" I'm more than happy with what I saw this week.
