Time to get worse again!

[John_Findlay]

It's that time again.

Went up to the range tonight and started working on a pretty major swing change from a lesson back in January which I'd been frightened to put into play all year. Hit 200 balls from wedge to driver to try to groove the new feeling.

The thing is... I know fine well that if I take it onto the course immediately I'll start to score worse again for a while. I'm a great believer in having to get worse before you get better and I'll never get down to the desired handicap without starting now. So it's 6 months of misery again unless it kicks in more quickly than expected.

Feel it's the right time as I've achieved a few golfing goals this year by "getting away with" the old swing and all it's faults.

Is anyone else stubborn enough to put up with potentially crappy scores again for the greater benefit of a more consistent long term swing or do you revert to your comfort zone like I've been all year so far?

 

[Doh]

Yes John been there and done that. Up until three years ago i always playing off about the 13 then got down to 12. I knew i wasn't going to get any better until like you i underwent Major swing changes. So i bite the bullet, yes it was hard and sometimes very frustrating and even embarrassing at times handicap went up and down like a yo-yo.Now i'm at a stage where i'm much more consistant playing of 9 lowest being 8 but looking at 7 as a target for this year.Funny thing is i can still have a poor game like us all but the standard of my poor games is much better if you know what i mean.

So i would say go for it as there is never going to be a perfect time although i did most of my work after the summer season through winter and spring then once you have all major changes you want installed you have the summer once again to ingrain them.

 

[birdieman]

..we have the technology...we can rebuild him...

seriously John, what's wrong with your swing that it needs this major tweak? Thought you were happy with the current swing which I seem to recall you said would 'see you into your dotage' or words to that effect.

Would it not be better to wait until the late autumn/winter to start this when you will have loads of range time and less matches?

A major swing change in June sounds a frightening prospect.

 

[HTL]

I am in the same frame of mind as birdiman your swing was very good as it was.

WHY?

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Not so much why more a case of why now. The season is reaching its peak now that Summer (!!!???) is here and I imagine you must have big events on the horizon. Why now and not in September when the season is over so you can use the Winter to make sure it is ready to come out firing next season?

 

[John_Findlay]

I can see your points, guys. Why now, you ask? Well, mainly because the I have the time and motivation now. I have a bit of time off. It might not be like that in the winter...and also because my winter golf mainly involves 25 mph winds at my home course, a recipe for swing wreckage.

I'm not entirely happy with my swing, Stu, but I get away with it when the timing is right. Basically my problem is that I get the club stuck behind me too often. It's only a bit of natural co-ordination that gets it back to square. You know all those blocks and heavy hits I was having at the Jubilee...that was the cause. I just want rid of the worst shots for more consistency. I won't hit the ball any further.

When I say major change it's basically standing a bit further away from the ball to give the club room and feeling a lot steeper shoulder turn so that my hands don't get so deep on the backswing. It's a very major change for me in how the swing "feels" but keeps my hands in front and more synchronised. I'm not exactly "doing a Faldo" but my natural move isn't correct so it's best to try to change.

 

[DCB]

John,

I'm going through this at the moment. After my debacle at Blairgowrie I went to my club pro and stated quite clearly that I needed to change. First couple of lessons were murder, time on the range was murder, but I'm now starting to get the hang of it. An the pro said, " people will still know it's you from two fairways away, but, we can get this swint to work a lot better for you". Once I accepted I wouldn't have the gracefull flowing swing of one of the current stars, I started to work hard on what he told me to. It is still a work in progress, but I have battled hrard over the last 6 weeks to get the consistency I am looking for. I accepted in April that this season may not be the best I have/will had/have but I do fee that the changes are becoming second nature.
I was getting the club trapped in too close on the downswing. Several minor things caused that, but oh boy, how destructive they were! Now I'm trying to take the club away and get it more upright, I'm standing taller to the ball and it is getting better.

Missed last two weeks due to unforseen circumstances, but I am looking forward to nest two weekend, June Medal and then Championship Qualifying.

So far I'm far more consistent with my irons, scoring has been better than that of last year or so and most importantly, I managed a 0.2 cut and a buffer in last two comps.

If you accept it's a work in progress it does seem to take a bit of pressure off.

All the best anyway whatever you decide.

dave

 

[madandra]

John, you have played some of your best golf recently using the 'old' swing so there can't be that much needing changing. I think you should try and play through your ropey period until August and by then you will know if the changes are required.


Another thing, is the swing change for your scoring benefit or are you seeking the perfect swing?

 

[andiritchie]

john my swing change from nov is exactly the same as yours and i ended up a mess for 2 months swinging like a robot i getting there now its defo worth doing

 

[John_Findlay]

It's a scoring thing Andy. I'm just not striking the ball well consistently enough. I can have a 73 one day and an 87 the next. I just don't know where my misses are gonna be. They can be huge slices and massive pull hooks within a few holes. I want to get the swing plane sorted to stop the worst shots. For a while the ball-striking has been poor but I've been coping better with the course management and chipping so the scoring has been generally pretty good. I'm gonna soldier on. Up at the range again tonight and I wanted to give the game up after 50 balls but I'll work through it until the end of the year.