Hips and right leg causing issues

Ive Known this for a year

This is a recurring problem. I have to solve this if I’m ever going to become consistent. I have to make sure my hips are moving correctly, not just moving.

Tonight with the Swingbyte and video, I want to confirm that I’m pulling and turning back the left hip from the start of the downswing. Hopefully that keeps me grounded and keep the right hip from popping up. It should also allow me to bring the shaft down closer to the plane line and hopefully allow me to deliver the club more consistently. Check all the numbers to ensure nothing has changed (for the worse).

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Played Heritage Golf Club – Tucker, GA (83)

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The Course

Heritage is a great golf course. Big golf course that feels very natural. The fairways and rough were in good shape and some of the greens were excellent. But then others were marked up, kinda dead and very uneven. The tee boxes were beat up, especially on the holes where driver isn’t needed.

That aside, this is a course I’ll play again for sure. Not a level lie on this course and even in the fairway we ended up with sidehill/downhill lies and not subtle ones, big ones. But the layout is excellent. Its a tough golf course. The tees were up a but, which helped but the greens were insane. Double and triple breakers and big! Anything outside of 10 feet and you’re hoping not to 3 putt. I’ll definitely play again.

My Round

I played really well today. Going into the round, I just wanted to make good swings but I wanted those swings to look and feel similar to my practice swings. I’m really trying to break my bad habit of taking the club inside by rolling my wrists and instead felling my hands pass my thigh then hinge up and at the top, start the hips and pull my right arm to my side and swing through. On video and on the Swingbyte, that swing produces some great plane lines and even an increase in swing speed. On the range I was hitting some solid shots with a bit of a draw when I did this right. On the course I drew a few but mostly I was hitting fades, especially with my driver. But I hit some nice iron shots, like the 9i on #2 which hit the slope, bounced, then used the slope and spin to come all the back down to hole high for par. Or the knock down 3/4 PW from 115 on par 3 #16 which I hit to within 6 feet. I had some solid 7is and a solid 5i from an awkward uphill/sidehill lie.

My driver produced a couple decent drives but my confidence is low since this is a new club. Even with the weights set 12g in the heel, I’m fading and even slicing a bit. When I try to just let it loose, I usually hit it more solid and further. But I tried that on the front and duffed it about 15 yards in front (not even the ladies tee). But when I did connect, I was getting 270-280 which is exactly what I expected when I purchased this club. I need to go to the range and work on the setup and just trust going full out. AND I have to release the club properly. Without that, I’m going to keep frustrating myself.

My 5W is now a go to club for me, although it let me down on #17. Prior to hitting my tee shot, I realized my score was 73 with 17 and 18 left, both par 4s. The numbers werent in my favor to birdie both for a 79, but I was confident. I took 5W off the tee, which I did 2X earlier both with great results. This time, I pushed/lined up right and the ball ended on pine bark. I had 158 and took an 8i out. I needed to fly it just past a tree to avoid the water left and my ball was resting on a big piece of bark. I stayed down and hit a nice shot, but right, hit the tree and went into the fairway. My 78 yard pitch was short, my next chip was good but still short. That was the story of today and last round around the greens, not confidence with the chipping.

I need to work on my driver and my chipping, especially around the greens. I need to keep working on the full swing too, but at the range I need to focus on the Driver. When I hit that club well, I can score well. And I just really want to hit that new club as well as I can.

Other Photos
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#2 at Heritage (Legacy). Tough par 4 but really cool hole tucked along the woods

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Not a level lie on this course, but some cool views

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Unfortunate break. That bark is in the way of the club. Put a good swing on it, but was a bit right. Led to double.

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Approach shot into #18. Didn’t mean to go that long and flirt with water off the tee. Went at the flag with SW, landed on the green but short, prob 20 footer. Made par.

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Played Cobblestone Golf Club – Acworth, GA (86)

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The Course

Cobblestone is awesome. One of the best tracks around Atlanta. The design of the course has you hitting numerous different clubs of the tee, the par 3s vary in length, reachable par 5s that really make you weigh risk/reward, and the maintenance is excellent. The greens were some of the smoothest, truest rolling greens I’ve played around Atlanta. And unlike some other courses that claim to be on/around water, Cobblestone is very much on Lake Acworth. Multiple holes back up or ride along the lake making for some very cool holes. I’d play it again anytime.

My Round

My round was mixed. I shot an 86 on a great course which is nice, but it wasn’t one of those rounds where I was just “on” but I had some great recoveries. Rolled some one putts, had some decent chips. I had 7 pars and 2 birdies, but also had 5 doubles (or worse) including a duffed drive on #1 that led to an 8. I went on a five hole stretch of 4 pars and a birdie, that was fantastic. I hit some nice irons and I had a couple big drives. My drive on #2 was the best I’ve had with my new driver. Over 300 yards (I did get a nice roll off a small hill), with a high straight flight. But I need more time with my driver because it was inconsistent. When I hit it, I hit it great.

My putting and chipping need work. 3 putting and duffing chip shots is not going to let me score well. But Casey ad I were out having a good time on a good course and thats really what matters.

Scorecard

Other Photos
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Great Par 3 on the Lake. Went at flag, ended up bailing right, wonder why??

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#18 at Cobblestone. Great hole

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Pretty tough par 3. Long and plenty of danger.

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Played City Club – Marietta, GA (86)

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My Round

Tough round. This course is short but can be brutal if you’re not accurate. It was great to be out there, but I let the front the 9 get to me. I need to stay more controlled of my emotions on the course, but its very challenging when you get out there and dont feel like you’re even close to making the same swings as on the practice tee.

But shocker, when I’m more positive and just let bad shots go, I play better. Confidence is key. Jokingly on 17 I said I was going to “Tiger Woods this tee shot” meaning I’m going to compress it and knock it close. I hit it to within 8 feet.

I also noticed that when my tempo is slower, I play worse. I need to just take it back and let it go, but I don’t do that on the course. Next time I play I need to focus on that.

Other Photos
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Greens were recently aerated. My SW from 110 embedded right into the green

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Par 3 #17. Use the soft greens to back up a 9i from 145

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Played Wolf Creek -Atlanta, GA (89)

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My Round

My first round from the Tips at any course. It wasn’t my choice, I would’ve played blues. But I was playing a match in the Atlanta Golf League and that is where my opponent wanted to play. I was on fire today. I hit 86% of the fairways and 50% of the greens. For 5 holes in a row on the front, I hit both FWY and GIR. My driver was working thankfully and my irons were solid.

I also won my match against a better player not having a great round. I had a 2 shot lead going into the last 2 holes and really feel good about how I played them. Those are tough holes and I knew I needed a good drive. I stepped up and thought, just get the ball in the fairway and I did. Then I thought just lay up in the fairway, and I did. Then I thought, just put this somewhere on the green, and I was in the fringe pin high. Rolled it close, par and I shot in the 80s from the tips. Really happy with the way I played but also how I managed the course and managed my nervousness about hitting from the Golds. It was a great round.

Scorecard

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Played Wolf Creek – Quick 9 (44)

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Played a quick 9 and the score doesn’t really reflect the swings. Two bad holes on 8 and 9 (lack of focus, doesn’t matter) turned a sub 40 round into a 44.

I hit 5 of the first 7 greens with one of those missed just on the front. My driver was mixed, I really need to focus on the driver and especially the driver setup. When I’m setup correctly and feel solid and square, the drives end up where I want them.

I continued to think about staying quiet with my head, keep the right arm tight, but driving with my legs on the transition. Doing this keeps me grounded and I hit solid shots. I hit a couple nice 7i, a really nice 9i from the rough to pin high. A few good wedges as well. Hit my hybrid a bit and loved it.

The putter failed me. 2 3-putts from within 12 feet.

All in all, I can be upset about a round like this one. Just need to learn from 8 and 9.

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Played RiverPines – Alpharetta, GA (83)

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My Round

I had a chance to play RiverPines after work for my first match in the Atlanta Golf League. This is the second time I’ve played RiverPines and this 83 is the best round I’ve ever posted. The course is still in excellent shale. I felt completely in control of this round the entire time. I was focused, I hit great shots with the irons, driver, rolled some putts and recovered well. I wanted to go out and hit the same shots I’ve hit on the range, but actually do it on the course for a change. I did.

There are a lot of positives to this round and a many holes where something fairly significant happened. I had a few main swing thoughts, take the club back inside not outside, then at the top bump the hip left keeping my head still and feet planted and just let it go. I hit some very pure irons, mostly straight flight with a slight draw, but a couple fades too. Contact was excellent. Same with the driver. I was hitting a fade today and went within. I know I’m not closing the face and releasing properly and also coming out to in a bit. Ryan, my playing partner, also noticed i was taking the club back outside a bit as well. By the end of the round I had a nice ball size dark mark in the center of my driver. I hit almost 80% of the fairways.

My chipping and putting wasn’t strong. Too many 3 putts and too many short chip. I could’ve easily shot a 77-79 if I simply made a couple better strokes. But my irons and my driver were saving me.

But the mental game was critical. I applied a suggestion from Chris – take the course 3 holes at a time and have a goal for those 3. For 1-3, we set a +3 goal and I went +1. And then forgot about it and moved on to the next 3. That’s easy to do when you’re playing well, but critical when not. And it really worked well. The mental approach helped me to make a pretty great up and down. Gat drive ended in the trap by the lip. 98 out so I tried a SW which hit the lip. I stayed calm, looked at my options and knew I had to go over a bunker and get the ball to stop close to save par. I ignored the bunker and approached the shot with confidence. My SW flew over the bunker, hit and stopped within 8 feet and I rolled the par.

Standing on 17 with water right, I had complete confidence to let it go. A little draw ended up right in the middle of the fairway with 165 to clear the creek and get home in two. I hit 6i with 182 to the pin, a little short, chipped up, and rolled in the birdie. I almost played that hole as perfectly as I could have.

This was definitely one of my best rounds and I need to take the positives with me going forward.

Scorecard

Other photos

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Long range day, not gonna say a great one

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So I was curious if I could take it to the course, or in this case the range. Hitting inside can simulate a lot of things, but one thing it can’t is ball flight. And for me, that damn ball is a problem.

Lots of good things to take away from today. My new hybrid was excellent, very solid shots, some nice length and flight. My driver was consistent and that’s a good thing. In out swing, albeit 2-3d, but consistent. I’m still hanging the face open thru impact and that’s an issue.

But my irons were so so. My first few 8i after my warm up witht he lob wedge, we’re perfect. Smooth swing, nice ball flight and about 160 carry. I started thinking that today was going to be good. That’s the problem, I started thinking.

I’m making major changes to swing and I can’t expect miracles, but I hit some weird shots. I was more out in than in out. My average yesterday was a few degrees in out, today I’m guessing it was a few out in. I was rushing from the top, I didn’t have the same tempo, I wasn’t moving.

Part of it is endurance, I’ve hit a ton of balls lately and part of it is heat. But a big part is mental, I’m just not staying with the shot and I’m easily reverting back to old swing.

I need to take some positives, driver, hybrid, all good. I also hit some gorgeous shots with my irons, so it’s not like it was a total bust. I hit over 200 balls, there were good shots in there. I saw my rolling backswing creep back in, so I know I need more reps.

But I also need to keep my right arm in check. I’m not dropping the club or arms in that slot and I need to remember the keys. I need to feel I’m pulling but not from the top, I have to stay connected and I have to bump hips left and keep my right leg from flying around. It will happen, I jus have to keep working.

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Swing is as good as its ever been

I’ve hit hundreds of balls inside this week using video and Swingbyte to confirm I’m making progress. My path is more consistent, contact more center, and I’m balanced an swinging effortlessly. Just as important, I’m able to recognize my bad swings instantly.

The Swingbyte has been critical to my success trying to change my takeaway and backswing. Without the overhead visualization I wouldn’t have recognized my crazy inside flat takeaway and wouldn’t have been able to experiment until I got on plane.

I’ve got to go out and hit on grass, it doesn’t count until that happens.

Focus on taking it back in one piece, transition and then feel the left hand dominate and pulling while the club drops and feel that in out swing. It’s smooth inside right now, keep that tempo.

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Making progress with the driver

I haven’t spent enough time with the driver, so I’m trying to focus. I’m making progress with all the clubs, so this is a good time to devote to the driver.

I’m really thinking about starting in one piece and then after the hands past my thigh, starting to Ning the club up, not around. At the top, let the left hand stay in control, not the right, shift the hips and drive the handle back down the line feeling like I’m swinging more in out.

After spending time focusing, I moved from 4-6 out-in to a few degrees in-out. I just need more reps and trust it. And I have to get my hands lower at impact, almost 10 degrees of added lie can’t be good.

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