Played Smoke Rise Country Club – Stone Mtn., GA (83)

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The Course

Smoke Rise CC is a excellent course. I knew from looking at the scorecard that it would be a challenging course, but challenging not because it’s long (it’s not) but because it requires finesse. The fairways are tight in places, requiring irons off the tee and every green is protected by bunkers. Unfortunately, we played while they were renovating the greens. So we played to temporary greens cut into the fairways in front of the real greens. Even so, The course was in excellent condition and I’m excited to play again in late Aug or early September once the new greens are in play. Because of the greens and chance of poor weather, we were the only two on the course and that was awesome.

My Round

Played with Casey, and that’s always a lot of fun. He played the best round of his life and we ended up shooting the same score. Definitely a fun round.

My round was a good one. Snce I’m working on a few things, my goal was to go out and hit some solid shots with the new techniques like grip, backswing and impact position. And I did. Starting at the driving range before I was just focusing on making smooth swings, Smooth tempo, keeping grip weaker, dropping the club down in front, staying planted. I was flushing my irons on the range and felt great.

On the course, when I focused on the new pieces, I hit great shots. But I have to focus, because I’m breaking old habits. A good example was on a par 5 on the front. I was going for the green with a 5i. My first shot, when I wasn’t quite focused, was ok, but a bit thin and kind of a fade. But then I put another ball doesn’t since we were the only ones there. I focused on my grip, posture and followed up that shot by hitting a perfect 5i when i remembered to get to the top of backswing and then transition with my hips before dropping club. 205-210 yards with a penetrating ball flight with a slight draw and balanced finish. It felt easy.

I hit some great drives when I let go. Focusing again on the new pieces, and then really transitioning with my hips keeping head at or slightly behind the ball (so I’m not leaning forward) and dropping the club down in front, I hit some straight and long drives. I need to let go and trust my swing with the driver.

Also had fun playing shots at the temp pins instead of just shooting to middle of the green. I had to focus on landing spots, read fairway break, and think about how the ball will travel once it hits the ground instead of playing to the middle of the green and hoping the ball backs up. I felt more focused because I was playing to something other than a front, middle or back number. Not that I should fire at pins, but I should incorporate that into my rounds.

Keep working on the same things: grip, takeaway, transition, tempo, low hands and letting everything happen. Also, for the first time in a while I didn’t trust my alignment. Just need to trust it.

Sorecard

Other Photos

With a range full of golf balls, I could’ve stayed here all day


Divot shot. The consistency on the range was nice. Figured the pic would remind me


Nice starting hole. Bunkers staring you in the face and little dogleg right


Par 3 210 yards. Gorgeous hole if we were playing to the real green. Temp green tucked to the left

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Swing thoughts

Quick update. Hit balls today and it went well so here are things to remember.

Weaken the left hand grip, too many knuckles and it makes me too handsy

Get back to your old Tempo. Finish the backswing keeping everything tight, bump the hips, drop the hands down in front.

Keep your right foot down and less active with that leg

Ok, so here’s what you felt like:

At address: keep same posture, but weaken the grip to show 2 knuckles not 3 or even 4 like you do.

Takeaway: shoulders move the hands and let them go by naturally close to right thigh

Backswing: Hinge up after your thigh feeling like you’re going up not around and finish backswing before transition

Bump the left hip but make sure your head isn’t moving forward too. Just let the hands drop low in front

Follow thru to a balanced finish.

This swing results in -6 to – 1 in out swing, with good tempo and rhythm and solid middle (to middle heel side) contact everytime. Go with it.

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It’s official, I’ve had every part of the swing correct

Just not at the same time. I think I’ll look at that positively.

I was clearing out videos from my V1 iPad app that I’ve taken over the last year and a half. As I watched them I realized that over the past year and a half, I’ve had some really good swings. I’ve had a good backswing and takeaway, I’ve had a nice position at the top, I’ve had a great transition, I’ve had a nice follow-through, and I’ve had good balance. But I haven’t put it all together.

But recognizing this makes me realize 1) that we will never be “done” working on our swings 2) I’ve probably tweaked and changed my swing too much. I haven’t been able to groove any swing, bad or good, and as a result my consistency is, well, not there.

So where am I right now and what do I know I need to work on?

  • One-piece takeaway (my hands are way too active)
  • A proper hinge on the backswing to keep me on plane going back
  • Keeping my right arm against my side to the top
  • Bump my left hip BUT keep my right foot on the ground as I transition
  • Let my hands drop and continue to turn but also keep the right foot on the ground just rolling in
  • Rotate my arms/hands/etc after impact as part of a proper release
  • That should reduce the chicken wing in follow thru

That’s it. Some of that stuff isn’t new and I would consider it all tweaks. But my legs are most important right now. I’m popping up at impact and I shouldn’t.

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Hit some more today, good swings

Hit another 50 balls or so today, wanted to see if yesterday was a fluke. It wasn’t. My first shot with a 7i looked, felt, and had the same data as my last one from yesterday.

Went thru some wedges, 7i, 5W, and 5i today. Hit some really good shots. Just need to keep imagining this new takeaway, it’s gonna take time. I had some loose shots where the old takeaway was in control, but recognized it and fixed it.

The data, visualizations, videos, feel, and impact tape all support that im hitting good shots. But I haven’t been able to hit outside yet and that probably won’t happen until later this week. Until then I just need to keep hitting and focusing on the right things.

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Yes, it was my right arm but really the Takeaway

Golf is great for a ton of reasons, but one is that you can continually learn, test and try things until you find something that works. I’ve known for a long time that my takeaway thru backswing was not ideal. Too much wrist, too my roll, too much inside. But I was focused on the transition and forward swing and getting the shaft to drop on plane. I couldn’t understand why when I start with the hips, my arms don’t drop. It works in slow motion and it works with a one arm swing. Why not both arms?

I spent time hitting inside yesterday using my Swingbyte and focusing only on getting my backswing plane lines on plane. I took a bunch of slow motion (30%) swings and checked my lines and positions at various points. My main feeling I wanted at the top is that my shoulders finished their turn and most importantly, that my right elbow was tucked at my side. But not just tucked at my side, which I’ve done for a while, but tucked and facing DOWN my body. Basically, exactly what I’ve read in Hogans book a thousand times.

When I did that, my plane lines were much better and at the top of the swing as I bumped my hips left, the shaft flattened out automatically, my shoulders dropped slightly and the club fell right on plane. I hit 13 of 15 balls in the exact same, slightly heel side of center, position on the club. Finished nice and balanced. Swingbyte confirmed the move was much better and video confirmed it as well.

So my new and only thought is: start with the shoulders and then as I get to the top, really feel the elbow tucked and pointing at the hip.

Swingbyte Data and Visualization

After making changes to my takeaway and backswing

My overhead plane lines before making changes to my takeaway and backswing

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I take it back, its my entire right arm

I’ve been reading about the physics of the golf swing and something interesting caught my attention. Right hand dominent players struggle keeping the right arm from dominating the swing. Earth shattering I know. But the right arm should only brace the swing at at the end provide form power.

So I decided to take some left arm only swings. Im stunned. Everything from my posture, to my arm position at the top, to even my follow thru is much better. Much more on plane. The kicker…. at the top, I’m driving more with my legs, which puts me naturally into more of a squat position and the shaft automatically flattens out a bit and sits right on plane as I turn thru.

I’ll need to swing a lot more like this, but at least I’ve narrowed down a massive issue with my swing. My right arm and hand.

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It’s mental

I’ve had good range sessions before a round where things click and it feels good, and then I go out on the course and it’s a totally different swing. But today was different. After warmup I always try to hit shots to targets, not just aimlessly down the range. I was all over it today with every club from PW thru 5i, 5W and even driver. My swing felt effortless, had a slight draw, good distance and flew right where I wanted them too. Even my 5W, which I don’t hit often right now, was getting hammered on the range.

I focused on just turning my shoulders and keeping my grip pressure nice and loose and when I did, the results we excellent.

Then I went on the course. Tried a 5W and basically topped it, nasty pull with driver, slices with the driver, pushes with the driver. My irons were not solid. I just didn’t feel good.

And it’s all mental. I found a couple range balls on #9 and while waiting to hit, I aimed back into the range and flushed both of them. Then got up to my real ball and hit a weak wedge. On another hole my playing partner was in another fairway. The green was empty so I dropped a ball and grabbed a 7i. Lie wasn’t great, but I flushed it for what wouldve been a GIR with a great ball flight.

It’s frustrating. I dot feel loose and free out there and I doubt my swing when I’m out there. I have to figure out my hands, they are definitely too active and always have been.

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Right Shoulder

After hitting today I realized something, my right shoulder comes up at the top of my backswing. Im turning my shoulders correctly around my spine but at the end, my right shoulder is bunched up close to my ear. I’ve been wondering why I can’t get my hands back down on plane and this could be a big part of the problem. Even though I’m staying connected, it’s something that happens every time … even when I was just trying not to move it.

Have to look into the causes and reactions and figure out a way to eliminate this move.

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Update on my year so far

Its been a while since I posted any updates and that isnt a great thing. I’m updating this site mostly for me. These posts help me reflect on my rounds, my progress, and they remind me what I’m working on and what has/hasn’t been working.

Bottom line: My game is in the best shape its been. My last 4 rounds were all in the 80s and I’ve lowered my handicap down to 14.1 from 16.6 in March. My average score in 2012 is 89.2. But most importantly, I’m hitting golf shots that look, feel, sound and perform like real golf shots. Not only that, but I’m trying shots I wouldn’t have tried before. I’ve tried to intentionally fade the ball, or play a trap slice out of the trees to recover. I’ve tried the “belly wedge” around the green. Basically, I’m trying to play golf.

I haven’t had a brush with 80 yet however. 84 is my best round so far this year with a pair of 85s and an 88. I haven’t put everything together yet. My putting is a problem area. I don’t have any confidence or a consistent stroke and the only way I can break 80 is by putting better. I need to stop 3-putting and I need to roll in some longer birdie opportunities. Looking at my trends (on myscorecard.com) over the next 10 rounds, if I continue to play as well as I have on the previous 10, I could drop my handicap by as much as 8 strokes. I think that is a bit unreasonable, but it gives me something to shoot for. If I factor in the last 20 rounds, then I could drop it by 6 strokes over the next 20 rounds. I’d be a single digit handicap player. But I need consistency off the tee and consistency with my short game to make that happen. I think its a lot easier to lower your handicap from a 20 to a 10 than it is to go from 10 to scratch.

I’ve spent some time really trying to quiet my swing down, simplify it. I’m trying to stay consistent with my pre-shot routine, setting up to the ball the same way and starting the same way.

Some keys:

  • Keep the ball position slightly forward in the stance
  • Legs flexed and loose with the right leg knocked in a bit and ready to brace the swing
  • Keep the hands nice and loose and make a practice move taking the club away with the shoulders
  • Start the swing by turning the shoulders, don’t worry about the arms and hands
  • Keep the biceps against the chest and simply turn the shoulders back as far as they will go, pivoting against a braced right leg and let the hands hinge naturally, don’t force them
  • When the shoulders stop, the backswing is complete, bump the left hip to the left and feel pressure in the left foot into the ground
  • Simply let force and momentum do the rest, but keep the feet into the turf.

When I do the right way, my swing is much more on plane, my swing speed is up, my contact is more center/center instead of heel/center and the ball flys straight with a slight draw. I just need to keep at it. And I need to hit my driver more often. I need to practice this swing with my fairway woods and driver. Right now, I’m laying up on par 5s if I have anything more than 220 out. I should be able to attack any normal length par 5 (from the Blue tees) in 2 if I have a decent drive. I’m leaving strokes on the course right there.

I’m feeling really good about my swing right now and really good about my progress. I’ve gotten a lot of benefit out of the Swingbyte (I’ll write a formal review soon) which has helped me really get a sense for what is working and not working with my swing. If I can start putting, I might have a chance of breaking 80 some time soon.

Photos From Earlier Rounds

Birdie putt after blind approach shot downhill with 8i at Wolf Creek


Looking back up #1 and #9 at City Club Marietta


Approach shot on #1 at Stone Mountain Golf Course


One of those days where I was just off the green ALL DAY long

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Played Wolf Creek – Atlanta, Ga (85)

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The Course

I really like Wolf Creek. This is the second time I’ve played there this year and the course has been in excellent condition. Its an interesting layout, too, with many holes forcing you to be strategic off the tee. You can’t just step up and hit driver all the time. You have to think about your landing areas, you have to think about your aim points as well because there are a lot of blind tee shots. But its a fun course and one I’ll play many more times.

My Round

Played another round with my brother, which I always enjoy. We were the first off the tee, which has never happened. It was great to be out there before everyone else. The picture above is the view on #1 tee. A month ago we played here and I shot 39 on the back, my driving was one and my irons were spot on. This round started out with more of the same. I had 5 GIRs through the first 6 holes and would’ve been level par if my putting hadn’t let me down. I had some loose shots on the front, bad decisions with certain clubs, but overall I was swinging great.

I had 2 doubles on the back and 1 on the front. Only 1 of those doubles included a penalty and none of them included a 3 putt, so they were simply bad holes. On two of the three, I hit a poor drive, way short of the fairway which set me up for doubles from the start. I recovered nicely, like on 18 where I duffed a drive then hit a beautiful 205 yard 5i with a slight draw from out of the rough. It put me back into position where I should’ve been with my drive.

If I can get my driver to come around (and I don’t practice it enough so its my fault) then I would;ve had a chance to shoot lower here.

My Scorecard

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