After working with and practicing my short game, my improvements are worth mentioning.
Yesterday, as I stood at the first tee the ladies kept coming to the tee. It was Ladies Day. I had forgotten. Therefore, I just kept waving them ahead as I waited.
1. While waiting I went to a area nearby and practiced my short chip shots. I was rather good when I kept my right hand low in the takeaway. So good, in fact, that I have made it a part of my short game because it is reliable. I also remembered to add a slight wrist break on the way back. Relaxed wrists make this possible and seem quite natural.
2. Eventually I walked over to the putting green.Logic is commanding! My best putts came when I remembered to lift my hands or wrists before the putt. Alternatively, it could be explained by a slight nose dive of the hands before the takeaway. The method adds to the concept of verticle in the putting stroke. If there is an arch in my putting stroke I do not concern myself with it except to remember that Tiger Woods has an arch away in his putting stroke.
Jack Nicklaus says his putting stroke always had an emphasis on the right hand. I must be sure to use the left hand going toward the ball (and cup) or I am often erring to the right.
3. The heat and humidity in N. Florida have been unbearable, so I took two weeks off from my game and worked on my new garden. This was my second day back to the driving range. There was a paradox, as ususal. I was intent on being more relaxed. But when I added a slight second effort to the back swing my shots improved significantly. My new irons are Taylor Made (from the 1990s). They have a taper tip shaft (stiff). I believe that translates to a stiffer shaft with a softer tip. I like the idea. My R-7 Driver has a "soft tip" and I hit it extremely well. My point is that "relaxed" improves quickness and a late second lift effort improves club head speed. I am now hitting the stiff shaft irons about as far as my former irons with regular flex.
Either regular or stiff is fine. Older golfers seem to prefer regular flex. Stiff shafts tend to go a little straighter. Thus, I am experimenting with a stiffer shaft with a softer tip, hoping to hit a few more greens in regulation (GIRs).
If that doesn't work, I have a used set of irons (very inexpensive) with taper tip regular flex shafts I can put in my Taylor Made irons. Maybe I'll do that next week.
The "Late Lift" in the backswing idea may be very important.
RHE
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