Two Take Away Tips (Lesson No. 41)

Because the take away is so important to your swing I have two suggestions that will help new golfers and maybe some others as well. The first is an idea I saw in a magazine related by Ernie Ells. I tried it and it was very helpful.

1. Ernie suggesed we place or imagine a block of wood behind the ball at address. At the take away we should apply sufficient effort to move the block of wood. The idea points out the need to apply an assertion in the direction away from the target, low and more than slight. It has worked well for me and it tends to keep your initial take away lower than without the idea.

2. Maybe for seniors and maybe for anyone, this is similar to No. 1 but slightly different for whatever advantage it might have for your swing.

Go to an open field where there are no obstructions. Make sure no one is behind you. Address a ball or tee or anything. Then, plan to throw your club behind and upward, perhaps twenty or thirty yards. Go ahead and toss it. It should go back and slightly behind you and upwards in the process. You will need your arms and wrists to accomplish the drill. For beginners this drill will acquaint you with necessities in the take away.

3. While you are in the open field you can reverse the idea and toss the club forward the same distance. It should go towards an imaginary target ahead. This drill will help you understand the "release".

Both  drills have a slight flaw to be understood with certainty. On the course one of the greatest mistakes is to loosen the grip at the top of the back swing. Never loosen the grip at the top of the back swing.

Be careful and look behind you when practicing same as when backing out of a parking place. Good idea when on the course taking practice swings. Be careful.

Richard

A Short and Valuable Lesson (No. 40)

As I practiced on the range and played a practice round of nine holes today, one idea kept running through my mind. I kept thinking how interesting it was that things I learned last year were helping me to perfect my swing today! For most beginners and maybe most experienced golfers luck plays a big part in their game.

My five year (actually 20 year) endeavor has been based on the idea that luck is not enough.We have seen many winning pros fade to the back (leaderboard) when they strive to improve. Something has to change when we try to get better. The changes make the road a bit rocky, at first.

My putting continues to be markedly better, reliable and specifically a better line. Honestly, the idea that improved my putting was not new. I had used it before. I was comfortable coming back to it. It is so good I would have to sell it.

My fairway wood shots (TaylorMade-3 Wood) were spectacular, straight and long. I made another 20 ft. putt for a par. On No. 18 (I played the back nine) I miss hit driver on a short par five and from 270 yards out on a dog leg right I hit 3 iron roughly 200 yds on line. I didn't expect to hit so far and went through the dog leg to trees on the left. It required a draw around the tall tree; well hit to the green (around the tall tree branches). Mission accomplished even if it did roll to a bunker back with flag back. Hitting good 8 iron draw shots, 6/7 fairways, putting reliably well and hitting respectable three woods from the fairway can improve your luck considerably.

I am still missing too many greens but my memory flash backs are helping me to regain my iron play accuracy from last year. I have incorporated a far more relaxed posture with emphasis on my total orientation into the back swing. The relaxed posture is supposed to improve my balance through the swing. My follow through is vastly improved. It was the poor follow through that made me take stock and rework my entire golf swing.

After hitting several good iron shots I wondered if readers of my Golf Journal realize how much of the body (muscles) must be orientated for the back swing. I replied to myself, "Damn near every one (muscle) I have is going into my back swing." I had to relate the fact because I was hitting good irons and drivers during my round (6/7 fairways). It is not too difficult but it is a comprehensive matter that requires thought process and total orientation. Only with luck can I step up and hit a very good shot. More often I have things to do, thoughts to have, orientations to achieve, before I take a back swing. My first target is into the back swing. My address sends the ball on line toward the fairway or the green. I never take the back swing for granted. Never.

Good luck!

Richard 

 

A Putting Turn Around (Lesson No. 39)

Most changes with your putting stroke will be subtle; something we talked about in Lesson No. 38. Because putting is so valuable and important to the game, I have been changing my methods weekly or monthly for over a year.  Alternatively, Vijay was heard to say, "You guys keep changing your swing. I've been working to perfect the same swing for ten years." We know he has changed his putter from time to time, so he obviously works to improve his putting. They say he putts to a little wooden tee on the practice green much of the time. A very good idea.

Today I had a fascinating round and because I parred the first hole, I kept my score. Yesterday brought on the results of today's round. Yesterday I abandoned my putting style because it simply was unreliable. Very simply, I focused or concentrated on the unity of my hands and knuckles rather than a fingers guide to the cup. I also was certain to have a vertical concept in my addressing the putt. The putts, yesterday, began to improve. Today I remembered what I learned yesterday.

The results in todays round were impressive. Thirteen putts (9 holes) is a remarkably good number.  Three putts of more than fifteen feet is noteworthy. The 30 footer on No. 9 for bogie was very good. Actually there was only one bad putt. On No. 5 (a par 4) I  hit out from under a tree to the front apron and chipped to four feet. The putt was slightly down hill and bending left. I missed. I replaced the ball (practice round) and missed again. I then missed again and again from 4 ft. I then remembered my advice to others and ran the bending putt into the cup with a moderately firm stroke through the break. I took the earlier tap in for bogie.

Stats are fascinating. I had four putts on the first four holes and was one under par. It speaks well of my short game on this particular day.........chipping and putting. Not well for my irons but I was one under after four with only one greenie  (my birdie hole).

I finished at three over par because I miss hit several chips shots. The putting saved my score since three over is respectable; particularly with the 30 footer on No. 9.

Other stats included four of seven fairways hit; mabe five if the first cut is a fairway and the shot is open to the green, as I keep my stats. If I'm on the fringe of the green and the pin is close-that is a greenie because it is close, makeable and puttable. My two greenies were legitimate greenies.

Two greenies and a 39 makes for interesting statistics. My new putting technique seemed to carry over when I went to the practice green after my round. I always like to practice my fifty footers because I need that putt.  I was not perfect but near perfect. Most were close and therefore my new technique seemd to work with the very long putts. I had to be sure.

Now, with a little more work I should have more greenies which I had in the fall of last year. I like my swing changes as they seemed to give me my two greenies, properly hit.  We'll see what tomorrow brings and be happy with the stats for today.

Richard Englefield