Back to Basics
After several months working to get back to a
low single digit handicapper and eventually to scratch, I seem to be
moving backwards. I took some time to process the journey I have been
travelling. Looking backwards I can see that the trip has not been a straight
one.
Like most of my students I allowed the desire for short term gains to influence the overall journey. In other words, I kept changing paths. For a while I was strictly conventional, then a bit of stack and tilt crept in, followed by a relapse into "natural golf". I ended up with a swing focusing on style rather than substance. Somehow, I forgot the purpose of the journey was to prove that the simple "Turn - Turn" swing could get a golfer to the best golf of their life.
Like most of my students I allowed the desire for short term gains to influence the overall journey. In other words, I kept changing paths. For a while I was strictly conventional, then a bit of stack and tilt crept in, followed by a relapse into "natural golf". I ended up with a swing focusing on style rather than substance. Somehow, I forgot the purpose of the journey was to prove that the simple "Turn - Turn" swing could get a golfer to the best golf of their life.
I spent a little time on the range the other day going back to the beginning. Neutral set-up, “Turn – Turn” swing, rhythm and tempo. Results were great. On the flag with my wedge and in flip flops too!
I think it is important to examine what caused me to alter my path. DISTANCE!!!
Like everyone else I started looking for more distance instead of lower scores, disaster. I reread the early part of my book and remembered that distance was the last of the key outcomes.
1.
Smooth
full turn around a fixed axis, creating powerful weight shift with the proper
sequence of movement.
2.
Consistent
rhythm and tempo
3.
Controlling
the bottom of the swing arc. . .hitting the ground exactly where I want.
4.
Predicting
and controlling the ball’s flight.
5.
Distance.
Be long enough and just long enough.
When the focus moves from the first
four outcomes to the fifth outcome (distance) too early in the journey,
those first four skills are not automated and habituated so they must begin to
fail. That is what happened to me over a very frustrating and discouraging few
months. Each outcome-skill must be developed and habituated in the correct
sequence. This is a very valuable lesson for me as both a golfer and an
instructor, I must be patient with myself and help my students be patient with
themselves.
My Grandfather would always tell me,
"Anything worth doing is worth doing poorly!" Of course, he didn't
mean that one should keep doing it poorly, or even get better at doing it
poorly, but to understand that greatness is always preceded by
failure. He would also say that one of the most powerful impediments to
greatness, is to be "pretty good". The time, effort and money
it takes to get from "pretty good" to great, can be
overwhelming.
Those truths are really hitting home on this quest to scratch. I am seeing glimmers of greatness but mostly is see myself getting better at doing it poorly. I can score better, but not actually play better. However, I do believe now that it is possible for the casual golfer to become a 0 handicap, and I believe I can be there before the end of summer.
Those truths are really hitting home on this quest to scratch. I am seeing glimmers of greatness but mostly is see myself getting better at doing it poorly. I can score better, but not actually play better. However, I do believe now that it is possible for the casual golfer to become a 0 handicap, and I believe I can be there before the end of summer.
Following the direction of my own book, I have
begun the mastery process on me, a pretty poor student. To get to the mythical
place of the '0' handicap index I have some tough obstacles to overcome.
1. Time
2. Effort
3. Money
Those are the key ingredients to any and every
endeavor. I can commit plenty of #1 and #2 not so much #3 so my plan
must fit that constraint.
- I am over 60 years old, not an obstacle, at least not one anyone can do anything about.
- I am overweight, that is an obstacle that effects performance a little, but since I ride it's not too big of a factor, still I want to lose 40 pounds.
- Physically fit??? Not bad, but I have limited flexibility in the lower back, that is an obstacle. Doing a lot of stretches, using my Pro-relax electrical stimulator. I have the strength for golf but not the flexibility.
- Ability. I have eagled every hole on my home course except 3 of the par 3's. Only one hole in one in my life. That means I have the ability to score low.
- Skill. I believe skill is the automatic habituated high-quality application of ability. That only comes with repetitions, hitting lots of balls on purpose and with a purpose. Lots of time in my hitting area in the garage. Probably will still only play once a week, maybe twice on occasion.
The answer is, "Why not?"
