Drills to Drive the Ball Longer and Straighter

Here are some drills by, Marc Jenkins to assist you to drive the ball longer and straighter.
Source, http://www.golflink.com/list_1045_swing-drills-longer-straighter-drives.html

Practice with a Purpose

They say "practice makes perfect."  But what if you are practicing poorly or practicing the wrong things?  You will NOT get better regardless in endeavor.  It is better to practice with a purpose to ensure you are practicing the right things.  For example in golf, hitting buckets of balls blindly only makes you tired.  Resulting in the classic, "I am striping the ball on the range but I cannt seem to bring it to the course."

Practice with a Purpose

Overcoming Adversity

How do the winners overcome adversity?  What makes Tiger Woods, Michael Jordon, Thomas Edison, Abe Lincoln, different than the others.  What makes a winner a winner?  Whether you are a Tiger hater or not, I think you can take the example listed in this article and learn from it.

How to overcome adversity

Mastering Tricky Putts

To become an effective putter you must master these three types of putts; uphill, downhill, and sidehill.

Leg injury

As I posted earlier, I pulled my hamstring a month or so ago.  The recovery is going very slow following the RICE method, (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation).  Been trying to schedule a MRI but low and behold my doctor's office and the insurance company are pointing fingers at the other, in the meantime I am in serious pain and discomfort.  Well I have an appointment Monday to see my Dr. and get this settled once and for all.

Hybrids Yea or Nay?

To continue on the hybrid theme posted a few posts ago, here is a repost from Golflink talking about the advantages and flexability of a hybrid.

According to several retailers and pro shops, the number of players carrying around a hybrid golf club has tripled because it provides them with added flexibility.

Why You Should Have a Hybrid

Poor Release = Push Shoot

Do you push most of your shots to the right?  Chances are you do.  Here is a quick tip to help.

Poor Release = Push Shot

Make More 6 Foot Putts

Here is some advice from Dave Stockton on how you can make more 6 foot putts.  The 10 handicap golfer will be 50/50 from 6 feet.

Make more 6 foot putts.

Playing Hybrids

This day in age EVERYONE should NOT be playing a 3 iron and most amatuers should replace their 3, 4, and 5 iron with hybrids.  This long irons are just plain hard to hit, yes even for pros.  Kenny Perry in the link below doesn't play a 3 iron.

Say Goodbye to Your 3-iron

Coming Week

The rain hasn't stopped here in Baton Rouge, I am beginning to think it never will..hahah.
Good news, one of my best friends, and is a much of a golf junkie as I am, is coming down to play some golf this weekend.  It will be a welcomed site to "beat around the feathery" smoke some cigars and have a grand time.

The current golf season is only a few weeks old and I am already missing watching golf with my boys at the cigar shop having a few laughs.

I am in need of much practice so if mother nature is reading this or if anyone has a direct line to her, make the rain stop.......

Building a better golfer at the Jim McLean Golf Center Texas in Forth Worth

Building a better golfer at the Jim McLean Golf Center Texas in Forth Worth

Damn Rain

So in my thinking moving down to Lousiana I thought great, wife will be around family as I travel and I will be able to play and practice year round....WRONG!!! It's been raining for over a week!..Damn it.  And more in the forecast.

Winter Golf

So as January is now in midstream I can say I'm glad I'm not dealing with the cold in Chicago although we are getting ton of rain here in NOLA. My lower leg is still giving me trouble and hampering my practice sessions. Damn it!!!

One of my best friends from Chicago is coming down in a couple of weeks for some golf and I cannt wait. And my next tournament is the end of the month and my putting is very rusty. Have lots KD work to do.
Been learning a lot about the negative effects of wheat has on the body.

Tournament Results

To make a long story short and I am sure all of my followers are chomping at the bit to know how I did Saturday,  I placed 4th.

So the full story is, as most of you know I tweaked my back and IT band about a month ago and having to deal with this "injury".  There is not a lot that can be done rest and anti-inflamatory meds some heat and ice.  This has caused me not be able to practice during the month.  Needless to say I was rusty.  I warmed up nice and slow and applied a heat patch, (my new best friend), to my leg.

The day was damp and overcast, so that didn't aid in my relieving my leg tightness.  So I just played at about 75% and minimized mistakes.  So all in all I didn't play to my potential but I learned what real nerves are all about.  Making a putt in a competitive round is vastly different then making a putt to beat your buddy for bragging rights.  So I have a lot to work on, but feel very confident in my game and hope my leg heals quickly to I can practice.

Next stop, Alabama at the end of the month......

Tournament Day

Tee times have been pushed back 30 mins today. So I go off at 1050. Right leg feeling much better. I hope it holds up.

Support

Before I get to far ahead of myself, I would like to acknowledge a few people in my life that has made this chase possible.

First of all my loving wife, without her support and I mean true honest support, I wouldn't have the ability to really "go for it".  I can not thank her enough for NOT bashing the idea, or saying "You cann't do it because blah blah blah."  Or belittling the idea.  Thanks again honey and I love you very much.

Second is my oldest step daughter, without her coming over and watching the house and taking care of my dogs while my wife and I are gone, would make this endeavor much more difficult.  Thanks for all you do for me.

It is very liberating to set a big dream/goal and not to have anyone close to you laugh, scoff, or mock you.  In many instances that fear of failure is what stops most people from achieving or attempting to reach for everything they have ever wanted.

Tee Time and Pairings

Just received my tee times and pairings.  Tee time set for 10:20am Saturday with two gentlemen I have never met.  Since I travel a lot for work and play on many many occasions as a walkon single, I dont see being pair with two I have never met as and big issue.  As a matter of fact, I am able to just go play.  And I think that may be my mantra this season, Just Go Play....

It just so happens I played the same course about a month ago, so I am going back over my yardage book and replaying the round in my head, remembering what I did right and what I should have done.  So eventhough I haven't played or practiced much during the holidays due to injury, I feel I am prepared.

So my wife and I will leave Friday after work and make our way.  She will meet up with my brother and his family driving up from Panama City to spend the day taking photos and hanging out.

2013 Golf Season

Today, January 3, 2013 is officially the start of the golf season.  This saturday will be my first official tournament in Destin FL.  I tweaked my back about a month ago and experience lots of pain down my right leg.  When i slip my lower back disc, the IT band tightens and pinches the nerve.  Serious pain.  Been taking some meds, ibuproben, and seeing my massage therapist.  As the weekend approaches and not having any relief in my leg, my concerns are esculating.  So in an effort to get some relief, I saw my massage therapist, and during the session my back popped....damn that felt soooo good.  and low and behold instant pain relief.  Woke up this morning and my calf is a little tight but NO pain.  Thank God...

So with limited practice over the last month, time to hit the range, and get some full swings in.

This is a 32 person field with 8 people in my flight.  Small, true, but with this being my first event, I am kinda glad this is small so I can find my legs.

Wish me well.

New Year 2013

Happy New Year Everyone,

Well as the new year rolls on, guess the Mayans were wrong, I am preparing for my first Golf Channel Amtour tournament this saturday January 5th.  I tweaked my back first of December and have had a slow recovery.  Done pain patches, which are awesome, ibubropen, massage, just slow going.  Yesterday was first time in a month, I felt able to swing the club.  So worked on some short game drills, chipping and pitching, and hit a few balls.  Back feels good this morning, and I am a little nervious heading into the weekend.