Monday
Headed to the driving range tonight for about 3 hours to practice my long game, really took my time in between shots to analyze the feelings and position I was getting into and to work on the things my coach has been teaching me. Needless to say I hit the ball extremely well, one of my most consistent and best range sessions of my life. I’m showing those positive signs that my game is heading in the right direction and really am feeling more confident than I thought I would at this point in changing my swing. So pleased with the progress I’m making especially in my driver and woods, gaining my distance back and a lot more accuracy. My misses are not big and every drive I hit tonight at the range would have stayed inbounds. Will be heading to the short game area tomorrow for a few hours of practice and then probably back for some long game on Wednesday night like usual. Hoping to continue my solid play and keep moving in the right direction. I’m not sure when I’m going to play again, I’d like to get out and play as soon as possible, might try and go play by myself on Thursday or Friday if everything goes well on Wednesdays session, but at worst hopefully I’ll get a round in this weekend. My buddy will be done with school after this week and he has told me he would love to start going a few times a week, so hopefully that will help me get a ton of rounds in this summer.
Today
Did some short game practice today over at the range I normally frequent; practiced chipping and bunker play for about 2 and half hours. I feel extremely confident in my chipping game right now, with all range of distances. They give you a sleeve of balls to practice at that contains about 22 golf balls I believe. On the chipping range, I was hitting about 5 or 6 balls to a certain flag then switch my target to a different flag. It’s important to go at different flags if you are going to hit about 20+ balls consecutively. I like to change after about 5 or 6 just because anymore than that and you start to get a rhythm and feel for where the shot should land and it makes it easier. On the course however, you only get one chance, so it’s important to keep it moving around so you’re testing yourself with every shot like you would when playing. After awhile you start to “see” the shots easier and with enough practice that is going to translate to lower scores on the course.
View from my chipping practice area today
One area I definitely need to put more focus on is my bunker play. I have decided that I’m going to get a lesson from my instructor solely on bunker play because now that I think about it, I never have before. I have only watched videos on bunker play and always gone purely through feel. I do ok out of the bunkers, but have a lot of room to improve and a lesson from a PGA professional will certainly help me tremendously in that area. I do a good job of avoiding green side bunkers on the course, but it is a weak aspect of my game I will need to tighten up if I’m going to become scratch.
My Journey 2 Scratch 