We are still at Knight’s Play due to Coronavirus. Today, Patrick decided that we should make a goal to travel and play golf. He asked what the goal was. I told him by August we need to go to Cashiers and Highlands and play some elite country club golf in the Great Smoky Mountains. He agreed which gave him motivation to help me more on my turn.
The major focus today was on my right side. I still have a habit of getting “fat” on the backswing with my right side. Instead, I should be pulling it into my belly button. Patrick is happy with my overall turn but he really wants my right side to be softer and pull in as I get to the top of the backswing. He used alignment sticks to “tenderize meat” on my right side as I approached the top of my swing.
A bad habit I have is to use my right legs and right side to try to get to the top of the backswing. On the backswing, I should only be using my left side to drive back and my lower right obliques should pull in. My right foot and right leg should not feel as if they are helping me get to the top of the backswing.
Patrick also added the fact that my club should feel more “laid off” at the top. I have a habit of lifting with my right arm and right elbow causing the club to come across the line rather than staying laid off. If the club feels like it is staying “laid off” my right elbow remains much closer to my right armpit. When I complete my turn there will be a slight feel as if the club is going towards second base but I am not to do this with my arms, I am to do it with my left lat driving under.
It seems I have come so far but with every lesson there is a new layer to the swing that makes me hit the ball poorly. That said, I know we are not that far away as Patrick mentioned he wants me to play nine holes with him at Knight’s Play sometime next week. That should be interesting.
UPDATE: I really had no idea how much deeper I need to get into the backswing. It is now February 2021 and my left side is really driving into my core to get deep into the backswing. That playing 9 holes with Patrick was fascinating. There was a lot to learn but it has been steps in the right direction the entire way.
