For the first time in a very long time I gave Patrick a time table of when I want to be playing golf. I have given him free rein to do what he wants for almost two years so it is time to actually get out and play golf. I told him that I want to be able to play and score on 9 holes of golf by May. I know we have had “May start dates” in the past but this one is firm. By May 2021 I am going to be hitting all of the clubs in my bag and putting scores into the handicap system.
I do wonder what would happen if I gave Patrick another six to nine months just to mold me into a player, but it is going on 30 months and I haven’t played golf with the Hasentree or Hope Valley guys. It is time.
Once Patrick heard this he really twisted me up hard. The major focus today was the crease on the inside of my right leg between my quad and my privates. This crease needs to remain throughout the entire backswing. I let that go early and never get it back. Instead, there should be a feel of the left leg resisting against the upper body turning around the lower body. If I do this correctly, I feel my left side becoming extremely skinny. I can feel the tendon on the inside of my left leg and the tendon on the lower side of my right back being strained yet skinny. My shoulder turn and upper body turn is not as deep, but Patrick said my homework is to keep this crease throughout the entire backswing.
We did a bunch of turns without a club in my hand and Patrick told me to grab my driver for my practice with a club. As soon as I got it, I started to move my arms too fast. He asked me what I was doing and I told him this was the exact reason I need to start working all the clubs in the bag. As I kept the crease he really worked on getting my upper body to turn around my lower body.
Upon hitting some balls, I hit them much better. By keeping the crease I feel much more in control of the golf swing. When the crease gives way I get very swayey and don’t have the correct tension with my legs. If I can keep that crease and get some depth in the backswing, I hit it really well.
It will be interesting to see how long it takes for Patrick to start putting longer irons in my hand with the May 2021 start date. He wants me to shoot under 40 on all 9 holes of golf I play. That will be the goal moving forward.
