Today was a backswing day at PKU and Patrick really worked on me getting into my left lat as both support and the driver of the backswing. I do really good with the take away but then I get fast and try to use my core and arms rather than supporting and driving with the left lat. Patrick stopped me after the take away and jabbed his hand under my left armpit to get me to drive with the left lat.
If I go slow and extend my take away just a touch longer I can really get the space to get into my left lat and get a really deep turn. When I do this it feels like my right side wants to lift off the ground. I know that feeling will change in time but it shows me just how powerful the left side turning into the right side can really be. It also makes my backswing much longer.
I hit some really good balls today after getting into my left lat more. In fact, I hit a few approach wedges that went well over 135 yards. The distance comes when you least expect it and from the most unusual places. Who would have guessed Patrick jabbing his hand under my left lat would have created 10 more yards of distance with my approach wedge?
After my lesson I ended up going to the UNC Finley Range. My biggest win of my golf swing change happened there. I set up to do a few Patrick Kelley chipping warm ups and the guy behind me said, “Well that is one I have never seen before; that’s different”. I replied, “yes, it is” and continued to just go about my business and didn’t let it affect me in any way. In the past I would have tried to explain myself or would have let his snarkiness get to me. Now, I could care less what anyone else thinks.
My homework is to extend my take away just a bit so I can really get into my left lat on the backswing.
