Prior to my lesson today I played the back 9 at Knightâs Play. I hit the ball very well and realized the importance of the crease and the right hip angle (bent over) when chipping and with bunker play. I get very lazy with the right hip and it causes me to really struggle with chipping. If I keep that right hip bent over and feel the crease all the way through impact, I make much better contact with my chips. Just chipping around on a few of the holes I actually chipped some in. I had three birdies and hit the ball quite well.
During the lesson Patrick really worked on keeping the crease with the right side and allowing the body to turn around that crease with the upper right side being soft. Something different he did today was stand behind me and really work on getting my right lat to soften and open so I could turn deeper. This has been a work in progress for over six months as my right side wants to lift rather than soften and rotate.
Towards the end of the lesson I could really feel my turn happening while my arms were soft and my elbows were pointed in. If I can keep my arms soft and elbows in while getting deep into the backswing, I hit the ball fantastic. As I approached the top of the backswing I can feel my right hip lose the crease and I get fat. It is good to feel this as if I can feel it I can fix it. The deeper I can get fat before losing that crease and getting fat, the better I hit the ball.
Tomorrow is the Patrick Kelley Shootout. I have no delusions of grandeur that I am going to score well. I simply want to go out there, focus on just the take away and have fun. While I do want to get better, I also need to learn to have fun on the golf course again. I know I am going to hit some terrible shots and lose some balls but I will also hit some great shots and hopefully have a couple of birdies. Just get me on the green and that is where we will do the damage.
