This was my first lesson back after a week in Costa Rica. I am still having the brain fart with the chipping motion so Patrick and I addressed that early. Patrick explained that I am trying to hit the ball with way too much power. I should stop the swing about 6 inches after the ball. The drill is to work on impact, not power. When I focused on stopping the club just after impact I started to hit the ball much, much better.
We then worked on the backswing. I am now flexible enough where I can use my left lat to drive all the way to the top of the backswing without pulling or lifting with the right side. If I can drive with the left side and feel my right nipple staying as low as possible I have a really good backswing. My legs are struggling to support and stay separated but this is a problem for another time. The most important thing is the shoulder turn I am getting now.
I am getting very, very confident when actually hitting the ball now. So much so that I am actually having fun with it. I am hitting my 7 iron around 175-180 yards consistently now. If I can get a full shoulder turn and stay skinny all the way through the downswing and through impact, I am turning into a great ball striker. I know that when I get fat right before impact I end up hitting the ball left. I basically expand, let the air out and pull the ball left. With enough practice, I should be able to stay skinny throughout the entire swing.
Patrick was happy with my ball striking today so I went out and played the back back 9 at Knightâs Play. It was my best ball striking 9 I have ever had. I hit my pitching wedge around 125-130 with most of them being into the wind. I hit my 9 iron around 135-140 and I even hit a 7 iron 165 yards uphill and into the wind. This is great for me. In the past I was unable to hit a green that was uphill and 165 yards. Now, it is a smooth 7 iron and will likely be an 8 iron when there is no wind and it is a little warmer. Times have definitely changed in my golf game. Things are moving very fast now. I had two birdies and hit all nine greens playing two best ball.
