We continued the pitching motion work today and Patrick added something ever so slight to my backswing. I like to pinch and try to go around my body too quickly on the take away. Instead, after the take away, it should feel like my upper left lat is moving away or towards 5 o’clock on the clock if 6 o’clock is down the target line behind me. After going towards 5 o’clock then it is the “turn, turn, turn” motion that I have gotten much better at.
Patrick also wants the buttons on my polo shirt to be behind the ball at my setup. Other than that, we continued to work on a soft upper thoracic and my right lat continuing down the target line well past impact. I have gotten so much better in just a few days when I think of the golf swing as a pitching motion. Patrick even took a picture of me at the top of my follow through and it is amazing how different it is.
I hit a handful of pitch shots and hit them pretty well. Patrick then wanted me to practice the full swing with an 8 iron. I was completely shocked with how well I hit it. Patrick was extremely excited when he saw my downswing motion. There are still moments when I release the club too early and hit it fat but the motion is so much better. I need to be patient and continue with the pitching motion but we are definitely making progress with this strategy.
I know it will take a lot of time and patience but the puzzle pieces are there, we just have to put them together. What is even better is the fact that the outcome of the shot no longer matters. I don’t consistently look up and try to see where the ball is going. Instead, I am focused on take away, transition and getting the pitching motion as the feel. Any time I want to add power, I need to go back to the chipping and/or pitching motion and feel how low my hands and right side are after impact.
Patrick was very happy with the work we did today and I can tell he is seeing some things coming together. I am tempering my expectations because every time I think I am getting closer to playing there is a setback and I get depressed. Now, I am just taking it one slow day at a time. I am in a much better place mentally and physically with not only my golf game, but my overall life.
