DRIVE IT FARTHER
1. About 20 years ago I was playing in the State Open with Dennis Colligan and noticed Dennis was hitting driver-8 iron farther than I could hit my driver-3 wood-pitching wedge. I began the task of trying to regain some of my lost distance. It was a real awakening to realize that the subtle awareness over the years that I was losing distance had become a reality. I was suddenly “early old.” I needed to be able to swing again without thinking about what I was doing on every shot.
2. Solution Process:
A: Bought a $4000 launch monitor, state of the art back then. Used it measure to club head speed, launch and face angle, etc. Hit countless balls in back yard and on the range. Started to see a light at the end of the tunnel. Got club head speed to over 120 mph once again and the ball went straight. One swing can mean a lot in the learning process.
B. The swing process constantly evolved working around medical problems and knee injuries.
C. Kept working on a “connected golf swing”: keeping the club and my arms in front of me throughout the entire swing. Core and arms swing together. It does not matter how fast or slow I swing, if I stay connected I hit good golf shots.
D. Worked to increase my shoulder turn and still maintain the connection principle.
E. Finally figured out that my left hip was getting in my way, so I moved it out of the way to start with.
F. Feel the sensation that I am moving back solid on to my right leg, then hit into a solid left side, avoiding my dreaded slide of the upper body past the ball, which causes my left side to breakdown, gets me over the top, and adds mucho strokes to my score.
G. Most of all, I try to release the club head on every swing, (instead of trying to hit it harder) leading to a feeling of increased lightness, freedom, and flexibility.
H. Do not be afraid to experiment to find out what works for you. With an understanding of proper fundamentals, you can learn to swing within multiple frameworks.
