Another Tuesday

My play has a tendency to get better as the week goes along.  Since I usually go to the driving range on the weekend, it would suggest that range visits are not the best way to prepare to play!

I've been watching a lot of Mike Malaska videos on Youtube.  He stresses that the hands have to be coming in close to the legs on the downswing and not heading towards the ball as others have taught.

Remember the laser in the club butt to illuminate the path and how the path was supposed to be heading to the ball or just inside it?  Mike would suggest that ain't the way to do it.

I have real interesting wear marks on my grips and I've struggled to understand why I tear them up.  I had a 3 wood where I had gone through the grip to expose the metal shaft.  One pro I was taking lessons from remarked that he had never seen such a thing. Sadly he never thought to fix or explain it.
I believe this is from a strong adjustment as the swing enters the hitting area.


I'm on the 14th tee and I'm goofing off as the round has been a series of hit, walk, wait and repeat.  I try to bring the club/hands back to address position and very close to the legs on the down swing.  This seems to be easy to do with the irons, but when I tried to do it in slow motion with the driver, it was hitting 6 inches before the ball position.  However, it seems that as the speed went up that the low point of the swing moved forward.

I've always been confused about how the club steps out and where the room comes to do that as the arm plane and the club plan diverge on the down swing.  It has to step out to get to the ball.

So I'm playing with this and since I don't have a great scoring round going, I give it a try.  It seemed to work pretty well.  I got a real nice snap sound when I hit a hybrid into a long par 3. 

The next hole, I topped the drive, but other shots on the hole were solidly struck.  Then a short par 4 with a 3 wood and it was as solid a shot as I'd hit all day.  Just felt solid and long.

The 18th, a 500 yard par 5, a 3 wood from the fairway, and a delicious 6 iron put me in birdie range.  The shots were just solid and straight and everything a golfer dreams of.  It also feels that I'm not manipulating anything to hit the ball,  My grips are probably thanking me. 

On a minor note, a rare eagle today on the front nine.  I holed an 8 iron from 130.  The group in front of us saw it hop twice and go down.  The pin was back behind a trap and I couldn't see it finish.  I've not had one for a few years.