When I look into the golf swing there are two authorities that I trust.
One is Tutelman.com, written by Dave Tutelman, a physicist, and the second is Athletic Motion Golf, a YouTube site.
I trust the physics point of view as it has been proven in other fields and then applied to golf. I'm not sure that there isn't too much reliance on his model, but it seems to hold together well. If someone else proposes something in re the swing, I look for conflicts with Tutelman's point of view.
Athletic Motion Golf (AMG) comes from a different direction. They collect swing information from golfers and then look at the differences between the good and the great players. Frequently the differences are stark. AMG is not proposing a model for the swing, they just tell you what they see; the how and the why are left to you, the viewer.
While I vowed the other week to not change my swing, AMG put up some interesting videos about shaft and hand positions. This was one of their usual Pros versus Ams presentations. If I were to sum it up, the pros will get their hands almost back to the address position before losing the angle between the left forearm and golf shaft and the Ams will lose it earlier and the club shaft is parallel to the ground much earlier in the swing. (At impact the Pro's arms are ahead of the impact position, the Am 's is behind the address position. )
The next item was that the left shoulders of Pros will move downward towards the ball during the downswing, while amateurs return on the same path they got there. Ams become much flatter in their swing plane than do the pros. In simpler terms the pro is closer to the ball than the Am, this is even true in the backswing as a pro will get shorter and the Am will straighten up a bit. This distance is not huge, just and inch or two, but it may be more important for what is to follow, to note the direction of the motion. Pros are getting closer, Ams moving away from the ball.
Let me put some of this together and I'll pass on what I think is happening and important in these variables.
We have to start by recognizing that in either case, you have to get the club face back to the ball. There is not a lot of error that is available here. Thin shots and thick ones are a problem. Clearly the pro is more consistent in avoiding these extremes.
Secondly, if you are a pro, you need to "shorten" your club to get to impact. If you move away, you need a longer club. So how do the two golfers do this? They both start with a setup position where the club face is vertically aligned with the ball, but as they swing the pro makes the distance shorter and the Am makes it longer.
The answer is found on the AMG video when they talk of hand position at impact. The pro's does not match the Am's. And the pro's hands will be ahead of the ball at impact. There is more angle from arms to club shaft than the Am's. This in effect shortens the club shaft length. In fact all pros will have hand positions more towards the target than the address position.
What does the Am do? He loses the angle between arms and shaft earlier, which makes the club longer. If it's not long enough, he will raise his body up too and uses the flatter shoulder motion, another means to increase the space between body and ball, to allow the club to hit the ball. If our bodies were not as wonderful at making things happen, there would be a lot of misses. So the pro maintains wrist shaft angle, the Am loses it. The Am unloads the angle earlier, the pro wants to retain it.
AMG has measured the time available from the top of the backswing to impact and it's less than a quarter of a second. The Am and the Pro have the same time -- speeds are the same! But look what each of them is doing. The pro is basically just rotating his body to the ball with a slight lowering of the body, which occurs early in the downswing. The Am is opening wrists, lifting up and making room for the impact. AMG has often stated that pros do less work than Ams. The Am is spending time losing angle, raising the body, lengthening then trying to get out of the way.
The pro ends up with more club speed at the ball, a simpler motion and with less moving parts, more consistency.
Now does this stand up to what Tutelman has to say? Yes it does. His view of the swing is that the arms and club will swing out and strike the ball. The longer you can hold on the "90 degree" angle, the faster the club will be at impact. He sees the swing as the opposite of a figure skater doing a spin and pulling in her arms. As the arms come in, the speed increases.
AMG states that there is nothing that the pro does that is physically demanding, or requires exceptional strength or skill. They suspect that they found the proper motion early in life.
For some reason the sport of golf lends itself to improper actions. If the game were more dynamic and the ball in motion, it might be easier to swing well. But going from a stand still to a 100 MPH club head seems bring out the worst in golfers.
On a personal note, I've been working on keeping the arm club angle later in the swing, trying to not move the left arm up against my chest, and then getting my hands in front of the address position at impact. While this sounds like a lot of stuff to try, it's simpler than my old swing. I've been hitting the ball better and even the driver has shown signs of being a weapon of mass destruction.
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I dreamed of Einstein the other night and felt I should put it on record. He and I met and talked in German a bit, then we went out to a swamp and using our feet pushed down into the water. Einstein thought that the water motion was going to create an electrical discharge and he wanted to measure it. I think we had some sort of grid that lowered onto the water to pick up the weak electrical signals. The dream faded away at that point. But it is the first time I got to talk to him, so I thought it was worth mentioning.
Sunday, September 22, 2019
Friday, August 23, 2019
Catching Up
It's been a while since the last post. In truth there is not a lot of new news to pass along. I've decided that I know enough about the golf swing that I am trying to make, that I've forsaken the YouTube golf videos for the nonce. '
There are things I'm still not doing as consistently as I would like. I will concentrate on that. I'm hitting the ball well, making some interesting shots, and basically happy with all that is happening. Even the thrice cursed driver is behaving more than not. But I don't feel the need for more insight. I've got the GUP as father used to say. That stands for Great Unifying Principle; it can be plural too.
Pickleball continues to be a lot of fun, a good workout, and an interesting tactical exercise. I'm very happy that I took it up and the fellows that are playing with me are having a good time too. Sweat soaked and happy is our condition post game. Other than the physical injuries it can be quite humorous as we play along. There is much laughter. They also fixed the drinking fountain in the park, so it's a plan that has come together rather nicely.
There was a disc golf tournament in Livermore the other day and I dropped in to look at that. I'd like to find a coach and learn how to throw the discs further. I've watched a bit of the pros playing in tournaments around the world and the courses are quite interesting. Some are in the trees and some are open, but all of them are quite demanding. If you want to be a disc golf pro you need to throw the discs about 500 feet. I think I'm sub-150 at this point. Sadly the throw and golf swing are fairly close in technique; it's sad since I don't hit a golf ball that far, the disc distance might be impossible too. It just might not be in the genes.
So there is not much new going on, just refinement and practice and effort towards more consistency.
Which leads to the next question, which is what to write about if I'm not going to prattle on about golf? I'd still like to dabble in fiction. The spy genre and mystery areas are intriguing, but they seem like a lot of work to get something passable. But I know about a lot of curious little worlds, so I might be able to paint some interesting pictures.
I read a P. G. Wodehouse the other day. It was the usual: country house, people named Wooster, stolen scarabs, elopements, and newly found and newly extinguished engagements. Probably could have been a shorter story. But it's littered with commentary about the social classes and worthless sons and such. The man can turn a humorous phrase. If I think about that, he brings knowledge of the human animal and the British society together with some wacky individuals.
I think a new venture along those lines will require much thought. I won't tell you haw long it took me to come up with a wallet design... But pondering things is entertaining. I think we'll just have to see what comes up.
There are things I'm still not doing as consistently as I would like. I will concentrate on that. I'm hitting the ball well, making some interesting shots, and basically happy with all that is happening. Even the thrice cursed driver is behaving more than not. But I don't feel the need for more insight. I've got the GUP as father used to say. That stands for Great Unifying Principle; it can be plural too.
Pickleball continues to be a lot of fun, a good workout, and an interesting tactical exercise. I'm very happy that I took it up and the fellows that are playing with me are having a good time too. Sweat soaked and happy is our condition post game. Other than the physical injuries it can be quite humorous as we play along. There is much laughter. They also fixed the drinking fountain in the park, so it's a plan that has come together rather nicely.
There was a disc golf tournament in Livermore the other day and I dropped in to look at that. I'd like to find a coach and learn how to throw the discs further. I've watched a bit of the pros playing in tournaments around the world and the courses are quite interesting. Some are in the trees and some are open, but all of them are quite demanding. If you want to be a disc golf pro you need to throw the discs about 500 feet. I think I'm sub-150 at this point. Sadly the throw and golf swing are fairly close in technique; it's sad since I don't hit a golf ball that far, the disc distance might be impossible too. It just might not be in the genes.
So there is not much new going on, just refinement and practice and effort towards more consistency.
Which leads to the next question, which is what to write about if I'm not going to prattle on about golf? I'd still like to dabble in fiction. The spy genre and mystery areas are intriguing, but they seem like a lot of work to get something passable. But I know about a lot of curious little worlds, so I might be able to paint some interesting pictures.
I read a P. G. Wodehouse the other day. It was the usual: country house, people named Wooster, stolen scarabs, elopements, and newly found and newly extinguished engagements. Probably could have been a shorter story. But it's littered with commentary about the social classes and worthless sons and such. The man can turn a humorous phrase. If I think about that, he brings knowledge of the human animal and the British society together with some wacky individuals.
I think a new venture along those lines will require much thought. I won't tell you haw long it took me to come up with a wallet design... But pondering things is entertaining. I think we'll just have to see what comes up.
Sunday, August 18, 2019
New Evidence
In a continuation of nature versus nurture in the golf swing in re distance, I ran across two new points that I would like to add to the discussion.
In a video from Athletic Motion Golf they mentioned that while measuring swing speeds for amateurs and professionals, they found that when the club shaft was parallel to the ground that the amateurs had a faster club head speed than the pros. However at the ball contact, the professional's club was moving 12 mph faster than the amateur. This was for a seven iron. The position of "club parallel" is one which requires some understanding. If you never cocked your wrists then this position would be reached with the shaft at the height of your shoulders. If you kept your wrist cock at 90 degrees then the shaft is parallel at the height of mid thighs. Obviously this positions would occur at different times. The downswing is a small part of a second in duration.
Note that the mid thigh height and the shoulder height are not possible because there is usually/always some wrist cock for the amateurs and due to the physics of the swing, it is generally not possible nor beneficial to have a 90 degree wrist cock when your hands are between the thighs.
Now, who is who? It is the pros who have delayed the opening of the wrist cock until a later position in the swing. The amateurs lose the angle in an effort to hit the ball further.
But the point I think is important is that the speeds attained are probably closer than one would suspect and that it is a swing flaw that costs the loss of distance in the amateur player. The understanding that being slower earlier in the swing is a path to more speed later is not, like a lot of golf ideas, obviously intuitive.
The second bit of evidence is one that comes to us from the golf disc world. There was a golf disc tournament this weekend in Livermore and I wandered over early Saturday to take a look. Lots of young people with tattoos, half of them from San Jose, made up the crowd. They claimed about 30 but I think I saw 20 tops. I've tried disc golf and dropped it because the Livermore course was a goo place to break your leg and I've never been good at throwing a disc for any kind of distance. I think I was good at tearing bits of finger as I searched for more distance. I was curious to re-look at the disc throwing technique. I turned to YouTube for some guidance and ran across a video by a professional disc golfer whose video described the basics of giving a disc an efficient toss.
The secret he said is that the motion is not intuitive and obvious. The motion is that of starting a lawn mover with old pull cord. The model is that the throwing arm is pulled back, just like golf, we have a body turn, we are 90 degree to the target but as we generate some speed the right elbow needs to bend. As the bent arm gets past the body, then we allow the elbow to straighten and we have a bit of a snapping action as the disc goes flying. He had a towel drill to demonstrate the proper motion. Basically we drive the elbow forward and let the forearm straighten in a late snapping action. I suspect that a physicist would tell you to not try to help this action; aka it would be the same as the golf swing.
If you don't bend the elbow, then you are just spinning the disc around your body and will not generate the speed nor the directional control possible.
If we assume that this guy is more correct than not, then we can see some similarities with the golf swing. We maintain a bent lever, either elbow or wrist, then release it late in the action.
As I think about what I've written, I'm not sure that the disc throwing information adds additional evidence to the idea that amateurs just don't know what they are doing, but I'll leave it in there since I may try to coax the boys up to Walnut Creek where there is supposed to be a nice disc course and I'm curious to give it another try.
In a video from Athletic Motion Golf they mentioned that while measuring swing speeds for amateurs and professionals, they found that when the club shaft was parallel to the ground that the amateurs had a faster club head speed than the pros. However at the ball contact, the professional's club was moving 12 mph faster than the amateur. This was for a seven iron. The position of "club parallel" is one which requires some understanding. If you never cocked your wrists then this position would be reached with the shaft at the height of your shoulders. If you kept your wrist cock at 90 degrees then the shaft is parallel at the height of mid thighs. Obviously this positions would occur at different times. The downswing is a small part of a second in duration.
Note that the mid thigh height and the shoulder height are not possible because there is usually/always some wrist cock for the amateurs and due to the physics of the swing, it is generally not possible nor beneficial to have a 90 degree wrist cock when your hands are between the thighs.
Now, who is who? It is the pros who have delayed the opening of the wrist cock until a later position in the swing. The amateurs lose the angle in an effort to hit the ball further.
But the point I think is important is that the speeds attained are probably closer than one would suspect and that it is a swing flaw that costs the loss of distance in the amateur player. The understanding that being slower earlier in the swing is a path to more speed later is not, like a lot of golf ideas, obviously intuitive.
The second bit of evidence is one that comes to us from the golf disc world. There was a golf disc tournament this weekend in Livermore and I wandered over early Saturday to take a look. Lots of young people with tattoos, half of them from San Jose, made up the crowd. They claimed about 30 but I think I saw 20 tops. I've tried disc golf and dropped it because the Livermore course was a goo place to break your leg and I've never been good at throwing a disc for any kind of distance. I think I was good at tearing bits of finger as I searched for more distance. I was curious to re-look at the disc throwing technique. I turned to YouTube for some guidance and ran across a video by a professional disc golfer whose video described the basics of giving a disc an efficient toss.
The secret he said is that the motion is not intuitive and obvious. The motion is that of starting a lawn mover with old pull cord. The model is that the throwing arm is pulled back, just like golf, we have a body turn, we are 90 degree to the target but as we generate some speed the right elbow needs to bend. As the bent arm gets past the body, then we allow the elbow to straighten and we have a bit of a snapping action as the disc goes flying. He had a towel drill to demonstrate the proper motion. Basically we drive the elbow forward and let the forearm straighten in a late snapping action. I suspect that a physicist would tell you to not try to help this action; aka it would be the same as the golf swing.
If you don't bend the elbow, then you are just spinning the disc around your body and will not generate the speed nor the directional control possible.
If we assume that this guy is more correct than not, then we can see some similarities with the golf swing. We maintain a bent lever, either elbow or wrist, then release it late in the action.
As I think about what I've written, I'm not sure that the disc throwing information adds additional evidence to the idea that amateurs just don't know what they are doing, but I'll leave it in there since I may try to coax the boys up to Walnut Creek where there is supposed to be a nice disc course and I'm curious to give it another try.
Wednesday, August 14, 2019
Monday and Wednesday Rounds
We are getting some of our normal heat this week. It's been absent all year. There is talk of 104 or so today. I played Monday and it was 94 or so and I felt like I had been beaten with a stick. There were good reasons for that as Rich 2 and I played the short course at 9, then hung out for an hour, then played the long course.
We followed a couple of tournament groups on the long course. The groups had a number of foursomes and when that happens, the course plays slowly. And there was little wind. Heat comes from high pressure systems and they tend to just sit over the area, windlessly, and cook us. The high tech shirts are great at moving sweat around, but require some wind for cooling. Without the wind they are hot.
It was a long day with a lot of time in the sun and no wind. I drank water like a camel at the end of his trip and munched granola bars to keep my strength up. It pretty much worked, but I was done in by our 3 pm finish.
How's the golf? I hear you ask. If you think back to our previous post(s), I'm working on moving my right hip out of the way on the backswing and get my hands back to the address position. To sum it up, it's going quite well, thank you. It seems to be changing a lot of things too. I'm in positions that require different motions and yet they seem to be easy and the natural thing to do. I'm feeling the hands and arms work differently and I'm getting the club to come around and strike the ball solidly and differently. It feels like I'm young and learning the game for the first time, but from a much better base or setup.
It's a bit hard to explain, but new dimensions are opening and abilities are being realigned. It's affected my pitching, which is good, but I need to be more trusting and swing harder on some of the shots.
The last 4 rounds have been deep into the 70s. One was even par and several others were just a couple of strokes north of that. I'm happy with that. I've changed my putting to make sure the face of the putter stays on line after the strike. It feels and looks like the putter is launching into the air. I think I was pulling it left before. With this new stroke I'm making a lot of putts. It feels weird to miss one. Long and short, they are dropping frequently.
And today, I even got the driver going. I worked on making sure my hands got down to the thigh area ahead of my body opening up. That synced the timing and bang, bang, bang the ball went flying. Of course I didn't remember that bit until late in the round.
So the Monday round takes two and a half hours for the front nine and four and one half for the full 18. Today we teed off at 6:50 ahead of the seniors, and got around in three hours and 10 minutes. We even had to wait on a couple of holes, but the early time and lack of heat and fast pace made for a very enjoyable day. I wasn't crazy about getting up before 6, but I was done by 10 and in my easy chair by 10:30.
We followed a couple of tournament groups on the long course. The groups had a number of foursomes and when that happens, the course plays slowly. And there was little wind. Heat comes from high pressure systems and they tend to just sit over the area, windlessly, and cook us. The high tech shirts are great at moving sweat around, but require some wind for cooling. Without the wind they are hot.
It was a long day with a lot of time in the sun and no wind. I drank water like a camel at the end of his trip and munched granola bars to keep my strength up. It pretty much worked, but I was done in by our 3 pm finish.
How's the golf? I hear you ask. If you think back to our previous post(s), I'm working on moving my right hip out of the way on the backswing and get my hands back to the address position. To sum it up, it's going quite well, thank you. It seems to be changing a lot of things too. I'm in positions that require different motions and yet they seem to be easy and the natural thing to do. I'm feeling the hands and arms work differently and I'm getting the club to come around and strike the ball solidly and differently. It feels like I'm young and learning the game for the first time, but from a much better base or setup.
It's a bit hard to explain, but new dimensions are opening and abilities are being realigned. It's affected my pitching, which is good, but I need to be more trusting and swing harder on some of the shots.
The last 4 rounds have been deep into the 70s. One was even par and several others were just a couple of strokes north of that. I'm happy with that. I've changed my putting to make sure the face of the putter stays on line after the strike. It feels and looks like the putter is launching into the air. I think I was pulling it left before. With this new stroke I'm making a lot of putts. It feels weird to miss one. Long and short, they are dropping frequently.
And today, I even got the driver going. I worked on making sure my hands got down to the thigh area ahead of my body opening up. That synced the timing and bang, bang, bang the ball went flying. Of course I didn't remember that bit until late in the round.
So the Monday round takes two and a half hours for the front nine and four and one half for the full 18. Today we teed off at 6:50 ahead of the seniors, and got around in three hours and 10 minutes. We even had to wait on a couple of holes, but the early time and lack of heat and fast pace made for a very enjoyable day. I wasn't crazy about getting up before 6, but I was done by 10 and in my easy chair by 10:30.
Sunday, August 11, 2019
Directional Changes
Sonny says on Friday, "Get your hands back where they started! Come on!" And "Watch my right hip, see it stay in place until the hands go through? That's what you need or you've got no room for the hands."
I dive back into Athletic Motion Golf and look up hips motions. Here we go, Pros versus Ams, hip movement...
One of the interesting things that pros do is move their right hip during the backswing and leave their left hip almost motionless and in the setup position. Amateurs on the other hip, don't move their right hip, but rotate their left hip. To state this differently, pros rotate around their spine and amateurs rotate around the right hip. Pros move things out of the downswing path and Ams move stuff in the way.
When the club comes back down you need room for arms and hands to return to the setup position. If the left hip is in the way, you will have to do something - and it frequently is not pretty - to hit the ball at all. The pros have left the arm path open, the Ams have to move the left hip out of the way. But there is another problem, there is not enough time to rotate the left hip out of the way. So we Ams will stand up or early extend or come over the top. Frequently, we have to slow something to do that, so we also get slower swing speeds. If the path is clear, there is no slowing down and you can swing harder/faster with no conflicts and no swing path conflicts.
I spent most of Saturday thinking about this, but for a couple of reasons I didn't go to the range. Today allowed time to get there and I spent most of my time making sure that I was doing some of this. I found the ability to easily come from inside to outside for all the clubs. There was more room for things and it was fairly easy to do.
This Monday is an interesting golf day. Normally we play just after the Seniors and go about about 9:30 or so. But tomorrow it's at 11 since there is another group after the seniors. I talked it over with Rich 2, I suggested some pickleball in the morning and then mosey over to the course. Nope, R2 likes his P-Ball on Tuesday and Thursdays, apparently only! We then agreed to get there about 9 and play the short course then play the long course. So 27 tomorrow and a good test if I can make this change.
I dive back into Athletic Motion Golf and look up hips motions. Here we go, Pros versus Ams, hip movement...
One of the interesting things that pros do is move their right hip during the backswing and leave their left hip almost motionless and in the setup position. Amateurs on the other hip, don't move their right hip, but rotate their left hip. To state this differently, pros rotate around their spine and amateurs rotate around the right hip. Pros move things out of the downswing path and Ams move stuff in the way.
When the club comes back down you need room for arms and hands to return to the setup position. If the left hip is in the way, you will have to do something - and it frequently is not pretty - to hit the ball at all. The pros have left the arm path open, the Ams have to move the left hip out of the way. But there is another problem, there is not enough time to rotate the left hip out of the way. So we Ams will stand up or early extend or come over the top. Frequently, we have to slow something to do that, so we also get slower swing speeds. If the path is clear, there is no slowing down and you can swing harder/faster with no conflicts and no swing path conflicts.
I spent most of Saturday thinking about this, but for a couple of reasons I didn't go to the range. Today allowed time to get there and I spent most of my time making sure that I was doing some of this. I found the ability to easily come from inside to outside for all the clubs. There was more room for things and it was fairly easy to do.
This Monday is an interesting golf day. Normally we play just after the Seniors and go about about 9:30 or so. But tomorrow it's at 11 since there is another group after the seniors. I talked it over with Rich 2, I suggested some pickleball in the morning and then mosey over to the course. Nope, R2 likes his P-Ball on Tuesday and Thursdays, apparently only! We then agreed to get there about 9 and play the short course then play the long course. So 27 tomorrow and a good test if I can make this change.
Wednesday, August 7, 2019
Perhaps...
There is an ongoing debate about good golfers and other golfers, is it strength/savant or technique?
Rich II suggests that the pros are different people and his evidence is Fred Funk, who has beaten the best, but can't hit the ball very far -- yes, we are talking distance primarily.
Taking the other side of the argument, I would suggest that there are a lot of very slight, non-muscular golfers who can hit the ball a long way. Also there are the Korean gals on the LPGA, who also modest in size, can move the ball as far as Rich II or myself would dream of.
I admit that Rich II's argument is hard to refute. Certainly Funk has had access to all the instruction and feedback he could ever want, yet is left with his modest distance. He has the motivation to do it too, as length increases would have made his career easier.
Now, let us journey to today's round. As the careful reader with excellent memory would remember, I've been trying to get my hands into the "Sonny preferred" positions. There has been some modest success, with the driver still being a bit of a hold out. But today, towards the end of the round, (of course - all revelations are required to manifest at the end of a round), I felt my wrists snapping through the ball. Clearly it felt as if the energy was being released at a different time than usual.
Perhaps an example is required. On 17 I cracked a four wood off the deck. It goes 230... And straight up the fairway. This is about 10% better than expectations. This leaves 120 to a back pin. The green is bit elevated from the fairway and the prudent golfer might take a bit more club to compensate for the elevation. But I, perhaps not prudent enough, hit the 120 yard club. The wrists do their new thing, the ball attains heights rarely seen and it sails over the green and the ball is about 25 yards past the pin -- another 15% increase.
On the 18th, I pull out the driver for about the 4th time in the round. Looking back, I would have preferred that it was for the 3rd time, but "you can't dwell on the past" as grandma used to say. I manage to perform this new wrist thing and there is a crack when club meets ball that I've never hear before; higher pitched, stunningly loud, birds veer off, the deer wiggle their ears. There is a crash as the ball is a bit high and right and catches some of the minor tree branches. After all of that, the ball ends up in the right rough and pretty long. I hit two more good shots to get to the green and then drain a 20 footer for my first birdie of the day.
So have I finally stumbled across some of the "secret" technique? Or is this what all golfers feel and I've finally stopped being my own way to get there?
I'm tempted to keep playing, but the course is busy and there will be time post pickleball tomorrow to test these things.
Rich II suggests that the pros are different people and his evidence is Fred Funk, who has beaten the best, but can't hit the ball very far -- yes, we are talking distance primarily.
Taking the other side of the argument, I would suggest that there are a lot of very slight, non-muscular golfers who can hit the ball a long way. Also there are the Korean gals on the LPGA, who also modest in size, can move the ball as far as Rich II or myself would dream of.
I admit that Rich II's argument is hard to refute. Certainly Funk has had access to all the instruction and feedback he could ever want, yet is left with his modest distance. He has the motivation to do it too, as length increases would have made his career easier.
Now, let us journey to today's round. As the careful reader with excellent memory would remember, I've been trying to get my hands into the "Sonny preferred" positions. There has been some modest success, with the driver still being a bit of a hold out. But today, towards the end of the round, (of course - all revelations are required to manifest at the end of a round), I felt my wrists snapping through the ball. Clearly it felt as if the energy was being released at a different time than usual.
Perhaps an example is required. On 17 I cracked a four wood off the deck. It goes 230... And straight up the fairway. This is about 10% better than expectations. This leaves 120 to a back pin. The green is bit elevated from the fairway and the prudent golfer might take a bit more club to compensate for the elevation. But I, perhaps not prudent enough, hit the 120 yard club. The wrists do their new thing, the ball attains heights rarely seen and it sails over the green and the ball is about 25 yards past the pin -- another 15% increase.
On the 18th, I pull out the driver for about the 4th time in the round. Looking back, I would have preferred that it was for the 3rd time, but "you can't dwell on the past" as grandma used to say. I manage to perform this new wrist thing and there is a crack when club meets ball that I've never hear before; higher pitched, stunningly loud, birds veer off, the deer wiggle their ears. There is a crash as the ball is a bit high and right and catches some of the minor tree branches. After all of that, the ball ends up in the right rough and pretty long. I hit two more good shots to get to the green and then drain a 20 footer for my first birdie of the day.
So have I finally stumbled across some of the "secret" technique? Or is this what all golfers feel and I've finally stopped being my own way to get there?
I'm tempted to keep playing, but the course is busy and there will be time post pickleball tomorrow to test these things.
Monday, August 5, 2019
Monday Morning Round
I've been trying to use the suggestions that Sonny has sprinkled my way. To summarize those would be to suggest more of an arm swing, less of a body pull through, and try to get the wrists to still be hinged at the left leg.
Some of the above is a means to change the swing than the actual positions and actions that are desired. For example you can't get your hands to your left leg and still have a full wrist cock. The motion of the club will have started to unhinge the wrists when the hands get to the right leg. But as aids to getting better, this valid instructional methods.
Today I'm playing with my usual group. Except Rich II decides to play at the upscale course down the street. Putting on airs if you ask me! Rumor has it that if you slice or hook the Bridges is not your golf course. I'll have to see how R2 did; he likes to move it left to right on all shots. I seem to have digressed...
It's a strange weather day. It's muggy and there is no wind. The fairways are dry, which is a bit unusual. I think the sprinklers are off for the nonce. We've had a cool summer and there is not much need to dampen the course with reclaimed water. I've got one of the golf shirts on, which is fine in hot weather as long as there is a breeze. They wick a lot, but you're going to feel hot without the wind.
I had a nice day at the range yesterday, so I'm confident that I can do what I want to and put the new moves into operation.
I'll have to skip a head a bit as to wade through all the holes would require more typing that I want to do today - more on that later, and if you are not a keen student of the game it would be fairly boring.
But I'm hitting greens and moving the ball quite well. I'm not knocking down flag sticks, which can happen, but I'm clubbing well and hitting them fairly straight.
I top a shot from the rough on the long second and then miss a four footer for par to take the first bogey. But I stuff it closely on the long par 3 fourth and make the 4 footer this time for the birdie. Holes six through eight are boring pars with two putts. Then nine is a longish par 4 where if I had the confidence, I'd hit a driver. But I go with the trusty 4 wood and then have about 160 in and it's slightly up hill. I try a five iron, a bit much, it comes out low, clears the water and heads for the apron of the green. I lose sight of it. It might have dug in short of the green or popped on. As I get to the green I see the ball has gone all the way through and is sitting on the back fringe.
The ninth is a green with a lot of slope and I'm tempted to chip the ball. There are some tufts of grass behind the ball, another reason to chip. But it looks like a putt to me. Note that I'm not hesitant to chip or pitch the ball. I practice those shots almost every day -- you want a soft lob over a bunker, you come to me. The putt is awkward, but I do ok and wander the ball down to the hole. The pace is perfect, but I've misread the breaks a bit -- there were three of them. But it's two feet and those kind of putts are meaningless today. I finish the front with even par 36, one birdie, one bogey, eight greens in regulation.
The back starts the same. I'm perfect vis-a-vis GIR and two putts until the long 13th. I pull out the driver for the first time. The hole is 530 yards long. I follow my instructions during the swing. When the smoke has cleared I'm in the fairway, a solid 115 yards off the tee. What a shot! I could have done better with my pitching wedge. But, we have not given up on par yet... A 4 wood gets me to the 200 yard mark and I hit the 4 wood again and I'm almost pin high. But this is the toughest green we have. I put up a soft lob and then watch the ball not break and run out. Hmm, 3 feet to go, I hit it well, but I didn't get the break right and it's the second bogey of the day.
The 14th is also a driver hole. It's 380 or, I try the driver again and now I'm 170 out with a side hill lie in the rough. Well, I've got a club for that, my trusty hybrid 4 iron and I give it a lusty wack, with a small nod to the gods who protect golfers like me... It comes out low, but my line is great and I'm on the green with 12 feet to go. A routine two putt and we are off to other holes.
The 15th is a longish par three. I hit to the back of the green, and two putt. Then the driver comes out for the penultimate time and I hit it well. Solidly on the face, right down the middle, not too high and it's a lovely strike. My faith in physics is restored and hope fills my soul and it's a wonderful day and I'm no longer concerned about the vertigo that I'm feeling whenever I get over a putt. This is a new sensation and I am not a fan of it. I stumble around with my largish feet as it is, I don't more complexity. But the short putts are all dropping, so I can't complain too much.
Where were we? Yes, moving on the par 4 17th. This hole crosses the arroyo and we have longish bridge to cross. Interestingly on Friday last, I watch two young foxes walk across the bridge. Too lazy to jump the arroyo I guess.
I hit a very solid 4 wood and then a pitching wedge to get to 6 feet or so. I manage to roll it home as my head spins. Ah, back to even par.
Last hole, par 5, driver is a good idea. We have a double dogleg to negotiate. I catch it off the heel a bit, but I've got a clear shot forward from a fluffy lie. It goes fine and then a 9 iron to the green, This comes off low and doesn't carry well. It did stop well, just when not wanted, but there you are. I stub the putt leaving myself 6 feet for an even par round. I stubbed a number of putts today. Not sure what that was all about, but I managed to make all the putts I left short. And the 18th was no exception! It is goes in and I'm even par for the day. One of my life time better rounds. Certainly one the most consistent with exception of the driver. Looks like 8 GIRS on the back, with about 35 putts for the round.
So a thanks to Sonny for the tips. I see progress there and I can't complain about the ability to golf my ball.
Ok, we will retry on Wednesday with an early round. Tomorrow is back to the pickleball courts. I have new court shoes, so I'm expecting great things there too!
Some of the above is a means to change the swing than the actual positions and actions that are desired. For example you can't get your hands to your left leg and still have a full wrist cock. The motion of the club will have started to unhinge the wrists when the hands get to the right leg. But as aids to getting better, this valid instructional methods.
Today I'm playing with my usual group. Except Rich II decides to play at the upscale course down the street. Putting on airs if you ask me! Rumor has it that if you slice or hook the Bridges is not your golf course. I'll have to see how R2 did; he likes to move it left to right on all shots. I seem to have digressed...
It's a strange weather day. It's muggy and there is no wind. The fairways are dry, which is a bit unusual. I think the sprinklers are off for the nonce. We've had a cool summer and there is not much need to dampen the course with reclaimed water. I've got one of the golf shirts on, which is fine in hot weather as long as there is a breeze. They wick a lot, but you're going to feel hot without the wind.
I had a nice day at the range yesterday, so I'm confident that I can do what I want to and put the new moves into operation.
I'll have to skip a head a bit as to wade through all the holes would require more typing that I want to do today - more on that later, and if you are not a keen student of the game it would be fairly boring.
But I'm hitting greens and moving the ball quite well. I'm not knocking down flag sticks, which can happen, but I'm clubbing well and hitting them fairly straight.
I top a shot from the rough on the long second and then miss a four footer for par to take the first bogey. But I stuff it closely on the long par 3 fourth and make the 4 footer this time for the birdie. Holes six through eight are boring pars with two putts. Then nine is a longish par 4 where if I had the confidence, I'd hit a driver. But I go with the trusty 4 wood and then have about 160 in and it's slightly up hill. I try a five iron, a bit much, it comes out low, clears the water and heads for the apron of the green. I lose sight of it. It might have dug in short of the green or popped on. As I get to the green I see the ball has gone all the way through and is sitting on the back fringe.
The ninth is a green with a lot of slope and I'm tempted to chip the ball. There are some tufts of grass behind the ball, another reason to chip. But it looks like a putt to me. Note that I'm not hesitant to chip or pitch the ball. I practice those shots almost every day -- you want a soft lob over a bunker, you come to me. The putt is awkward, but I do ok and wander the ball down to the hole. The pace is perfect, but I've misread the breaks a bit -- there were three of them. But it's two feet and those kind of putts are meaningless today. I finish the front with even par 36, one birdie, one bogey, eight greens in regulation.
The back starts the same. I'm perfect vis-a-vis GIR and two putts until the long 13th. I pull out the driver for the first time. The hole is 530 yards long. I follow my instructions during the swing. When the smoke has cleared I'm in the fairway, a solid 115 yards off the tee. What a shot! I could have done better with my pitching wedge. But, we have not given up on par yet... A 4 wood gets me to the 200 yard mark and I hit the 4 wood again and I'm almost pin high. But this is the toughest green we have. I put up a soft lob and then watch the ball not break and run out. Hmm, 3 feet to go, I hit it well, but I didn't get the break right and it's the second bogey of the day.
The 14th is also a driver hole. It's 380 or, I try the driver again and now I'm 170 out with a side hill lie in the rough. Well, I've got a club for that, my trusty hybrid 4 iron and I give it a lusty wack, with a small nod to the gods who protect golfers like me... It comes out low, but my line is great and I'm on the green with 12 feet to go. A routine two putt and we are off to other holes.
The 15th is a longish par three. I hit to the back of the green, and two putt. Then the driver comes out for the penultimate time and I hit it well. Solidly on the face, right down the middle, not too high and it's a lovely strike. My faith in physics is restored and hope fills my soul and it's a wonderful day and I'm no longer concerned about the vertigo that I'm feeling whenever I get over a putt. This is a new sensation and I am not a fan of it. I stumble around with my largish feet as it is, I don't more complexity. But the short putts are all dropping, so I can't complain too much.
Where were we? Yes, moving on the par 4 17th. This hole crosses the arroyo and we have longish bridge to cross. Interestingly on Friday last, I watch two young foxes walk across the bridge. Too lazy to jump the arroyo I guess.
I hit a very solid 4 wood and then a pitching wedge to get to 6 feet or so. I manage to roll it home as my head spins. Ah, back to even par.
Last hole, par 5, driver is a good idea. We have a double dogleg to negotiate. I catch it off the heel a bit, but I've got a clear shot forward from a fluffy lie. It goes fine and then a 9 iron to the green, This comes off low and doesn't carry well. It did stop well, just when not wanted, but there you are. I stub the putt leaving myself 6 feet for an even par round. I stubbed a number of putts today. Not sure what that was all about, but I managed to make all the putts I left short. And the 18th was no exception! It is goes in and I'm even par for the day. One of my life time better rounds. Certainly one the most consistent with exception of the driver. Looks like 8 GIRS on the back, with about 35 putts for the round.
So a thanks to Sonny for the tips. I see progress there and I can't complain about the ability to golf my ball.
Ok, we will retry on Wednesday with an early round. Tomorrow is back to the pickleball courts. I have new court shoes, so I'm expecting great things there too!
Saturday, August 3, 2019
Revisiting the Classics
And by classics I'm referring to the Travis McGee series by John D. McDonald. McDonald died in the late 80s. But I've looking for literature that I'm eager to read and I bounce between some sci-fi and the old spy/action books.
I read the McGee book over vacation trip to North Carolina on my Kindle. I probably own the paperback too. I have a modest collection of these kind of books.
When this book was written they were about 150 pages. The authors didn't get the 300 to 500 pages you can find today. One of the nice parts about this is that the action is pretty much non-stop. McDonald likes to pass on his thoughts about developers, society, Florida, gun control, government, etc., as he goes along. Also you will find that there are a lot of passages of color and texture, e.g., "a tan and sandy silence."
But I was disgruntled with the book. One of the hallmarks of his books are that every character besides McGee, Meyer, his foil, and a couple of ancillary characters, are rotten to the core. And if McGee finds a love interest, she is doomed. The one is this book was crazy and then got shot through the throat at the end. It never ends well for the bad guys. McGee usually gets damaged a bit too and this book was no exception. He is clobbered and Meyer has to fix the boat, schlep him to safety for recovery, and dispose of the bodies.
The technical aspects are pretty good. This book was about rare stamps. It's always nice to learn some details about different little areas.
I'm not sure I'll read any more. I want my books to end happily. Sure punish the bad guys, but get the girl for a least a little while before the budding relationship ends.
If we were to contrast this book to a Lee Child Jack Reacher novel, you would note the enormous amount of internal and external dialog that slowly drags the plot along in the Reacher book. McDonald has no such luxury and has to keep the fire a flame. Reacher doesn't get the girl much, he has a bus to catch or a ride to hitch. With the extra pages, you get more detail, more complexity, more locations. But for this genre is that more due to publishers' pushing for longer more expensive books than the authors interest in writing like that?
In both books we have a superman to deal with the baddies. Reacher is huge, but McGee has been there before.
I'll also bring up the Matt Helm series by Donald Hamilton. Matt is also a superman, fights his way out of impossible situations, punishes the bad guys, and usually gets the gal too. I like the Helm series a lot. I've listened to a number of them in audio format and they stand up. The Reacher books are done well in audio too. I've been listening to them on long airplane rides and if I can stay awake, I enjoy the experience.
From my perspective, it looks like a case of "you can't go home again." Very sad. I may have to dump my McDonald paperback collection in Ebay...
I read the McGee book over vacation trip to North Carolina on my Kindle. I probably own the paperback too. I have a modest collection of these kind of books.
When this book was written they were about 150 pages. The authors didn't get the 300 to 500 pages you can find today. One of the nice parts about this is that the action is pretty much non-stop. McDonald likes to pass on his thoughts about developers, society, Florida, gun control, government, etc., as he goes along. Also you will find that there are a lot of passages of color and texture, e.g., "a tan and sandy silence."
But I was disgruntled with the book. One of the hallmarks of his books are that every character besides McGee, Meyer, his foil, and a couple of ancillary characters, are rotten to the core. And if McGee finds a love interest, she is doomed. The one is this book was crazy and then got shot through the throat at the end. It never ends well for the bad guys. McGee usually gets damaged a bit too and this book was no exception. He is clobbered and Meyer has to fix the boat, schlep him to safety for recovery, and dispose of the bodies.
The technical aspects are pretty good. This book was about rare stamps. It's always nice to learn some details about different little areas.
I'm not sure I'll read any more. I want my books to end happily. Sure punish the bad guys, but get the girl for a least a little while before the budding relationship ends.
If we were to contrast this book to a Lee Child Jack Reacher novel, you would note the enormous amount of internal and external dialog that slowly drags the plot along in the Reacher book. McDonald has no such luxury and has to keep the fire a flame. Reacher doesn't get the girl much, he has a bus to catch or a ride to hitch. With the extra pages, you get more detail, more complexity, more locations. But for this genre is that more due to publishers' pushing for longer more expensive books than the authors interest in writing like that?
In both books we have a superman to deal with the baddies. Reacher is huge, but McGee has been there before.
I'll also bring up the Matt Helm series by Donald Hamilton. Matt is also a superman, fights his way out of impossible situations, punishes the bad guys, and usually gets the gal too. I like the Helm series a lot. I've listened to a number of them in audio format and they stand up. The Reacher books are done well in audio too. I've been listening to them on long airplane rides and if I can stay awake, I enjoy the experience.
From my perspective, it looks like a case of "you can't go home again." Very sad. I may have to dump my McDonald paperback collection in Ebay...
Sunday, July 21, 2019
Turtle report
Barb and I saw 38 turtles come out of a nest and dash for the ocean last night.
From the first stirrings of the sand until the dash was about an hour. The nest was about 50 feet to the surf and once they got going it took about 10 minutes for them get wet.
Lots of onlookers and volunteers to keep photographers, birds and the curious from disturbing the march to the sea.
It was like a horror movie as all the turtles came out of the hole at one time. The hole was about 4 inches across.
Turtles were about an inch and a half across, with one inch flippers.
There are over 130 nests on oak island this year, a bumper crop.
Next nest is two days later than this one.
A highlight of the trip so far.
Monday, July 15, 2019
A "Good" Study
And now for something entirely different!
I received this in an email today:
"Those who were more likely to develop dementia reported eating an unhealthier diet higher in fat and sugar and salt, did not engage in regular physical activity, smoked cigarettes and consumed alcohol."
I received this in an email today:
“...Here’s what to avoid: The study, which was published Monday by scientists at the University of Exeter and presented at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference 2019 in Los Angeles, looked at four main signs of a healthy versus unhealthy lifestyle. Those who were more likely to develop dementia reported eating an unhealthier (do we know this, or is it speculation by the researchers?) diet higher in fat and sugar and salt, did not engage in regular physical activity, smoked cigarettes and consumed alcohol.
A 2017 study found a fifth item worth avoiding: Artificial sweeteners. “Drinking at least one artificially sweetened beverage daily was associated with almost three times the risk of developing stroke or dementia compared to those who drank artificially sweetened beverages less than once a week,” according to the study, published in the American Heart Association journal “Stroke.”
I've learned a bit about the scientific method over the past 10 years or so. Using some of that knowledge, allow me to critique the above paragraphs.
Let's look at this line:
"Those who were more likely to develop dementia reported eating an unhealthier diet higher in fat and sugar and salt, did not engage in regular physical activity, smoked cigarettes and consumed alcohol."
Note the "more likely to develop dementia," well, did they develop it or not? And what is the meaning of "more likely?" The general population develops at 1.0% and the studied group at 1.003%? We don't know. Maybe they know, but it's not clear in this paragraph above.
Now, quiz, did the study actually measure the fat, sugar, salt in the diets? Nope, self reported per the paragraph. Do you think all the subjects (and how many were there?) accurately remembered what they ate and how much and when? Remember these are dementia patients, so maybe memory might be an issue?
Even if all of this is true, we still have a problem of cause and effect. Suppose that certain people who will develop dementia like to eat fat, salt, sugar, smoke and not exercise more than the general population? Maybe they are just different people? Basically this "good" study might be a starting point, but it is nowhere close to being evidence of anything.
In the next paragraph we have a report by another study that associates artificial sweeteners with a three times greater risk of all sorts of bad things. Interestingly the first study cited didn't mention sweeteners! Yipes! And the second study didn't mention all the dietary things that the first study did. Were they looked for? Hard to tell. We don't know what either study didn't find associations for. But since both studies were looking at diet, so we might suspect that they looked at similar items, and if this stuff was true, wouldn't the studies provide the same answers?
Now we do have a number in the second paragraph, 3 times more likely to develop dementia. What's the rate if you don't use these sweeteners? Ok, I'll go look... According to the "Braintest" web site the rate is 6% plus or minus one percent for the US. Are they really reporting that 18% of the sweetener eaters developed dementia? They expect the number of cases to go up as the population increases and gets older. We also learn there are a number of different types of dementia. The best way to deal with this? Of course, use the Brain Test software! Just a click away! (Of course dementia might be pretty normal and we are seeing more of it as the expected ages continue to increase. If the life expectancy is 57, then you are not going to see a lot of 60 year olds with dementia!)
These studies are sure a lot of fun. For people who have spent their entire lives engrossed in what a "healthy" diet is, they are candy for the soul and so easy to believe and propagate. We may be surrounded by modern Frankenstein foods designed by "big food" to kill us all, but these studies don't provide any evidence of anything.
Driver Report
The on-running theme is the intense hatred my driver has for me. I took it to the range a couple of times this weekend. Even hit the big bucket, 150 balls, and almost all of those were with the driver. Maybe if I cave in the face my problems will be over?
It did go well at the range and I have a new 12 step process to hit the perfect drive. I was excited to give it a go today.
"How did it go?" you ask. Well there is kind of a funny story to that. I pull out the driver for the 350 yard fifth hole, which is a problem child for me. It's awfully easy to end up in the bunkers to the right if the tees are back and if the tees are up, the bunker on the left. Today the tees were up and I'm determined to use the big club. I take my time and get my ball position correct and then a bit of body tilt, the arms a bit forward. I'm thinking of a nice turn around my body and then a nice, smooth rotation back while leaving the spine just where it is... And, golly, it actually happens! The drive is just a touch to the left, bounces over the toe of the left bunker. It leaves me 90 to a front pin. So it wasn't 250 or 240, but maybe 230 and in play and a lot better than 180 under a bush. It even sounded good and was way up in the air. My golf buddies were envious.
90 yards is a nice smooth sandwedge and I pull it out and I'm still smooth and thinking good thoughts and I hit it. A fairly good hit. But, what's this? It's gone over the green and over the green side trap, hits the bunker bank and then spins back into the bunker. Now, I'm confused. Do I need to recalibrate all the irons?
I wander up with the wedge in hand. Grab putter, leave bag and get into the bunker. Now, I must mention that the last trip around Wente, I was in 4 green side bunkers and got it up and down every time. So I'm not too worried about this bunker shot. I get over it and for some reason decide to take a closer look at the club I've got. Well, it's not a sandwedge, it's the pitching wedge. Ooops, kind of explains the extra 20 yards on the last shot. I'm too lazy to go to the bag and get the right club. So I splash it out, but it's long. I chip back and sink the putt. Well, I guess a good drive isn't everything!
Being a systems kind of guy, I'm thinking that marking the faces of the wedges might be a good idea... Ah, well.
When the smoke cleared it was a 75 today, no birdies and 26 putts. I was flopping like the best of them. I hit a couple of good drives, but still a couple of duds. But I think my approach is ok and will bear fruit as I repeat my changes. Lunch at Costco to complete the morning.
Tuesday, July 9, 2019
An Old Joke
We were at As You Like It, aka Shakespeare in the park this weekend. A guy seated behind us said that he had a Shakespeare joke. I've done some editing and put it in play form for the amusement of my readers.
Scene: A small town in Oklahoma. The gentle folk are a mixture of urban and rustic.
Players: We have Tommy, eight years old and his mother.
Tommy and his mother are walking down the sidewalk.
Tommy: Hey, ma, look at 'dem cowboys with their funny legs!
Mother: Tommy, we do not talk of other people like that. This is the last straw, you are going east to learn some manners and culture!
Two years later Tommy has returned a new, cultured, young man. He and his mother are once again walking the side walk. As this is a joke, we find the same cowboys at their same place, still bowlegged and not too much worse or better from the passage of the years. Tommy sees them...
Tommy: Behold Mama, what manner of men be these that wear their legs in parentheses!
End
I think my dad told me this joke a long time ago. The punch line was bit naughtier, but it was the same joke.
"So, how was the play?" I hear you ask.
As Shakespeare goes, I liked this one a lot. I've grown weary of most of his stuff that I see. It seems too simple and a bit of "one joke" problem to solve. And this play had some of those elements in it, characters switching genders for example. But they company that put on the play added 5 songs to the original. They used more modern language while maintaining ties to the original songs. It made it more entertaining for me.
We had a nice time, wine, sandwiches, some hummus and carrots. Probably could have used some warmer clothes as it was a sub sixty degree evening.
Scene: A small town in Oklahoma. The gentle folk are a mixture of urban and rustic.
Players: We have Tommy, eight years old and his mother.
Tommy and his mother are walking down the sidewalk.
Tommy: Hey, ma, look at 'dem cowboys with their funny legs!
Mother: Tommy, we do not talk of other people like that. This is the last straw, you are going east to learn some manners and culture!
Two years later Tommy has returned a new, cultured, young man. He and his mother are once again walking the side walk. As this is a joke, we find the same cowboys at their same place, still bowlegged and not too much worse or better from the passage of the years. Tommy sees them...
Tommy: Behold Mama, what manner of men be these that wear their legs in parentheses!
End
I think my dad told me this joke a long time ago. The punch line was bit naughtier, but it was the same joke.
"So, how was the play?" I hear you ask.
As Shakespeare goes, I liked this one a lot. I've grown weary of most of his stuff that I see. It seems too simple and a bit of "one joke" problem to solve. And this play had some of those elements in it, characters switching genders for example. But they company that put on the play added 5 songs to the original. They used more modern language while maintaining ties to the original songs. It made it more entertaining for me.
We had a nice time, wine, sandwiches, some hummus and carrots. Probably could have used some warmer clothes as it was a sub sixty degree evening.
Saturday, July 6, 2019
If I only Had a Hook
I was inspired to the following while playing with John and Rich II. They both move it left to right as if it were the dominant religion. However, I was somewhat dismayed to see Rich II hook a couple of shots - which caused a couple of hesitations on my part. But I dismissed those and took the plunge. Structure stolen from the Wizard of Oz lyrics - If I only had a brain.
The Hook
Life is sad, believe me, Dear,
When you're born to be a slicer
Without the draw and swerve.
But I could change my stances, never more be scared of chances
If I only had a hook.
When you're born to be a slicer
Without the draw and swerve.
But I could change my stances, never more be scared of chances
If I only had a hook.
I'm afraid it's always frighty, It just goes left to righty,
A fate I don't deserve.
But I could show my prowess, make pars and not just messes
If I only had a hook
Oh I'd be in my stride, scratch down to the core
I would score the way I've never scored before
And then I'd rrrwoof! and roar some more
I would show all the senior players who's king around the courses
If I only had a hook
No fear of trees to the left, I'd find them just a jest
I'd move the ball so fine, make its path all be mine
The ball would learns its lesson, not to be with my mind a messin'
If I only had a hook
Wednesday, July 3, 2019
A Modest Review of Hamilton
Normally the tickets are $316 to see this musical adaptation of Alexander Hamilton's life. But Barb and a number of the folks we talked to down in rows one and two, got tickets for $10 each. They have a lottery every day for 44 tickets at the $10 rate.
Barb almost deleted the email, but paused and read it, revealing the prize. So off we went via Bart down to Powell street, had an early dinner in the food court below the Westfield Center, then back to Bart for a one station hop to the Civic Center station. That last Bart hop is not as easy as it sounds as the trains were full and we had to wait for a second train to squeeze in. It was about 5:30 at that point and apparently a lot of folks are moving around, in, and out of the city.
The Orpheum theater is at the entrance to the Bart station. We popped out and there we were. There were people all dressed up for this event. But it's California and just about everything goes. One of the posters for the show was at street level and we got in line to take selfies in front of it.
The doors opened 15 minutes later and the actual show room opened soon after that. Our seats were in the second row, center. It was a neck cracking position to view a play. Oh, sure you could see sweat and spit arch into the lights and the wrinkles on the actors, but you needed to lower the head on occasion.
The play has generated some controversy, probably more back east than in San Francisco. I was a bit put off by the actors' antics and I was more than willing to avoid that show. The cast was mostly black and a lot of the songs were somewhat in "rap" style. Those items were fine, but it was hard for me to understand a lot of the lyrics. The music was good and we had a close view of the director/keyboard player. She was quite animated and banged away for a solid two hours.
The play covered Hamilton's brief life as he came to New York, met most of the principals of the revolution, fought the war, was Treasury Secretary under Washington and then fell from grace due to an old affair brought to light by his political opponents. He lost his son to an honor duel in New Jersey ("Everything is legal in New Jersey."), then he endorsed Jefferson over Burr and that led to his own demise, also in NJ.
I think it would have been very interesting if the "book" had dealt with some of the policy issues that survive to this day. The second amendment issues, the role of strong central government versus states' rights, etc. Slavery got a brief mention. But mostly it was a lot of long songs and dancing dealing with Hamilton's complicated life. It portrayed him as a bit flaky, though bright, hard working and somewhat doomed by those traits.
We got home about midnight, very late for a golfer! It left with an interest in doing some reading about Hamilton, which I see as a positive outcome.
Barb almost deleted the email, but paused and read it, revealing the prize. So off we went via Bart down to Powell street, had an early dinner in the food court below the Westfield Center, then back to Bart for a one station hop to the Civic Center station. That last Bart hop is not as easy as it sounds as the trains were full and we had to wait for a second train to squeeze in. It was about 5:30 at that point and apparently a lot of folks are moving around, in, and out of the city.
The Orpheum theater is at the entrance to the Bart station. We popped out and there we were. There were people all dressed up for this event. But it's California and just about everything goes. One of the posters for the show was at street level and we got in line to take selfies in front of it.
The doors opened 15 minutes later and the actual show room opened soon after that. Our seats were in the second row, center. It was a neck cracking position to view a play. Oh, sure you could see sweat and spit arch into the lights and the wrinkles on the actors, but you needed to lower the head on occasion.
The play has generated some controversy, probably more back east than in San Francisco. I was a bit put off by the actors' antics and I was more than willing to avoid that show. The cast was mostly black and a lot of the songs were somewhat in "rap" style. Those items were fine, but it was hard for me to understand a lot of the lyrics. The music was good and we had a close view of the director/keyboard player. She was quite animated and banged away for a solid two hours.
The play covered Hamilton's brief life as he came to New York, met most of the principals of the revolution, fought the war, was Treasury Secretary under Washington and then fell from grace due to an old affair brought to light by his political opponents. He lost his son to an honor duel in New Jersey ("Everything is legal in New Jersey."), then he endorsed Jefferson over Burr and that led to his own demise, also in NJ.
I think it would have been very interesting if the "book" had dealt with some of the policy issues that survive to this day. The second amendment issues, the role of strong central government versus states' rights, etc. Slavery got a brief mention. But mostly it was a lot of long songs and dancing dealing with Hamilton's complicated life. It portrayed him as a bit flaky, though bright, hard working and somewhat doomed by those traits.
We got home about midnight, very late for a golfer! It left with an interest in doing some reading about Hamilton, which I see as a positive outcome.
Monday, July 1, 2019
The Trials and Tribulations of Sonny
Sonny, a local pro and occasional golf partner, went down to Ojai to play in a senior US Open (golf) qualifier. He went down a couple of times for practice rounds and brought his brother in for strategy planning.
Sonny felt that he could play the course with a score of 65 to 67. As it turned out 67 was needed to get into the Open. They were going to pass two players into the Open and provide two additional alternates.
The strengths of Sonny's game are his driving, mid irons, and his putting. The course layout was not that long, so his driver length was long enough. He doesn't hit it 300 normally, 265 or so is normal, but he seldom misses fairways. Since the par fours were 420 and under, his driver length was more than enough.
But the big problem turned out to be the green speed. It was slow. Ok, it was very slow. One of the requirements of an excellent player is the ability to alter one's play based on conditions. Green speeds vary based on a lot of things, and it is not unusual to run into fast and slow conditions. Different courses take care of the greens differently. One of the strange things about this was that the practice green was fast and the course greens were slow.
Sonny had trouble adjusting to the speed and that generated some angst. Angst, a borrowed German word, pronounced properly as "ahhngst," is used to denote to some degree an irrational fear when used in English. In German it is just fear without any baggage attached to it. But I digress. Sonny's job was to adjust quickly and it trned out to be a problem.
Of course strange green speeds will alter more than putts. Chips, pitches, and approach irons might all have to be adjusted based on how much roll out is expected. And you have to believe and trust that you can, must, and want to make the changes. Indecision is the killer and of course, you have to get it right. But the putting was the big problem and Sonny wasn't happy and he describes headaches as he approached the putts. He started to steer putts to the hole, rather than stroking the club and letting the ball find its path.
Sonny put in a fair amount of effort into the tournament. His dream is make it to the senior tour. There is a Q-School in November. He and I sat down over a delicious and economical Costco lunch and kicked around what lessons were learned from the experience. We talked of the need for rapid adjustments and trusting them. I was also tried to recall something that I had written about in a prior post and that was problem with thoughts of winning before you won or losing before you lost going through your head. That experience is common to all humans and the solution is let them run, acknowledge them - you can't block them - but then return your full concentration on the next shot. Maybe you have to get a bit mechanical in your thoughts, but you have to push the destructive win/lose thoughts out of the way for the moment, continue your work and at some point realize the contest is over and you've done your best.
Sonny realized from the greens that he wanted to create a preshot routine for his putting. He thinks this will relieve some of angst, which gets swallowed by the routine. The routine is the mind clearer; you've done it every putt and it's an old friend.
Ok, learn from this and on to the next contest!
Sonny felt that he could play the course with a score of 65 to 67. As it turned out 67 was needed to get into the Open. They were going to pass two players into the Open and provide two additional alternates.
The strengths of Sonny's game are his driving, mid irons, and his putting. The course layout was not that long, so his driver length was long enough. He doesn't hit it 300 normally, 265 or so is normal, but he seldom misses fairways. Since the par fours were 420 and under, his driver length was more than enough.
But the big problem turned out to be the green speed. It was slow. Ok, it was very slow. One of the requirements of an excellent player is the ability to alter one's play based on conditions. Green speeds vary based on a lot of things, and it is not unusual to run into fast and slow conditions. Different courses take care of the greens differently. One of the strange things about this was that the practice green was fast and the course greens were slow.
Sonny had trouble adjusting to the speed and that generated some angst. Angst, a borrowed German word, pronounced properly as "ahhngst," is used to denote to some degree an irrational fear when used in English. In German it is just fear without any baggage attached to it. But I digress. Sonny's job was to adjust quickly and it trned out to be a problem.
Of course strange green speeds will alter more than putts. Chips, pitches, and approach irons might all have to be adjusted based on how much roll out is expected. And you have to believe and trust that you can, must, and want to make the changes. Indecision is the killer and of course, you have to get it right. But the putting was the big problem and Sonny wasn't happy and he describes headaches as he approached the putts. He started to steer putts to the hole, rather than stroking the club and letting the ball find its path.
Sonny put in a fair amount of effort into the tournament. His dream is make it to the senior tour. There is a Q-School in November. He and I sat down over a delicious and economical Costco lunch and kicked around what lessons were learned from the experience. We talked of the need for rapid adjustments and trusting them. I was also tried to recall something that I had written about in a prior post and that was problem with thoughts of winning before you won or losing before you lost going through your head. That experience is common to all humans and the solution is let them run, acknowledge them - you can't block them - but then return your full concentration on the next shot. Maybe you have to get a bit mechanical in your thoughts, but you have to push the destructive win/lose thoughts out of the way for the moment, continue your work and at some point realize the contest is over and you've done your best.
Sonny realized from the greens that he wanted to create a preshot routine for his putting. He thinks this will relieve some of angst, which gets swallowed by the routine. The routine is the mind clearer; you've done it every putt and it's an old friend.
Ok, learn from this and on to the next contest!
Saturday, June 29, 2019
It's All in the Flip
As the regular readers will note, the driver has been an ongoing problem. On Wednesday last Sonny remarks that I'm flipping the driver! Really? (A flip is when the club head reaches the ball before the arms and hands get there. Ideally the arms and hands will stay ahead of the club throughout the down swing.)
I mention this to Walt, another pro, from whom I've had a lesson or two. "Yes, you've always had a small flip with the driver." Well, I've known Walt for 10 years or so and this is the first I've hear of this! What else hasn't he told me?
So it seems that I just have to flip the "no flip" switch and we are off to the Senior US Open. Yes, well, it's never that easy.
The question that has to be resolved is the flip is the cause or if there is some other problem which requires the flip to get the club head on the ball?
There are two main errors that require the flip for rescue purposes. The first is an overly active lower body that leaves the upper body too far behind the ball. The flip is needed to get the club forward enough to compensate for the upper body being too far behind the hitting position. The second is when the upper body has gone too far forward before the hit and the flip gets the club down to the ball to compensate for the wrong position, this time too forward.
Basically if the upper body is where it should be when the club comes down, there is probably no way to flip. Certainly the reactive mind will not call up the flip as a needed action.
So Thursday I'm at the range and determined not to flip. I'm going to make sure the arms and hands are leading and even if it feels like I'm leading too far I'm going to do it. I play with this at the chipping area, because if it works at speed it ought to work with a short pitch. And it does. The strikes are solid more often. It feels good and it feels like the swing is getting more efficient. A couple of guys watching me chip give me a thumbs up and nods of appreciation to impressive ball action.
Off to the hitting area for some full length shots. I start with a nine iron to warm up. It's going well. I move to the six iron and it too is no problem. The strikes are solid and the ball has a high trajectory more so than usual. Four wood is next and I'm getting happier. Then of course a migraine kicks in. Pretty soon I have a blind spot with shimmers that preclude seeing the ball with both eyes. Time to dig for medicine and head for home...
It's now Saturday and I've looked up the flipping causes and I'm not convinced that just holding the hands is going to solve the driver issue. I swing a bit in the backyard and notice that it's very easy for me to take the driver back without much of a shoulder turn. Ho, ho... Am I on to something? I think so, as I've noticed a too short, too quick driver swing on the course. If I don't turn the shoulders, then it probably causes me to get the upper body too far in front of the swing and then I'll need to flip.
The current theory is that is what is happening. Barb is doing some sewing things this afternoon and I think I can get away and do some testing...
I mention this to Walt, another pro, from whom I've had a lesson or two. "Yes, you've always had a small flip with the driver." Well, I've known Walt for 10 years or so and this is the first I've hear of this! What else hasn't he told me?
So it seems that I just have to flip the "no flip" switch and we are off to the Senior US Open. Yes, well, it's never that easy.
The question that has to be resolved is the flip is the cause or if there is some other problem which requires the flip to get the club head on the ball?
There are two main errors that require the flip for rescue purposes. The first is an overly active lower body that leaves the upper body too far behind the ball. The flip is needed to get the club forward enough to compensate for the upper body being too far behind the hitting position. The second is when the upper body has gone too far forward before the hit and the flip gets the club down to the ball to compensate for the wrong position, this time too forward.
Basically if the upper body is where it should be when the club comes down, there is probably no way to flip. Certainly the reactive mind will not call up the flip as a needed action.
So Thursday I'm at the range and determined not to flip. I'm going to make sure the arms and hands are leading and even if it feels like I'm leading too far I'm going to do it. I play with this at the chipping area, because if it works at speed it ought to work with a short pitch. And it does. The strikes are solid more often. It feels good and it feels like the swing is getting more efficient. A couple of guys watching me chip give me a thumbs up and nods of appreciation to impressive ball action.
Off to the hitting area for some full length shots. I start with a nine iron to warm up. It's going well. I move to the six iron and it too is no problem. The strikes are solid and the ball has a high trajectory more so than usual. Four wood is next and I'm getting happier. Then of course a migraine kicks in. Pretty soon I have a blind spot with shimmers that preclude seeing the ball with both eyes. Time to dig for medicine and head for home...
It's now Saturday and I've looked up the flipping causes and I'm not convinced that just holding the hands is going to solve the driver issue. I swing a bit in the backyard and notice that it's very easy for me to take the driver back without much of a shoulder turn. Ho, ho... Am I on to something? I think so, as I've noticed a too short, too quick driver swing on the course. If I don't turn the shoulders, then it probably causes me to get the upper body too far in front of the swing and then I'll need to flip.
The current theory is that is what is happening. Barb is doing some sewing things this afternoon and I think I can get away and do some testing...
Tuesday, June 25, 2019
The Match
Ted and I went out to play today. He sent a text last night: "My index is 21.4, let's have a match. How many strokes do I get?"
We teed off at 7:15 to beat the ladies group. "I'll give you a stroke a hole and we'll play for honor and glory," I said.
"I'll take all I can get."
Off we go. Ted hits his first shot into the trees, I smash one straight up the fairway. The game was on.
Now, giving up a stroke a hole makes it a bit difficult to win a hole. But I managed to shoot an even par 36 on the front. I had to hit the pin from 160 yards on the ninth hole for a gimme birdie to do it, but it got done. Actually a very solid round with seven pars to go with a lone bogey and the birdie.
On the 12th tee, Ted looks at me. "You're playing differently when there is something at stake."
"You wanted to see the competitive Mr. Hume, and now you've unleashed him a bit. Take care he does not fully awaken mortal," I reply calmly and crush a four wood up the center of the fairway.
The first nine put me three up going onto the back. I start with three pars, but Ted is hanging in there with bogeys to split the holes. Then I top a drive on the long 13th and we both bogey. Ted wins the hole with his stroke. The same happens on the 14th when I'm short of the green and pitch short and miss the putt. Then I'm on the 15th in regulation, Ted is short. He pitches to 12 feet. I roll the birdie putt to two inches, which Ted concedes. He then proceeds to knock in the 12 footer for his par and another winning hole.
On to the 16th. I finally hit a drive, it feels like it's been years, and I've a 150 yard shot into a back pin and some wind. I crank the trusty 6 iron and it looks like I'm stiff. Ted has been on a bit of an adventure, and he needs to get his third shot on the green. But he pushes the ball and it rolls through a bunker and is hanging on the far lip. He stands in the bunker, chokes up on the club onto the metal shaft and hits very nice chip onto the green. My shot is not stiff and I have 10 feet for a birdie. I miss it right, but Ted misses his bogey putt and I'm two up with two to play. Dormie!
We both par the 17th, which is a win for Ted and I'm one up with the long 18th in front of us. Well, I can't lose the match, worst case is we tie. So the handicapping is pretty fair.
I hit another good drive down the middle with bit of hook. Did I mention the hole moves left to right? It does and the drive splits the fairway. Ted heads for the trees to the right. He hits his next shot along the cart path and he's still a bit behind. His third crosses the fairway and our balls are about the same distance to the green. I pull out the four wood and aim over the fairway bunker down by the corner of the dogleg. Did I mention the hole has two dog legs? I don't get all of it, but it carries far enough and bounds like young kitten and I'm past the trap and into the fairway.
I knock my third shot onto the green and I've got 15 feet for a birdie. Ted hits short and has to pitch up. If you've been counting, he's well out of the hole at this point. Yes, winning by two! All of the honor and glory are mine! Life is good.
It's been a good day with company, pace, and reasonable play all coming together. I had a frozen yogurt to celebrate.
We teed off at 7:15 to beat the ladies group. "I'll give you a stroke a hole and we'll play for honor and glory," I said.
"I'll take all I can get."
Off we go. Ted hits his first shot into the trees, I smash one straight up the fairway. The game was on.
Now, giving up a stroke a hole makes it a bit difficult to win a hole. But I managed to shoot an even par 36 on the front. I had to hit the pin from 160 yards on the ninth hole for a gimme birdie to do it, but it got done. Actually a very solid round with seven pars to go with a lone bogey and the birdie.
On the 12th tee, Ted looks at me. "You're playing differently when there is something at stake."
"You wanted to see the competitive Mr. Hume, and now you've unleashed him a bit. Take care he does not fully awaken mortal," I reply calmly and crush a four wood up the center of the fairway.
The first nine put me three up going onto the back. I start with three pars, but Ted is hanging in there with bogeys to split the holes. Then I top a drive on the long 13th and we both bogey. Ted wins the hole with his stroke. The same happens on the 14th when I'm short of the green and pitch short and miss the putt. Then I'm on the 15th in regulation, Ted is short. He pitches to 12 feet. I roll the birdie putt to two inches, which Ted concedes. He then proceeds to knock in the 12 footer for his par and another winning hole.
On to the 16th. I finally hit a drive, it feels like it's been years, and I've a 150 yard shot into a back pin and some wind. I crank the trusty 6 iron and it looks like I'm stiff. Ted has been on a bit of an adventure, and he needs to get his third shot on the green. But he pushes the ball and it rolls through a bunker and is hanging on the far lip. He stands in the bunker, chokes up on the club onto the metal shaft and hits very nice chip onto the green. My shot is not stiff and I have 10 feet for a birdie. I miss it right, but Ted misses his bogey putt and I'm two up with two to play. Dormie!
We both par the 17th, which is a win for Ted and I'm one up with the long 18th in front of us. Well, I can't lose the match, worst case is we tie. So the handicapping is pretty fair.
I hit another good drive down the middle with bit of hook. Did I mention the hole moves left to right? It does and the drive splits the fairway. Ted heads for the trees to the right. He hits his next shot along the cart path and he's still a bit behind. His third crosses the fairway and our balls are about the same distance to the green. I pull out the four wood and aim over the fairway bunker down by the corner of the dogleg. Did I mention the hole has two dog legs? I don't get all of it, but it carries far enough and bounds like young kitten and I'm past the trap and into the fairway.
I knock my third shot onto the green and I've got 15 feet for a birdie. Ted hits short and has to pitch up. If you've been counting, he's well out of the hole at this point. Yes, winning by two! All of the honor and glory are mine! Life is good.
It's been a good day with company, pace, and reasonable play all coming together. I had a frozen yogurt to celebrate.
Sunday, June 23, 2019
Catching Up
There are a couple of topics to deal with, probably worth more than one post.
Sonny has passed on some tournament information, but not enough to spin a story. I've sent him some questions, but I probably need to sit down and interview him. But stay tuned for an "inside the ropes" report.
The very good players always look like they are not trying to hit the ball or swing very hard. During my last two range sessions I've been trying to emulate that. I've simplified what I am trying to do and it now boils down to a shoulder turn going back, with the wrists cocking and then turn back. I'm trying to turn back with the speed I use for my nine iron. This is working quite well at the range. I'm staying in position better and I have no complaints about the ball reaction. No back issues, and my balance is good.
My nine iron has a worn spot right in the middle, right where you want it. But my 56 degree wedge has its mark much closer to the hosel. Sonny thinks that's because the club is too upright in its lie. I think the club is probably a flatter lie than the nine iron, and I am dubious the lie would cause this size of shift. What I think is happening is that I don't release the club and have to shove it out to the ball to get the strike. When I let the wrist unhinge about 45 degrees from the ball, the club walks out to the ball, the hands stay closer to the body and the strikes started to move out to the center of the club. There is some gain in distance too.
I also have some wear marks on my grips. One might conclude from this that the club and my hands are looking to go in different directions. The question is who is on the right path? My current theory is that this mismatch is part of the club release issue. If I let the club go earlier, it and my hands will be more in sync towards the path to the ball.
Finally, the current golf theory is that you don't want your arms to run past your body turn on the the backswing. So shoulders stop rotating, then the arms stop too. I've never really paid any attention to this, but it seems doable and makes the swing feel shorter and more controlled. There seems to be no loss of distance.
So perhaps I have resolved a number of long term issues this weekend. There is a lot of changes to be explored and incorporated. I'm, as always, optimistic that it's going to get better. Not that's the swing is particularly bad, mind you.
On the pickleball front, we have started to play some mini-games. We also had our first PB injury. Steve, trying to be less competitive than he used to be, still managed to damage a calf or knee. He heard a pop, then decided he was done for the day. Went home and iced it. He had a three day golf tournament the next day and with the help of a brace managed to play. Last I heard he and his partner were in the money and leading their flight.
Leather working: I made a bill fold, well, sort of a money holder. I cut it out and glued and sewed and then found it was too small. I was unsure about how much workable room I would have inside of it, so this result was not unexpected. It was just two pieces of leather and it turned out that there was little room near the stitches. I measured out a new one, allowing 1/2 inch margin from the stitches. It's being glued up until tomorrow. I then soaked the first one with water and I will try and stretch it a bit.
I think that's all that's going on. Stay tuned for more exciting news in the coming week!
Sonny has passed on some tournament information, but not enough to spin a story. I've sent him some questions, but I probably need to sit down and interview him. But stay tuned for an "inside the ropes" report.
The very good players always look like they are not trying to hit the ball or swing very hard. During my last two range sessions I've been trying to emulate that. I've simplified what I am trying to do and it now boils down to a shoulder turn going back, with the wrists cocking and then turn back. I'm trying to turn back with the speed I use for my nine iron. This is working quite well at the range. I'm staying in position better and I have no complaints about the ball reaction. No back issues, and my balance is good.
My nine iron has a worn spot right in the middle, right where you want it. But my 56 degree wedge has its mark much closer to the hosel. Sonny thinks that's because the club is too upright in its lie. I think the club is probably a flatter lie than the nine iron, and I am dubious the lie would cause this size of shift. What I think is happening is that I don't release the club and have to shove it out to the ball to get the strike. When I let the wrist unhinge about 45 degrees from the ball, the club walks out to the ball, the hands stay closer to the body and the strikes started to move out to the center of the club. There is some gain in distance too.
I also have some wear marks on my grips. One might conclude from this that the club and my hands are looking to go in different directions. The question is who is on the right path? My current theory is that this mismatch is part of the club release issue. If I let the club go earlier, it and my hands will be more in sync towards the path to the ball.
Finally, the current golf theory is that you don't want your arms to run past your body turn on the the backswing. So shoulders stop rotating, then the arms stop too. I've never really paid any attention to this, but it seems doable and makes the swing feel shorter and more controlled. There seems to be no loss of distance.
So perhaps I have resolved a number of long term issues this weekend. There is a lot of changes to be explored and incorporated. I'm, as always, optimistic that it's going to get better. Not that's the swing is particularly bad, mind you.
On the pickleball front, we have started to play some mini-games. We also had our first PB injury. Steve, trying to be less competitive than he used to be, still managed to damage a calf or knee. He heard a pop, then decided he was done for the day. Went home and iced it. He had a three day golf tournament the next day and with the help of a brace managed to play. Last I heard he and his partner were in the money and leading their flight.
Leather working: I made a bill fold, well, sort of a money holder. I cut it out and glued and sewed and then found it was too small. I was unsure about how much workable room I would have inside of it, so this result was not unexpected. It was just two pieces of leather and it turned out that there was little room near the stitches. I measured out a new one, allowing 1/2 inch margin from the stitches. It's being glued up until tomorrow. I then soaked the first one with water and I will try and stretch it a bit.
I think that's all that's going on. Stay tuned for more exciting news in the coming week!
Saturday, June 15, 2019
Pickleball as a Sport
I should talk a bit about pickleball (pb).
Rich II, a fellow golfer and frequent visitor to these posts, has taken up the game, as well as Steve, also a golfer. Then there is Dave and Mike, who don't golf, but hang out at the dog park together. Note that they have dogs, it's that they are dog lurkers.
Steve is a good golfer and has played a number of the racket sports before. He took to pb quite quickly and it didn't take him long to adjust to the ball and paddles. He made a comment in re pb that reserves to be passed on. The comment was, "This game has a nice speed."
Yes, I would agree with that. When they designed the game they did a good job. It doesn't require too much running, or much strength, nor agility. It does require a bit of all of those, but not much. The balls bounce ok, but not too high.
The court is about 1/4 the size of a tennis court and the areas behind the baselines is not real deep. You get away with this due to the lack of bounce of the ball. The also created an area from which you cannot volley the ball. This is named the kitchen. You can volley but you can't be in or fall into the kitchen in doing so. Also if you are serving, you can't volley the return of service. Serves are done underhanded. All of this is to slow the game down a bit.
Now what you can do is to volley a ball that is hanging over the kitchen, but you have leap to the side of the court. This is known as an "Ernie." I'm not sure who Ernie was, but his fame, small though it maybe, will live on.
Finally let me touch on the paddles. The current state of the art are a honeycomb composite with graphite or aluminum or various plastics. They are about the size of a racketball paddle. And they provide a very nice sound when the ball is hit near the middle of the paddle. Ben Hogan talked about the "unmistakable click of a ball well hit." If you are as good a golfer as I am, you don't hear that sweet sound very often. But even us beginning pb players hear it quite often. It's nice and the ball paddle interaction has a nice feel.
We've been playing pb on Tuesday and Thursdays for an hour. Then we kind of wilt. Sweat soaked and wobbly of leg, we seek the shade and a slug or two of water. It's been a nice variation on golf. It's an excellent full body work out. Rich II was so taken with the game he went and got himself a paddle. He found an old Davis tennis racket cover for protection. I used to have a Davis racket and the cover brought back a few memories.
We had the courts to ourselves for a few weeks, but then others showed up! They play indoors during the Winter and move outside during the fair weather. They have a machine that will lob balls for them, they have a leaf blower to clear the courts and they have buckets of balls. Big buckets. We have 12 balls between all of us. They have 20 gallons of balls.
One of them played a game with us and learned us a bit about the rules. They are friendly and complimentary. Bonding on the pickleball court!
Rich II, a fellow golfer and frequent visitor to these posts, has taken up the game, as well as Steve, also a golfer. Then there is Dave and Mike, who don't golf, but hang out at the dog park together. Note that they have dogs, it's that they are dog lurkers.
Steve is a good golfer and has played a number of the racket sports before. He took to pb quite quickly and it didn't take him long to adjust to the ball and paddles. He made a comment in re pb that reserves to be passed on. The comment was, "This game has a nice speed."
Yes, I would agree with that. When they designed the game they did a good job. It doesn't require too much running, or much strength, nor agility. It does require a bit of all of those, but not much. The balls bounce ok, but not too high.
The court is about 1/4 the size of a tennis court and the areas behind the baselines is not real deep. You get away with this due to the lack of bounce of the ball. The also created an area from which you cannot volley the ball. This is named the kitchen. You can volley but you can't be in or fall into the kitchen in doing so. Also if you are serving, you can't volley the return of service. Serves are done underhanded. All of this is to slow the game down a bit.
Now what you can do is to volley a ball that is hanging over the kitchen, but you have leap to the side of the court. This is known as an "Ernie." I'm not sure who Ernie was, but his fame, small though it maybe, will live on.
Finally let me touch on the paddles. The current state of the art are a honeycomb composite with graphite or aluminum or various plastics. They are about the size of a racketball paddle. And they provide a very nice sound when the ball is hit near the middle of the paddle. Ben Hogan talked about the "unmistakable click of a ball well hit." If you are as good a golfer as I am, you don't hear that sweet sound very often. But even us beginning pb players hear it quite often. It's nice and the ball paddle interaction has a nice feel.
We've been playing pb on Tuesday and Thursdays for an hour. Then we kind of wilt. Sweat soaked and wobbly of leg, we seek the shade and a slug or two of water. It's been a nice variation on golf. It's an excellent full body work out. Rich II was so taken with the game he went and got himself a paddle. He found an old Davis tennis racket cover for protection. I used to have a Davis racket and the cover brought back a few memories.
We had the courts to ourselves for a few weeks, but then others showed up! They play indoors during the Winter and move outside during the fair weather. They have a machine that will lob balls for them, they have a leaf blower to clear the courts and they have buckets of balls. Big buckets. We have 12 balls between all of us. They have 20 gallons of balls.
One of them played a game with us and learned us a bit about the rules. They are friendly and complimentary. Bonding on the pickleball court!
Monday, June 10, 2019
Le Morte d'Gopher
A couple of years ago a gopher lived in the lawn. He built his mounds and probably did more aeration than the lawn puncher guy. Then he was gone and the mounds disappeared with the Winter rains and the lawn went back to just being a lawn.
Then this Spring another gopher arrives. The mounds show up again. All is well, we can live with this one too.
But, but, this guy decides to move a few feet to the south and now there are mounds amongst the rose bushes. Barb's rose bushes. Bushes she has watered and trimmed and encouraged for 20 years. Yes, those roses.
Do gophers eat roses? If they don't we are back to free soil preparation services. Hmm, per Google, yes they do.
War is declared.
We go and get the tools of war. We find a two pack of cute green metal springy traps, highly rated by Amazon buyers. I install the first trap. They have to go into a tunnel. By the way, gopher tunnels are not as easy to find as you might think. Yes, they are under the mound, but as we found out, usually off to the side and pretty well plugged. But they are there and can be found. I set the trap and put it into the tunnel. Then we bury it per instructions.
Will this be it? We will check the next day.
The next day we go back to the tunnel. Is he dead? Is the trap tripped? Oh, and where is the trap? It seems it's gone missing. I get out the metal detector. I find a couple of coins, but no trap.
More research. Apparently it's a good idea to tie a string to the trap and attach the string to a stake. Back to the killing field. Find another tunnel. Set the second trap and insert it. Push the stake into the ground, bury the trap and wait for the next day.
Dawn breaks and the string on the trap still leads placidly into the tunnel entry area. I pull on the string. It comes out of the ground. No trap!
More research. It seems that string is not the thing, wire is recommended as "a gopher will chew through the string with its last breath." Hmm... Last breath? Is it dead? We wait a couple of day and sure enough new mounds show up.
We know more about setting traps, so if we get some more, we might win the war.
I'm at golf on Friday and I've become friendly with the ground crew. I talk to one of the guys who is fixing a loose board on a bridge. He has a commercial gopher trap in his cart. How's that work? I ask. He gives me general training and then... offers me the trap!
The beauty of this trap is that it has a huge metal flange with the trigger mechanism and no gopher is going to run off with it.
I worried as the distance from the trigger is a long way from the catching part. Just how big are these guys? But I set it. We find a fresh hole, insert the trap, cover it up... You know the drill by now.
"We have to pick up the trap in the morning. Young kids walk by and might be attracted to the trap!" This is from Barb -- you'd think she'd be more protective of the roses than some stray young kid. So in the morning before golf I go and look at the trap. It's been sprung.
I grab it and pull it out of its loose burial debris. I'm really expecting the trap to be empty or, worse than that, have a half dead gopher in it. But nope, the guy has been caught. Killed is probably a better word for it. I hope it happened quickly. The gopher is huge. I unload the trap and he falls out into the green waste barrel. Since picked up and off it goes to the central city receiving.
"I wonder if there might be a second gopher," Barb ponders.
Then this Spring another gopher arrives. The mounds show up again. All is well, we can live with this one too.
But, but, this guy decides to move a few feet to the south and now there are mounds amongst the rose bushes. Barb's rose bushes. Bushes she has watered and trimmed and encouraged for 20 years. Yes, those roses.
Do gophers eat roses? If they don't we are back to free soil preparation services. Hmm, per Google, yes they do.
War is declared.
We go and get the tools of war. We find a two pack of cute green metal springy traps, highly rated by Amazon buyers. I install the first trap. They have to go into a tunnel. By the way, gopher tunnels are not as easy to find as you might think. Yes, they are under the mound, but as we found out, usually off to the side and pretty well plugged. But they are there and can be found. I set the trap and put it into the tunnel. Then we bury it per instructions.
Will this be it? We will check the next day.
The next day we go back to the tunnel. Is he dead? Is the trap tripped? Oh, and where is the trap? It seems it's gone missing. I get out the metal detector. I find a couple of coins, but no trap.
More research. Apparently it's a good idea to tie a string to the trap and attach the string to a stake. Back to the killing field. Find another tunnel. Set the second trap and insert it. Push the stake into the ground, bury the trap and wait for the next day.
Dawn breaks and the string on the trap still leads placidly into the tunnel entry area. I pull on the string. It comes out of the ground. No trap!
More research. It seems that string is not the thing, wire is recommended as "a gopher will chew through the string with its last breath." Hmm... Last breath? Is it dead? We wait a couple of day and sure enough new mounds show up.
We know more about setting traps, so if we get some more, we might win the war.
I'm at golf on Friday and I've become friendly with the ground crew. I talk to one of the guys who is fixing a loose board on a bridge. He has a commercial gopher trap in his cart. How's that work? I ask. He gives me general training and then... offers me the trap!
The beauty of this trap is that it has a huge metal flange with the trigger mechanism and no gopher is going to run off with it.
I worried as the distance from the trigger is a long way from the catching part. Just how big are these guys? But I set it. We find a fresh hole, insert the trap, cover it up... You know the drill by now.
"We have to pick up the trap in the morning. Young kids walk by and might be attracted to the trap!" This is from Barb -- you'd think she'd be more protective of the roses than some stray young kid. So in the morning before golf I go and look at the trap. It's been sprung.
I grab it and pull it out of its loose burial debris. I'm really expecting the trap to be empty or, worse than that, have a half dead gopher in it. But nope, the guy has been caught. Killed is probably a better word for it. I hope it happened quickly. The gopher is huge. I unload the trap and he falls out into the green waste barrel. Since picked up and off it goes to the central city receiving.
"I wonder if there might be a second gopher," Barb ponders.
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