Practicing The Short Game

Working with the putter and a three foot distance can reduce your golf scores tremendously I have been told.  I believe that to be true as I watch the Masters on the Golf Channel.  McIlroy was in the lead at the end of round one with a score of 65.  He was on fire.  Yes, getting it on the green in one is awesome, but that putt makes all the difference on the ending score as proved yesterday by McIlroy.  The man just could not miss.

I have been working on my short game, moving from one side to another in the yard.  Travis Stockholm taught me to practice putts from three foot out until I can get 25 in a row.  Now that is determination.  When I get to 25, move the distance to six foot and do 25 in a row then to nine foot for the same.  He said if you miss to start all over again.    I find that this disciplined procedure is useful at several levels.  First and foremost, the shot goes into the cup.  Secondly, the mental discipline for keeping a steady control of emotion and not get frustrated is priceless.  Third, no pain...no gain....I always say.  If you feel the pain of having to start over, you will be more serious in trying to make the cup.  I think by applying this pressure to yourself, it helps you when it counts on the course.  Especially when playing under the pressure of a tournament.

Maybe I will feel good enough to play in a tournament by the end of the year.  Right now I still feel like I do not know enough about the rules of the game.  Even though I might play a good game, I would likely make a monkey out of myself by doing some sillly golf faux pas.

There is a 30 day writing challenge I am working on at the moment for HubPages that has kept me from playing any golf at the moment, but I am still thinking about it all the time.  (If you 're interested check it out at www.hubpages.com/profile/golfgal. The Masters always captures my media time during this time of year.  If you are like me...I watch in awe at how easy the golfers make the game appear.  At the same time, I also see an occasional blunder..a missed putt.. a bad swing etc.  that helps me to understand that we are all still trying to Master the same game and anyone can make a blunder whether pro or foe.  If the pros can put one in the drink...well then there ya go.  I don't feel so bad.

Get that putter out and join me on a 7 day experiment following the same procedure above for putting practice.  This being day 1.  Go and get 25 putts in a row at three foot!!!!  She how many times you have to putt to meet your goal.  Come on, if I can do it,  you can do it.

Anyone Golfing Today?

Sorry readers, I have been out of commission.  It seems I have pulled a muscle in my neck and it has dibilitated me a bit.  I was wondering if anyone out there has any experiences they wish to share???  I would love to hear about any experiences from my readers.  Anyone care to share??  FORE

Adidas Isabelle Golf Shoes...I love them so will you!!!

I wanted to give you some feedback about the performance of the golf shoes I recently purchased. A couple months ago I got my first pair of Adidas Isabelle Golf Shoes.  I struggled over several different pairs of shoes before making a final decision.  As I mentioned in previous blogs, I have a very high arch and narrow heel.  It is usually a problem for me when wearing shoes for any length of time.  My feet begin to hurt severely if I wear cheaper shoes that provide little support or rub my heel when walking.

The Adidas Isabelle Golf Shoes felt like I was walking on cushions for hours and hours.  After finishing 18 holes of golf, my feet did not hurt at all.  The heel was protected from rubbing, the arch was supported well and the overall comfort was very satisfying.  I am extremely pleased with my purchase and I can say without reservation....I will acquire a rack of Adidas Golf Shoes in various colors and styles to complement my golfgal attire.  For the first pair I wanted basic white which goes with anything I wear. I have suggested a couple links on this site for sports gear and clothing.  Have fun finding a style to compliment your game.   I chose hard plastic cleats and I can tell you these shoes clean up really well afterwards.

Months before I started to actually play my husband took me along with him to the golfcourse and I would drive the golf cart while he played.  I noticed that as players finished they would drive the golfcart to their respective cars to unload and I would here a funny noise..pop...pop..pop.  I did not pay it any mind really.

It was now the first time I wore my new golf shoes and it was as we unloaded at our car that my husband took off his shoes and hit them together making that funny noise...pop...pop...pop.  Oh, I said to him, that is the funny little noise that I have been hearing in the parking lot.  He asked me to take off my shoes and do the same to clean them.  I did not think they would be that dirty until I turned them over and looked at the collection of green mucky material attached to my cleats.  Yuck, I said as I proceeded to follow his lead and made that funny little noise too,  Pop..pop..pop.   I re-examined the cleats and to my surprise the muck was gone. Amazing little trick I said, and we just smiled.  Another fun fact for the Golfgal In Texas.  FORE!!!

Practice Makes Perfect Sometimes....

Well, if you have been reading my blogs you know that I have been practicing with a passion my backswing with one arm.  Well it just so happens that my coach Travis reads my blog too.  Today I got an email from him that went something like this...."Hey Lisa, I noticed when I read your blog that when you practice that backswing with one arm you are supposed to be using your left arm only..not your right arm".  Now wouldn't ya just know it.  Shows you what a green horn I am at this game.  And Here I thought I was doing pretty good at my practices like a good girl.  Practice does make perfect when you do it right.   So I gotta start all over....and such is the game of golf.  Happy Backswing!!!  

Practice Makes Perfect.....OK OK... I am practicing

You know how it goes after the inital adrenaline of getting started begins to fade and you are faced with the reality that what is left is..... practicing what you have learned.  Is it only me?  OK...I am practicing already.  I was encouraged to work on my backswing with one hand to get the feel of the motion.  Holding the club with the same grip but with only the right hand....taking it back.  Twisting the upper torso in slow motion.  Even the gremace seems to be in slow motion.  Coming down while shifting the weight through the hips and striking the ball to continue the twist with the upper torso.  What a workout.  I promised myself I would do this movement at least  25 times every morning.  After the third day, it seems to be a lot smoother.   So just maybe there is something to this homework assignment.  I feel the strengthening of that muscle group.  Travis says the muscle group needs to be trained for the motion over and over in slow motion to be very effective.  It will also help with relaxation.  I tend to get too tense and take the backswing a little too fast, throwing off the momentum and timing of the swing. 

 I know I am thinking too much....I just need to practice the slow motion of the backswing and follow through and shut up already.  I feel a golf day coming on.  sigh.

Buying the BirdieBalls make all the difference in offcourse practice.  Try them for yourself.  Easy to use, no chasing or loosing balls and the neighborhood is safe once more.  A great gift for Mother's or Father's day coming up.     FORE!!!

Get a Grip!!

Putting has not been a strong suit for me while taking lessons and getting my feet wet on the greens over the past couple weeks.  While in Golfsmith a couple weeks ago, I studied the various grips and tried several putters in the demo area that had larger handgrips.  The putters were much easier to hold and control.  The putter I have been using seems to turn slightly causing my ball to miss the hole. Not good.  As I learned in lesson three, moving my head before the ball leaves the putter will cause this too.  So I need all th help I can get.  I needed to make a visit to Golfsmith for more balls so I thought this was as good a time as any to get a new grip for my putter.  After studying the available selection, I chose a larger square grip by Odyssey.  My husband liked it so much, he got one too. 

The professional waiting on us at Golfsmith replaced our grips as we watched.  It was very interesting.  He cut down the side of the old grip and ripped it right off.  He then put a piece of tape over the area on the shaft to receive the grip and soaked it down with a special liquid.  This liquid will cause the grip to slide on and adhere quickly.  He slid the new grip right onto the shaft and aligned it nicely.  Tadaa!  New grip.

When playing the last 18 holes, I state without hesitation, it was great putting. The feel of the larger grip was much more comfortable.  The control of the larger grip was also more favorable.  Try it you will like it.

MY FIRST 18 HOLES OF GOLF on February 26, 2011

As my husband and I prepared to tee-off at Oak Hollow Golfcourse, we noticed a couple guys stalking the tee box area and as my husband started his backswing...up pulls the cart. Well he was already committed to the swing so needless to say it wasn't the drive of the day. It appeared that this twosome was not even supposed to tee off next. As we arrived at the green of the 1st hole, this same cart zoomed around us and one of the fellows said, "Do you mind if we go ahead, we didn't want to wait for the other group since they had four to tee-off". We told them we didn't really mind and we continued to play our hole. My husband was annoyed with the lack of golf etiquette from whom we will now call "The Hackers". Me, well, I was oblivious.   I just wanted to get on the green.  Now, we are ready to move onto the 2nd tee-box about 5 minutes later and there were "The Hackers" still trying to get off the fairway and onto the green. It was going to be a long 18 holes. We were hopeful that they were only playing the front nine. My drive on the 2nd hole went straight and far. I ended up in the rough outside the green. The first opportunity to put my lesson into play. I grabbed the 'S' club and got into my open stance to take a few practice swings. Ready to go, I took a small backswing and followed through and .....it worked!!! Travis would be so proud. I got on the green in two strokes and it only took me three more putts to complete this hole!!! Geez.

Now at the 3rd hole, The Hackers were off the fairway and into the trees, then into the rough on the other side of the fairway....one was still looking for the ball while we took the opportunity have a drink of water and think about our next play. During this time, another fellow approached from behind and asked about The Hackers ahead of us. We were ready to approach the tee box, so he waited but seemed perturbed.

As my husband and I continued on, I practiced my chipping and putting as instructed and I was getting some great chipping shots from all kinds of places that before the lesson, I would not have had a clue what to do. My confidence was growing. My husband was surprised at some of the shots I was making. Here comes the single guy again; seemingly impatient. We asked if he wanted to play ahead. We will call him "The Driver" . So The Driver played ahead and I guess he played ahead of The Hackers too.  Funny thing, I think they didn't even notice as he surpassed them while they were still searching for the latest hack in the trees.

The first nine holes went well. I did however loose balls in the drink not once, but twice. The first ball was lost over my favorite tee over the duck pond. This was becoming an endearing moment of sacrifice. The second rolled in the pond after rolling down an embankment....Dang I need to buy some more balls.  I made up for it twice with my 7 iron on two separate shots.  Both times making a straight drive right through a couple trees putting me on the rough of the green. After we completed nine holes, we took a quick bathroom break at the clubhouse, all the while hoping The Hackers would get a couple holes ahead, and yes, they were playing 18 holes.

During the back nine, we would meet a few new friends. The first young man was playing while his father observed and drove the cart. This young man had quite the swing. We learned he was only 12 years old. He had been playing since age 6 and it showed. This young man teed off from the white zone and drove the ball equally as far as my husband. He was only a single.  We let him play ahead, so we were only able to observe him a couple times. Then there was another team that caught up to us while we waited again for The Hackers to complete a long par 5. This was a father daughter team. The daughter age 15 was getting acquainted with the course as she was playing a tournament the coming week and father was playing along for fun. They joined us on the last couple holes for fun. We enjoyed playing with them.

I was getting fatigued coming around to the 15th hole. I hit the ground a couple times while trying to drive. Got a little frustrated. Though, I had a few really good shots on the fairways that were redeemable. My last great shot was on the 18th hole. I had a decent drive from the tee box, but even better, I had a fabulous drive from the fairway with my 3 wood. It laid up about 25 yards from the green. I decided to use my 'P' pitching wedge and chipped it onto the green. My next putt went in!!! I did not turn my head and Travis was not even holding my visor. It was a nice shot and everyone stood amazed for a moment of silence and then all said almost in unison, "that putt was for par." I was the only one in the group that parred the 18th hole. It was a good day.

I learned many things while observing other players on the golfcourse today. I learned that golf is for everyone: it is sizeless, ageless, genderless and knows no boundaries; especially aquatic. You never want to play behind The Hackers or in front of The Driver. Fathers enjoy the game of golf with their children even if it is from the cart. If a 15 year old girl can play in a tournament....SO CAN I.      FORE!!!