I figured out a visualization technique today. It was a method for the putting greens (not sure if it works for chipping or the full swing yet) that I had used a couple years ago when I first started playing (2004).

The method was what I am now officially dubbing "ghost putting".

The approach is what I will be using for my routine from here on out.

Okay, so basically what I do is stand behind the ball - then see myself over the putt (so I am looking at a 'ghost' of myself in a down the line view). I see the putt the ball, the break, and the ball going into the hole - then my ghost celebrates with his arms in the air.

So after this I step up to the ball immediately - no hesitation - Raymond Floyd says 'quiet confidence' on the greens - so I listen. As soon as I step up to the putt, I look at the hole, then I look back at the ball. This next part is key - while looking at the ball, I visualize the putter moving backwards, then striking the ball, then seeing it roll towards the hole...and in. I have to make sure not to get lazy with this visualization, see the ball go IN.

After that - simple, execute the putt.

Results were fantastic today on the putting green, I really was nailing every putt I saw. No, I'm not going to say that I was making all of them - but I was doing a lot better than before - that is for sure.

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At this point in time, things are really starting to shape up nicely. I decided to keep my clubs in my trunk just in case I get off work one of these days to play a round (or two). Before, I had planned on only keeping my putter, wedges,9-iron and 7-iron in my car so that I wouldn't be tempted to work on anything else but the short-game.

Going to Florida this Saturday - will be back the following Sunday. CANNOT WAIT. Sick of this Kansas weather of 20-50 degrees, hello Cocoa Beach here I Come!

Change for the sake of changing?

I was doing a search on WRX today - just now actually - and I found some posted topics by me there (Matt10). What I found was a great response by the man himself, Slicefixer, on whether or not I should just say "screw it" and just swing the damn club (arm swinging essentially).

His response:

There is NOTHING wrong with swinging the club more with the arms........however, you'll find that most "arm swingers" swing this way because the arms were in control of the swing in the backswing so, therefore, they are in control in the downswing......in fact, the arms MUST be in control or you'll NEVER consistently square the clubface........your whole golf swing is "timed" with your arms so to change it something else must be "put in charge of the parade" and substantial changes would need to take place from the "get go"........If your satisfied with your ballstriking as is then I'd NEVER recommend any dramatic swing changes.......I'd recommend that you work EXTRA hard on your short game, putting, and course management........."change for the sake of changing" is rarely a good thing.......IMOP.......

I think this is what has been the problem with the SMG (swing machine golf) method I've been attempting this year. The ARMS need to be IN CONTROL. If I think about not using them, then expecting to use my lower body - while keeping the upper body passive - I can get out of synch (actually I'm sure I will).

I should be working extra hard on my short-game, I'm actually starting to feel good about it since switching back to my 'claw' grip for putting. SMG (paul wilson) short-game DVD series has been one of the best DVDs in a while. I love it. ALthough I'm not too sure right now about the long-game.

Maybe I'm going about this new change the wrong way. Maybe I was intending on changing it for the sake of change - not because it was necessary. I lowered my handicap significantly over the years (only been playing for 4 years, down to a 13) - I must have been doing something right before all this.

Letting it go

I keep telling myself I need to stick to a swing...stick to a swing.

So I have. I purchased Paul Wilson's SwingMachineGolf and it should be arriving Monday. I like the way Paul teaches, his book seems to be one of the best ones out there - I wonder what the DVDs are going to be like.

I've been reading on his blog about powerless arms. To me this makes me think "Let it go", just hang loose - and let it all go.

I hit some good drives in one of my rounds, but it is the iron game that is really starting to get to me - I'm hooking everything with this 'no arm' swing.

I have a round with my dad this coming Saturday - and lord knows I'm going to try my best to stick to the SMG method, but the hooking is really going to get to me sooner than later. I'm going to try to e-mail Paul and ask him whats going on.

Will I finally follow through?

Things just don't work out sometimes right? Is that because they are out of my hands or is it because I'm just giving up too early and too easily?

Probably the latter.

I think it's time to really put my foot down. I've started a new, great job, and I think all my past demons are starting to vanish. We have to wonder sometimes why we do the things we do. I think I did the things I did at the previous job was lack of motivation - heck, I wasn't going anywhere, why should I go to work? Was it really work when you were soon to be replaced by people who 'mattered'.

Anyway, what does this have to do with golf? Everything.

My mentality has to change, like I said I'm putting my foot down on everything. I mean seriously, I'm getting in shape with the Ten-Minute Trainer, and I'm getting back to basics in my golf swing. I'm about 190lbs and only 5'7 -- that is not a good weight to be at. I'm tired of looking at myself and seeing this out of shape ex-soccer player.

I don't follow through on anything - not even my golf swing. The time is now, I'm tired of letting myself down and putting things off.

I started this blog because I felt like I needed to get things out and I needed to track my journey to becoming scratch. I think 'scratch' is going to be applied to everything - not just golf this year.

get on dem heels!

Shanked everything this evening after work. Thought I'd take advantage of the beautiful weather we had and go to the range - awesome. Picked up a medium bucket and proceeded to shank every single shot. Not one or two or ten - nope, every single damn one.

I couldn't figure it out until I got home and did some research. It was already 9pm when I decided to get back out to the range (an hour before the lights go out) and picked up a large bucket this time.

Money well spent. Setup with most weight on my heels and downswing with a bit of a squat. Beautiful crisp iron shots and pounded the driver with some significant force than usual - still have to work on the driver though as the trajectory is still too high for my liking.

I am getting back in shape too - been doing resistance workouts on my gravity force trainer and doing cardio (soccer, volleyball, golf) almost everyday. Can't wait to play a round - Friday is the day I'm aiming for unless the lady has something to say about it!

Coming along

My game is starting to come along - had so much fun playing with my dad and two friends on Friday - shot an 85, my dad shot an 82 - his best that I've ever seen.

I will admit that at the start of the day, at the range, I was applying Slicefixer's method - however I was thinning the ball all over the place - so I figured I would go back to IGS and I'm glad I did for that day. I did apply SF's method when driving the ball and missed about two fairways all day - really solid driving day.

My putting was on key as well - using the 'topspin' blade method (where you try to put topspin on the ball), this keeps the ball on line much longer than the regular way and I feel very controlled when doing this.

Had my first birdie of the year on a Par 5 that always seems to get me. 517-yard Par 5, drive down the middle, second shot 3-wood baby slice to the right rough. Branch hanging over my aim, only 120 yards away - easy pitching wedge to 5 feet; right to lefter - dunked it.

I also had a great birdie chance on the hardest Par 3 I have always played. It is a 175-yard par 3, that has water on the right in front of the green - with bunker on the left - basically my bailout is to the left. Yesterday I hit a pure 5-iron and the ball drew to the edge of the green (I thought water for a second) and the ball landed about 8 feet from the pin. I misread the putt though - but a par on that hole is like a birdie.

My misses were mainly blow up holes. Had one on #5 in which my drive went way left - behind a tree, tried a nice and easy punch hook-out with the 5-iron, shanked it off the toe and skipped into the woods. The next shot was an attempt for another punch hook-out with the 7-iron this time, but I pulled it at impact and the ball slammed dead into a tree and came back at me with force. 4th shot was from the woods - bout 125-yards out, high pitching wedge came up 10-feet short of the pin, edged the hole lipped-out, chalked up a 7.

So it's safe to say I need to work on punch outs.

I'm starting to feel very good about this IGS swing - might need to re-watch some of the videos, all i know is that it is full of great information and my handicap is going to plummet very soon.

By the way - my handicap is now an 11.3 - at the end of last year it was a 14. I'm hoping to play a couple different courses than just 4 or 5, hopefully money won't be a problem.

Nothing new

I think I am driving the ball better - I've tapped into the IGS System by Craig Johnson - it's idea is a concept I used in the past before I had even heard of the system - and I had much success with it.

Took it to the course on Friday and shot an unofficial 87. Played with a buddy of mine who I have been 'grooming' lately. He has the baseball swing down - but definitely not the golf swing just yet. I think I made the game a bit more complicated than it should be - so I gave him a great birthday present - the Nail It Book - which just describes how to hit that damn ball :P

I've e-mailed John this week and hopefully we can get a lesson in this coming weekend, I seriously can't wait - everytime we miss a chance to meet up for lessons - is another week I try something else.

I have no idea why I can't stay committed to a swing. Hopefully the lessons go well so I can get committed and continue my scratch goal.