Dedicating to a Swing

I'm not going to bother with the archive (a few post) of my many experiences with all the swing styles out there. If you can name a swing style, I probably tried it. From TGM, Slicefixer to the new Martinez method (Most Powerful Move). It's just odd how none of them have been the right swing for me. Ha - I'm kidding, it just comes down to the fact that I am a terrible, terrible student.

Being a student of dedication is what I want to be this year. I've dedicated to losing weight - it's on my mind about 80% of the time; honestly - and then there's golf which takes up about 5%, after that we have my second love - soccer. Since tearing my ACL however, soccer is in the background - and unfortunately (as I'm learning to deal) it might stay there for a while. With that said, dedication comes as a facet of maturity - and I think I've arrived at that realization, typically, so very late.

**i've removed the part about Shawn Clement, after yesterday's round - my teacher is my in person teacher, Bob Maher of Overland Park golf club***

I jump into the segway of what I am going to dedicate to - and that is the traditional swing, with pure focus on the short game - where I will definitely get to scratch sooner rather than later.

As of yesterday's round, my handicap is at 13.3 - there is so much room for improvement.

I will dedicate another post to Bob Maher's lesson he provided for me today - I think it deserves it's own after all, the man keeps it so simple - and the consistency will come at full force with me soon.

The importance of a preshot routine

Amidst all the weather we have been having, a day that was Wednesday broke out with 55 degrees of pure heavenly warmth. My buddy and I did not hesitate, a round of golf at a challenging 18-hole course, 3066 yards (no par 5s).

My buddy, who is the same one I spoke about in Last Round of 2010 struggled on the first tee, topping/shanking his tee shot shot on the par 3, 100 yards hole.

It seemed it would be another day where I would play great, he would play frustrated. However, today was different. At the 7th hole, a par 3, 140 yard flat green in front. I told him that he needed to develop a preshot routine. He is a very stubborn athlete, but for once, he listened, and asked "how"?

- Step back behind the ball

- Pick his landing target

- Pick a spot on the ground 2-3 inches in front of the ball that aligns to that target

- Set up, just to the side or behind - execute a practice swing

- Step up, picture the shot, EXECUTE the shot

There was no need for a swing mechanic lesson (like I'm the one to tell him), he performed the preshot routine the rest of the round - and produced one of his great scores in a long time, an 85 (par 60); including a chip in on the 18th for a par.

What a difference a preshot routine makes.