Golf, Struggles & Persistence.

“Golf, I struggle, I struggle, I struggle.” SidLinx.com

Playing companion on the 8th hole Chamberlain Park

Golf, I love this game, but I have struggled endlessly with it on the course. Shanking everywhere, with most clubs. There were shanks and then there were other shots that came from outer space; shots so weird I do not have the words to describe them. Thank goodness for the driver, not that it was exempt from weirdness, it was the occasional long, straight ball flight that gave me hope.

On the driving range problems with my swing continued, but I had time to fiddle with it, to keep most shanks and weirdness to a minimum. Obviously, there were some fundamentals missing. The range visits were an illusion. Most visits were a promise of what was possible. When you have a hundred balls to test this and that, from whatever YouTube clip that took your fancy, for a while you develop a repeatable swing. Transferring what looked promising on the range to the fairways and greens, for me usually resulted in the same old shanks and weirdness.

Until Yesterday.

What was it, to give me such confidence yesterday’s round of golf was a turning point.

• Tom Watson, emphasizing the importance in the swing, of being technically correct for the first two feet of the takeaway.

• Keeping my trail knee flexed throughout the swing.

• Making sure my palm faces the sky at the top of the takeaway.

Tom Watson Two feet of Takeaway.

For me, all three bullet points are vital for a successful golf swing. Tom Watson set me on the right path. I topped my drive on the first hole, I was ok with it, at least it went straight. My second shot was a shank as usual. So, it went for the next eleven holes. I thought I was doing as Watson advised, it finally clicked, “hands in clubhead out”. It got better but something was still missing.

Flexed Rear Knee.

I racked my brain, trying to remember something from years ago when I was in my 20s and playing well, by my standards. I used to always keep my rear knee flexed, I had forgotten all about it, until now. Wow, what a transformation, in my little game the results were outstanding.

The only difference was the flexed knee; my practice swing felt good; the ball behaved as I envisioned it. Instead of hitting the ground before the ball I was now striking the ball then the ground. I tried the flop shot with the sand wedge, a shot that I always duffed or shanked in recent years. I had given up on it. Now I had the swing to pull it off, and so I did, successfully. I forget the theory behind it; someone may be able to explain it to me. I suspect it has something to do with weight transfer. I feel as if my weight and therefore my strike point had moved forward.

Palm to the Sky.

Feeling confident with my chips and pitches with a flexed rear knee, I thought, why not try it with the full swing. Making sure my "two feet" takeaway was correct, I focused on getting my palm facing upwards, toward the sky, at the very top of the swing. Putting those pieces together in the swing took some adjusting. I grew in confidence the more holes I played. I went home happy.

 Wow

It’s like night and day. The small game tells the story of your golf. It takes imagination and skill to pull off some shots in the small game. Watson’s takeaway and flexed knee have combined to help me with short my game, it’s out of sight. Put those two elements together with my palm facing skywards for a full swing, I’m well on my way to playing enjoyable golf again.

In the video below, what I suggest is that your back knee remains flexed without too much lateral movement. I keep my rear knee flexed and stable. I do it by putting pressure on the inside of the back foot.

Pay attention to "soft knees".

 Turmeric

I’m a senior citizen of 70 years. At times I feel and think like a 50-year-old or much younger, at other times I feel the pain in my 70-year-old hip. It’s anecdotal, however I will say since I started taking a daily turmeric tablet, that hip issue has all but disappeared. Without the encouragement of my partner who took turmeric for years for her own joint issues, I would never have considered a supplement. Turmeric helped me play 18 holes when I want to, instead of the usual nine. I enjoy my time on the golf course without feeling the normal twinges of aging. Try it, if it helps you, I’m happy for you.

Remember, turmeric tablets are a supplement of which some in the medical profession are sceptical. For me turmeric works, without turmeric golf would be too painful.