Going to Golf Tec

May 4, 2010

I went to Golf-Tec at Harris Corners today to see Brad for the last of my three lessons. The lessons were a Christmas gift and I'm thinking about buying a package to get more instruction. I think Brad knows his golf and explains things well. I don't like that it's indoors, but it's fairly easy to transfer what you learn at Golf-Tec to the range or course. Plus the video analysis is helpful. You can access the videos from home and study what you need to improve upon. Brad gave me a few pointers on my driver today. I got strapped in to the harness that he uses to capture swing data about your shoulder turn, hip turn, and other statistical measurements. First he told me to set up as I normally would and hit a few off the tee so he could record my current set up and swing. I was tense because I hadn't swung in a while. I figured what the hell and stepped up to the plate. I started my back swing and let loose with a wild downswing. The ball popped straight up in the air and got stuck in the ceiling tile over head. “Wow!” Brad said. “I've never had that happen before, it was actually pretty amazing!” I wasn't proud.

Basically he told me to soften my right arm at address. The analogy was, “your left arm is like concrete and your right arm is like a wet noodle.” I had a stiff right arm which made me hold my hands too high and curl my right shoulder in. Also, I have to work on swinging through the ball and turning my hips and shoulders in unison as much as possible. There were a few other pointers, but you can go see Brad to get his opinion on your swing.

After the thirty minute session was over, I wanted to apply what I had learned at the range. I spend my practice time at Sunset-Hills Golf Course in Charlotte. I consider it my home course. Some people say it's a crappy course, but I think it serves me well as a beginner. Especially because I practice chipping and putting more than anything and those areas don't cost. Today I wanted to work with my driver though. I bought a large basket of balls and proceeded to the range. Usually I chip first to get a feel for my club and loosen my muscles. It's just like shooting layups in basketball practice before you start shooting free throws or three pointers. Today I thought I'd bypass the chipping because I wanted to work on what I had learned immediately. Bad idea. I started out with my pitching wedge, but last week was Quail Hollow so I didn't swing much. I guess I forgot how to strike the ball in a week. I felt awkward and it took the majority of the bucket for me to feel comfortable hitting anything. So I ended up hitting about fifteen balls with my driver, slicing them all to varying degrees, and then going to get another basket of balls. This time I only got a medium basket.

I pulled out this hybrid that I leased with the option to buy from Dave, my boss at Wild Wing. I needed a 200 yard or more club since I suck with my long irons. I just wanted to see if I could make decent contact. I did and I didn't, but I was satisfied that with more practice it would be a useful club and easier to hit than the good ol' 3 iron. I pulled the big stick back out. I drive with a Taylor Made Burner 07. Just so you know, it has a Tarheel head cover. Not the letters but the actual Ram. I like the driver and the head cover. This time I focused on what Brad told me and not how bad I hit with my irons and started to see less slice. I made a few more adjustment and started to hit straight shots. By the end of the basket I wanted to play nine holes just to see if I could hit the fairways. However it was getting late so I patted myself on the back and headed down to the chipping/putting area.

Some of the older guys who always practice at Sunset Hills were chatting it up. They were talking about a minister who had been convicted of tax evasion the day before. Ironically enough, my girlfriend had been a juror for that trial. I didn't say anything. I just chipped for a while and listened. My girlfriend didn't want to be associated with the trial. She felt bad about the outcome, but the facts were the facts. Most of the older guys left and I started putting. One of the remaining guys saw me and began giving me some pointers. I think his name is Dinky. He said, “When you're trying to get your woman warm, you don't hold her rough. So don't hold your putter like that!” He told me that tension will make you push putts left and right. He adjusted my grip so that the shaft ran down the middle of my left hand and my finger tips were barely touching the club as they curled around it . Then he placed my right hand similarly on the other side just below my left hand with a slight overlap of my left fingers. It felt awkward, but it worked. I had a better feel for the putts and could strike the ball more consistently in he same spot he called the “apex”. Thanks Dinky!

It was a good day of golf and laughs. I got two lessons for the price of none. I had been practicing for at least four hours and now it was late. I was hungry and wanted to see what was on the Golf Channel since this week is The Players Championship. I don't think it can be much better than Quail Hollow, but maybe I'm biased. I think I've got a golf problem. It beats some off the other problems I've had, but is just as expensive. What can you do? Tomorrow I'll actually play. Maybe I can break 100!