Broke 90!!!

Matt10 · #1 (**permalink**) 03-28-2006, 11:58 PM

Man, I cannot believe it - I had to keep looking and adding up my score card at the end of the round, it was just unbelievable.

Finished my day with an 89. It's funny because I've only broke 100 once, and that was at the Thai Country Club in Thailand this past summer - where I started.

So about six months later here I am, 21 yrs old and just breaking 90. I start a thursday men's tour this week and cannot wait to get back out there. It's funny because before the round I wasn't really up to playing - my practice shots were gawd awful. I almost felt like getting up and leaving, but I had already paid and it was destined to be a beautiful afternoon (for once!) in KS.Right before the first tee - while I was eating - I read this article.

The article was basically just about another image to have in your head for your swing. It's basically as if you're standing against a white board and your club is a big black marker. The goal is to make a complete circle on the 'board' - this really helped me follow through with my shots - I just have to remember to roll my forearms as some of these ended up slicing. Need alot of work on my driver as well - just have to stop hitting so hard, nice and easy.

Sorry for the long read - but I'm just on cloud 9 right now - can't wait to get that first birdie, that's the next goal

have a good one guys! happy golfing!

peace
m.l

Ian Hancock · #2 (**permalink**) 03-29-2006, 07:59 AM

Congrats Matt,

This is whats know as quick progression for such a short time you have done really well, and the good thing is now you have done it, you will do it again and start heading for that 80 mark.

Good luck and well done.

Ian.

slater170 · #3 (**permalink**) 03-29-2006, 11:56 AM

well done matt,
a great milestone to have under your belt in such a short space of time!

Matt10 · #4 (**permalink**) 03-29-2006, 06:29 PM

thanks for the kind words guys - I've been itching to play all day, but I dont want to go crazy - it's not cheap

anyway thanks again and I'll let you guys know how the next round goes.

Matt10 · #5 (**permalink**) 03-30-2006, 06:58 PM

got my first chip-in today, was a miserable day in Kansas - started my men's league, but the first round was cancelled due to inclement weather.

either way, my chip in was for a bogey from the rough - which was bout 7-8 yards out. was pretty happy, felt really good to get that checked off. still to do:

-break 90 again
-more pars
-birdie

Matt10 · #6 (**permalink**) 06-08-2006, 08:54 PM

BIRDIE!

Finally got my first bird today. It was a 20ft chip-in from off the green with a bump and run 7iron. Felt incredible.

+12 OVER QUOTA

For my Men's League we use a quota system

Bogey - 1 pt
Par - 2pts
Birdie - 4pts
Eagle - 8pts

My quota was a 9 this morning, by the end of the first 9, I was at 10. By the end of the full 18, I finished at an incredible 21 for the day. I'm really excited and I'm so happy my game has improved.

Oh, another birdie showed up on the back 9 when my approach shot from 140 landed 3 inches short of the pin

slater170 · #7 (**permalink**) 06-08-2006, 09:02 PM

way to go matt!
its great when you get a real buzz from playing your round. god only knows we have enough bad ones!

Matt10 · #8 (**permalink**) 06-09-2006, 10:34 PM

Thanks Slater!

yeah, a real buzz indeed. I'm itching to play again, but will have to wait till next week. I think I'm also ready for lessons so I can gain more distance on my irons.

oh, I forgot that I shot an 87

shootin4par · #9 (**permalink**) 06-10-2006, 12:45 AM

great matt,
and besides the white board and marker, what else have you been focusing on, any particular part of the swing, set up, etc..........?

Matt10 · #10 (**permalink**) 06-10-2006, 12:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shootin4par

great matt,
and besides the white board and marker, what else have you been focusing on, any particular part of the swing, set up, etc..........?

of course, many things - but I make sure not to do any thinking before the swing.

I don't exactly use the whtieboard and marker visual anymore, it messed up my tempo a bit. My focus lately is definitely setup - basically what you've told me time and time again shootin - making sure I'm REACHING and making sure to glue the inside left arm to my chest on takeaway. Also, on takeaway I have to make sure (which I usually do) to take a nice easy past my right leg and not rush it. My bad shots came up when I did not finish the backswing - when I didn't feel that tension (coil) , so I have to remember to finish and feel that coil.

On the downsing it's basically just let loose and keep my head still and accelerate through the swing.

I'd like to thank you, shootin, for all your tips and emphasis on the setup. I think I need to work on ball position because I'm starting to lose some distance with specific irons, but I recently checked on the golf calculator and everything seemed to check up. Btw, all my shots yesterday went straight, with a slight fade at the end - however, my driving still sliced a bit more than I wanted. gotta work on it there.

I plan on doing an hour-long lesson this week with the PGA pro, so we'll see how that goes. I will make sure first things first is that he doesn't try to make me change my swing completely.

thanks again

shootin4par · #11 (**permalink**) 06-10-2006, 01:09 AM

I am glad I could help

My main reason for asking, although I knew already

, is because it seems as if some major breakthrough happened and for all the people looking to improve themselves it would be beneficial for them if you shared it. to go from one round in hte nineties, to two sub ninety rounds so fast is amazing, but that is exactly why set up is so important. Great job matt, I'll see you in the 70's before too long

Hannu · #12 (**permalink**) 06-13-2006, 04:55 AM

Hi,

what was the comment about "REACHING" on Matt10 earlier message?

Congratulations on breaking 90 - I'll hope to follow your example as soon as possible:-)

Matt10 · #13 (**permalink**) 06-16-2006, 12:50 PM

sorry Hannu, haven't seen your post till today.

Reaching is basically not just letting my hands dropped completely naturally, but reaching out a bit - shootin gve me the 'drool drill'. What it is basically if you drooled with your head down, make sure it lands on your hand *hypothetically* - if it lands behind you're reaching too much, if it lands in front you're not reaching enough.

Using this reach has helped me out in hitting some crisp shots - but most importantly, maintaining my spine angle and head still is key.

Okay guys - I have my first lesson today

, hopefully it's worth the $50 for the hour. It's funny because when I shot 12 over quota, before my round I had actually spoken to this instructor - he told me good luck and to play relaxed. Funny enough, I didn't think he'd remember who I was after calling a week later - but I called him last night to just say "Hey, it's Matt" and instantly he was like "Oh, how'd your round go" - so that was pretty cool, I think it shows some pretty good personality and attention as an instructor.

I'm excited

Matt10 · #14 (**permalink**) 06-17-2006, 06:25 AM

Okay, so I had the lessons today. Results were....

FANTASTIC!

But, oh how simple...effortless power. I'm still amazed.

The instructor was a great teacher, really really passionate about teaching me everything - felt great. He communicated and asked what felt comfortable and what didn't. He wanted my thoughts on what I need to work on...just well worth my $50.

So, what I worked on...

1. Tempo - No tension whatsoever is allowed. Only tension in the hips on the backswing for coil. At the top of the backswing, just let gravity do the work and make sure to FOLLOW THROUGH.

I had a tendency to stop...in amazement that is...to the PURE contact I had - he said just go with it...stop thinking, just go with it. And I did, as I hit my 7iron 160 (before 140)

2. Arch - Maintain a wide arch - a must have so I dont have STEEP downsing resulting in skyed shots.

3. In callobaration with tempo - Swing, turn...go

So I would say this in my mind...

"Swing" - shoulders start the natural swing

"Turn" - as soon as I feel tension from the swing, it's time to turn JUST the shoulders - best shots came when my back faced the target.

"Go" - so simple...just let go and FOLLOW through, that is so important, just follow through and don't think.

----

He changed my setup (sorry Shootin) - to basically me standing more upright, my butt isn't pushed out anymore and he doesn't want me to reach as much.

Also, my temporary fix (inside left arm glued to chest) created tension and that's why my distance was lacking.

I liked that he let me hit the 7iron, then gave me a 3iron...without me knowing. All clubs were hit the exact same way, and waht do you know - I've never hit my 3iron as well as I did - it was being bombed 190-200.

Now the biggest problem for me was my driver - I wasn't happy with the final results - but alas, nothing should be as instant as the iron-play was. I'm definitely going to practice some more as that will be a big focus. Till the driver problem is fixed I'll stick to my Hybrid or even my 3iron - my problem lately has been keeping the first ball in play.

I'll post a video some time this week of the new swing - although, to be honest, it feels like the old old one I hate - that was OTT, but the results were incredible, so maybe not so. Maybe this feeling of effortless power should be something not to analyze and just...to GO with.

GregJWillis · #15 (**permalink**) 06-17-2006, 01:41 PM

Goes to show what a realtime lesson with a qualified instructor can do...this one is a keeper. Stay on this track, cause you will be in the 70's soon enough!

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