Star Dtae Feb 26 0617am

Another tough week.  Miserable cold.  Focus is on reading and practicing Ben Hogan’s book.

Practice sessions:  do the left hand right hand grip routine 10-20 minutes every day for 2 – 4 weeks.

At least its raining so I can’t go out and practice.

I also read a few blips about what it takes to become a professional golfer – looks like the gist of it is time, practice (everyday), dedication and perserverence.  nobody says you can’t get there.  They only say it takes time and that it’s hard to make a living as a pro because of traveling and the schedule and such but what if someone wants to become a pro to just play in the pros once or twice – that’s it – not make a living at it or at least not like a pro golfer?

My goal is not to get there to stay there but to get there to know that I can get there – even if I end up qualifying for the US Open as an alternate.

I think the US Open is actually one such goal that I should place in ,y 3-4 year plan.  I don’t see why I wouldn’t have a chance at something in 3-4 years if I continued on the path I’m on.

Thoughts are things.  Actualizing one’s life requires having a long-term goal.

1.62 Ounces is what in golf?

That’s the weight of a golf ball

Does Ricky Fowler

Look like leanardo decaprio? I think so.

Reading Plan – Feb/March 2014

This month focus on more reading while you recuperate from an injury and the days are still short so it’s hard to work-out after work.

Read Ben Hogan’s modern Five Fundamentals of Golf.  Continue note taking from other golf books, Golf Digest magazine and the Golf Channel lesson shows.

Begin doing the hand exercises and other 30- minute body drills recommended in Ben Hogan’s book.

What’ super important is learning how to train my hand muscles to grip the club correctly – like an instrument not like a home improvement tool.

Star date Feb 22 0803 am – Secrets of the Hands

Neck still hurts but getting better.  So it’s a total reading and home putting plan for the next week easy still.  Still figuring out the chipping thing.  But, against doctor’s orders, I practiced on the rug on the back patio the other day and bringing the ball in closer and really looking to aim to bottom out closer to the normal ball position aligned with the left foot heel – if I just stare at that regular spot instead of the ball or behind the ball or even just in fron of the ball – I hit it more consistently – ball first, turf next.

So I wonder if I’m one of those players who prefers to move the ball or keep the ball in one spot regardless of swing type.

Survey says that many things in golf aren’t caste in stone except for perhaps the key fundamentals – grip, posture etc. and there even then there are some wiggle spots.

So I’m gonna read the Ben Hogan bible.  It’s a very simple read.  Good sketches.  Makes sense.

Who knew the grip is so easy to do incorrectly but also that a good grip dictate the type of swing you’ll have.  And who knew that my fore finger is a culprit not a friend in this instance and I need to strip it of it’s directive powers – thumb and forfinger great for writing – bad for golf swinging.  who knew?

Star date feb 18 10pm

Haven’t played in a week. Pinched a nerve in my neck or maybe it’s whiplash? Still figuring out chip shot. Heard something about leaning or tilting the club head forward a bit so the heel is up. Again so many different paths to the truth on this one.

That’s a life lesson. Seasons change. Figure my phase one amateur plan should be for 18 month. Include lots of reading, physical prep, and playing time. Just 9 hole variety.

Got the book by Ben hogan on 5 fundamental of golf. Will read. At airport.
Life goes on.

The Two Circles of a Golf Swing – Hello Mr Double Pendulum

The Two Circles of a Golf Swing – Hello Mr Double Pendulum

I don’t know but if I really want to get my physical body to learn how to do something it follows suit when it understand what its doing mentally – and i have a visual of what I’m trying to accomplish, i can’t just do these motions like keep my left arm straight or move my hips or feel like I’m sitting without understanding conceptually what I’m trying to do.  People toss around imagery like a line of skaters holding hands and whipping around in a circle or a baseball throw or cracking a whip and they even have that bean bag practice tool to practice chopping wood.  One day i was beating a rug with a fire iron pocker and I imagined the sensation i felt of lagging the gold club shaft before whacking the rug was similar to the wrist cock that creates lag when swinging at a golf ball.

With understanding comes clearer decision making and a better ability to imrpove while practicing – .   

I stumbled across this which is a pretty good read.

I need to further explore the double pendulum swing.  It’s the key to getting to a good repeatable gofl swing and it helps me understand why i caste outside the line.

But knowing that my shoulders – which are attached to my big muscles, must go first (initiated by a shift in my lower body to the left to clear room for the swing) followed by my arms elbows and hands which follow an inner circle that represent 1 of 2 planes (that are not parallel) and this one goes more vertical (up/down or really from giht shoulder to left foot is what it looks like to me) and the other is really horizontal (hah! makes me think of marketing to verticals and horizontals – hah! the joys of hi-tech marketing).  This is useful stuff.

Like the body goes side-side belt buckle points away then belt buckle points towards the target but the elbows take the club head more up/down.  Driven by centrifical forces.  With the key being keep the inner circle spinning first and keep each circle on its own plane.

So the sequence is suppose to be that one pendulum – the one created by the wrists holding the club head needs to happen after another pendulum the shoulders – in sequence.  The wrists follow the shoulders otherwise the skater at the far end of the line would end up skating in front of the skater in the center of the line which causes problems.  This is a pretty good link that triggered this thinking.  It’s helps me visualize