Thoughts and Non Thoughts

Reading through this blog, filled with golf thoughts recently, one gets the impression that I am a golf obsessed fanatic. Yes, golf does that to people. I have to admit it occupies my mind too. But it's after a long day of work, or when I have to detoxify and destress. Golf can do that too. Is a blog a representative of a person's day, like a diary? Is it a chronicle of thoughts including new economic theories and solutions to world hunger? To some people it may be. But it can also be a release, an opportunity to forget one's greater problems and worries and lose oneself in things that, well, allow one to lose himself in them. Yes, I may write down my management insights from work, but I already do that all day. I would rather write down a haiku, or a short story -- or my ruminations on golf and my golf swing. This blog is for me. Heck, I don't know if anyone is even reading this. But I'm writing it, and it's what matters to me now. Who knows, I will write the f...

When reading through the Mike Austin method, I learned that they intentionally keep the clubface "closed" (from the conventional swing perspective) all the way to the top. I was trying to do this as a drill at the driving range and then realized that intentionally keeping the clubface "closed" actually made me turn my shoulder on the backswing. When I looked it was actually "square" at the top. It was a "eureka" moment for me. In videos of my swing, I always noticed that I take the club on the inside too early, then I lift it up at the top which leads to a tendency for an over the top downswing. This is because I open the clubface as I take it back. Now I understand, the best way to arrive at the top with the clubface square is to turn the shoulder without turning or manipulating the hands/clubface. I've read this in books and magazines but I always wondered about how to achieve/feel this. The downswing felt more "on-plane" and I re...

Had to declutter my mind going into the game yesterday. I decided to focus on only one swing thought, and that is on the takeaway -- bring the clubhead back along the target line a foot or as far back as possible. I stopped thinking about anything else and suddenly my swing felt more natural. Still had some problems in some holes but at least got the regular game back. I find that the new irons with steel shaft really has lessened dispersion. In comparison I find I spray more with the hybrids, maybe due to the graphite shafts? I also find the Ping G10 28-degree balloon too much against the wind. Not sure if replacing the shaft with NSPro would help improve accuracy. But maybe it's not the shaft, just that they are longer. Just need to practice more?

After a decent round last Wednesday, today was terrible. Couldn't hit my irons or hybrids. Driving was fine but putting was off. Complete contrast to Wednesday. How to get consistency?

... on the front nine. Too bad the back nine was a 50 (poor course management). In just my second 18 holes with the Burner irons, I seem to be getting the hang of it. Though they are forgiving, they don't have as much offset as my Ping G5. The NS Pro 950 seems perfect for my swing speed. I really like the control these irons give me. Straight as an arrow, yet long. Discounting the stronger lofts (a Burner 6 iron has about the same loft as my Ping's 5 iron), I seem to be getting half a club distance, but more importantly it's more consistent. I also like the distance gap between irons now, more evenly spaced. Honeymoon period? I hope it lasts forever!

Federer was teary-eyed, obviously emotional after playing well and coming so close. He did play a better game against Nadal this time compared to their previous match-ups, keeping close to the baseline and avoiding being thrown off-court by Nadal's angles. He also picked up the ball earlier. He clearly prepared for this match. But Nadal's athleticism just was too much. It is true what they said, that you have to win a point three times against him. Federer was clearly good enough to do it, but he had a couple unforced errors too many in the final set. I can still see Federer able to beat Nadal in another grand slam, maybe Wimbledon or the US Open, but he would have to play extraordinarily well and Nadal would have to be caught in one of those rare times when he is not at his best. Federer made a rare display of emotion. It means he still has the drive to prove himself the better man. He did promise the Rod Laver arena that we will see him next year. I hope so.