Week 8 Update

[d0n]

I figured I'd finish my series with week8. It's been 8 weeks since I saw Brian and 7 weeks since I started a fitness regimen.

The good, I've lost 25lbs and almost 4" around my waist. Regained a lot of strength too. Most importantly, I've got a ton of stamina and my heart rate has come way down. Dropped from XXL shirts to L and my pants have gone from 42 to 39 (almost a true 38.) That's the good......

Now for the bad, I hate golf.... I guess I'm going to take a break from actually playing golf again till I can see Brian. I'll continue chipping, pitching, and putting but the rest of the game has gone to an unrecoverable place... The harder I work to try and recover it the worse it gets. I just wish there was a Manzella teacher in or near Houston. I'd be there weekly. Since I've had such a bad run with the local instructors around here I'm simply going to wait till mine and Brian's schedule collide.

Yesterday I played a round with my buddies and I quit after 9 holes. The wedges were pin-seeking incredible. Putting was good, short irons were good. Mid irons were barely okay but everything else was a level or two below awful... I was 1 over through 4 thanks to some brilliant wedge shots and some good putting. I made 3 pars and a bogey the hard way. After that, the long part of the course came into play and I was finding my way to the green in 5. Switched gears and started playing with nothing bigger than a 6i and things got a little better (atleast I wasn't duffing or hitting out of bounds) but even with a 6i I started getting all over the place.

Went to the range again this morning with the sole purpose to figure out the hybrids and the 5w. Nothing but more confusion and frustration. I'm at a loss and even breaking things down doesn't seem to be working. Yesterday I almost through several clubs in the water and if there was water at the range I would have thought about it today. How those clubs still have shafts in them let alone are still in one piece is beyond me because I am beyond furious.

The furious part comes from frustration with me. It can't be this hard to figure out and resolve the issue. I've made a career troubleshooting multi-million dollar IT solutions and corporate networks. I've helped my friends loose weight and gain strength and I've done it for myself. There isn't much I can't read about and figure out. Then there's golf. Nothing works for me and the more I try the worse it gets. Golf is the only thing I've ever done that has kicked my ass for and left me clueless... This is the frustrating part for me.

Oh well, another 3 weeks of working out and I'll be where I want to be and I'll see if I can sync up with Brian for 8 more hours. I'd probably give up (or would have given up) all together on this game had I not worked with him and seen how easy he can find and fix it.

The good thing is, I've got a pretty decent short game to build off of and maybe 3 or 4 weeks of straight short game practice will make it SOLID....

This game is a trip - literally and figuratively...

 

[vjsinger]

Sounds to me you have axis tilt issues, or a lack of axis tilt. What exactly happens when you hit the long clubs?

 

[curtisj76]

The good, I've lost 25lbs and almost 4" around my waist. Regained a lot of strength too. Most importantly, I've got a ton of stamina and my heart rate has come way down. Dropped from XXL shirts to L and my pants have gone from 42 to 39 (almost a true 38.) That's the good......

That's not "good", that's great! I'd take health before golf any day! Keep it up.

 

[d0n]

Sounds to me you have axis tilt issues, or a lack of axis tilt. What exactly happens when you hit the long clubs?

What happens? Think of it like this: Someone (Mr. Fate) has two dice with a swing outcome on each side of the dice. When I get up to hit, Mr. Fate rolls these dice and where they land is what I hit. Pull, Push, Push Hook, Pull Hook, Draw, MONSTER Hook, Low burner, top the ball, hit it fat, hit 6" behind the ball, pop up... I don't really remember what else is on the dice. One thing I should mention, not a lot of slices. When i hit a slice it's usually a smaller pull slice that's more than a cut but it's not 50yds to the right either.

I have no doubt I have some axis problems and some problems with my hands. I'm obviously closing the clubface down. I just can't figure out why and figure out how to stop it. My tinkering is making it worse.

 

[curtisj76]

I'd just try to go back and work on whatever Brian told you. Did you take any notes or does he send you home a video or anything? I'd review, review, and review some more.

How is your energy? If you are exercising a ton and golfing a ton you may need some REST. I'm "only" 32 but I golfed 27 holes yesterday and worked on the range for over an hour and I'm absolutely sore as hell. I told myself I'm NOT touching a club today, my body needs a break. Make sure you are eating/drinking enough and getting good sleep.

 

[vjsinger]

What happens? Think of it like this: Someone (Mr. Fate) has two dice with a swing outcome on each side of the dice. When I get up to hit, Mr. Fate rolls these dice and where they land is what I hit. Pull, Push, Push Hook, Pull Hook, Draw, MONSTER Hook, Low burner, top the ball, hit it fat, hit 6" behind the ball, pop up... I don't really remember what else is on the dice. One thing I should mention, not a lot of slices. When i hit a slice it's usually a smaller pull slice that's more than a cut but it's not 50yds to the right either.

I have no doubt I have some axis problems and some problems with my hands. I'm obviously closing the clubface down. I just can't figure out why and figure out how to stop it. My tinkering is making it worse.

Why do you say you have no doubt that you have axis tilt problems? Did Brian put you in certain positions with your body?

 

[d0n]

Curtis, my energy levels are through the roof. I haven't had this kind of energy in a LONG time. I have a VERY rigorous crossfit and weight training regimon. I get on the mtn bike now and it's nothing to run the trails at 14mph for 45 minutes. It used to be more like 9mph for 35 minutes. I'm actually thinking about racing in the local Clydesdale classes. I was doing weighted vest walks (1.5miles) yesterday with a 50lb weighted vest. We run a 1/4 mile and sprint out the last 100 yards at the midway point. Yesterday I sprint out 200yards and could have gone further except I need enough time and distance to bring my heart rate back down.

I have a LOT of notes from my visit with Brian. Unfortunately none of them are working and by me messing with them I'm making things worse which in turns gets me more angry and it's like a big horrible circle. I had this problem last year when I dropped down from 280 to 250. That's why I quit playing earlier this year. It seems when I drop weight and pick up strength my golf swing gets all out of whack. I've got a lot more flexibility and strength now and I probably look like a totally different golfer that swings totally different.

 

[curtisj76]

Maybe email Brian with a video if you have one and he can give you a tip or two before your next lesson. I'm sure he would be willing.

 

[softconsult]

Let me throw this into the thought process. It's the rhythm thing. This can be a thing that some (most) people have, but other people just don't have.

I used to teach a dancing. Had a guy that just couldn't get it. During the last group lesson all of a sudden he could dance. I asked his wife what happened. She said they went out and he got drunk, relaxed and could dance.

Sure sounds like your logical brain is full of thoughts that could be making it hard to make a nice rhythmical swing. Maybe try a beer before practice as an experiment.

And maybe you have set your sights too high too soon. This game can take awhile to learn and even after you get to a reasonable handicap there will be spells of total frustation. I remember having a three week period years ago, I was in my early 30's and 10 handicap, where I failed to carry a 150 yard lake at least 5 times. I almost, but not quite, threw the whole bag in the water. It passed and was all mental.

 

[d0n]

Softconsult, ding-ding-ding --- It is mental (I have a lot of thoughts) and that's one thing that makes me very good at what I do (career wise.) Also the rhythm is gone. I didn't want to say that because I didn't want to explain what I mean by rhythm but basically I can feel my swing rhythm is way off. I just can't sync it and I breaking it down into parts or sequences isn't helping. I just can't find any rhythm. I'm used to going all out with the weights and the workouts and I can no longer "swing" the club. It's like all my body parts are trying but they can't get into sync... Worse, they are all running wide open during the swing and I can't slow them down. I slow one down and the then the others leave it behind. WOrk on another and the previous speeds up. I currently have no rhythm.

One thing I should mention, a full 9i shot for me yesterday went 150yds (flying well over the green in one instance) on two occasions. Prior to yesterday I'm usually 130ish on a full swing. Everything is out sync and soooo fast right now....

BUT, with the wedge from 50 yards and in, it's just magic right now. I'm going right at the pin and stopping the ball within feet. It's silly that the wedges can be this good and nothing else can be.

 

[vjsinger]

You keep saying sync, or getting to sync it up...Why? I think rhythm is a part of the issue, but wonder what you mean by getting it in sync. Just asking questions to maybe help you figure it out.

 

[Zztop]

Softconsult, ding-ding-ding --- It is mental (I have a lot of thoughts) and that's one thing that makes me very good at what I do (career wise.) Also the rhythm is gone. I didn't want to say that because I didn't want to explain what I mean by rhythm but basically I can feel my swing rhythm is way off. I just can't sync it and I breaking it down into parts or sequences isn't helping. I just can't find any rhythm. I'm used to going all out with the weights and the workouts and I can no longer "swing" the club. It's like all my body parts are trying but they can't get into sync... Worse, they are all running wide open during the swing and I can't slow them down. I slow one down and the then the others leave it behind. WOrk on another and the previous speeds up. I currently have no rhythm.

One thing I should mention, a full 9i shot for me yesterday went 150yds (flying well over the green in one instance) on two occasions. Prior to yesterday I'm usually 130ish on a full swing. Everything is out sync and soooo fast right now....

BUT, with the wedge from 50 yards and in, it's just magic right now. I'm going right at the pin and stopping the ball within feet. It's silly that the wedges can be this good and nothing else can be.

Your thinking( how to do )while playing, save that for the practice range. While playing you have to give that up and think how to get the ball in the hole, more playing strategy less playing golfswing on the course.

I'm not saying this is easy when you don't trust your swing, but you have to try and switch things around. Leave practice mode on the range. On the range work on one thing per session , not ten things, you will only succeed in confusing things in your( minds)

In your job your used to problem solving even after work you probably still think on how to solve a problem. In golf, when playing you try to solve the problem of how to get the ball in the hole, not trying to solve your swing mistakes while playing.

Your a case of too much mechanical thoughts and not enough trusting in yourself. You have to let go eventually, take off the training wheels and go for a spin.

 

[softconsult]

Hey Don, I can do without the ding,ding,ding comment. I was simply making a comment. I interpret your response as , hey dumbass.

We all understand that you are highly successful IT person, because you took pains to let us all know. So try losing a bit of your arrogance.

By the way, you might re-consider your conclusion that this is all mental. I would contend that it is physical. Whe you change your body that much and gain strength it's really not surprising that your swing would change.

 

[vjsinger]

I don't think he was making fun Steve..I think he agrees that it is all rhythm, which as you know is probably not correct. I agree with you, it definetly is not "mental", unless by mental he means a misunderstanding of how the golf stroke works. By him saying "sync" that scares me and tells me he doesn't understand there is a sequence in which the body moves..nothing is in "sync", at least how I think he may see it.

 

[d0n]

Definitely not trying to be arrogant or sarcastic. Just trying to throw out details. If I actually knew what my problem was, I'd be posting on a different topic if posting at all. I do know I have no swing rhythm (which is what I feel all out of whack) and I do know that mind is racing trying to find and resolve the issue (just my nature.) The ding-ding-ding thing was my way of saying "thats exactly what I was thinking" though a single beer (or even three) does nothing for me.

For clarification, I'm quite knowledgeable of the swing sequences - what happens at different times in the swing. I spent 6 hours with Brian getting a private education on it. The sequence I'm having things with is like a composer of a high school freshman band the first week. The tuba's are out of sync with the drums who are out of sync with the sax and so on. I'm stuck being the conductor, I don't know how to get all these new students in sync, I only know how to work with my old seniors who are now gone....

 

[vjsinger]

If you truly understand the sequence and execute it then I think you would have a more predictable shot pattern, meaning the big part of the body. The trunk; which includes hips,core,shoulders move in the correct sequence(see kenetic sequence). This is something that I love to study and I find studying movement patterns and sequence, as a new golfer to be the most important thing for me to understand. I don't think the shot dispersion would be as erratic if you have the sequence correct. My advice is to video yourself from 3 different angles, face on, down the line and behind you(butt view). Then you'll see it more clearly, especially from the butt view. Then send it to Brian and see what he thinks. I hope you figure it out and then groove your move. Best of luck.

 

[curtisj76]

Hey Don, I can do without the ding,ding,ding comment. I was simply making a comment. I interpret your response as , hey dumbass.

We all understand that you are highly successful IT person, because you took pains to let us all know. So try losing a bit of your arrogance.

By the way, you might re-consider your conclusion that this is all mental. I would contend that it is physical. Whe you change your body that much and gain strength it's really not surprising that your swing would change.

You are the one that needs to settle down. There have been several times where you've come off a little "bitchy". Sorry, but it's the truth.

 

[d0n]

Thanks everyone for your posts. I don't know what I was hoping from this thread but it seems to have turned into something "other" than what I was expecting. I can call Brian, talk to him, or even go see him. I thought I'd post a message in the forum just so everyone else could see the issue and maybe share their experiences AND potentially learn something. Ultimately, I was hoping that someone would be able to "search" in the future find this thread, and get something out of it.

I only wish I could explain with words what's really happening here. I apologize again for anyone I irritated or started, or anything else - it definitely wasn't my intention.

 

[vjsinger]

Dude you didn't offend me and for those you did "offend" f#@& them. It's all about you and your game. There are some things in here that you can get stuff out of and I hope you do. All the best.

 

[Zztop]

Thanks everyone for your posts. I don't know what I was hoping from this thread but it seems to have turned into something "other" than what I was expecting. I can call Brian, talk to him, or even go see him. I thought I'd post a message in the forum just so everyone else could see the issue and maybe share their experiences AND potentially learn something. Ultimately, I was hoping that someone would be able to "search" in the future find this thread, and get something out of it.

I only wish I could explain with words what's really happening here. I apologize again for anyone I irritated or started, or anything else - it definitely wasn't my intention.

No need to apologize, Softinsult should be the one apologizing to you. He took something you said the wrong way and when you told him that, he hasn't the balls to say sorry. DING,DING, RING A BELL FOR YOU SOFTINSULT?