My Swing in Crisis
Entry posted by Erin B in My Swing in Crisis
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I don’t know how many of you are keeping stats or data through the many ways golfers can track their game, but I have been tracking mine for some time now. I’m currently using GolfShot and have used Arccos and a few others in the past. Tracking my game helps me become a better golfer, even if my handicap isn’t affected as much as I think it should be. I do think it helps improve my handicap, but I’m not necessarily focused on that right now. I’m more concerned about putts, greens in regulation (GIR), approach, and driving accuracy. Which brings me to the topic, my swing in crisis.
At the start of the season, I struggled with tee shots, and couldn’t consistently get off the tee which generated a lot of anxiety and had me struggling in scramble mode. I was good with my irons, especially after I switched from PXG to New Level, but not being in position to hit greens in regulation had me relying heavily on my wedge play and putting. All of this and adding competitive golf back into my life was making me stressed. There were times I wanted to quit, my wife talked me off that ledge several times. I recall playing one round and playing so poorly off the tee I almost withdrew. I gutted it out, knowing I needed to be humbled and at rock bottom in order to fully understand the issues I needed to fix. Sure, I can scramble, but when I’m too far away from the green to have a shot at GIR, it makes it hard to score well.
A change was needed and fast. I decided to talk to a pro and get a fitting, actually it was a swing diagnostic if I’m being honest. I gave Gerry at Collindale Golf Academy https://collindalegolfacademy.com/ a call. I was glad I did. Gerry and Collindale are top-notch. If you need some straightening out and are in Northern Colorado, you should take advantage of their expertise. Gerry had me scheduled for a one-hour session that turned into two hours of a complete diagnostic of my tee shot approach, plus driver, and iron swings. Gerry didn’t try to sell me anything, didn’t try to completely tear apart my swing, instead used my strengths and pointed out my weaknesses. I found out I wasn’t far off from a good swing; rather, I was doing some bad things in my swing. I was too steep, out of balance, and too deliberate. My spine angle was opposite of what it should be, and my hands were (and still are a little) fast. All this was causing some erratic golf shots with the driver. I would hit the ball low and with a huge banana fade. This made me try and correct my swing and would cause a duck hook or some other weird ball flight. I wasn’t getting the distance I should have been getting either and I also realized the driver's shaft was too long for me. Gerry also emphasized the importance of getting the ball in play. I always thought that was a goal, but I never really focused on it. Most of us think about how far we can get instead of getting the ball in a high percentage playable position. Gerry got me pretty straightened out, and now I’m doing much better with my tee shots. I still have some angst with the big stick, but I no longer use the driver on every tee shot like I used to. I have more confidence, which helps me hit better shots. I still need to do more work, and I’m 100% sure that Gerry and Collindale Golf Academy will be a part of that work, but I feel like I am getting closer. Aside from some injuries and sore muscles that I have had, my swing is much more consistent, and now I can count on my tee shots.
I’ve had several rounds where I haven’t missed the fairway or have been just off the fairway. My GolfShot data shows much more consistency off the tee with only -1 shots gained.
That’s huge from where I started at -6 shots gained this season. I no longer feel like my swing is in crisis. Sure, I need tune-ups from time to time, and yes, I will have bad days, but those bad days now seem to be few and far between, unlike before. I’ve also found that a good instructor’s help is almost a certain necessity for a golfer. Us amateurs don’t have the same time to practice and access to professional instruction like the pros do, and we can’t dissect our swing issues like an instructor can.
Truth be known, it was the best $100 golf purchase I’ve ever made, and I’d recommend it to every single golfer I know. Hit ‘em well and happy birdie hunting!
Edited by Erin B
- sirchunksalot, TJ Hall, cksurfdude and 3 others
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