CNosil - Journey to a better golf game

[cnosil]

There are a few threads detailing individuals paths to getting better.  Some want to break into the 80s,  some want to be single digit, some are trying to achieve scratch golf,  I am trying to get to the low single digits.  I thought it might be a good idea to report on my progress and what I am doing to play better golf;  hopefully someone finds it interesting; if not it will just be my own blog that I can use as a reference.      

About me: 

 I have been playing golf on and off since I was in my early teens but stopped and started many times since then.  Finally started to play regularly in the 90s which happened to be roughly where I was scoring.  Took a bunch of lessons and worked my handicap down to a 4 in roughly the 05-10 timeframe and shot a personal best 70 and have about a dozen rounds of 71/72.   Over the last 5/6 years my game has been going the wrong direction and scores that were typically mid 70s are now low to mid 80s.   My short game was a big mess and after a lesson last year it has started to get better but still needs some improvement.     

I play with a regular group weekly and play in my companies golf league.  My recent golf league results are what really set this journey forward.   We play 9 holes in league play and my last three rounds have been +15, +14 and +9 and I know I can play better golf.   As a result,  I reached out to my instructor and said I wanted to get better at the game. 

How I think:  

For those reading these posts,  this is probably an important thing to understand.   I really like to understand the details and learn as much as I can about a subject.   I did this with putting;  I found a coach that helped me understand how the putting stroke works and how my decisions impact the stroke.  I learn the mechanics but move toward the feel side of the scale when actually playing.  Now,  my goal is to learn more about the golf swing and strategy to playing better

Initial Goals:

• Get my scoring average to 75
• Break 70
• Improve course strategy
• Improve approach game (struggle with pull hooks, toe shots, and fat shots)
• Improve short game (still isn't where I want it to be)
• Improve distance wedges
• Improve iron distance control (in between distances)

Initial assessment:

I went for an initial swing assessment on the 20th.  The assessment we did is based on Mike Adams swing dynamics.   I learned about Mike Adams last year on an episode of the Golf Channels Swing Expedition with Chris Como.  Essentially you go through a series of tests and based on the results of those tests it determines how you should swing.  This assessment includes what your swing pivots around,  grip (strong/weak, over, under, side),  swing plane,  stance width,  etc.    For the way I process things,  it was ideal.   Based on this assessment, I am a front post, side-on grip and release, launch.spin golfer.    Once this was determined,  we went through a series of drills to help work on ingraining the feels and to work on ground impact location.   

Early results:

Since the assessment,  I have played 2 rounds and done a couple of most wanted testing sessions.  The approach seems to be working;  I have been making more centered contact, less fat shots, and narrowed shot dispersion.  It is interesting that my short game has shown significant improvement over the last two weeks as well.    Last two rounds have been 79 and 80 and the swing changes seem to be a step in the right direction.  

Future plans:

Obviously I will continue to work on the practice drills.   Since iron testing is getting under way at MGS,   I will be hitting lots of iron shots a couple of times a week.    From a lesson perspective,  it looks like I will be doing one in-person lesson a month and a couple of online lessons per month to answer questions, check on drills, and develop course strategy.  

[CarlH]

Good luck with your progress.  Look forward to seeing the highs and lows as you work your way to better golf.

[Shankster]

Very interesting. Looking forward to following along.

[Lacassem]

1 hour ago, cnosil said:

There are a few threads detailing individuals paths to getting better.  Some want to break into the 80s,  some want to be single digit, some are trying to achieve scratch golf,  I am trying to get to the low single digits.  I thought it might be a good idea to report on my progress and what I am doing to play better golf;  hopefully someone finds it interesting; if not it will just be my own blog that I can use as a reference.      

About me: 

 I have been playing golf on and off since I was in my early teens but stopped and started many times since then.  Finally started to play regularly in the 90s which happened to be roughly where I was scoring.  Took a bunch of lessons and worked my handicap down to a 4 in roughly the 05-10 timeframe and shot a personal best 70 and have about a dozen rounds of 71/72.   Over the last 5/6 years my game has been going the wrong direction and scores that were typically mid 70s are now low to mid 80s.   My short game was a big mess and after a lesson last year it has started to get better but still needs some improvement.     

I play with a regular group weekly and play in my companies golf league.  My recent golf league results are what really set this journey forward.   We play 9 holes in league play and my last three rounds have been +15, +14 and +9 and I know I can play better golf.   As a result,  I reached out to my instructor and said I wanted to get better at the game. 

How I think:  

For those reading these posts,  this is probably an important thing to understand.   I really like to understand the details and learn as much as I can about a subject.   I did this with putting;  I found a coach that helped me understand how the putting stroke works and how my decisions impact the stroke.  I learn the mechanics but move toward the feel side of the scale when actually playing.  Now,  my goal is to learn more about the golf swing and strategy to playing better

Initial Goals:

• Get my scoring average to 75
• Break 70
• Improve course strategy
• Improve approach game (struggle with pull hooks, toe shots, and fat shots)
• Improve short game (still isn't where I want it to be)
• Improve distance wedges
• Improve iron distance control (in between distances)

Initial assessment:

I went for an initial swing assessment on the 20th.  The assessment we did is based on Mike Adams swing dynamics.   I learned about Mike Adams last year on an episode of the Golf Channels Swing Expedition with Chris Como.  Essentially you go through a series of tests and based on the results of those tests it determines how you should swing.  This assessment includes what your swing pivots around,  grip (strong/weak, over, under, side),  swing plane,  stance width,  etc.    For the way I process things,  it was ideal.   Based on this assessment, I am a front post, side-on grip and release, launch.spin golfer.    Once this was determined,  we went through a series of drills to help work on ingraining the feels and to work on ground impact location.   

Early results:

Since the assessment,  I have played 2 rounds and done a couple of most wanted testing sessions.  The approach seems to be working;  I have been making more centered contact, less fat shots, and narrowed shot dispersion.  It is interesting that my short game has shown significant improvement over the last two weeks as well.    Last two rounds have been 79 and 80 and the swing changes seem to be a step in the right direction.  

Future plans:

Obviously I will continue to work on the practice drills.   Since iron testing is getting under way at MGS,   I will be hitting lots of iron shots a couple of times a week.    From a lesson perspective,  it looks like I will be doing one in-person lesson a month and a couple of online lessons per month to answer questions, check on drills, and develop course strategy.  

Will be an interesting journey. Difficult when you know what you once were and need to adapt. Good luck and will be following along 

[Golfspy_CG2]

Very cool.  Having played a few rounds with you, and seeing such a smooth swing, it's hard to imagine you struggling like you have been. 

I'm sure you'll get it back on track and be even better!

[Kenny B]

Sounds like an interesting journey, and I will be following your progress.

I was wondering how iron testing results will be impacted by your lessons/training.  What if you have an AHA moment in the middle of it, and you have better results at one session vs others?

[Grit Golf]

I can totally relate to needing to understand how a certain task works (putting for example), then practice it, then find a feel to carry onto the course. I finally figured out how my 7 iron swing should work (for now) and crystallized it to one on the course thought. I went from 0-1 GIR/round to a 2 handicap approach shots (arccos) once I locked it in and switched to single length clubs.

The Mike Adams thing sounds well thought out and super interesting. I’m subscribing to this one to follow along. I have the same goal as you (single digit) but where I’m starting from it’s much more ambitious :).


Sent from my iPhone using MyGolfSpy

[cnosil]

31 minutes ago, Kenny B said:

I was wondering how iron testing results will be impacted by your lessons/training.  What if you have an AHA moment in the middle of it, and you have better results at one session vs others?

I don't think it will be any different that having a bad day hitting the balls.  I have had days in the past where I wasn't hitting the ball very well and I know it wasn't the clubs.  I don't know much about how they actually measure the data,  but I am sure that is why they have lots of testers and randomize the order.  I know that during the testing Harry and Sam have provided help to some of the higher handicap testers to help them hit the ball better.  

[Getoffmylawn]

Following; love your approach, and we're chasing the same thing...

[THEZIPR23]

Awesome. Will be fun to follow along. 

[bens197]

Good luck!  Many here would not know that @cnosil was the one person I reached out to regarding my putting struggles earlier this season.  He has consistently demonstrated a higher than normal IQ when responding to and diagnosing putting issues among members.

 

I have no doubt that you can accomplish this goal.

[cnosil]

Good luck!  Many here would not know that [mention=15174]cnosil[/mention] was the one person I reached out to regarding my putting struggles earlier this season.  He has consistently demonstrated a higher than normal IQ when responding to and diagnosing putting issues among members.
 
I have no doubt that you can accomplish this goal.

Thanks. I appreciate the compliment, but my putting knowledge can from a great instructor that taught an approach that clicked for me. I just try to pass some of what he taught me along.

As for the golf improvement, I know I can achieve this goal but haven’t been able to do it myself. Finding a good instructor can work wonders for your game.

[cnosil]

Good luck!  Many here would not know that [mention=15174]cnosil[/mention] was the one person I reached out to regarding my putting struggles earlier this season.  He has consistently demonstrated a higher than normal IQ when responding to and diagnosing putting issues among members.

 

I have no doubt that you can accomplish this goal.

Thanks. I appreciate the compliment, but my putting knowledge can from a great instructor that taught an approach that clicked for me. I just try to pass some of what he taught me along. Putting and putters has always been my favorite part of the game so it has gotten most of my focus.

 

As for the golf improvement, I know I can achieve this goal but haven’t been able to do it myself. Finding a good instructor can work wonders for your game.

[Shankster]

Where did you find the instructor? Local?

I’d like to get my swing checked out.

[cnosil]

Where did you find the instructor? Local?

 

I’d like to get my swing checked out.

I worked with him many years ago; thought he got out of the lesson business but learned that he hadn’t through his posts here. He is local to me but trying to establish an online coaching presence; I am sure if you reach out to [mention=69065]edteergolf[/mention] on the forum and he can give you more info on what he is doing.

 

He and I click on our thought process and could talk to him all day about golf and how to improve. I highly recommend him, but also realize not all instructors work for everyone.

 

Please note that I am not getting any compensation from Ed by taking about my process and passing his name along.

[Shankster]

I worked with him many years ago; thought he got out of the lesson business but learned that he hadn’t through his posts here. He is local to me but trying to establish an online coaching presence; I am sure if you reach out to [mention=69065]edteergolf[/mention] on the forum and he can give you more info on what he is doing.
 
He and I click on our thought process and could talk to him all day about golf and how to improve. I highly recommend him, but also realize not all instructors work for everyone.
 
Please note that I am not getting any compensation from Ed by taking about my process and passing his name along.

Sounds good to me. I watched some YouTube videos on his methods. Seems to fit my thought process too. I mess around with the different grips and such as it is.

Thanks for the info.

[Getoffmylawn]

26 minutes ago, cnosil said:

I worked with him many years ago; thought he got out of the lesson business but learned that he hadn’t through his posts here. He is local to me but trying to establish an online coaching presence; I am sure if you reach out to [mention=69065]edteergolf[/mention] on the forum and he can give you more info on what he is doing.

 

He and I click on our thought process and could talk to him all day about golf and how to improve. I highly recommend him, but also realize not all instructors work for everyone.

 

Please note that I am not getting any compensation from Ed by taking about my process and passing his name along.

Nice.  IMO, he regularly posts some of the most insightful and valuable information on this forum.

[cnosil]

 I am now a couple of weeks into working on my swing.  Most evenings I am running through most of the practice plan provided by my coach.  

The plan is a bunch of drills designed to work on pressure shifts between my feet, proper upper body rotation,  release/follow though path for how I hold the club, backswing length, swing Sequencing, and managing impact.   All but a couple of the drills I can do indoors Since they don’t require a full swing.  I have been slack on working on the ball striking drill and based on my last session of most wanted testing it showed.

During my last testing session, My warm up swings were great, but started hitting some fat shots while doing the actual testing.  The   Release drills are designed to help with center strikes;  they must be helping since strikes were much better.  Based on my initial assessment my backswing gets a little long and I shift weight over my back foot which causes me to hit the ball fat.  I have another testing session today so we will see if I can do a better job managing the swing. 

[cksurfdude]

Just curious as I don't have a specific practice plan (but probably should), and don't give away any proprietary info, but re: your practice plan -- about how many different drills are there, about how many reps for each, about how frequently should you run though it, etc...? Thx

[cnosil]

36 minutes ago, cksurfdude said:

Just curious as I don't have a specific practice plan (but probably should), and don't give away any proprietary info, but re: your practice plan -- about how many different drills are there, about how many reps for each, about how frequently should you run though it, etc...? Thx

I have 8 drills that cover 4 major areas.  
 

Low point drill and contact drill have to be done in a place to allow for full swing.  I Have to do these outside or when I am testing at MGS. Need to do them more but I am doing these a couple of times a week.  the other drills are easily done inside and I spend about 20 minutes running through them. No specific number of reps and sometime I just grab a club and do the drills when I want a break during the day.  They are slow motion and used to help train feel and positions.