My game shows that I need some improvement to get to where I want to be. My swing is outside to in, not by a ton, but by enough that I can miss with either a pull or a slice. I am also very inconsistent with my irons right now. During a round I will slap some band aids on my driver and be able to pretty much guess what I am tending to do and work with it.
This is not how I want to be...
I want to shorten my swing. Right now, every iron goes to at least parallel, if not further with my driver going past parallel by just a little. Ideally, My driver will be the only club getting to parallel, everything else will stop short of that.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-k0rfuNyXBM is a great video that shows what I am trying to do.
When I can get the motion down, I am planning to add power and consistency.
Right now I am using the Medicus dual hinge swing trainer to help me accomplish this.
My goal is to be able to hit a hook that starts out to the right of my target and ends up to the left. I just am not able to do this yet, but I feel that I am getting closer.
I have begun to try swinging more on plane by taking my hands and club out an exagerated amount to the outside, and then bringing the club in from the inside. The scary thing about this drill is that when I look at it on camera in the PGA superstore, even though it feels exagerated, it really is not. I also notice that my swing automatically is shorter when I do this, and I also notice that I get anywhere from 3-8 mph of clubhead speed faster when I make swings like this. I think this is because I am not casting any longer.
I will keep swinging the medicus every day this week and hit up the cameras at the Superstore in a few days.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Incentives for Health 3.17.09
So I need to come up with some goals and incentives for getting into better shape.
Right now, I weigh a disgusting 227 lbs. I am embarassed by this. I think I weighed 145 or 155 or so when I graduated high school. I know that I was supposed to fill out, but I went waaay too far.
Right now, with my current amount of muscle, I think that a healthy weight would be 175-180. However, I would love to put on some muscle maybe upping those numbers a bit.
Milestone #1 will be 214lbs. At this milestone, I will invest in a hybrid or wedge of my choice.
Milestone #2 will be 200lbs.
Milestone #3 will be 190lbs.
Milestone #4 will be 180lbs.
I will come up with incentives for my next goal level as I progress. Some of the things that I am thinking about are: Taylormade Burner TP FW wood. Taylormade R7 limited edition Driver. New shafts for my woods. R9 Driver. and... I'm sure I will think of a bunch of stuff during the process.
Realistically, I have heard that while you are losing weight, a good goal is to lose about 2 lbs per week. I have heard though that the first week or two you can see some quicker results, probably because of water weight and the clearing of the bowels. You can actually lose ten lbs your first week or so.
I think that realistically it should take me probably 3 weeks or so to get to my first milestone. After that, I think if I am doing really well, we are looking at 4-6 weeks for each 10 lb milestone. I think that it is pretty realistic that I will be feeling much better after a month or so, and each month, I will be feeling better and better. There is no reason that I have to think that it will be 4-6 months before I am at my goal, I should be feeling better little by little through the process.
Right now, I weigh a disgusting 227 lbs. I am embarassed by this. I think I weighed 145 or 155 or so when I graduated high school. I know that I was supposed to fill out, but I went waaay too far.
Right now, with my current amount of muscle, I think that a healthy weight would be 175-180. However, I would love to put on some muscle maybe upping those numbers a bit.
Milestone #1 will be 214lbs. At this milestone, I will invest in a hybrid or wedge of my choice.
Milestone #2 will be 200lbs.
Milestone #3 will be 190lbs.
Milestone #4 will be 180lbs.
I will come up with incentives for my next goal level as I progress. Some of the things that I am thinking about are: Taylormade Burner TP FW wood. Taylormade R7 limited edition Driver. New shafts for my woods. R9 Driver. and... I'm sure I will think of a bunch of stuff during the process.
Realistically, I have heard that while you are losing weight, a good goal is to lose about 2 lbs per week. I have heard though that the first week or two you can see some quicker results, probably because of water weight and the clearing of the bowels. You can actually lose ten lbs your first week or so.
I think that realistically it should take me probably 3 weeks or so to get to my first milestone. After that, I think if I am doing really well, we are looking at 4-6 weeks for each 10 lb milestone. I think that it is pretty realistic that I will be feeling much better after a month or so, and each month, I will be feeling better and better. There is no reason that I have to think that it will be 4-6 months before I am at my goal, I should be feeling better little by little through the process.
My "Getting in Better Shape" Plan 3.17.09
As stated in my last post, I really want to get into better shape. I am hoping that updating on this blog will help me to do that.
Here are my goals...
To be happier with the way I look.
To feel more athletic.
To play better golf.
I am making it clear that just weight loss is not the goal. I do want to lose weight, but I also want to get stronger. Muscle is more dense than fat, so I don't want to limit myself to only losing fat and weighing less. But of course weight loss is much easier to measure. So at least to begin with I will measure progress with weight loss.
The problems are:
I like to eat and drink tasty stuff.
I am not currently very active.
Getting active is not too easy when you have 4 kids. I can't just run out to play some tennis. I have to plan ahead.
My Assets are:
A weight machine in the garage. Nothing elaborate, it was the thing you could buy at Walmart for like $175.
I treadmill.
A couple of dumbbells.
A pool in the back yard.
A Bike.
Here's what I'm going to do to make it happen...
Incentives. For each milestone that I reach, I will buy myself something that I have been wanting for a while. Each prize will be cooler than the last.
Drink more iced tea. Many times, I choose beverages that are not all that good for me. Iced tea is not fattening, and I find it delicious.
Finding foods that I like that are healthy. (my recent love of shish ka bobs is going to help here.)
Finding healthier lunch choices that I love. I miss having a Teriyaki place on every corner.
Finding fun ways to exercise. I don't like to run, but there is nothing better for me in order to get my heart rate up.
Lifting weights. I want to do this with golf in mind. I want a stronger back and I want increased power and balance in my swing.
Stretching. I think that becoming more flexible would really be a good thing for. So I am going to start finding stretches that will help my back and also loosen me up.
I don't want to sacrifice eating food that I like altogether. I don't want to run 5 miles a day either. I want to do this in a fun way where I get to eat food that I like and don't feel terrible every time I choose not to exercise.
I am deciding to start today.
Here are my goals...
To be happier with the way I look.
To feel more athletic.
To play better golf.
I am making it clear that just weight loss is not the goal. I do want to lose weight, but I also want to get stronger. Muscle is more dense than fat, so I don't want to limit myself to only losing fat and weighing less. But of course weight loss is much easier to measure. So at least to begin with I will measure progress with weight loss.
The problems are:
I like to eat and drink tasty stuff.
I am not currently very active.
Getting active is not too easy when you have 4 kids. I can't just run out to play some tennis. I have to plan ahead.
My Assets are:
A weight machine in the garage. Nothing elaborate, it was the thing you could buy at Walmart for like $175.
I treadmill.
A couple of dumbbells.
A pool in the back yard.
A Bike.
Here's what I'm going to do to make it happen...
Incentives. For each milestone that I reach, I will buy myself something that I have been wanting for a while. Each prize will be cooler than the last.
Drink more iced tea. Many times, I choose beverages that are not all that good for me. Iced tea is not fattening, and I find it delicious.
Finding foods that I like that are healthy. (my recent love of shish ka bobs is going to help here.)
Finding healthier lunch choices that I love. I miss having a Teriyaki place on every corner.
Finding fun ways to exercise. I don't like to run, but there is nothing better for me in order to get my heart rate up.
Lifting weights. I want to do this with golf in mind. I want a stronger back and I want increased power and balance in my swing.
Stretching. I think that becoming more flexible would really be a good thing for. So I am going to start finding stretches that will help my back and also loosen me up.
I don't want to sacrifice eating food that I like altogether. I don't want to run 5 miles a day either. I want to do this in a fun way where I get to eat food that I like and don't feel terrible every time I choose not to exercise.
I am deciding to start today.
Monday, March 16, 2009
Right Now
Having had a background where I was playing pretty consistently in the high 70's, I have regressed. I'm sure that my golf atrophy is pretty normal for a guy who moved away from the golf capital of the world into the rainy northwest to have 4 kids and work a busy ministry job.
Right now to be honest:
I am out of shape. I used to be the skinny guy. The "oh my gosh you are so thin and you never gain a pound no matter how much you eat, I am so jealous" guy. When I worked at the course when I was in college, they had to special order me a pair of size 30 waist shorts, because they only came in 32's and up and the people in the golf shop said they looked too baggy on me.
I have never been in good shape. I was the 90lb weakling, and now am the incredible expanding man.
I want to be in shape, I just have trouble liking the diets and exercise options that are available to me.
One goal is to get in better shape. I am going to create an incentive program for each weight milestone that I can get past. I don't just want to lose weight though. I want to be stronger. I have never felt strong, and I don't have any thoughts or dreams of starring in an action movie with my shirt off, but I want to be strong so that I not only hit the ball farther, but also so I can avoid injury. Right now, my back hurts and I have a pulled muscle in my side. I am sure that exercising and getting stronger would really help this issue.
I am currently on an anti-depressant that caused me to gain 15 pounds extremely quickly. Nice job anti depressant! Way to make me feel less depressed. Now I'm still depressed, but I am also pushing the obesity boundaries.
My game is pretty weak.
When I practice on a regular basis, I can slap some band-aids on my swing and get it around the course pretty good. But my driving is inconsistent. My irons are solid but also all over the place. My short game is as sharp as ever though. My putting has never been better. I actually get excited on the green whether I have a 50 footer or a difficult 5 footer.
My Swing has a couple of issues.
When I played a lot in college, I was a hooker. My misses were always hooks, and I had a difficult time curving the ball to the right.
Right now, my misses are either big pulls or slices. My swing has now become an out to in move that I am not thrilled with. Part of me wonders if this is due to my body change, but whatever it is, it has hung on for a few years.
My equipment is solid but as my game progresses I will make some changes.
Driver 9.5 deg Taylormade Burner TP with a Prolaunch Red Stiff Shaft
My FW Woods are Taylormade V-Steel 3 and 5 woods
My Irons are Titleist 704cb's with stiff dynalite gold shafts.
My Wedges are Titleist Vokey's 200 series
My Putter is a Brad Butler Overspin 2.
There is nothing wrong with any of the clubs in my bag. I am putting well and therefore am not worried about my putter too much. (although I am tinkering with an older putter trying to make it a bit better.)
I love vokey wedges. My 60 deg is pretty new, They are all in good shape.
My Irons have such a good and solid feel. I love the look sound and feel of these things.
My FW woods are very solid feeling.
My Tinkers
I am going to get in better shape. Stronger and leaner.
I am going to get my swing shortened and more inside to out.
Though my equipment is solid, I am always messing around with stuff and dying to play the latest technology. I am looking into getting a FW wood that I like to hit off of the tee more or possibly a hybrid to hit off of the tee. I am messing around with my putter. The Brad Butler Putter is the best putter I have ever used. The only thing I would change is that there is no real alignment device on the putter. I am tinkering around with a couple of things in the garage.
Do I have a goal for all of this?
Not really. Besides getting better, playing better and having more fun. I also would like to pass the PAT one day (Players Aptitude Test). I is being held in June and August at the two courses I have played the most in my life. I may give it a shot if I start feeling like my game is in the right direction.
Anyway, that's where I'm at now. More to come on these topics soon.
Right now to be honest:
I am out of shape. I used to be the skinny guy. The "oh my gosh you are so thin and you never gain a pound no matter how much you eat, I am so jealous" guy. When I worked at the course when I was in college, they had to special order me a pair of size 30 waist shorts, because they only came in 32's and up and the people in the golf shop said they looked too baggy on me.
I have never been in good shape. I was the 90lb weakling, and now am the incredible expanding man.
I want to be in shape, I just have trouble liking the diets and exercise options that are available to me.
One goal is to get in better shape. I am going to create an incentive program for each weight milestone that I can get past. I don't just want to lose weight though. I want to be stronger. I have never felt strong, and I don't have any thoughts or dreams of starring in an action movie with my shirt off, but I want to be strong so that I not only hit the ball farther, but also so I can avoid injury. Right now, my back hurts and I have a pulled muscle in my side. I am sure that exercising and getting stronger would really help this issue.
I am currently on an anti-depressant that caused me to gain 15 pounds extremely quickly. Nice job anti depressant! Way to make me feel less depressed. Now I'm still depressed, but I am also pushing the obesity boundaries.
My game is pretty weak.
When I practice on a regular basis, I can slap some band-aids on my swing and get it around the course pretty good. But my driving is inconsistent. My irons are solid but also all over the place. My short game is as sharp as ever though. My putting has never been better. I actually get excited on the green whether I have a 50 footer or a difficult 5 footer.
My Swing has a couple of issues.
When I played a lot in college, I was a hooker. My misses were always hooks, and I had a difficult time curving the ball to the right.
Right now, my misses are either big pulls or slices. My swing has now become an out to in move that I am not thrilled with. Part of me wonders if this is due to my body change, but whatever it is, it has hung on for a few years.
My equipment is solid but as my game progresses I will make some changes.
Driver 9.5 deg Taylormade Burner TP with a Prolaunch Red Stiff Shaft
My FW Woods are Taylormade V-Steel 3 and 5 woods
My Irons are Titleist 704cb's with stiff dynalite gold shafts.
My Wedges are Titleist Vokey's 200 series
My Putter is a Brad Butler Overspin 2.
There is nothing wrong with any of the clubs in my bag. I am putting well and therefore am not worried about my putter too much. (although I am tinkering with an older putter trying to make it a bit better.)
I love vokey wedges. My 60 deg is pretty new, They are all in good shape.
My Irons have such a good and solid feel. I love the look sound and feel of these things.
My FW woods are very solid feeling.
My Tinkers
I am going to get in better shape. Stronger and leaner.
I am going to get my swing shortened and more inside to out.
Though my equipment is solid, I am always messing around with stuff and dying to play the latest technology. I am looking into getting a FW wood that I like to hit off of the tee more or possibly a hybrid to hit off of the tee. I am messing around with my putter. The Brad Butler Putter is the best putter I have ever used. The only thing I would change is that there is no real alignment device on the putter. I am tinkering around with a couple of things in the garage.
Do I have a goal for all of this?
Not really. Besides getting better, playing better and having more fun. I also would like to pass the PAT one day (Players Aptitude Test). I is being held in June and August at the two courses I have played the most in my life. I may give it a shot if I start feeling like my game is in the right direction.
Anyway, that's where I'm at now. More to come on these topics soon.
Why?
I love golf. The game, the courses, the sport, the equipment, all of it. I love golfing with friends, with my family, and even by myself. I love the game!
If you want to know why I have started this blog, it is for no other reason than having a place to write about golf.
Right now, I am not only trying to love the game and write about it, I am trying to get better at it. So this blog will not only contain my commentary on the tour and events, I will also be commenting about my own game and how it is progressing. I will post about the equipment that I try and the courses I play.
If you want to know why I have started this blog, it is for no other reason than having a place to write about golf.
Right now, I am not only trying to love the game and write about it, I am trying to get better at it. So this blog will not only contain my commentary on the tour and events, I will also be commenting about my own game and how it is progressing. I will post about the equipment that I try and the courses I play.
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