I’m back to fundamentals.  I’m working only on fundamentals.

I have discovered that I neglected fundamentals early in my golf career.  I thought I could be successful by skipping over steps 3, 7, 9, and 11.  I couldn’t!!  I’m going back and starting from the beginning!

Beginning with the way I hold the club.

I’m spending entire practice sessions on one fundamental and the short game.

Yesterday I had a poor score and lost money.

However, I had some brilliant moments. I hit at least 4 approach shots stiff.  All 4 were left to right.  I made certain that I had a target and started the ball on that target line. I played percentages to the center of the green.  It made me look good!

My driver let me down.  I’ll put it down to the bad left knee but the knee held up Saturday.  It’s getting better.

Therefore.  I’m working on the driver, Long approach and medium approach and the short game.

I can do this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Barney Beard

He had everything against him and yet he won 12 PGA tournaments and had a very successful career as a golf professional. 

I can do this…yes I can.  I know I can!

I must devote myself to fundamentals….and to hitting the ball within myself.  I must learn to hit the ball where I want to with any club in my bag.

I have been working on my grip.  I have discovered that I chronically have a loose grip somewhere in my swing.  I must work hard to have a unified grip throughout my swing.

I can do this.

Barney

I’m learning.  It seems the more I learn about golf…the more I realize that I know almost nothing about it.  I’m a learner.  I’m starting with the grip.  For the next indefinite period of time I’m working on the grip.  I’m going to work on how to hold the club and how to take it away from the ball.  After a few years..I’ll go to another fundamental…(smile)

I can do this….

Barney Beard

Anyway…fundamentals…I am working on my fundamentals.  I am discovering that my fundamentals are seriously flawed and not only are my fundamentals flawed but when I determine to correct them…it seems impossible!

It seems that my mind will accept the challenge of improving a fundamental…and then immediately begin working on something else.  My mind seems to only be able to work for one shot…then…it’s off thinking about something else!

I wish I could spend an entire practice session working only on the grip!  the #1 fundamental!

I can co this,

Barney

However…I have been working on my grip and my pre shot routines.  Those are improving slowly.

I CAN DO THIS

Barney Beard

I have discovered that my grip is very very poor!  Yes…it’s true.  My grip often at address is not snug and does not stay together.  I think the problem occurred when, as a child, I worked hard on wrist action and instead of healthy wrist break I allowed my hands and fingers to separate and allow movement of the clubhead to the L position.  Bad.

I have also discovered that I must work very very very hard just to FEEL when my hands are misbehaving.  I will work through a bucket of balls and over and over again in that 30 minutes I will discover that the last 5 balls were with sloppy grip pressure.

The grip is vital.  I did not realize how vital it is.  It is absolutely the first fundamental. Many times on the range I will work on my grip and discover that when I do it correctly the ball goes where I want it to with precision.

I need to schedule my next PAT.

I can do this!

Barney

So…here’s the plan of attack.  I have a little book.  And I’m going to work on the absolute fundamentals until they are part of me. 

#1  Grip…solid grip throughout the swing

#2 Eye contact with ball through contact…I’m going to watch the dirt fly…and stay behind the ball during this.  I am going to pick out a dimple on the ball…watch it disappear.  These two things will be my work for the next 3 months.

During this period I’m going to develop some tests…to measure my improvement.

I’m going to do this thing.

Barney

My grip is sloppy and loose during the swing. 

My Left arm isn’t extended back properly on my backswing.

My balance is out towards my toes.  My behind isn’t out properly.

I’m not staying behind the ball properly and therefore I’m moving towards the target at impact.  I’m not coming from the inside.

Also…my right is pushing and the left isn’t pulling properly…well…I can do this.  I had a good practice session today.  Even in chipping it’s important that the left leads.  The right has no rights or privileges!!!!!!

I can do this!

Barney

I had a 76.   Mostly due to my putting. 

I had 4 bogies and 1 double.  2 birdies.

Driving was ok, irons I left out to the right..blocked out?  didn’t finish?  ahead of the ball?  not sure.

pitching and chipping were ok to poor but the putting was great!

1.  25 footer for birdie  downhill curling to the right!

2. 6 foot comeback from a poor chip for par

4. Chip was 5 feet short…made the putt for par!

5. 30 foot putt was 10 foot short…made the putt for par!

8.  Made a 4 foot downhill putt for par

9.  blasted out of the greenside bunker…made the 5 footer for a par!

11.  Chip was woefully short…made the 10 foot putt for par!

14. Mis clubbed by 2…got some magic relief from a flower bed…hit the 30 yard pitch over the trap to 6 inches…par!

16.  Hit my 4 iron to 10 feet…made the birdie putt!

9 one putt greens!  That is what saved my round!

And after it all…I won a single dollar!  One of the guys shot a 73 and I lost the gross by 3…and one of the guys had 4 birdies on the front side and we lost our team bets by one and two holes.  Not enough ham and egg!

I have been thinking, as you know, and I realize that my concentration on pre shot routine is very poor.  I missed several putts badly and realized that I stood over the putt without my pre shot routine.

Also…I missed several other shots and realized that I had a very haphazard pre shot…that is what I’m going to work on.  I want a mindless, set in concrete pre shot routine that no matter what my conscious mind is thinking or doing the trained subconscious mind will perform.

I can do this thing!

Barney

It’s just not that hard to do…with some work!

I can do this!

Barney