Over a lifetime, every golfer will go through a number of changes in how they play golf. One of the changes everyone will make will be the one I am going through currently which is resulting in me more or less starting all over again.
I am finding starting all over with my golf training is rather normal. Kind of a renaissance.
But why start over?
Well, in my case it was the two back surgeries and cataracts replacement that done me in. The 101 days I laid on the floor in the den was the killer. No exercise and taking a boatload of painkillers took away all of the muscle tone and strength. So in order to be able to swing a golf club if had to get in better physical fitness.
That was then and this is NOW!
Where to start when you are almost starting over?
Equipment was the logical first step. Now that my swing speed was in the sub 80mph the old stiff shafts were in jeopardy..so were the standard size grips. Since that was going to be the most expensive part of my return to golf I decided to go back to an old set if club my wife had that had senior shafts. That seemed to be the ticket for getting me back to hitting a golf ball more than 10 yards.
Alignment Off
Apparently, my cataracts were causing me to line everything up to the right. Making that adjustment was important.
Now that I had my cataracts replaced not only can I see further, but a lot clearer. Still, making the adjustments to alignment was like starting all over.
Main Event
Strength, or lack of it, was and is still, the toughest part of what I had to change or start over.
I literally had trouble lifting a 20lb dumbbell. I go through five to size sessions a day using resistant bands just to get my coordination back. Starting all over was an understatement when it came to the physical fitness issues affecting my golf game.
My goal is to spend 6 months building my strength. If it takes longer that is OK, but once I feel I can stand up to long days of training I plan on tackling going to a golf school. Or heading out of town to get some one-on-one with a golf instructor I trust can fix whatever I need fixing.
Determination
The advantage I have with starting all over with my golf training is in me knowing what I need to do this time. Before, when I took the half-ass approach to learn golf I had no point of reference to what a golf shot should feel like or what the results should be. This time I know exactly what I am capable of doing and I am determined to get back to play at that level…again.
Confidence is the last piece to the puzzle. I have confidence in knowing I will eventually get almost back to where I was 15 years ago. I have little confidence in knowing how long it will take this time. However, my confidence is supported with a support group of friends who know what I have gone through these past 5 years and push me to get back to having the fun I had playing golf.
The journey began four months ago. I suspect in 4 months I’ll have something positive to report.
Until then, let me know how I can help.
