Greetings from soggy Texas

El Nino has struck in our area of the world. Rain, rain go away, come again another day. We typically have 42-43 inches of rain in a year. This year we are up to 70" with over two months to go. It has been frustrating.

During times like these, I try to keep active in mind and body. So I went to an old standby, Shawn Clement golf. Watched several videos with emphasis on what the body does in a golf swing. Then I began swinging indoors feeling the back shoulder and hip (the right side shoulder and hip for a right handed player) move out of the way on the backswing. I have been trying to incorporate this move into my swing recently. While practicing a thought came into my head from David Lee. You may remember David from Gravity Golf. He believed that at the beginning of the forward swing, the torso should move away from the ball to counter balance the arms and club going toward the ball. This led to the idea of my left shoulder and hip moving out of the way going forward. The immediate feeling was one of freedom, balance and speed. The club felt and sounded like it had sped up with out any extra effort.

Now I had to hit a golf ball to see if a) this would work with a driver? and b) would this work with a shot off the ground? I started with hitting a driver. The sound of impact and the sight of the ball against the sky left me in disbelief. I couldn't believe I had hit this booming tee shot. I continued hitting drivers with the same result. Consistent, balanced, and very solid. Now it was time for a ball off the ground.

I started with a 3 metal. I have had difficulty with this club over the last several years. Contact was spotty and the results were less than satisfying. With some anxiety, I set a ball on the ground and swung. The same balanced and solid contact. I tried other clubs with the same satisfying results. It was late in the day and I decided to wait till the next day for conformation on the course. Little did I know this wouldn't come for another week.

Finally, Saturday afternoon the 17th, I took my clubs out on the course. I played the first five holes with same result. Birdie, birdie, birdie, birdie, birdie. I had never started a round with five consecutive birdies. Unfortunately, I couldn't play more than two more holes before I had to leave. What surprised me was the effect this movement would have on my chipping, pitching and putting.

I have had trouble with putts less than six feet. Any putt with a left to right break would often break too much and miss on the right. This has been extremely frustrating. When I would let my left shoulder move out of the way, the ball really kept the line. Chipping and pitching has been equally effective.

The next step is tournament play. I'm not sure when this will come but I will report on the results.

Thanks for your attention

Mike Hurley
PGA Professional