I nearly gave up the game of golf three years ago. I finally learned to play a draw a couple years prior, but that draw began to slowly become more dramatic, until it evolved into a full blown duck hook. Every shot was a sharp left turn. I was always out of bounds, deep in the woods, or on someone’s deck while they were out grilling. It got so bad that I played one round with nothing stronger that a 8 iron just so I could stay in play. Yes the course plays long 160 yards at a time, but I was in bounds!
I traded in my clubs for a new set. That had to be the solution. I went to visit a friend up in Virginia, and played a round with him. It was such a miserable experience that I came home, threw the clubs in the darkest corner of the garage, and swore I would never touch them again. That same friend from Virginia came to visit me. I was obligated to play some golf. I reluctantly retrieved my clubs from the corner of my garage, cleaned the cobwebs off, and set out to play a couple of rounds. Time had not changed my swing. I continued to be out of play left, and had two miserable days on the golf course. This was supposed to be fun, playing a great game with a great friend, and I could not have been unhappier. I again vowed to never play this game again.
One Winter evening it was cold outside and the wretched game of golf was the furthest from my mind. I received an email that brought joy and struck me with fear at the same time. A group of friends, including my friend from Virginia were putting together a guys golf trip to Myrtle Beach. We had discussed this for years, but it never came to fruition, but there it was with dates already reserved for early March. I signed up to go, fearing at some point I was going to have to swing a club.
Late January comes and I realize that maybe I should figure this golf thing out. I took my bag to a local “Club Guy” and asked him to fit my existing clubs to me. Surely a bend here and there was all I needed. He had me swing a couple swings, then told me he would not be able to do anything with my existing clubs. My shafts were to light, and I would need a new set.
I called my friend from Virginia to complain and ask advice. Ironically, he was in Orlando at the PGA show. He connected me with his business partner who runs The Golf Station in Grapevine, TX. (I will write about my experience with the local “Club Guy” vs “The Golf Station” later.) I ended up buying another set of irons.
The new set of irons arrived and I went straight to the range. To my dismay, the ball continued to take a hard left turn. I almost cried right there on the range. I decided to do what I should have done in the very beginning. I scheduled a lesson. I had 3 weekends to get my swing figured out. The day of my lesson arrives, and it is raining. It is a cold, ark building rain that lasted for 3 days. I was unable to go the following weekend due to work, but scheduled the next Saturday. The last weekend before the Myrtle Beach trip. Guess who got the flu that week? Yep, missed that lesson as well.
During this time of missed lessons I turned to YouTube to help me out. I found a couple different videos from Rick Shiels about the golf grip and ball flight. Watching this video and gripping the club at home, I discovered that my golf grip was not just strong, but over the top strong. I went to the range daily that last week before my trip. I was amazed that adjusting my grip was having so much impact. I went on my golf trip at the end of the week, and did not embarrass myself. I played better than I had in 2 years. I fell in love with the game again, and spent time on the course with the friend I enjoyed being there most with – all was right with the world.
Thank you Rick Shiels for saving my golf game. What is the big lesson in this, GO GET LESSONS!!!! A simple lesson at the beginning of this would have saved me a lot of time, misery and money!