April 5, 2020- by Steven E. Greer
What does not kill you makes you stronger.
It has happened three times since 2016, most recently a few days ago. I will have developed a pretty good swing, only to have my mind erased when I go to hit under real conditions and barely be able to make ball contact.
In the past, I have chalked it up to me simply not having as good of a swing as I thought I had. But this time, I knew I had the proper moves, having been hitting into a net for a couple of weeks under house arrest. I am very knowledgeable of the swing by now. Yet standing over real golf balls at the range, I froze up. I knew exactly what I needed to move and how, but I could not do it.
I have diagnosed it as full-swing yips. My neurocircuitry from decades of swinging incorrectly override my new patterns. It is a demoralizing disease.
But this time, I analyzed what I did wrong at the range. I had foolishly skipped the short wedges and had jumped right into hitting 7-irons with a full swing. Not even the touring pros can pull that off. I set myself up for failure.
So, I went back today and did it properly. I started with half-swings to 80-yards and built up from there. I worked in some 50%-effort drills and pause drills. I then added the drill I invented of lifting the left toes and spinning on the left heel to get weight transfer and hip clearance.
Boy oh boy, did it work. I was hitting laser-straight 44-degree PW to 150-yards. I was within feet of the basket from 80-yards. I carried a few drives 300-yards.
These swings you see are not perfect. I still need to pivot more over the left leg, but they have me back on track.
Yesterday, I was in the ICU about ready to have the plug pulled. Today, I am recovering.
As Slim Shady said:
Guess who’s back, guess who’s back?
Guess who’s back?
I’ve created a monster,
Now this looks like a job for me
So everybody just follow me
‘Cause we need a little controversy
‘Cause it feels so empty without me
I said, this looks like a job for me