Quote:
Originally Posted by ntnBO
There's only two spots available at DAC, are you saying you've claimed the other one?
I know this tournament wasn't a big deal to you, but a $1k+ check is a good start seeing as how you haven't competed since Q-school. And I just use the money as a way of comparing you to the other players in the field, and realize what was good and what was bad in your game this week.
BO
I am doing local at Tierra Verde as a result of going to Santa Fe for a few days that coincide with Stonebridge site....not happy about that but trip was already on the books before I entered the Open.
I am fine with the result overall. I have thought about it and it was probably my 10th-14th rounds in 6 months. Yes I have hit balls a fair amount over the last few weeks but that doesn't really help you with scoring which is where a major leak was. Couple that with the fact I had 13 new clubs in the bag that I had only played 2 rounds with and I am not too concerned. I did make terrible swings at it day2 & 4 but considering all the outside influences - new clubs, tons of wind, sick kid, work, lack of sleep, etc - I am fine with it. I did not make adjustments on the fly which is something I should and can do. But the fatigue just didn't allow me to grind it out mentally on the days I didn't "have it". In hindsight I think I could have focused on maintaining my posture better throughout the swing. I was certainly getting stuck and just leaving the clubface wide open and blocking the sh*t out of it. The loss of posture is where I think a lot of trajectory control issue came from. I know the swing guys here will say no it's from XXXX but for me it all stems from posture. The club will hit better positions simply from being more solid over it.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Spenda
it's very hard to see in his swing in real time but you see it in his ball flight on the into and cross wind shots. Ship had a lot of trouble controlling the flight yesterday and most of his knock down shots were pulled (for a player of his caliber) badly.
It's funny because I didn't even realize that everything in the final round was pulled until reading this. This was the problem though for sure....all punches went way left.
Quote:
Originally Posted by ClubChamp04
Spenda might be good, but we're talking totally different leagues between him and ship(no offense Spenda) That and being that they just met, it only seems like common sense to keep your mouth shut and carry the clubs, unless of course ship asks for advice. That's how I would see it if I was playing at least.
I have a good ability to compartmentalize conversations about mechanics. I did ask him several times what he saw as I can tell from his posts he has a good eye. If he happened to say anything that sounded like stuff I work on I could use that. There is no way he would have just spoke up and said "man you are stuck" or anything like that. I don't think MRMARKY was saying why didn't you say something....more along the lines of if Spenda had watched me shank 6 in a row at what point would he have said something, not he Spenda you should have said something. However, based on the first 4 drivers Spenda saw me hit and he didn't say anything I feel comfortable saying he would never say anything without my asking for help!
Quote:
Originally Posted by urko101
Ship, great read just like the Qschool thread last year....always wishing you to do well.
One quick question though, how much do you think your high scores (in relation to the field and your own ability) and loose swings are based on lack of playing apposed to actually have some swing faults here and there that creep back into your game gradually?
The 3rd round I did a great job of "scoring". In hindsight I did hit it decent, but I also took advantage of my opportuities. You aren't going to hit it good everyday. Sure I hit it terrible on a couple of days but if I had just been stronger mentally and inside 100 on those days I would have saved quite a few shots and easily had a top 10 without playing very well. That is what I find encouraging. That is what I did through the 3+month process of Q School in 2008 so I know I have it in me once I get better with the mental scorecard. That will come with playing more rounds and focusing intensly on it like I did that year.
In the final round alone the mental card and short game cost me 5 shots minimum. The double bogey on 2 was a simple 1 shot waste from a combo of short game and mental leak. The bogey on 3 was a bad break with a mud ball, but the up and down was simple. I had a 6 footer on 6 for birdie that I wasn't focused on because I was trying to play a shot out of turn so my playing partner could put his shirt back on and clean up after playing a shot from a hazard. I didn't like my read and was still reading the putt while over the ball. I did have the right read, but didn't hit it hard enough on a slow uphill 6 footer because I was thinking about line instead of speed while over the putt - mental leak. I made a terrible club choice on 8 and honestly knew it was a bad club choice before I hit it. I did't take the time to commit to my club and if I had I would have selected a 5 iron instead. On 9 I had a really tough bump and run 2nd shot from 40 yards and had to fly it over a bunch of grass clipping that were washed out from the rain. I didn't take the time to really visualize where I was trying to land the ball and left it short and didn't get that up and down. That is a triple play there, 2 bad shortgame shots and a bad mental performance. It goes on a similar line on the back 9, but I think you get the picture.
Actually, let's take an EV look at that first nine holes - I would say a total of 3.75 shots wasted - 1 shot easily wasted on 2, .75 shots on 3, .5 on 6, .5 on 8 and a full shot on 9. Without going through the back 9 in detail I can tell you the number is about 1.5 shots wasted from mental and short game.....I am not even saying if the short game and mental was A Game, just not D Game. That is 5.25 shots which makes me shoot 72.75 and finish in the top ten hitting it awful but doing an average job of scoring in just the final round, let alone the first and second rounds that were quite leaky as well.
This is why I say I was encouraged. I don't understand why you get tournament rusty, but if Tiger Woods complains about needing tournament reps I can't see why I would be different. At the end of the day I have played a whooping 12 tournament rounds in the last 18 months...that's not many.
I know I am a great ballstriker and am not concerned with that. I do know my mental game has always been a leak and I really want to see that improve quickly
ALSO, THIS IS POAST #1,000 FOR ME. I really do find it fun to have a good forum with pretty smart guys to b.s. with on a consistent basis. I appreciate all the well wishes and really do think of you guys as friends. I hope to get this figured out and have a fun few years playing and meeting some of you around the country.
Thanks.