I'm 52 and gave up golf for about 5 years after being so frustrated with the scooping/flipping and watching my friends hitting PW farther than my 7i. What really frustrated me was I'm 6 2 fairly strong build guy, play hockey, smashed my driver but could never strike irons. Tried to follow age old material that kept me in belief that turning the hands world shifting weight to right and transfer power was the gospel.
Saw Tom's video banging the trash can lids together and I swear it was like a calling... watched his SIMPLE example and thought to myself "I can do this." I have no idea how his video even appeared on my feed. I gave up golf! I play ice hockey dangit. How is golf on my feed?
I was so serious about quitting that I gave my brother in-law my bag 300 miles away about 3 years ago.
I believed so much in what I saw in these vids from Tom that I took a leap of faith and ordered some Taylormade SIM2 irons.
Been practicing in garage and from the first day I've felt what I've never felt before... hitting the ball first. Was it this simple all these years? If only I saw Stack and Tilt years ago. It really was Tom though. His personality caught my attention.
Over this past holiday weekend I went up to Traverse City MI and played a couple rounds at a country course called Sugar Loaf with my said brother in-law (who was using my old clubs LOL.) Old Rob came back on the course and it took me a while to adopt to what I have been practicing.
First reality check was striking a 6i that landed on Green in reg. on par4. "Wait" did that happen?
Next reality was striking my fairway 5W so clean KFC. It got better. Smacking my driver.
Toss in some real bad shanks where at least now I know what happened ... I had no relationship with the ball was erect and swung the club flat...ball spat out to side several shots. Knowing is 1/2 the battle to improving and even better, maintaining the emotions. The old me had no clue why X thing happened.
I'm on the way to better play, birdied a long 200 yd par3 same 5W clean dropped 8ft from pin.
The rest didnt matter I WAS HAVING MORE FUN golfing than I ever had. A confidence came from this training I didnt have before.
This is only a couple weeks in.
Thanks Tom and I will at some point share some progress.
Rob
Thx Tom. Yeah the biggest struggle I face right now is keeping that left shoulder down at the ball from the start. When I shank I know it happened. Next struggle is followed by turning my right wrist in backswing instead of cocking it. If I get those two things right the rest is very workable. :) The latter is starting to become in muscle memory territory, the prior needs a lot of tuning... still struggle with the tilt as the first move but it will come. :)
Best part about all this is I'm starting to understand the pieces of my swing that need help vs. crying on the course that I'm cursed.
Oh yeah... when my iron strikes are weak and drift right I know I turned that right wrist and didnt end up finishing.
Great stuff, Rob!! Welcome back to this great game, although I'm sorry to learn that it cost you a set of clubs...... 🤣
Yes - that Crispy KFC impact sure is something otherworldly when you've never experienced it previously, and I'm very glad to know that you've already had a taste of so soon into the program. That feeling really sets the hook, right?!
Thanks for your excellent post; I look forward to your next update.
Keep up the great work, and keep having FUN out there!!!
Tom