Tomorrow is another day

That reference in the title of this post might be lost on most, but the point I'm making is that, with golf, no method or system, no level of confidence, no recent good form, nothing provides any guarantee about what will happen during the next round.

It's a common experience of golfers at all levels to hit the ball well one week, terribly the next, or hit the ball well while warming up and putt well on the practice green, and then go out and play like a numbskull.

That's one of the joys of the game - and one of the frustrations.

Tomorrow, I'm playing a fun one-on-one matchplay match. Matchplay is not something I do regularly, except when playing in a group two against two. My guess is that matchplay changes the way we play many of the shots in a round and, quite often, increases the pressure in some situations. I will be interested to see how it goes.

In the meantime, I've been thinking about my game, overall. Having adopted a new 'flat-wrist' theory, outlined previously, I'm now not worried about big slices. My bad shots tend to be hooks and pushes, both partly to do with swing path and release issues.

I have also been trying to eliminate a lot of my swing theory thinking and trying to set up as simply (and squarely) as possible, while swinging with as much rhythm and control as possible. I'm not always succeeding, but I feel like I'm not fighting my swing anymore.

If I have any one swing thought that I think I need (apart from my hopefully almost automated flat left wrist) it is to release the hands in concert with body rotation - that is, without flipping the hands - and pointing the toe of the club at the target.

The pointing the toe concept is one I've picked up from Herman Williams (of flat wrist fame) and I think it is a good one. I think, though I don't know for sure, that this feeling or visualisation helps create a release that is not too 'handsy' but not too held off (the hold off being the cause of many a fade or slice. whether deliberate or not).

My other fundamentals - not hitting too hard and playing off the front foot - are still there in the background, but I don't think they are quite enough for me, personally, for all the full shots.

Anyway, I'm sticking to my flat left wrist (backswing and contact) and I'll be working on pointing the toe of the club at the target. It might be a disaster, who knows? But tomorrow is another day.

Three not fore!

Dot points only - iPad mini again.

Average golfers need a few solid fundamentals, not lots of theory. I've done the hard yards to find three keys that will work. Forget all the other tips and techniques.

My keys (updated):

1. Don't try to hit too hard - it just doesn't work (as I found out on the w/e - stupid, stupid!). Hitting hard destroys the timing and balance needed for solid and (where wanted or needed) long golf shots.

2. Play off the front foot without swaying - absolutely crucial for consistent ball striking. The club needs to return time and time again to precisely the same spot, at a constant desired height. Swaying is the enemy of consistency. Don't move off the ball, get on the front foot at impact - just watch all good players - enough said.

3. Unless you are highly skilled with your hands, practise and play lots of golf, keep your left wrist flat (right handlers) during and at the top of the backswing to keep the club face square and maximise the chances of getting it square and slightly closing (as it must) through impact.

Numbers 1 and 2 are important fundamentals or keys, but number 3 was the clincher for me. It took me a long time to realise how important it is for all poor to average golfers (especially slicers - the vast majority) to become aware of their wrist and club face position. All other slice fix 'remedies' are virtually useless unless attention is given to wrist and club face issues.