Two things I've learnt

A recent experience at a driving range (not a common hangout for me) taught me just how important it is to get onto the front foot for all full golf swings and even shorter chips and pitches.

It was on the second level of the driving range, perhaps fifteen feet above ground level. And as someone more than a little afraid of heights, the five feet in front of the mat before open air oblivion was too much (or should I say too little) for me.

Consequently, I hit every shot (more than 100 balls) off the back foot - and all extremely badly. I could not get myself to move towards that deadly drop off. I could not swing hard at all and eventually had to resign myself to hitting little flatfooted chips - a waste of time and money.

A related issue for me is my putting stroke, which probably for reasons also relating to fear, gets extremely short. My lags are, by the way, often also extremely short. It's not about weight transfer in this case, but it it about completing the stroke, that is, following through and holding that finish - virtually pointing the putter at the hole.

I've experienced some of my best ball striking when I was able to get myself to swing right through the ball to a solid finish. I've also read that you can judge the result of a golf shot just by looking at the finish position. Short jabs might work in boxing, but rarely in golf.

So, perhaps it's really only one thing I've learnt - finish the shot. In one case, it's about getting one's weight through the shot; and in the other (where weight transfer is not an issue) it's about getting the putter through the shot.

PS. I've considered and tried the Speith 'look at the hole' putting technique, but I think hitting through putts and holding the finish feels more comfortable to me, and achieves a similar thing by avoiding the short, yippy putting stroke that plagues many golfers from time to time (including me).

Something old, something new

I'm not changing my connection swing for the foreseeable future. It works. I just have to remember that as well as connecting my upper lead arm with my chest, as discussed before, I must turn aggressively, but with rhythm, through the ball. That is, I must not let my arms take over. Everything must work together - and start down together.

The only other swing thought should be to hit through the ball - not at the ball. This is so important and it applies to all aspects of the game, including the short game.And ... surprise, surprise ... even to putting.

My recent tendency with putting, having lost some confidence, as reflected in my recent scores, is to leave my lag putts well short. I've noted in practice that the old tip about holding the finish with the putter could well be helpful in the business of hitting through the ball, and achieving much better lag and holing speed.

I'm also a huge fan of Jason Day's putting; his rhythm is superb. So, there is a lot to be said for also keeping this as a fundamental for all aspects of the game.

The old connection fundamental stays; the hitting through the ball is a new (well, actually re-discovered) thought. We shall see how it all comes together.