The Starting Line

     My problems in golf have always moved orderly from one facet of the game to another. When I started out, my driver did nothing but slice and I could do nothing but thin my irons (likely owing to the fact that I was 6'6" playing with standard length clubs), but I actually had a decent short game. I didn't three-putt until my third round and I chipped once every few rounds. Then I got lengthened irons (+2.5"; I was 6'7" by that point) and, though I had no idea how to control them, I at least could get the ball airborne. However, my short game went down the tubes. My driver slice didn't come under control until early this year, owing in no small way to my new Nike SQ SuMo5900.
     My game took a massive step forward just a few days ago as I was watching the Golf Channel infomercial for some club designed to teach to to get your hands in front of the ball. That's when it hit me: "Hitting down on the ball" is a terrible way to describe what needs to happen. A more apropos phrase would be "hit the ball earlier in your swing," or even just "hands in front of the ball." I went to the practice range that night and bought a large bucket, fully expecting to hit at least half the bucket before I was even close to comfortable.
     Couldn't have been more wrong. The first shot I hit was with my 8-iron. First thing I noticed was the divot. I can count the number of good divots I've taken before then on one hand. But I took a perfect divot. Ball had great trajectory with a slight fade, hit about ten yards past the 150 marker, bounced straight up, back down, and rolled about a foot to the right. I'd never hit a WEDGE with that kind of backspin. I figured it must be a fluke. I hit five more. All six were in about a 10-yard circle. I did the same thing with all my short-middle irons and my new TaylorMade wedges, the circle obviously expanding a hair for the lower irons and shrinking up for the wedges. My new gap wedge had about a 20-foot circle at about 125 yards. Outstanding for me.
     It's true what they say happens when you start striking the ball correctly. I'm hooked. Went back the next night and hit a bucket. Even off the crappy mats with hard plastic underneath, I was confident. Went to the short game area afterward and spent about 90 minutes getting used to my new sand wedge. It's a little tougher play out of the sand than my old Adams Golf cavity back, but it gives me a great soft pitch with even the slightest fluff under the ball.
     So that's Installment One of the Road to 80. Range tonight and a round at one of my favorites, Windsor Parke, tomorrow at 11 with my cousin. really excited to see if my new-found confidence with the irons carries over.