Last Friday I made one of my infrequent trips to The Arena -- the golf course (not the practice grounds) -- and was rewarded with the finest Driving round of my life. I missed only one fairway -- just to the right on the 12th -- and that by only two feet in the first cut. The rest were carbon copies of each other: Long and dead at my target.
My only swing thought?
Drag the wet mop through Impact.
Interestingly, I've practiced my long game very little these past few months. Instead, I've spent countless hours in the short game area, hitting all manner of chips, pitches and bunker shots. Thousands of them, seeking on every shot that heavy feel of wet mop dragging through Impact and the wonderful Compression and Sound that results.
As an assist, I have stationed a mop on my back patio that I have to pass each day on my way to feed the fish. This is making use of the Theory of Accessibility: If it's in sight and convenient, you'll use it. If it's not, you probably won't. Rarely do I pass that mop that I don't stick it into the pool to wet it down and then plop it onto the patio. I then spend a couple of minutes s-l-o-w-l-y dragging it a few times through Impact, the Follow-Through (Both Arms Straight position). And every now and then I'll include a Finish Swivel. I grip down so that the mop handle runs up almost the full length of my left forearm.
I focus on the heavy feel as I drag it through. It's much more the heavy feel of Clubhead Lag Pressure (The Secret) than the broom I often see recommended, and I love to see those wet, heavy, trailing mop tentacles tracing a straight line through Impact. I love the Drag the mop puts on my leading Flat Left Wrist and the Pressure against my Right Forefinger Pressure Point that seems to extend all the way up into my leading Right Forearm.
I have also stationed an Impact Bag and Club directly by the door from the garage into the house. Going and coming, rarely do I pass that bag without enjoying a minute or two of conditioning drills. Centrifugal Left Arm and Club Throw-out by the Pivot (Swinging) and Muscular Right Arm and Club Drive-Out from the Shoulder (Hitting). Arms separate, then Arms together. Shoot that Club into the bag; Hold it there for a few moments with your originating Thrust; then Rest. Thank you, Ben Doyle: "Shoot. Hold. Rest."
Reading about these practice techniques won't make much of a difference in your Game. You must do them. And if you do, you may find that they are the bridge to your next level. You may not be able to buy a Golf Swing, but you can buy a mop, wet it down and spend a couple of minutes or so a day s-l-o-w-l-y dragging it through Impact. If you don't want to spring for a mop, hook a wet towel around the hosel for the same effect. And put an Impact Bag and Club by your entry door and spend another couple of minutes using your leading Hands to bury the Clubhead into the Bag. Between the two, you will have invested less than five minutes a day -- but following my prescription -- every day.
That it will, Rich. We are not testing The Golfing Machine... The Golfing Machine is testing us.
My driving last Friday was a display of mechanical perfection I did not think possible. At least not by me. But it was. However, it would not -- indeed, it could not -- have been accomplished without a system that I knew I could rely on, one that could be counted on to produce its fruit over time.
Building a fine Golf Stroke takes years of dedicated study and practice. There simply is no real alternative except to stay with it until you have finally correctly interpreted the Principles and integrated the Procedures you have chosen to implement them. In the meantime, especially in the dark hours, you must keep the faith. That is what I did, and on at least this one fine Friday afternoon, I was able to hammer my flag into the summit.
Was it worth it? All the hours, all the effort, all the sacrifice?
..........and your "prescription" outlined above is better than ANY of the ones I signed today. Some of mine may not work , but yours works EVERY TIME if the "patient" takes it as directed. This website has become a golf pharmacy for many of us. And there is no risk of an overdose!
Dr Dave
This website has become a golf pharmacy for many of us. And there is no risk of an overdose!
Dr Dave
Thanks, Dave. And thanks, too, for your many contributions. I read all your posts and have found your insights in the Fit For G.O.L.F. Forum particularly valuable.
Question about dragging the mop, can one do this in a golf swing and still be hitting? I love the drill, it has helped my ballstriking, but I am begining to wonder if I am pulling instead of pushing. In my swing I take a frozen right wrist back to shoulder height and just drag the club back down and through, trying to maintain the same sensations I get doing the drill.
Question about dragging the mop, can one do this in a golf swing and still be hitting? I love the drill, it has helped my ballstriking, but I am begining to wonder if I am pulling instead of pushing. In my swing I take a frozen right wrist back to shoulder height and just drag the club back down and through, trying to maintain the same sensations I get doing the drill.
When Hitting -- Drive the wet mop through Impact using muscular Right Arm Thrust, which is directly felt through Pressure Point #1 and #3.
When Swiging -- Drag the wet mop through Impact by turning your left side against your Left Arm, which is directly felt through Pressure Point #4 and indirectly felt through Pressure Point #3.
Either way, it's deliberate, positive and heavy -- constant Loading, constant direction.
You are so right about dragging the mop and lag. As far as TGM goes I am utterly and completely, functionally illiterate.
I read the book 15 years ago or so, and used to talk to Mac O'Grady when he was practicing at Canyon South in Palm Springs with no shirt and yellow gym shorts, back when I was kicking around the Golden State Mini Tour.
I am making a very serious attempt to clear the fog by lurking around your site for the last week or so. As soon as I think I know what to ask, or have something to say in TGM speak I will jump in. I am not leaving until I have a clue.
I had great success just thinking about dragging the mop even to an extreme, but when I think about straightening the right arm to a point on the plane line, (not trace it right?), El pullo hooko rears its ugly head every time. When I only think about lag, I hit some of the most beautiful long irons shots to be specific about what made me the most pleased, that I have hit in a long time.
Lasers, and for the most part, a visceral epiphany.
I think that when I have right arm awareness, my hands get out in front, and I lose that lag. It may be something else, but that is what it feels like.
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