Beginning To Feel Results

Roughly 76 hours into my quest towards 10,000, it's starting to feel comfortable.  No seriously, I had a mechanical breakthrough similar to one I had when first learning to drive a car.

When I was 16, my driving instructor and I were stationed at a stop sign.  Upon entering the intersection, I smoothly transitioned my right foot gently off the brake and accelerated without any hitch in the motion.  As the blinker came to a standstill, I glanced in my rearview mirror for any oncoming traffic; there wasn't any.  All this took place in a matter of seconds and I didn't stop once to think about it.  It was at that moment in time that I realized I knew how to drive a car.  But I digress.

That experience was related to one quality we all aspire for in life - confidence.  

And as with driving a car, or hitting a golf ball, our confidence fuels the inner belief that we can accomplish what we want to.  In my particular journey, it's hitting a tiny white ball into the air and getting it close to my target.  Prior to my mechanical epiphany, there was occasional doubt of the former even occurring (forget about the latter).

So many times before, while watching the pros play, I often wondered if they ever stepped up to the first tee box and feared "shanking" one into the crowds.  How is it that they, no matter what, get their ball airborne without any follies us amateurs are so accustomed to?  I now have that answer.  It's confidence in their ability.

This realization may sound obvious, but next time you play, if you happen to hit a few duffs in a row, check your level of confidence and get back to me.  I guarantee it's entirely absent at that moment. 

As for me, although I don't experience it much on the course, on the range I'll have bouts of shanks with my easiest of clubs even after 20 consecutive successful ones hit.  And after each bout, I'll struggle to regain my form through confidence-rebuilding drills.

I'll step back and take a moment to gather my composure.  I'll remind myself that I've hit this club before and can do it again.  I'll navigate my thinking away from doubt, resting instead safely in the hands of reassurance.

Nevertheless, it usually fails.   

But my golf's version of learning to drive came this Saturday when it dawned on me my wrists were not coming through at impact.  I was simply chipping balls 15 to 20 yards and every so often shanking a few to the right.  It finally hit me: My arms were ahead of my wrists.  At last!    

Now don't get me wrong, this won't elevate my game to superior status.  I will certainly have duffs on the course where I bend down too far and jam my club right into the ground creating a divot the size of my driver cover.  But what it will do is give me the wherewithal to know I CAN do it.  

And that's the point.  

On Saturday, April 17th, 2010, I no longer mentally strain with my abilities to hit a golf shot.  

It's now a matter of hitting a good golf shot.  

Hours of practice: 379