So today I decided to concentrate on working my mid irons ( 5-8 ) at @adambishopgolf , otherwise known as Southfields driving range near Thame in Oxfordshire. I was working on getting the ball to land relatively softly in anticipation of some of the par 3's and approach shots I am going to be facing down this year on the EDGA European Tour and the Jamega Pro Tour.
Again I was striking the ball really nicely. I was picking it up nicely and getting a really nice solid flight that was plenty powerful and was dropping nicely too. I am really pleased with the first 3 weeks of this year, I was slightly worried that the Christmas break might have set me back a little and that I would struggle to recapture the form from the start of last season, but at the moment I am happy with my progress and things are on plan :-).
Whilst I was practicing, I was having a chat with the Head PGA Teaching pro about what I wanted to do and the long and short of it is that I am pretty sure I have got a coach !!! I am constantly blown away by how helpful the pro is ( Darren ) and how much of an interest he takes not just in my personal progression but also about disabled golf on the whole. We have always had an interaction where we can talk to each other without any bull£@&t, and I think that is what I need in a coach. I need someone that has as big a mouth as I do and who isn't afraid to tell me to shut up and get my arse in gear. I have also listened in as he has given lessons whilst I have been practicing and I really have been impressed with coaching style and methods. As you can probably tell, I am a little bit excited that someone is not just willing to be my coach but also that he feels there is more to be got from my game.
The biggest thing I got from our little chat however was the reinforcement in my mind that I need a team behind me if I'm going to improve and move forward. Everything from strength and conditioning, sports psychology, and everything else you could think of. Pro is also of the same opinion that it's time to take the next step and start building a team around me and together, see exactly how far a bald bloke with a false leg can get !!!
I will of course keep you all informed of any developments but if there are any sports psychs, physios, prosthetic experts, or anyone else that thinks they could bring something positive to "Team Monk " and is up for the challenge of seeing how far we can go please do contact me via the contact section on my homepage.
Anyways, I'm not finished.
After hitting maybe 100-120 balls, I decided to try out the new Taylormade RocketBladez irons as they had a few 7 and 6 irons in various shafts and specs to try.
I took the 7 iron out on the range and had a look at it side by side with my current wonder sticks ( Taylormade R11 ). The top line on the RocketBladez is a little thicker but I certainly didn't look off putting at all. The 7 iron I selected had the 85g Rocket Fuel steel shaft in a stiff flex as supposed to the DG S300 I use in my r11's.
I had maybe a dozen balls with my R11 7 Iron and was carrying around 155.
I put my 7 iron down and picked up the RocketBladez 7 Iron, set up to the ball and just took a nice smooth swing, making sure to just get a nice clean strike on the ball....
All I can say is
WOW .....
I am usually extremely sceptical about manufacturers claims about what this club will do and the massive gains that seem to appear each season but.....
WOW !!!
The ball streaked forward, drilled in a beautiful flight and dead straight and then landed at around 165
That couldn't be right, surely
Oh yes it was, the next dozen or so shots carried a minimum of 10 yards further and when I went for a 100% shot I got at least another 5 yards with no difference in dispersion !
To be able to carry a 7 iron 165-170 at a driving range with range balls will equate to even greater distance and control using a premium tour ball on the course. It opens up new possibilities on the course and of course hopefully less strokes as I would be using less club to get the same distance so should get more control. I will let your all know how they feel when I go the the PGA Show Pro Demo Day in Orlando next week where I hope to be able to get a feel for all the irons and make sure that the rest feel and play as well as the demo 7 Iron, if they do , I may very well be coming back from the U.S with a nice shiney new set :-)
Anyways, as I am sat here writing this, the horrible anti golfing white Satan is falling from the sky and it is going to be hanging around by all accounts therefore ruining any chance of having a game this weekend before I fly out on Monday so it looks like today was the last training day before I go. That means tomorrow my wonder sticks will be getting a clean and polish, then get all nicely packed up in their favourite travel case ready for their debut in America.
I will be updating regularly from Orlando and hopefully I will get plenty of pics for you all to have a looksie at and I plan to get some video of the RocketBladez in action next week at the demo day so keep checking back and see what's happening.
For now my blog reading golf mentalists
Monk Out
X
Again I was striking the ball really nicely. I was picking it up nicely and getting a really nice solid flight that was plenty powerful and was dropping nicely too. I am really pleased with the first 3 weeks of this year, I was slightly worried that the Christmas break might have set me back a little and that I would struggle to recapture the form from the start of last season, but at the moment I am happy with my progress and things are on plan :-).
Whilst I was practicing, I was having a chat with the Head PGA Teaching pro about what I wanted to do and the long and short of it is that I am pretty sure I have got a coach !!! I am constantly blown away by how helpful the pro is ( Darren ) and how much of an interest he takes not just in my personal progression but also about disabled golf on the whole. We have always had an interaction where we can talk to each other without any bull£@&t, and I think that is what I need in a coach. I need someone that has as big a mouth as I do and who isn't afraid to tell me to shut up and get my arse in gear. I have also listened in as he has given lessons whilst I have been practicing and I really have been impressed with coaching style and methods. As you can probably tell, I am a little bit excited that someone is not just willing to be my coach but also that he feels there is more to be got from my game.
The biggest thing I got from our little chat however was the reinforcement in my mind that I need a team behind me if I'm going to improve and move forward. Everything from strength and conditioning, sports psychology, and everything else you could think of. Pro is also of the same opinion that it's time to take the next step and start building a team around me and together, see exactly how far a bald bloke with a false leg can get !!!
I will of course keep you all informed of any developments but if there are any sports psychs, physios, prosthetic experts, or anyone else that thinks they could bring something positive to "Team Monk " and is up for the challenge of seeing how far we can go please do contact me via the contact section on my homepage.
Anyways, I'm not finished.
After hitting maybe 100-120 balls, I decided to try out the new Taylormade RocketBladez irons as they had a few 7 and 6 irons in various shafts and specs to try.
I took the 7 iron out on the range and had a look at it side by side with my current wonder sticks ( Taylormade R11 ). The top line on the RocketBladez is a little thicker but I certainly didn't look off putting at all. The 7 iron I selected had the 85g Rocket Fuel steel shaft in a stiff flex as supposed to the DG S300 I use in my r11's.
I had maybe a dozen balls with my R11 7 Iron and was carrying around 155.
I put my 7 iron down and picked up the RocketBladez 7 Iron, set up to the ball and just took a nice smooth swing, making sure to just get a nice clean strike on the ball....
All I can say is
WOW .....
I am usually extremely sceptical about manufacturers claims about what this club will do and the massive gains that seem to appear each season but.....
WOW !!!
The ball streaked forward, drilled in a beautiful flight and dead straight and then landed at around 165
That couldn't be right, surely
Oh yes it was, the next dozen or so shots carried a minimum of 10 yards further and when I went for a 100% shot I got at least another 5 yards with no difference in dispersion !
To be able to carry a 7 iron 165-170 at a driving range with range balls will equate to even greater distance and control using a premium tour ball on the course. It opens up new possibilities on the course and of course hopefully less strokes as I would be using less club to get the same distance so should get more control. I will let your all know how they feel when I go the the PGA Show Pro Demo Day in Orlando next week where I hope to be able to get a feel for all the irons and make sure that the rest feel and play as well as the demo 7 Iron, if they do , I may very well be coming back from the U.S with a nice shiney new set :-)
Anyways, as I am sat here writing this, the horrible anti golfing white Satan is falling from the sky and it is going to be hanging around by all accounts therefore ruining any chance of having a game this weekend before I fly out on Monday so it looks like today was the last training day before I go. That means tomorrow my wonder sticks will be getting a clean and polish, then get all nicely packed up in their favourite travel case ready for their debut in America.
I will be updating regularly from Orlando and hopefully I will get plenty of pics for you all to have a looksie at and I plan to get some video of the RocketBladez in action next week at the demo day so keep checking back and see what's happening.
For now my blog reading golf mentalists
Monk Out
X
This is the TaylorMade R11 Irons
This is the new RocketBladez iron
Notice the looks are very similar from th address position which is a Definate plus for me.
Notice the looks are very similar from th address position which is a Definate plus for me.