[G778G9P0]

I have been struggling with golf all season. I have been taking lessons, reading books, and the like, all to no avail. It's been very frustrating. Last season I would shoot in the high 80s low 90s and this season I was struggling to break 100.

At the end of June I saw a picture of Angel Cabrerra halfway through his downswing and a light bulb went off. I cancelled all future lessons, stopped reading golf books and magazine tips, went back to the range and started tinkering on my own.

The results have been very positive. A well struck drive is going 30 yards further. I'm hitting more GIRs, my short game has improved, and I'm scoring better. For example, prior to my experiment I was shooting in the mid to high 90s, if that. Since the experiment I started shooting low 90s, than high 80s, than low 80s. I even broke 80 three times with a low of 75. My last three rounds were 82, 81, 81 despite one double and a triple in each round. I even finished second in my flight in the club championship despite carding a nine on one hole.

My misses are pulls or pull hooks when I get a little quick during the transition, which I still struggle with. During this process I've been less concerned with score then with making solid contact with the ball. Sometimes I hit shots I didn't know I was capable of hitting. I know if I make solid contact that the score will take care of itself. I also focus on swinging the club as opposed to hitting the ball. For some there may not be much of a distinction but for me there is.

I'm still in the early stages of my swing changes, and it still feels a bit alien, but so far the results have been positive and I will keep working on it.