Monster Drives and Pitiful Putting

174, 183, 177, 186, 189. No, these are not Pick-3 lottery numbers. These are some of my typical driving distances lately. In the past few weeks since returning from my Florida trip, I’ve gotten into a bonafide, crackalackin’ swing groove. Some of my longest drives include a 185-yard climber uphill and a 256-yard roller downhill. I even hit 190 on a hole where I never used to hit past 150. My husband calls me Big Bopper now.

And it’s all because of my epiphany at TPC Sawgrass, courtesy of dear hubby who reminded me about a Greg Norman driving tip while we were practicing on the range. The Greg Norman tip involved taking the club back by imagining you’re going to shake hands with someone on your right. You’re still looking down at the ball as you do this, so it’s just a “feel” thing. Hubby and I first saw this tip in late January on a Golf Channel Academy special featuring “the Shark,” and I think Norman actually suggested imagining shaking hands with the right hand, but for some reason I thought he meant reaching out and shaking hands with the left hand, and this actually works for me. It helps me keep my left arm straight and long, and my hands relaxed. I'd already had a distance breakthrough before the Shark, but his tip is what has helped me repeat it again and again.

Even Seri has noticed. I told her I figured some stuff out on my trip to Ponte Vedra. We’ve been playing every week now, and whenever my ball lands past hers, which is more often than not these days, she says, “Wow! I really have to go to Florida!”

Now that I have a new swinger’s list for this drive, I better write it down before I forget:

Arms can reach a bit

Forward press is okay

Take club back slow

“Shake hands”
Keep eyes on ball till swing is done

Bump hips to the left to start the downswing
Keep arms long

Let forearms roll over on the release

At the tee, all of this is prefaced by a couple of violent practice swings, as if I’m doing the teddy bear drill and making loud “swoosh!” sounds as the clubhead cuts through the air. Though my actual swing is nothing like these unbridled practice swings, it helps to release nervous energy, and probably shoos away evil golf spirits too.   

However, despite all this distance, my typical score has stayed around the same, in the 101 to 107 range. Why? Well, I’ve been so focused on driving that I have been neglecting my short game. I hardly ever practice putting, and it shows. Once I get on the green, I typically take 3 putts to hole out. In the past few weeks, I’ve taken 4 and even 5 putts on occasion. So it looks like my next task is to learn some putting technique.

As they say, “Drive for show. Putt for dough.” Truer words ain’t never been spoke.