The Road to 40: July 6

What a week!

I was fortunate enough to have the week off from work, which gave me some time to relax and focus on golf. Because of my leg injury, I wasn't able to play any rounds, but I did spend a few days on the range continuing to work on my game.

Most of my practice was focused on shots from roughly 20–60 yards, and I'm starting to develop a much better feel for distance control. I'm learning how much backswing length I need for different yardages, and it's becoming more consistent each session. I'm looking forward to getting back on the course and putting that work to the test.

Another area I've been concentrating on is my wrist position during the backswing. I realized I wasn't creating enough bow in my lead wrist, and my launch data reflected that. As I've made adjustments, I've seen a significant improvement in my starting lines. What was previously launching 4–6 degrees right of target is now typically starting just 1–3 degrees right—a big step forward for me.

An unexpected benefit of that change has been increased spin with my wedges. Previously, my 60-degree wedge generated between 8,800 and 9,200 RPM. Over the past week, I've consistently seen spin numbers between 9,400 and 9,900 RPM. I honestly didn't think I swung the club fast enough to produce those numbers, so that has been a pleasant surprise.

Because of the leg injury, I only returned to full swings on Sunday, July 5. I worked my way from my 60-degree wedge up through my 8-iron. By the time I reached the longer clubs, fatigue started to set in, and I noticed some of my old swing tendencies creeping back in—particularly losing wrist position and missing shots to the right.

One thing this week reinforced is the importance of conditioning. The desert summer heat is no joke, and if I want to continue improving, I need to be able to practice effectively for longer periods without losing focus or mechanics.

This week will be a return to a more normal routine, which should give me additional opportunities to practice and continue building on the progress I've made.

Reaching a 4 handicap by early August is still a challenging goal, especially after losing practice and playing time to the injury. However, I'm fully committed to the process and encouraged by the improvements I've already seen. Whether I reach that number by August or a little later, I know I'm moving in the right direction.

Until next week.

Fairways and greens, y’all.