The Road to 40: June 26

In case you didn’t know—golf is hard. The ideal impact zone on a golf ball is just 2 mm (or something like that), yet we expect ourselves to hit that spot every single time…or maybe that’s just me.

Friday was a solid practice session. I’ve been sticking to 60-minute practices as much as possible, especially now that the desert heat has officially arrived. I felt like I struck the ball well, and during a virtual round, I shot 3 over through 18 holes. I know those results aren’t perfectly accurate since putting is estimated, but it still felt like a fair reflection of how I played.

Saturday and Sunday, however, were a much different story. I couldn’t seem to find the clubface—thin shots, chunks, shanks, hooks, slices—it felt like everything showed up. I walked away frustrated and, honestly, disappointed. Not so much in the golf itself, but in my mindset. I caught myself being harder on myself than I’ve been in a while—to the point where it felt more like self-criticism than accountability -  quite frankly, I was bullying myself.

That realization forced a reset. I’ve reminded myself of something I’ve worked on before: feel the frustration after a bad shot, but don’t carry it into the next one. Frustration only leads to more of the same. The goal is to acknowledge it, release it, and reset before stepping into the next swing. That became my focus for the rest of the week.

Monday was much better. I went out to the driving range to get some real ball flight feedback, and it made a noticeable difference. I started to identify patterns—when my arms took over, I’d see an overdraw or a hook; when my lower body led too much, my misses went right. Eventually, I was able to get everything working together more consistently, which led to better contact and more controlled ball flight.

Tuesday league play was a great reminder of what the game should feel like. I was paired with a young couple who were just out there to enjoy themselves, and that energy was contagious. It helped me stay relaxed, and it showed in my game. My chipping still needs work, but my ball striking was excellent. Even when shots didn’t land exactly where I wanted, I was consistently finding the center of the clubface. I finished with four bogeys, two birdies, and three pars for a 2-over round—and brought my handicap back down to 9.0, almost where I started this journey.

Wednesday was a bit of a grind. My swing felt decent on the virtual range, and the launch monitor numbers were solid, but it didn’t fully translate when I tried to play a virtual round. Some misreads didn’t help, but overall the consistency just wasn’t there. It was also 103 degrees, so I’m sure the heat played a role.

After that session, I had a realization—I’ve been playing through a deep bone bruise in my shin for the past several weeks, and it finally caught up to me. Golf hasn’t typically aggravated it, but it did that day. Knowing my tendency to push through things, I decided it’s time to take a step back and give it space to heal. That doesn’t mean stopping golf, but it does mean adjusting my focus. For now, I’m stepping away from full swings to reduce strain on my left leg and shifting my attention to my short game.

Thursday marked the start of that shift. I kept my practice to 60 yards and in, dialing in distances and paying close attention to arm positioning and hand placement in my backswing.

It turned out to be one of the more enjoyable sessions I’ve had in a while. Not because it was perfect—but because it was different. Spending an hour with one club, experimenting with spin and trajectory, and focusing on feel brought a level of creativity back into practice. When my leg is fully healed, this is definitely something I want to keep in my routine at least once a week. I’m already looking forward to building on it and incorporating my sand wedge into these sessions.

All in all—injury aside—it was a good week. For the first time in a while, I’m genuinely excited to practice, not just doing it to check a box or work toward a goal. That’s a good place to be.

Until next week.

Fairways and greens, y’all.