Lesson #2

After my round I had a lesson with Jeff.  I think he talked me off the ledge on the whole offset optical illusion.  Here are the things I need to address:

• I hit the ball off the toe.  This is clearly seen by the direction of the ball and the grass & dirt stains that extend toward the edge of the toe.  I do try to move in on the ball but while doing that I get more of a steep up and down swing path than is good for me.  I have the golf club with the really small head.  I wonder if that is a good cure.  I also have the extra XLI 7i.  I had planned to cut that down to see if it will help me move in on the ball.
• My swing path can be too steep.  Especially when I am trying to move in on the ball.  Just a little less.
• My back swing goes all the way back.  Sometimes I can see the clubead in my peripheral vision on the left side.  I was having so much fun and had so much confidence that I started digging deeper for what I thought was more power.  This is probably the primary cause of my current dismay.  Funny how success leads to failure.
• My stance is too upright.  I don't have enough bend in the knees.  I got this from correcting my "squatting" stance.  My perception is that when I bend in the knees the spine angle bend at the torso is lost but I guess that really isn't the case.
• My right hand has drifted to a stronger grip.  I spent a long time fixing that and the moment I moved on to other things it started to drift back.
• My navel should lead my swing, not my arms.  With my gut I should be crushing the ball a country mile.  I need to figure out how to lead with my body and not my arms. 
• Where the heck am I aiming?  Jeff suggested that I pick a point ahead of my ball and setup my club and body at address using that point for aiming my shot.  This is going to take some practice but it will help.  I have some shots that go where I want.  I also have some nice shots that went were I was pointed but not necessarily where I wanted the ball to go.  I've tried this for putting but had less success so far.  I am not giving up, just fighting myself.
• I need to remember to get my right knee in.  I don't always remember that.
• Square my hips and shoulders.  I must be built out of square.