Lesson one, completed.

Just got back from my first actual lesson with Christopher Smith (CS).  We met out at Pumpkin Ridge and went over a few tasks that I will be doing for the first few weeks/months of the plan.   All in all, I was definitely a beginner, but am really excited about getting started and changing that.  Even from the beginning of our lesson to the end I noticed a slight difference in my ability to aim and control the ball.

CS had me first putt from about 18″ away, placing the balls in a circle around the hole.  I missed two of the first six I attempted, but once I got a feel for the putter (was using one of his as a “loaner” until mine gets in, it’s still in the mail).  After that, I made 50 of 50 without too much of a hitch, although most of those were not hit dead center and I could tell that if it was from even two feet out I would have been missing left and right..

Next we decided to do an exercise that was suggested by Dr. Hill.  The point of this one, I think, is to gain control of distance and angle of putts.  We measured out a ten foot length of the putting green and placed a coin on both sides.  We putted ten balls from coin “A” and measured the distance the ball landed away from coin “B,” from both how far left or right the ball landed and how far in front or behind I hit it.  Then we did the same, except from “B” to “A.”  For future reference, we called this the “ten foot measurement pass.”  I was much better, for some unknown reason, hitting the ball from “B” to “A.”  I haven’t crunched the numbers yet, but I’d say I averaged 30″ behind the ball hitting from “A” to “B” and about 10″ the other direction.  as a distance left or right, from “A” to “B” I missed by an average of 8″ and only 4″ the other way.

We also did a guessing game where I hit the same distance and without looking where the ball went I tried to guess where it landed.  I was ok at guessing whether it landed to the left or right, but my feel for distance was pretty far off.

Finally, we marked off six spots around a hole that were three feet away and putted going around in a circle to see how consistent I could hit the ball.  CS was a bit stale himself at first when he tried, sinking 3 of 6 on the first round (in his defense he was using a brand new putter too..) but then got his rhythm and sunk the next 6 for 6.  I started off pretty well, sinking 10 of my first 12, then settled down to average 4 of 6 for the first 60.  Was going to do 100, but needed to get Peter, who was there shooting video, back to Portland and we were both hungry, so left Pumpkin Ridge for the day.

So, now I have a few games/exercises in my repertoire for the coming weeks.  Start small, there’s plenty of time!

CS and I meet next Thursday.  For now, it’s back out for a couple more hours today and then off to Kor tomorrow AM for workout number 2 with Donn.  (Guess it’s about time for another one, my muscles have had three nice days to be sore.)