My first offseason

[Ravenous Bugblatter Beast]

This is the first time that I've ever felt like it was the offseason. I had become quite accustomed to getting in a round on the weekends, but since the Friday after Thanksgiving here, there has neither been time nor favorable conditions for golfing, even going to a range and swinging the clubs.

But I'm trying to keep to a couple of activities so if opportunity presents itself, or when spring gets here, I can go out again without too much difficulty.

1. Stretching. I'm stretching every day for around 30 minutes in the evening, and during work I'll break every hour or two, and take a few minutes for a couple of stretches. I'm already getting some of my more youthful flexibility back, but it's something you can only notice over longer periods of time. You don't start stretching and the next day find a noticeable improvement. Also remember to breathe while stretching, you want the oxygen to help the blood flowing to the muscles and nerves, which will help the nerves communicate what the brain needs to learn--that you're using those muscles and they need to lengthen more.

2. The old Momentus. Just to keep the feel of a good swing.

Supposed to warm up some here the end of the week. Maybe that'll stick some into next week, and I'll be able to go to a range, if not a golf course.

 

[Bravo]

I am thinking about asking for a Momentus for Christmas...maybe Santa will leave one under the tree...

 

[Ravenous Bugblatter Beast]

I'm just glad that I'm not too tall, and my ceilings are high enough that I can swing it indoors, while watching the Golf Channel or otherwise.

 

[Ravenous Bugblatter Beast]

It was cold this morning. It's still cold out there. But just think, the daylight hours will begin increasing again, as we begin that slow turn back towards nicer weather. But it's a slow turn as we know.

Last night, I spent some time swinging a gap wedge indoors, and watching the finale of BBIV. I won't say who won to avoid spoiling for it anyone who hasn't seen it yet. But man, it made me wish that I would wake up today, and find it unexpectedly warm.

 

[Big Brother Dunk]

Stretching is good. I do yoga two or three times a week and it really helps the flexibility. I was also surprised how it helps the strengthening as well.

Terrific workout.

 

[Ravenous Bugblatter Beast]

Stretching is good. I do yoga two or three times a week and it really helps the flexibility. I was also surprised how it helps the strengthening as well.

Terrific workout.

Yes, it is often recommended that strength training goes along with stretching, or stretching is supplemented with strength training.

I was never all that naturally flexible when younger, but man, in recent years my lack of flexibility was getting very bad. Now it's time, and I've got inclination and motivation to work on it. Hopefully I'll be able to get some more coil in my swing, and eventually a bit more distance.

 

[Ravenous Bugblatter Beast]

The weather forecast has a cruel sense of timing, apparently. The call is for Christmas Eve to be nearly 50 degrees, the first time in a long time that we'll have had such pleasantry in this area.

Unfortunately, that's the day for the big family gathering in our family, due to Scandanavian sort of traditions.

Then Christmas is to be wet.

And colder again following.

Christmas Eve would be the first decent golfing weather, and I'm going to miss it.

 

[Davebud]

Claim the right of all of us Born near Xmas

Go and get a niner in and claim its a late Bday present, or throw the clubs in the car and agree to do that last minute shopping that the wife will need for Xmas and at least get a bucket off at the range.

 

[Ravenous Bugblatter Beast]

That's tempting.

 

[Davebud]

Give in to the Darkside

Hey I been married a long time too. I feel your pain at the family gatherings that seem to come up always when there are opportunities to do something else that is important to you. Xmas eve my Seattle Seahawks will be playing the Colts and I could have gone to the game, but I have to do the Xmas thing with the family instead. Now if there were a way to go that would only take 2 hours out of the day instead of 7 I would be all over it.

 

[Ravenous Bugblatter Beast]

It was chilly, damp, windy, so I did what any sanely obsessed golfer would do. I golfed today, for the first time in about a month. The layoff showed up most particularly in my short game, and for the first 13 holes I left enough strokes out there to last me a month. But I was driving pretty well.

The course played long in the weather, though. Man, had to take two extra clubs almost to get the same distance I usually play for.

Still, hole 14, a par-3, I got a 7-iron on the green and two-putted for my first par of the day. I played the rest of the holes as bogies, although three of those four were good chances to save par, one of which I should have made the putt. So I felt good at a reasonable effort to get things working as the round went on, and was fairly satisfied with my accuracy on longer shots. Still, it reinforced my thoughts that next year the beast to work on is the short game.

Also, I was very happy about the payoff on the stretching. I was markedly more flexible today than when I last golfed, and also noticed that on a couple of times when I tried to reach and go for a little extra on a drive, I delivered a much better swing than in prior months when I would make effort to go for more.