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Because my new golfing philosophy is “practice makes perfect,” I’m finding it difficult to move beyond a particular club until I’m hitting it well.  Over the course of my last two practice sessions, the first in which I was scheduled to work on my three and four irons, I got stuck hitting the four a lot longer than I'd expected.

I’ve always had difficulty hitting these two irons, but being committed to you, my reader, encourages me to consider anything below par as unacceptable. 

I wasn’t exactly “duffing it” (a term used to describe a shot that basically bounces its way twenty to thirty yards), but I wasn’t hitting it solidly either.  I was tight and having a hard time finding my physical comfort zone.  There were scattered shots when I did feel loose, but couldn't seem to find a rhythm.  

On this note, I had a thought: They say when investing your money in stocks, you should take notes of your emotional state while buying and selling.  That way you avoid forgetting the negative associations and recall the positive ones.  

I feel the same methodology applies towards golf.

Next time you hit the range for practice, bring along a note pad to scribble down what works, and for that matter, what doesn’t 

Write down body positions when hitting a particular club.  Jot down where in your stance you felt the most comfortable striking your 7-iron as opposed to your 4-iron.  Personally, I began feeling the 4-iron offered the best results when my ball was about two inches behind my front toe. (My 7-iron is best right smack dab in the middle.) 

Another mental note I realized: When focusing on hitting a good shot, focus on what you’re doing to focus.  I know that sounds redundant, but basically understand what you’re attempting to accomplish.  That way, when you accomplish it, you can refer to it when you seem to be losing focus on the course.  

I had this epiphany while struggling with my 3-iron.  Again, the 3-iron has always been my hardest to strike and this season has been no different.  Except now I was at least hitting it with some regularity, just not quite where I wanted.  So I stepped back and regained my physical and mental composure. 

I stood behind the ball, got my intended destination in view, visualized how I wanted the shot to look, took my position, allowed my body to get comfortable while taking notes of what was feeling good (ball one inch off my front toe, weight on my front leg, knees bent, back straight), and then I let it all dissipate as I prepared to hit my shot.

You see, eventually you must let all the preparation go.  At some point, your body must memorize what’s needed to be successful.  I’m sure there are plenty of golfers who remind themselves of what's needed each time they stand over their ball, but feeling comfortable when it matters comes from hours of practice. 

For me, this one moment of determined concentration turned out to be successful, but of course it won’t be enough.  I’ll need hours more of the same focus on just my 3-iron alone before I’ll gain perfection on the course. 

But for now, hitting a club until it feels comfortable in my hand feels like the right thing to do.  Because truthfully, anything less wouldn’t feel comfortable in my mind.    

For next time, it’s on to the driver.

Hours of practice: 345

Email me with any thoughts or suggestions: info@sportsfanIQ.com

Still, it was clear that his message reached PGA Tour headquarters. The tour released a statement during the third round explaining why the Ping-Eye 2 wedges with square grooves were approved for play.

“Public comments or criticisms characterizing their use as a violation … are inappropriate at best,” the statement said.

Told about the tour's statement, Mickelson paused before saying it was “cool if they put that out there.”

“Again, everybody has their opinions and so forth, and it's healthy to talk about it,” he said. “But when you cross that line and slander someone publicly, that's when the tour needs to step in – or someone else.”

McCarron, who missed the cut at the Farmers Insurance Open, could not be reached for comment. He did not back off his criticism Friday of Mickelson using the wedges, although he used “bending the rules” instead of “cheating” in his comments.

He maintains that Mickelson, and others using the Ping wedges, are violating the spirit of the new rule.

Mickelson has been feuding with the USGA, in particular senior technical director Dick Rugge, since last summer when it became clear the new grooves would be effective this year.

He said he was not even certain that 20-year-old wedges spun the ball more than his new wedges, yet offered no apologies because the clubs are approved for play.

“I understand black and white,” Mickelson said Friday. “And I think that myself or any other player is allowed to play those clubs because they're approved – end of story.”

Instead, the story might just now be starting.

McCarron, who is on the 16-man Players Advisory Council, said the wedges would be discussed Tuesday at a PAC meeting in Los Angeles with PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem.

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