Month One in the books: a structured swing, a semi-cooperative body, and a brain learning to stay out of the way.

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⛳️ One Month In

May was the first full test of whether I could build a structured golf improvement routine — and actually stick to it. Between league rounds, swing clinics, mobility work, and my first 18-hole round in over a decade, I now have one month of tracking, practice, and lightly bruised golf balls behind me.

This post is my recap: where my game is, what I’m working on, and how the next phase of this arc will unfold.

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📚 Month 1 Focus Recap: Getting Into the Swing

Monthly Theme: Build the Framework

This first month was about re-establishing structure. I didn’t try to fix everything. I started with routines, rhythm, and recognizing the shape of my tendencies.

🧩 Weekly Focus Breakdown

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🧠 Mindset & Routine Check-In

⛳ Pre-Shot Routines

• Full Swing: G.R.A.C.E. → Gameplan. Reference. Align. Center. Execute.
• Chipping: Look. Feel. Align. Glide.
• Putting: See it. Feel it. Trust it. Roll it.

These aren’t just mental placeholders — they’re starting to shape how I prepare and swing. G.A.P.S. (Grip, Alignment, Posture, Stance) is also now part of my setup flow.

🧠 Mental Tags

Each hole, I’m tagging my mindset: “focused,” “rushed,” “calm,” etc. The patterns are interesting — and helpful for knowing when to reset instead of waiting for the next round to figure it out.

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💪 Strengths This Month

• Short game decision-making, especially without my 60°
• Routines stuck — even when rushed or nervous
• Tempo is noticeably more balanced
• Mid-round recovery is improving
• Structured, thoughtful practice sessions (not zombie range)

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⚠️ Struggles & Development Areas

• Clubface control, especially with driver and long irons
• Shoulder alignment — keeps sneaking open
• Confidence with hybrid and 5–6 irons
• GIR still low, often missing short or right
• Lag putting pace control
• Tension or indecision early in rounds

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🔍 Detailed Game Analysis (By Category)

🌀 Swing Technique

• Getting better at: Tempo, balance, transition
• Still needs work: Clubface control, full finish, setup alignment

🎯 Tee Shots

• Getting better at: Visualizing shape, 3W confidence
• Still needs work: Driver push/slice tendency, hybrid fear factor, tee box strategy

🏹 Approach Shots

• Getting better at: 7–9i contact, planning for rollout
• Still needs work: 5–6i gapping, alignment, distance control

⛳️ Around the Green

• Getting better at: 54° wedge trust, first-chip success
• Still needs work: Touch from tight lies, 60° reintroduction

🎯 Putting

• Getting better at: Routine, short putts
• Still needs work: Lag putting pace, starting line visualization

🌲 Playing from Trouble

• Getting better at: Recovery decisions, low runners, mental reset
• Still needs work: Greenside bunker confidence, sidehill lies

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🧰 Club Confidence Check

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🏋️‍♀️ Strength & Mobility Quick Check-In

I completed about 3 out of 4 strength sessions per week, and daily mobility — though often abbreviated.

• Wins: Improved shoulder/hip rotation, fewer stiff backs on swing days
• Work to do: Dedicated core/rotation days, cable machine intimidation, post-round recovery habits
• Stretch MVPs: Pigeon pose and banded overhead shoulder openers

👉 Full fitness post coming soon.

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📈 Trending Up

• Routines are sticking
• Swing tempo is more stable
• Strategic decisions are sharper
• Mental game is getting tracked in real-time
• Practice sessions are structured and intentional

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📅 June Game Plan: Own Your Motion

This month, I’m focusing on:

• Full swing control: tee shots, long approaches, clubface awareness
• Tempo under pressure
• Building trust with mid and long clubs
• Tracking GIR and club confidence by round

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🗺️ Revising the Plan: A Five-Month Arc Toward Par

Now that Month One is wrapped, the direction is clearer.

What started as a scattered training goal has turned into a 5-month structured program, modeled after a par-5 — one swing per month, each with a purpose.

Each month builds on the last. Routines built in May (Swing 1) now support the full swing work ahead in June (Swing 2). By September, I want to be scoring with strategy and trust, not just mechanics.

I’ll share a full breakdown of this 5-swing season plan — themes, drills, mindset shifts — in an upcoming post.

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🏌️‍♀️ May in One Quote:

“Progress is when you realize the shot you didn’t take was the smartest one all day.”