Month One in the books: a structured swing, a semi-cooperative body, and a brain learning to stay out of the way.
⛳️ 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.
📚 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
|
Week |
Dates |
Weekly Focus |
Key Takeaways |
|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
May 12–17 |
Foundations & Feel |
Reentry week — range rhythm, short game structure, tempo focus |
|
2 |
May 18–24 |
Pre-Shot Routine & Tempo |
G.R.A.C.E. routine established, chipping routine and putting routines added |
|
3 |
May 25–31 |
Swing Shape & Clubface Control |
Swing clinic + lesson focus: face awareness, transition tempo, alignment |
|
4 |
June 1–2 |
Reflection & June Prep |
Program revision, practice review, plan for full swing work ahead |
🧠 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.
💪 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)
⚠️ 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
🔍 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
🧰 Club Confidence Check
|
Club |
Confidence Level |
Notes |
|---|---|---|
|
Driver |
😬 Low |
Pushes right, setup focus needed |
|
3W |
👍 Medium-High |
Solid backup, go-to tee club |
|
5W |
🙂 Medium |
Rarely used, inconsistent contact |
|
Hybrid (4H) |
😬 Low |
Unreliable, especially from rough |
|
5i–6i |
😬 Low |
Often shorter than 7i, gapping issues |
|
7i–9i |
🙂 Medium |
Fairly consistent with good tempo |
|
PW–GW (48°–52°) |
🙂 Medium |
Useful, especially for partial swings |
|
SW (54°) |
💚 High |
Most trusted club this month |
|
LW (60°) |
💤 TBD |
Just returned to the bag |
|
Putter |
🥺 Very Low |
Blade feels wrong, and weight is too low |
🏋️♀️ 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.
📈 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
📅 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
🗺️ 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.
|
Month |
Swing |
Focus Theme |
|---|---|---|
|
May |
Setup |
Build the Framework |
|
June |
Commitment |
Own Your Motion |
|
July |
Positioning |
Play to Your Strengths |
|
August |
Execution |
Trust Under Pressure |
|
September |
Finish |
Score What You’ve Built |
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.
🏌️♀️ May in One Quote:
“Progress is when you realize the shot you didn’t take was the smartest one all day.”