Fell Off a Ladder: Haven't Been Out for a While

I haven't been out for a while. The long slow Spring of our discontent out here in Western Canada is finally becoming Summer. And, in doing one of those Spring things, powerwashing the siding on Mom's house, I fell off a 12 foot ladder, out of a flower bed and onto a concrete walkway.

Now, fortunately I've had rockclimbing training, sky-diving training and a little bit of Aikido. I managed to throw away the power wash wand and as I was coming down I kicked myself away from the ladder and twisted to land most on my right lat (upper back) and roll, Ukemi. I managed to keep my hip, short ribs, collarbone, shoulder joint, vertebrae and skull all out of the impact. Scraped my elbow up though, but that's just road rash. But, unlike Jackie Chan, I strained my lower back in twist and roll action I had to do. I've been resting it and not golfing, at least not a full eighteen.

Because I can't be totally without golf. I took a lesson. Went up to see the people at Urban Links. I had a half hour lesson using their video analysis equipment. If you have never done this, DO IT.

In a half hour, I learned that I'm most efficient as a one plane swinger and I have a bad tendency to straighten out of a good spine angle (I think because I'm short, I think I have to get out of the way of the club). By the end of a half hour, I was hitting my 3 Wood 235 yards with a high soft trajectory and slamming out 254 yard dead straight drives, and the machine only gives you carry yardage.

I learned so much more by being able to see my swing especially with those "John Madden" lines showing posture, head position and swing plane. Additionally, you get details on swing path (outside/in or inside/out), clubface at impact (square, open, closed) and azimuth (delofted, loft added). Just tightening a muscle on your face changes all of these things. You get to learn the feel of producing ideal numbers and see if you can consistently replicate them: Great practice and way more informative than trying to deduce what your doing by watching ball flight at an open range.

I've been hitting a few balls at the range for the last few days to get back to playing shape, and the good news is that these lessons translate into results outdoors as well as indoors. Can't wait to get back out now. If you're up in Canada, find the Urban Links near you, but I'm sure there are similar places all over North America. I understand that in Japan, most golfer never play on a course, but go to driving ranges and indoor simulators, so I expect that there a few of these centres anywhere you might be.

A friend from OZ is in town, we'll be playing at Blackhawk next week, so more after that.