The 2nd Cut Newsletter: Edition #16
Round Recap, Offseason Changes, Scottie’s Putting, Ludvig Aberg, Reader Giveaway and Ryder Cup Poll
“Everything should be made as simple as possible but no simpler.” - Albert Einstein
Edition #16
Welcome back to The 2nd Cut Newsletter, Edition #16!
If you haven’t read last week’s Deep Dive, check it out here: Information Overload
In today’s Newsletter: Round Recap, Offseason Changes, Scottie’s Putting, Ludvig Aberg, Reader Giveaway and Ryder Cup Poll
If you’re new here, this newsletter is designed to provide valuable insights, tips, and ideas to improve your golf game from around the internet.
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1 - Newsletter every Wednesday
1 - Deep dive every Friday
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Round Recap ⛳ ⛳
Last week, I did a round recap of my season-best 71 (-1) and then followed it up with another 71. It felt great, but it was short-lived. My next round included a couple of all-time poor shots, a 15-stroke increase, and multiple double bogeys. It can’t all be good. Below is my recap of that round.
Round #29 of 2023:
Score: 86 (+14)
My range warm-up felt really good, and I don’t say that often. My first tee shot was piped down the middle. My approach shot from 75 yards wasn’t great, but I was on the green. 2 putt, Par. All good.
Hole #2 is when expectations of a low 70s round flew out the window. *mistake #1 was having high expectations
It was a Par 3, about 155 yards to the flag, uphill, with a slight breeze at us. I clubbed up and tried to hit a smooth 7 to the middle of the green. Instead, I shanked it 50 yards across the cart path into the crap. No idea what happened. I proceeded to shoot a 6, DOUBLE PAR.
I followed that up with a double bogey but buckled down and played the rest of the front nine at even PAR for a 41.
The back 9 was another story that included three more double bogeys. In total, I had one triple bogey and four double bogeys. Yeesh.
I drove the ball well and hit some good shots here and there, but mostly, everything was just a bit off. Approach shots were meh. Putting and chipping weren’t great. My focus was lacking, but I can’t pinpoint my poor round on anything specific. I just felt a tad off.
A round like this might have discouraged me in the past, but I chalked it up to one of those days where I just didn’t have it. On to the next round.
The only real lesson here is I let my expectations get the best of me. Each round is a new day, and in golf, anything can happen. Keep expectations low; stay in the present. Thinking about a score will only make things worse.
That said, it was a fun day with friends with perfect weather. Happy Birthday, Jenn!
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Tweets of the Week
For some of us, golf season is coming to a close. I’m a big twilight golfer, so it will be tougher to get out there. It gets a bit cooler every day, and sunset comes earlier. If you are willing to brave the cold (I can’t function in anything below 50 degrees), congrats! If this doesn’t apply to you because you're in a warm climate, congrats (and I’m jealous). Feel free to skip this section. Link
Jon Sherman (@practicalgolf) makes a good point in the tweet below. Now would be an excellent time to work on any changes to your swing and/or equipment. Give yourself a head start by getting a couple of rounds under your belt with the new change. The offseason is a perfect time to work on things without worrying about your score, and your focus can be entirely on the process.
I’ll be doing more offseason content as we move into cooler weather.
LKD (@lukekerrdineen) tweeted the video below of Scottie Scheffler working with a new putting coach. Scottie had a dreadful year on the greens while being #1 in almost every other Shots Gained category. Link
As LKD explains, Scottie is bent over a bit more, placing his eyes just above the ball. He is also gripping the putter lower, which aligns his forearms with the shaft more.
Keep an eye on Scottie’s putting this week at the Ryder Cup. If these changes get him back to tour average… lookout. My money is on Scottie.
📺 💻 T2C Media 📺 💻
Below is another excellent swing video breakdown from @lukekerrdineen on 1st time Ryder Cup player Ludvig Aberg. Aberg is only 23 years old, turned pro this summer, and hasn’t even played in a single major.
He’s 6’3” and hits the ball a mile with the smoothest swing since Ernie Els. Even Rory was impressed with his drives this week. My guess is we’ll be hearing this guy’s name quite a bit in the future.
🏆🏆 Reader Q&A Giveaway 🏆🏆
It’s been a while since we did a Reader Q&A giveaway. Send me your questions, and you’ll receive a pack of Personalized T2C Western Birch Tees if your question is selected.
Please submit your questions in the comment section below or email me your questions at the2ndcut@substack.com.
Ryder Cup Poll 🏆
Thanks!
Thank you for reading The 2nd Cut Newsletter! I hope you enjoyed it and found something helpful for your golf game.
Til next time.
Tough round (you're getting closer to a TSOH scorecard).
Here's my question: What are the top three things to thing about for quality, consistent chipping? Hopefully not a dumb question from someone who has been playing for ~25 years, but I honestly don't know the answer. When I step up to the ball, my general thought process is (1) get somewhere in between shaving the grass / creating a divot and (2) make sure to swing through the ball. Thanks!