The love of the sport has helped this injured beginner to proceed to push himself.
Image by way of Narendra (Kapsy) Kapur
Welcome to Shaving Strokes, a brand new GOLF.com collection through which we share enhancements, learnings and takeaways from beginner golfers similar to you — together with a number of the pace bumps and challenges they confronted alongside the way in which.
One of my absolute favourite features of golf is the group it builds.
Sure, we’re all competing towards each other on the market on the golf course, however after the spherical, there’s camaraderie, with gamers eradicating their hats, shaking palms and providing to purchase each other drinks.
So once I ask gamers like your self to submit tales out of your {golfing} lives, it’s all the time fairly superior to see a number of the messages I obtain.
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That’s the case for at this time’s Shaving Strokes story, from a 62-year-old named Kapsy who despatched me the next e-mail about his journey as a golfer — one which practically ended on account of continual accidents.
Hi Nick! I’m 62 years previous, and have nasty stenosis in three areas of the Lumbar. What which means is that, not solely can I not swing freely, however virtually each shot is painful. Even placing, fires up the sciatica. Consequently, my swing pace is down large time. 18 years in the past, I clocked 126 MPH with a 3 wooden and 116 MPH with a 6 iron. That was then. Today, I’m barely 100 MPH with my driver, and within the very low 90s with my 6 iron. Needless to say, I had to determine a solution to play decently.
I like golfers like Kapsy.
He doesn’t want to play, however he’s grinding it out on the course due to his love for the sport. He’s not chasing cash, trophies or another kind of accolades — simply sheer enjoyment.
When I requested Kapsy if he’d elaborate on his story, he enthusiastically accepted.
In his eyes (and mine), it was necessary to remind gamers why we play this humorous (but irritating) recreation. Even higher, he supplied some tips about how he’s tailored his play after the continual accidents which have hindered him.
Below are a few of Kapsy’s secrets and techniques. If nothing else, his zest for the sport will put a smile in your face.
Adapting to continual accidents
When I requested Kapsy about why he even nonetheless performs golf, he didn’t sugarcoat his reasoning.
“Golf is my passion,” he mentioned. “I’m a very average golfer — up recently from a 9 to a 13 handicap due to my worsening stenosis. But I still have aspirations of being on the Super Seniors’ Tour when I turn 90.”
How a lot does he play given his limitations?
“It’s very painful to play, so I’m down from 3-4 rounds each week to about 1-2 now,” he mentioned. “Often, I don’t even take into consideration my rating. I couldn’t be bothered with that. The sheer pleasure of taking part in golf is sufficient for me.
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“I set small goals to drop a handicap stroke, hit more fairways or greens in regulations, or discard all 3-putts.”
Helpful swing changes
Given Kapsy’s continual accidents, I requested him if he might clarify the changes he’s made.
“For the full swing, I’ve realized that I need to hinge my right wrist more than ever before, I also have to widen my stance and extend more after impact,” he mentioned.
“At the moment, I’m unable to have more rotation (although I’ve always been quite flexible.) So to increase my swing speed (albeit marginally), I whip through the ball and hope for better impact position.”
How does he alter his swing with out overdoing it?
“A few months back, I was at the driving range with my friend Buddy, who is a low single marker,” he recalled. “After watching me hit a few balls, he pulled me apart and mentioned my swing was ‘jerky,’ and jogged my memory to not fear about distance, simply swing with rhythm.
“As much as I wanted to argue that I’d already lost so much distance, I listened to him and kept my swing smooth. I kept my head down just a fraction longer after impact. After a few weeks, it started to pay off.”
Image by way of Narendra (Kapsy) Kapur
Given his golf expertise, Kapsy knew he already had the muscle reminiscence to make a very good swing — he simply wanted to reprogram himself given his accidents.
“I merely needed to make minor changes to my swing, not revamp it,” he advised me. “I understand the mechanics of the swing enough to make the requisite changes, especially if I’m uncomfortable with something, or if it isn’t working.”
Kapsy added that he can’t apply typically due to the accidents however can nonetheless lock in mentally, retaining himself sharp to get essentially the most out of his rounds.
“Physically, I do some exercises and stretching, but mentally, I keep myself devoid of anger and anxiety,” he mentioned. “I also never say anything negative, only positive affirmation. Negativity never helped anybody!”
Image by way of Narendra (Kapsy) Kapur
Advice for different injured golfers
I requested Kapsy what recommendation he’d give another person who’s attempting to enhance at golf — whether or not they’re coping with continual ache, getting back from an damage, battling efficiency nervousness or simply hopeful to publish decrease scores.
“Take 2-3 clubs to the driving range, and start building up your confidence with only them,” he mentioned. “For your subsequent journey to the vary, use 2-3 different golf equipment, working towards from bunkers, in addition to your chipping and placing.
“Chip with different clubs, always putting more weight on the lead side, and never decelerate with any swing you take.”
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The significance of goal-setting
Lastly, I needed to know what Kapsy’s subsequent objective is as a golfer. Or requested one other means, at 62 and with all his accidents, why doesn’t he simply name it quits, decide up a brand new passion and save himself from the ache?
Like any passionate golfer, Kapsy scoffed at such a suggestion.
“I love golf, and I want to play it for as long as I can. That’s the big picture for me,” he mentioned. “I really feel it’s all the time good to have a objective. So, as a lot as I don’t significantly care about scores, I’ve set myself the objective of getting again into single figures.
“All of this makes me happy, because it allows me to continue to play golf. What more could I want?”
Want to share your firsthand expertise for an opportunity to be featured in a future Shaving Strokes article? Share your particulars and progress by emailing me at nick.dimengo@golf.com. We’re all in this collectively, so let’s share our wins, our learnings and our frustrations to assist each other enhance!
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