[Yoda]

Last Friday I made one of my infrequent trips to The Arena -- the golf course (not the practice grounds) -- and was rewarded with the finest Driving round of my life. I missed only one fairway -- just to the right on the 12th -- and that by only two feet in the first cut. The rest were carbon copies of each other: Long and dead at my target.

My only swing thought?

Drag the wet mop through Impact.

Interestingly, I've practiced my long game very little these past few months. Instead, I've spent countless hours in the short game area, hitting all manner of chips, pitches and bunker shots. Thousands of them, seeking on every shot that heavy feel of wet mop dragging through Impact and the wonderful Compression and Sound that results.

As an assist, I have stationed a mop on my back patio that I have to pass each day on my way to feed the fish. This is making use of the Theory of Accessibility: If it's in sight and convenient, you'll use it. If it's not, you probably won't. Rarely do I pass that mop that I don't stick it into the pool to wet it down and then plop it onto the patio. I then spend a couple of minutes s-l-o-w-l-y dragging it a few times through Impact, the Follow-Through (Both Arms Straight position). And every now and then I'll include a Finish Swivel. I grip down so that the mop handle runs up almost the full length of my left forearm.

I focus on the heavy feel as I drag it through. It's much more the heavy feel of Clubhead Lag Pressure (The Secret) than the broom I often see recommended, and I love to see those wet, heavy, trailing mop tentacles tracing a straight line through Impact. I love the Drag the mop puts on my leading Flat Left Wrist and the Pressure against my Right Forefinger Pressure Point that seems to extend all the way up into my leading Right Forearm.

I have also stationed an Impact Bag and Club directly by the door from the garage into the house. Going and coming, rarely do I pass that bag without enjoying a minute or two of conditioning drills. Centrifugal Left Arm and Club Throw-out by the Pivot (Swinging) and Muscular Right Arm and Club Drive-Out from the Shoulder (Hitting). Arms separate, then Arms together. Shoot that Club into the bag; Hold it there for a few moments with your originating Thrust; then Rest. Thank you, Ben Doyle: "Shoot. Hold. Rest."

Reading about these practice techniques won't make much of a difference in your Game. You must do them. And if you do, you may find that they are the bridge to your next level. You may not be able to buy a Golf Swing, but you can buy a mop, wet it down and spend a couple of minutes or so a day s-l-o-w-l-y dragging it through Impact. If you don't want to spring for a mop, hook a wet towel around the hosel for the same effect. And put an Impact Bag and Club by your entry door and spend another couple of minutes using your leading Hands to bury the Clubhead into the Bag. Between the two, you will have invested less than five minutes a day -- but following my prescription -- every day.

Not a bad trade for a lifetime of better Golf!