Right about now, that’s all I can do. I have a back problem that is keeping me from taking a big swing, but I can hit with my wedges. So, I’m practicing them a lot, and the ease with which I have to swing is having surprising results.

I have to have an easy, flowing swing, so I don’t hold the club too tightly. It’s just a turn to the right, and a turn to the left with soft hands, loose wrists, and loose arms. This is also a great way to practice the release that I have been working on all year.

Last Sunday I hit balls at the range with my son, and just lofted one shot after another right where I was aiming, and with pretty good distance control, too. I hope when my back heals and I can swing fully again that I’ll remember these lessons, because I am sure they apply to those shots, too.

But that isn’t why I haven’t been blogging recently. I’m hard at work to deliver my next book to the editor by the end of the month. The working title is The Golfing Attitude. The first section is about achieving complete concentration during the round and applying that to various situations during the round. The second section is full of playing tips, shotmaking pointers, and good advice for playing your best golf with the skills you have right now. It should be out by March 2012.

The Golf Chanel is in the middle of its second annual 7 Nights At the Academy. It comes on at 7 ET, 4 PT. Not bad, a bit heavy on commercials, though. Johnny Miller is his know-it-all self, but then he does pretty much know that amount, Nick Faldo is trying to tell us everything he knows in the few minutes he has on the air, but Raymond Floyd is the one to listen to. Everything he says is solid. If you haven’t read his book, The Elements of Scoring, you should get a copy right away. It’s the best book on the mental game I have ever read.

I’ll be watching a lot of college football in the next few weeks, I need a break from golf on TV.

You know, Better Recreational Golf makes a great Christmas gift, and the shipping is free. I await your clicks.