Back 9 is killing me

[Sam612]

For the last 5 weeks I play lights out the first 9 holes. The worse I've scored the front 9 is4 over. The best I've scored the front 9 is even.

Then I get to the back 9 and shoot 12 over.

What's up with that?

Am I tired by the time I get to the back 9?

What can I do to keep up my game through the whole round?

[Lihu]

For the last 5 weeks I play lights out the first 9 holes. The worse I've scored the front 9 is4 over. The best I've scored the front 9 is even.

Then I get to the back 9 and shoot 12 over.

What's up with that?

Am I tired by the time I get to the back 9?

What can I do to keep up my game through the whole round?

What course are you playing? The back 9 could be just harder?

[flopster]

For the last 5 weeks I play lights out the first 9 holes. The worse I've scored the front 9 is4 over. The best I've scored the front 9 is even.

Then I get to the back 9 and shoot 12 over.

What's up with that?

Am I tired by the time I get to the back 9?

What can I do to keep up my game through the whole round?

Back nine at my course plays 2-3 strokes harder than the front and I have the same problem, in a way this is probably good since it will toughen you up over time and when you play courses with different setups it will allow more confidence, I wondered also if fatigue may be setting in some or my swing has gotten too far away from the basics that keep it together during the front, or it could just be pressure we put upon ourselves after having good results through the first 9.

[inthehole]

For the last 5 weeks I play lights out the first 9 holes. The worse I've scored the front 9 is4 over. The best I've scored the front 9 is even.

Then I get to the back 9 and shoot 12 over.

What's up with that?

Am I tired by the time I get to the back 9?

What can I do to keep up my game through the whole round?

same here - its predictable.     Have trouble matching my front scores on the back ... AT ANY COURSE I PLAY.      It's a pattern ... should be the other way around, I'm warmed up, things should be clicking, but never happens ... frustrating

[GangGreen]

This has been a problem for me as well, My back 9's have been between 6-10 shots worse then the front so far this year. Still early in the season, but I'm starting to think I'm overdoing it at the range on the days leading up to my rounds and fatigue is starting to factor in. I hit the range Thursday and Friday nights, had a nice long lesson on Saturday and then played 18 on Sunday. Maybe I'm just not as young as I used to be.

[MS256]

What kinds of things go wrong on the back nine? (Long game, short game, everything?)

Could be any of the things that have already been mentioned.

Some of the seniors where I play obviously start getting tired on the back nine.

For the younger guys it's just about the opposite. They start to get loosened up, their swing gets much longer, and they start trying to hit the ball harder. In the early part of the round they are much more under control.

My typical round is usually good shots and fairly conservative play (for me) for the first few holes, start to blow up a little in the middle when I get a little too full of myself (and start getting greedy), and get back under control the last few holes (when I figure out I'm not good enough to be greedy).

[bkuehn1952]

For those who have consistent problems on the back nine, do you think you focus too much on what your final score will be?  It is easy to lose sight of the need to continue to hit one shot at a time when one has a great start to a round.  I know I still struggle at times on the back nine when I become too aware of "what might be."  I can be relaxed and confident until I suddenly realize that I have a really nice round developing.  Then I unconsciously change the way I play.  I become more tentative and try to protect against making errors.  The way to fix this problem is to be aware that it can happen and remind oneself to focus on the next shot, not what the ultimate score might be.

Fatigue can also be a factor.  I know my legs get a bit tired after walking & carrying 11-12 holes.  I try to take a few moments to sit and rest as the round proceeds as well as do a few leg stretches on the back nine.  Drinking water helps, too.  Some players like to snack on healthy food items.

[CarlSpackler]

Dang! I have the opposite problem. I played against my friend in FL over the winter and he had me by 6 on the front and I beat him by 4 overall. He shares your problem by the way. Last fall, I shot 46 on the front  and 35 on the back at NCR CC. Perhaps we can tag team. ;-)