stuck on 73

[stuckon73]

Long time, first time. I've been playing Golf for just under 2 year's. Being 30 I have a lot of catching up to do, however in my first year of playing I broke 100, 90, and 80. I have seen enough threads to know there will be skeptics but it's true. I battle the shanks after learning it was a real thing but that is not the reason for this post. I have shot 17 73's in the last 4 months. Whether I go 33-40, finish birdie eagle birdie, or bogey bogey, I'm stuck on 73. Course from the whites, 5925 68.3/114. The course is short enough already so moving up a box is not something I really dont want to do. The closest I came was 2 under going into 17. 470 par 5 water in play left half about 270. Hit drive and next 2 shots into the water for a 10. Very next round 1 under going into 17, played safe and flushed a 3 wood(go taylormade!!)in the drink. I'm thinking(which could very well be my problem)it's mental. Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated.

[14ledo81]

Welcome to TST.

Are all the 73's from the same course and same set of tees?

I know you said you did not want to move forward a set, but maybe try moving back?  Or playing a different course?

Something to break things up a bit might help.

[billchao]

Hit a couple more balls into the water on 18. Problem solved ;-)

[14ledo81]

Hit a couple more balls into the water on 18. Problem solved

Ahh... I thought he wanted to go lower than 73.  I suppose what you propose would be a lot easier...

[HawkNballs]

If you're a 7 handicap, I believe you can only take a 7 on a par 5.  There's your 70 right there!  ;)

[Aflighter]

Long time, first time. I've been playing Golf for just under 2 year's. Being 30 I have a lot of catching up to do, however in my first year of playing I broke 100, 90, and 80. I have seen enough threads to know there will be skeptics but it's true. I battle the shanks after learning it was a real thing but that is not the reason for this post. I have shot 17 73's in the last 4 months. Whether I go 33-40, finish birdie eagle birdie, or bogey bogey, I'm stuck on 73. Course from the whites, 5925 68.3/114. The course is short enough already so moving up a box is not something I really dont want to do. The closest I came was 2 under going into 17. 470 par 5 water in play left half about 270. Hit drive and next 2 shots into the water for a 10. Very next round 1 under going into 17, played safe and flushed a 3 wood(go taylormade!!)in the drink. I'm thinking(which could very well be my problem)it's mental. Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated.

well since your a 7 handicap and shooting a 73 on a short course with that course rating and slope your already shooting about 2 shots under your handicap.your 73s are actually 5 handicap scores for that course,.your asking question we would all like to know answer.to shoot lower than a 73 your asking to lower your handicap 3 strokes and yes the big score on a hole or 2 is hurting you,you can focus on maybe playing few other holes better.it could be mental by fixating on the number 73.you just have to improve all around to lower handicap therefore shooting better than a 73.read it somewhere about the odds of shooting 4 or more strokes better than your handicap and it was high.its nice to hear someone who actually counts all his strokes but like was said earlier,your 10 was actually a 7 or so when it comes to how handicap is decided.its only a matter of time before you break 73 on that course since your already shooting it so many times.if I would just make few more putts or hit couple more greens id improve my handicap.secret is you just have to find a way to do it.

[SweetSpot]

My vote is on your mentality .. two months ago I was constantly shooting par.. couldn't break it though I had before. I would be 4 under with 4 to go and still shoot par. I then realized my body and mind just got comfortable. I decided to begin to enjoy being uncomfortable coming down the stretch. I've shot the most rounds in the 60s since then than I ever have. I play everyday and mental game is everything when it comes to a scratch golfer breaking par consistently. Next time you're coming down the stretch get excited to make another birdie not afraid to make another bogey. You'll begin to shoot lower than you thought.

[Pretzel]

I would agree with this who say it's probably mental. I had the same issue with breaking par for the longest time until I played a round with a couple friends at an easy local course. I was a 6 handicap at the time and only convinced one of the friends to come play because I said I wasn't that great compared to another golfer they didn't like playing with because he played too well (this friend was a beginner). The others kept score and I just relaxed and had a good time, and ended up shooting three under for nine (which was 30 on this course). I think it just comes down to ignoring what your total score is and rememberig that the only thing that matters is the shot in front of you at that moment. Some of my best rounds come when I'm helping out with the junior golf league and keeping their scores instead of mine. After the round I might look back and see I shot par or better just because I was only focused on one shot at a time.

[RH31]

Just hit your 200yd club off the tee, layup to a good wedge yardage, knock it on and 2 putt.

[BeRich]

I would try not adding up your score until the end of the round.  That way you can focus on each hole instead of getting in your own head about how you need to finish in order to reach par.

[Golfingdad]

I would try not adding up your score until the end of the round.  That way you can focus on each hole instead of getting in your own head about how you need to finish in order to reach par.

I think this is good advice for those of us who hover around other milestones (breaking 100, 90, 85, 80) but it doesn't really work for a guy at his level.  It's really, really hard to not know where you stand when you've made 15 pars, one birdie and one bogey, or anything else along those lines where you're a shot or two above or below par the whole time.

[HawkNballs]

I think this is good advice for those of us who hover around other milestones (breaking 100, 90, 85, 80) but it doesn't really work for a guy at his level.  It's really, really hard to not know where you stand when you've made 15 pars, one birdie and one bogey, or anything else along those lines where you're a shot or two above or below par the whole time.

I agree.  I knew I was 1 under going into hole 16 today.  I wanted to finish under par, but finished at par (which is good!).  I knew I had to par the last three holes to stay under par.    I've only shot par or better 4 times now, but I wanted to shoot 1 or 2 under.

I don't really feel like I felt any pressure or anything.  I just hooked my driver on the last two holes.  I started leaking oil with the driver only.

[BeRich]

I think this is good advice for those of us who hover around other milestones (breaking 100, 90, 85, 80) but it doesn't really work for a guy at his level.  It's really, really hard to not know where you stand when you've made 15 pars, one birdie and one bogey, or anything else along those lines where you're a shot or two above or below par the whole time.

Ah, good point.

I like the "hit a couple more into the water" suggestion.