Wildly Inconsistent Scoring Streak

**ragontona** · July 24, 2006

My last three times out, I've carded a 98, a 77, and an 88. Every time out is like an adventure... I never know what I'm going to do out there. The inconsistency is driving me nuts; the last time out, I played the par 3's at -1, yet I took a 10 on a par five. I'm scared to enter any tournaments, because my 8.6 (now a 9.7, thanks to the crazy high scores) handicap would crush me if I shot another 98.

Anyone ever have a weird stretch like this?

**rembrandt** · July 24, 2006

Consistant lower scores comes with one thing and thats practice, practice and more practice. Course management lies between your ears and try to avoid the big scores by thinking your way around the course. Play to your strengths and don't try to pull off shots that are risky. Never in my life have I had to lay up to a creek on a par 4 but I do it now every now and then cause the risk of going for it is just that......too risky and instead of a boggie a 8 or 10 pops up. Just think your way around the course and play within yourself.

**cdriver** · July 24, 2006

I am having a little of those troubles myself. I shot 99 and 79 once on back to back days and recently, I shot 50 and 40 on conscecutive 9's??? Some of it I can attribute to some very bad luck coupled with some exceptionally poor course management. I never have figured out after topping and pulling a drive into the trees 120 yards off the tee that it is unlikely I can hit a low hook that carries a pond 200 yards away, hits in front of the bunker and skids to a halt right by the pin.

**Finn07** · July 25, 2006

I would say course management and avoid the three putts. You obviously have game so stay within yourself. If you see that your having a bad day shorten your swing and take a club more, just remember slow it down. Dont think you have to make up for the seven with a double eagle. You'll be fine.

**jamesduncan** · July 25, 2006

i can deff relate to this.

the beginning of this season i was working on some swing adjustments and also changed up my entire on course putting rountine/mindset (to rotella/pennick based)

i carded 2 rounds in the 90s (one in a state qualifier too ..ouch)..but i stuck with the changes and now things have come back around to mid 70s and low 80s on a bad day.

maybe try to figure out if theres one thing that is letting you down and causing a few big numbers (for me it was my driver..snap hooks as i did some small swing adjustments..taking it from the range to the course, plus putting) or if its a more constant thing like hitting loose shots and then not being able to get back in it (the days you can, you do your 70s lets say)

good luck and i know what its like.

**NM Golf** · July 25, 2006

Its called golf unfortunately. We as amateurs can expect to be inconsistant at best. Heck even the pros aren't consistant, there is always some guy who shoots 80 or more in every tournament. Do you really think he plays like that all the time? Tiger is the most consistant player there is yet he still has his little ups and downs, and he doesn't win every tournament. Golf is too hard of a game to play good all the time. Last week I shot 69, 80, 84, 78,and 70 on consecutive days and 4 of the five rounds were on the same course. Start off with 3 under par then not break 80 for the next two days. Its a crazy game.

**ragontona** · July 25, 2006

Its called golf unfortunately...

Best reply so far.

**jamesduncan** · July 25, 2006

in the words of Raffi: thats the stupidest reply ive ever read
yes we all know if called golf.

yes were all amatuers, but yes, we can develop a level of skill where we've gained "some" sense of "control" and consistency to play in alteast a "range"

now when the range goes from mid 70s to mid 90s, something is amiss.

usually the pros hit 80s cause the set up is crazy or the conditions warrant it or theyre taking some big gambles to make up ground on the leaderboard and it doenst work out.

infact shooting 82 and 76, really isnt all that different (in my mind atleast), save for a bad swing here or there or a few missed up and downs.

when stuff starts balloning into the 90s (and the person is a 70s shooter) this simply isnt "payback time" from the golf gods. ;)

when i shot two 90s this year (the first since i was about 14 ie: 23 years ago), i wasnt simply going "oh well, tomorrow is another day", i was deff seeing the effects of some major adjustments.

if golf involved having to deal with 78 one day and 98 the next, im sure few people would actually put in the time to improve.

but 78 and 85? sure.

**NM Golf** · July 27, 2006

yes we all know if called golf.

No that is the dumbest reply I've ever read. Spell check doesn't catch everything sometimes we must read our posts.

usually the pros hit 80s cause the set up is crazy or the conditions warrant it or theyre taking some big gambles to make up ground on the leaderboard and it doenst work out

.

Um I did not check every tournament played so far this year but in the 10 or so I did check there was an 80 or higher shot in every one. Are all the tournaments set up so hard? Are all those guys really trying to make ground on the leaderboard in the first round? Those reasons you stated are just excuses for occasionally not playing very well. The pros shoot 80 because it happens. Sometimes you just suck! To think that the professionals are above the everyday woes of just occasionally not playing very darn good is ridiculous. Even Tiger misses a cut here and there. Unfortunately, amateurs are even more prone to this.

UpandDown · July 27, 2006

yet I took a 10 on a par five. I'm scared to enter any tournaments, because my 8.6 (now a 9.7, thanks to the crazy high scores) handicap would crush me if I shot another 98.

Can you post a 10 on a hole with a 8.6 Handicap? I was under the impression that the max score you can post with your current handicap on a given hole is double bogey, under the USGA Equitable Stroke Control.

Maybe I am misunderstanding the USGA rule. Thanks.

**ragontona** · July 27, 2006

Can you post a 10 on a hole with a 8.6 Handicap? I was under the impression that the max score you can post with your current handicap on a given hole is double bogey, under the USGA Equitable Stroke Control.

You're correct. For the purposes of this dicussion, I was talking gross score.

(Since I first posted this thread, a few more crappy rounds have raised me to a 9.7, so I'm now capable of carding a 7 on any hole on the course... ugh.)

**jamesduncan** · July 28, 2006

No that is the dumbest reply I've ever read. Spell check doesn't catch everything sometimes we must read our posts.

wow someone who has time all day at their job to spell check theor posts..must be nice. meanwhile back in the real world.. seriously, forget the lame spelling attacks and try to clarify what you're actually trying to say. let me help you: youre trying to say that basically "rub of the green" can wipe out years of practice and the average competent player (5-10 handicap lets say) should expect to shoot 20 above their handicap from time to time and not really question it. if thats the case, why would anyone practice in the first place? all im saying is that there is a range one can expect..even your example (68-low 80s) is in the that range. Ive done it myself (i shot under par as a junior) 'Where all the tournaments set up that hard?" Have you ever walked a Tour course? Hopefully you can answer this yourself.

***iacas*** · July 28, 2006

You're correct. For the purposes of this dicussion, I was talking gross score.

You know, I was just about to correct you and say you could get an 8, but you're right. Outside of single digits (9 or below anyway), where the limit is "double bogey," you can take a 7 for 10-19, 8 for 20-29, and so on.

Get back down under 9 and you can only take a 5 on a par 3 or a 6 on a par 4 though.

More information available in this article .

**ragontona** · July 28, 2006

Get back down under 9 and you can only take a 5 on a par 3 or a 6 on a par 4 though.

Believe me, I wish I could. My ball striking has gone south as of late -- too many missed fairways and greens -- but I'm working to get it turned around.

**MaRx** · July 28, 2006

Lately i've been shooting lower 80s myself... I'm getting really frustrated. I know 70% of my problem is mental. I screw myself up listening to the voices in my head.... I over-think slighty tougher puts, chips, and approaches screwing up 70% of the time... Mental confidence plays such a huge part in one's game. Practice helps immensily, only if taken seriously. Practice for a few hours at the range/ around the greens, you will impress yourself. The confidence rises, and your scores will lower. I need to get my butt back to some basic practicing again soon....

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