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tuffluck
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i've started to come to terms that my golf game is probably going to hover around the "bogey golfer" status for some time--which is fine--but my inconsistency to even shoot bogey is really getting to me.  i.e. last week i was hitting the ball beautifully and missed about 6 putts inside 5 feet.  and yesterday i had 35 putts (which is good for me), with some really good hole outs.  but i lost 8 drives, including one in the water.  wound up shooting 105, with 15 penalty strokes.  granted the wind was awful and at least 3 of the drives i lost to the wind, but still even 5 is too many.  next week i'll probably go out and putt well, drive well, and hit my irons like crap.  that just seems to be how i play week to week.

at any rate the lack of consistency makes me angry.  i stop enjoying the beauty of being outside.  i don't thrash clubs around or show a lot of temper (my 56 wedge does see some 20 foot underhanded launches back towards the cart occasionally), but i certainly feel the anger and i can get short with my playing partners.  i'm wondering if golf isn't for me??  this is supposed to be an enjoyable game and i find myself more pissed off during a round than pleased i have the free time and good health to get out and do something like play golf.  is anyone else like me or have been like me??  of course i don't want to shoot a 105 every time, but it's going to happen and when it does i don't want to be ready to sell my clubs as soon as i get home.

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Originally Posted by tuffluck

i've started to come to terms that my golf game is probably going to hover around the "bogey golfer" status for some time--which is fine--but my inconsistency to even shoot bogey is really getting to me.  i.e. last week i was hitting the ball beautifully and missed about 6 putts inside 5 feet.  and yesterday i had 35 putts (which is good for me), with some really good hole outs.  but i lost 8 drives, including one in the water.  wound up shooting 105, with 15 penalty strokes.  granted the wind was awful and at least 3 of the drives i lost to the wind, but still even 5 is too many.  next week i'll probably go out and putt well, drive well, and hit my irons like crap.  that just seems to be how i play week to week.

at any rate the lack of consistency makes me angry.  i stop enjoying the beauty of being outside.  i don't thrash clubs around or show a lot of temper (my 56 wedge does see some 20 foot underhanded launches back towards the cart occasionally), but i certainly feel the anger and i can get short with my playing partners.  i'm wondering if golf isn't for me??  this is supposed to be an enjoyable game and i find myself more pissed off during a round than pleased i have the free time and good health to get out and do something like play golf.  is anyone else like me or have been like me??  of course i don't want to shoot a 105 every time, but it's going to happen and when it does i don't want to be ready to sell my clubs as soon as i get home.

i keep the pissed off energy at work and play the "i am enjoying life on the course". sorry i am, a dbl bogey golfer at best. played sunday morning best ball against a couple buddies (lost a little money tho) my new driver pleased me i was concerned at first, but hit a sm bucket of balls before going out which help out on my apprehensions that, i would shank duff many of my tee shots, that did not happen.  me and my partner played most of my shots (after i would hit in the fairway he would un load into the water LOL) consistency is there, short game meh need to work on chipping and putting, unless you are getting 250 mil don't worry enjoy.

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After a few lessons and a solid start to last season my game has declined. Lack of practice is the reason. Anyway I used to get very upset when I would play lousy, but have since come to grips with the fact that as a person about to get married the days of multiple outings in a week and consitent range and lessons are out for some time. So now when I go play on a Sunday it is pure enjoyment to be out for 5 hrs of PLAY. Pop a beer and enjoy the outdoors being a kid for 5 hours on any given day is better than the best day of work for me.

  :cobra: UL stand Bag
:ping: G425 Max
 :ping: hybrid G15 20 * 
:tmade: M2 3HL                               :mizuno: JPX 923 5-gw                           

 :vokey:54*
:tmade: High Toe 58*

:scotty_cameron:
:true_linkswear:-Lux Hybrid, Lux Sport

:clicgear:

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Originally Posted by tuffluck

i've started to come to terms that my golf game is probably going to hover around the "bogey golfer" status for some time--which is fine--but my inconsistency to even shoot bogey is really getting to me.  i.e. last week i was hitting the ball beautifully and missed about 6 putts inside 5 feet.  and yesterday i had 35 putts (which is good for me), with some really good hole outs.  but i lost 8 drives, including one in the water.  wound up shooting 105, with 15 penalty strokes.  granted the wind was awful and at least 3 of the drives i lost to the wind, but still even 5 is too many.  next week i'll probably go out and putt well, drive well, and hit my irons like crap.  that just seems to be how i play week to week.

at any rate the lack of consistency makes me angry.  i stop enjoying the beauty of being outside.  i don't thrash clubs around or show a lot of temper (my 56 wedge does see some 20 foot underhanded launches back towards the cart occasionally), but i certainly feel the anger and i can get short with my playing partners.  i'm wondering if golf isn't for me??  this is supposed to be an enjoyable game and i find myself more pissed off during a round than pleased i have the free time and good health to get out and do something like play golf.  is anyone else like me or have been like me??  of course i don't want to shoot a 105 every time, but it's going to happen and when it does i don't want to be ready to sell my clubs as soon as i get home.

They call it golf because all of the good 4-letter words were already taken!

If you want the beauty of nature without any challenge, there are plenty of pretty places to go sit in solitude and watch the world go by.  Golf offers the opportunity to spend time outdoors in a beautiful environment, but there's a lot more to it than that.  It's the opportunity to overcome the challenge, knowing full well that it can beat you into the ground at any time, that makes golf so special.  It's a difficult game to play.  It's very difficult to play well.  As you get better, the progress you make in terms of lowering your scores/handicap becomes disproportionate to the time and effort that it takes to do so.  Enjoy the journey and remember, if it weren't for the bad days, the good ones wouldn't be half as fun!

But really......15 penalty strokes?!

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In David's bag....

Driver: Titleist 910 D-3;  9.5* Diamana Kai'li
3-Wood: Titleist 910F;  15* Diamana Kai'li
Hybrids: Titleist 910H 19* and 21* Diamana Kai'li
Irons: Titleist 695cb 5-Pw

Wedges: Scratch 51-11 TNC grind, Vokey SM-5's;  56-14 F grind and 60-11 K grind
Putter: Scotty Cameron Kombi S
Ball: ProV1

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IMO, if you are getting that upset about the way you play, you must care about golf. So if I were you I would keep working at it. At the same time, if you are getting angry on the course that could be a big part of your problem. When I started to calm down on the course is when my game improved.
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Most of us are with you, tuffluck.  It's like a major-league baseball player trying to go 4 for 4 at the plate every day.  It's just not going to happen with any regularity.  Same with us putting together driving, iron play and green play consistently every round.  Here are some thoughts for you:

Golf Course Management.  Or, for better descriptive purpose, how to manage your game throughout a round.  I was fortunate to have a scratch golfer dad who was also an instructor.  When he and I would play together, he'd impart his very practical approach to 'playing the course' and not trying to keep up with him.

For example:  OB right.  Tee as far right as you can and hit AWAY from from OB.  This includes all hazards.  If you know where they are, certainly devise a plan to land your ball somewhere OTHER than a hazard or OB.  This strategy is successful 99.9% of the time if you see it and plan for it.

5 foot putts.  The only way to make these consistently is practice, practice and more practice.

Golf is like the game of pool.  The shot you are about to take is setting up your next shot.  Always think at least one shot ahead.  Example:  Crappy drive on a par-4 making it impossible to reach green in two.  Take your best club to setup the NEXT shot.  If it's a 7-iron, then have at it.  If you hit that shot well, you'll likely have a wedge into the green and an opportunity to make par or 5 at worst ... providing you practiced those 5-foot putts!

I love walking around a course with players who blindly whack away at the game.  If someone shared some of the basics of managing ones way around a golf course, there are usually 10-15 shots that can easily be shaved from a score.  105 can very easily become 88 when the unforced errors are eliminated.

Don't let this issue ruin the enjoyment.  Think about what you're doing and execute better.  And I'm living proof that rarely putting the three aspects of the game together in a round can still result in breaking 90 every time out.  On a rare day when the game does come together, it's more like an 82.  Bu that only means all the makeable putts went in.

dave

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The ultimate "old man" setup:

Ping G30 driver
Ping G Fairway woods - 5 and 7 woods
Callaway X-Hot #5 hybrid; Old school secret weapon
Ping G #6-9 irons; W and U wedges
Vokey 54 and 58* Wedges
Odyssey Versa Putter
Golf Balls

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I feel your pain Tuffluck, Consistency frustrates me as well. One day I hit the driver well the next its the irons. If only I could hit them all well on the same day. Ive been there also, wanting to quit the game after a bad day. Fortunately for me my playing partners are all much better than I am and are very encouraging. I know this is well worn advice, but what they have taught me is to take something positive away from the game each time you play. It could be a shot, a putt, a good joke.etc, just something that puts you in a relaxed frame of mind. Ive found when I play with a relaxed carefree attitude. I play much better. Don't get me wrong, I still focus but when I'm relaxed I can focus on the right things like hitting the little ball before the big one.

Don't get caught up on the score. Focus on one good shot, then one good hole, and build from there.

Don't give up Tuffluck Golf is the greatest game out there.

Enjoy it. Relax and have fun.

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at the end of the day...I realize that I'm never going to try and be or have the capabilities to be a traveling tourney player or a tour pro or anything else.  I'll never make money from the game of golf....so even if I shoot a bad score, I know it isn't the end of the world :D

My philosophy on golf "We're not doing rocket science, here."

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Originally Posted by tuffluck

i've started to come to terms that my golf game is probably going to hover around the "bogey golfer" status for some time--which is fine--but my inconsistency to even shoot bogey is really getting to me.  i.e. last week i was hitting the ball beautifully and missed about 6 putts inside 5 feet.  and yesterday i had 35 putts (which is good for me), with some really good hole outs.  but i lost 8 drives, including one in the water.  wound up shooting 105, with 15 penalty strokes.  granted the wind was awful and at least 3 of the drives i lost to the wind, but still even 5 is too many.  next week i'll probably go out and putt well, drive well, and hit my irons like crap.  that just seems to be how i play week to week.

at any rate the lack of consistency makes me angry.  i stop enjoying the beauty of being outside.  i don't thrash clubs around or show a lot of temper (my 56 wedge does see some 20 foot underhanded launches back towards the cart occasionally), but i certainly feel the anger and i can get short with my playing partners.  i'm wondering if golf isn't for me??  this is supposed to be an enjoyable game and i find myself more pissed off during a round than pleased i have the free time and good health to get out and do something like play golf.  is anyone else like me or have been like me??  of course i don't want to shoot a 105 every time, but it's going to happen and when it does i don't want to be ready to sell my clubs as soon as i get home.

Until you play smarter, you will continue to struggle.  You started out here with your rant about how you were going to play the back tees and hit driver whenever you want despite some good advice about dialing back, using some strategy, playing a shorter course until your game was good enough to match those back tees.  You basically blew us all off, so I'm not going to feel sorry for you now.

Rick

"He who has the fastest cart will never have a bad lie."

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The only consistent thing about golf for most of us mortals is inconsistency. My official (but not up to date) is 14.9, so I am slightly better than bogey. My usual card for 9 is something like 3 pars, 3 bogeys, a birdie and two "others". Double those numbers for 18, and usually at least 1 snowman on the card somewhere. I have come to terms with the fact that I am not a scratch golfer, but that doesn't mean i don't try to be. I hit a bucket every now and then with a purpose in mind, and spend time chipping and putting to improve. I have worked on my fitness, and started walking a few rounds. I am more consistent than I was and continue to improve overall. But still, as they say, a bad day on the course beats a good day at work! Well, I actually enjoy my work too, but the point is, try to make a good shot every time, and make your misses better. Enjoy the good shots, and be glad of the opportunity to hit the bad ones.

Don

In the bag:

Driver: PING 410 Plus 9 degrees, Alta CB55 S  Fairway: Callaway Rogue 3W PX Even Flow Blue 6.0; Hybrid: Titleist 818H1 21* PX Even Flow Blue 6.0;  Irons: Titleist 718 AP1 5-W2(53*) Shafts- TT AMT Red S300 ; Wedges Vokey SM8 56-10D Putter: Scotty Cameron 2016 Newport 2.5  Ball: Titleist AVX or 2021 ProV1

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My advice is this: Practice or play every day, get lessons, and do everything else possible to improve. *Then*, after you've done that for 3 years and you still haven't improved, at least you have a legitimate reason to get upset. (At least, that's what I tell myself when I get upset.)

Bill

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Golf's hard. If you are competitive at all you will want to play well. It's okay to get a little irritated when you hit bad shots or don't play well. If you are all grins and giggles every time you play then there is something wrong with you or you have just completely embraced the fact you suck. You cannot let it get out of control though. Get irritated but learn to control your emotions well enough so they don't affect your whole game or ruin your entire day. Someone once told me its always the next shot that counts. Simple but good advice.

Danny    In my :ping: Hoofer Tour golf bag on my :clicgear: 8.0 Cart

Driver:   :pxg: 0311 Gen 5  X-Stiff.                        Irons:  :callaway: 4-PW APEX TCB Irons 
3 Wood: :callaway: Mavrik SZ Rogue X-Stiff                            Nippon Pro Modus 130 X-Stiff
3 Hybrid: :callaway: Mavrik Pro KBS Tour Proto X   Wedges: :vokey:  50°, 54°, 60° 
Putter: :odyssey:  2-Ball Ten Arm Lock        Ball: :titleist: ProV 1

 

 

 

 

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Originally Posted by Fourputt

Until you play smarter, you will continue to struggle.  You started out here with your rant about how you were going to play the back tees and hit driver whenever you want despite some good advice about dialing back, using some strategy, playing a shorter course until your game was good enough to match those back tees.  You basically blew us all off, so I'm not going to feel sorry for you now.


you must have a lot of time on your hands to remember who i am from that thread (and for the record i was around way before that).  while i appreciate your devout time to posting inutile responses to my threads, i was initially just asking if others could empathize, not sympathize.  furthermore the course in question has been played by me at a more forward tee, and i hit driver on the same holes as from the tips anyway, so it wouldn't have made any difference unless i choose not to play my driver completely.  i didn't do that because i was convinced i could figure out my inconsistency with that club during the round.  i guess that was more important to me than posting a good score...however i never figured out the problem with the club which just pissed me off more.  and lastly, to debunk your whole idea of tee it forward, it's based on average driving distance, not handicap:

http://thesandtrap.com/t/63387/i-have-no-interest-in-teeing-it-forward/108#post_793398

to every other person that doesn't strive to be cynic of the month, i went to the range today to work on my driver.  as soon as i pulled it out of the bag i noticed the adjustable hosel had come loose from the shaft.  now, i can't say if this is coincidence or if it was loose yesterday when i played and hit almost every drive poorly, but it could potentially explain a lot.  i need to buy one of those tools, i didn't know these things randomly came loose.  does anyone else have this happen?  mine is an adams.

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Originally Posted by SCfanatic35

It didn't come with a tool? My Taylormade came with the wrench, and I check to make sure it's on good after every couple of rounds.

Yeah at some places buying things used they dont provide wrench or headcover. But if it's new they definitely should've given him a wrench.

Ron :nike: GOLF Embracing my Angry Black Male :mad:

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Originally Posted by SCfanatic35

It didn't come with a tool? My Taylormade came with the wrench, and I check to make sure it's on good after every couple of rounds.

Originally Posted by RonTheSavage

Yeah at some places buying things used they dont provide wrench or headcover. But if it's new they definitely should've given him a wrench.

Interesting.  I know that at least Titleist does not provide the tools with the fairway woods and hybrids.  But, as far as I know, it seems like everybody provides the tool with a new driver.

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save some money and go to a home improvement store and buy some star bits and a multi-bit screwdriver...and use the other 10 dollars for dinner :)

My philosophy on golf "We're not doing rocket science, here."

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i bought it brand new from ebay, but it was not an authorized seller so he didn't have all the parts.  i just got the hosel and the head; i put my own shaft in it (a store did, i know they snapped it on tight because i was there).  adams said they'll give me one for $35.  i've looked at lowes and home depot and cannot find any type of triangular head that would work for this application.

though you guys say it is normal for it to come loose from time to time?  i guess then i NEED to buy it.

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Note: This thread is 4030 days old. We appreciate that you found this thread instead of starting a new one, but if you plan to post here please make sure it's still relevant. If not, please start a new topic. Thank you!

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