What I Have Learned This Summer

[shortgame85]

Last year, I worked on accuracy: off the tee, the fairway and on the green. I shot my lowest rounds ever last July: an 82 and an 81; one on my home course and one on a more difficult links course.

In the five years I've played the game, I've never been able to maximize my distance. Generally, 200 to 210 yards off the tee, I tired of hitting woods or, more recently, long hybrids for my second or approach shot. I longed to hit mid or short irons on at least some of the 18 holes I'd play in a typical round, like almost all the fellows with whom I normally played.

This past February I got fit for a new driver and I began to focus on posture, weight transfer and grip in order to maximize my distance off the tee. Because of this concentration, I have as recently as this past Sunday, hit several of the longest drives I've ever struck: up to 250 yards as measured by my Pinseeker! My average drives are now about 220 to 230 yards. Some may laugh, especially those of you long knockers out there, but when I stripe a 230 yard drive, I feel like strutting to my ball!

Now here's what I've learned: while my focus on the distance of my drives has paid off in longer drives, the neglect of my mid and shortgame has caused my scores to suffer two or three strokes. I can play in the mid to high 80s with a good, scrambling shortgame, sometimes even manage a score in the low 80s; but I cannot maintain those scores if I lose any of my shortgame even when I add a bit of distance with my driver. Even if it takes me three shots to hit the green on a par four, if my wedge play is on, I can give myself a reasonable shot at par. If my game from 120 yards and in is off, my scores just go up.

Well, I suppose this is a great big "DUH!" to a lot of you. And I have read over and over how critical the shortgame is to scoring well, but I have surely seen ample evidence of it this summer.

So, I shall endeavor to put to good use what I've learned. I shall work harder on my shortgame and try not to lose the distance I've gained with my driver. Maybe I can get together these disparate, elusive elements and produce a round which resembles something called complete.

What have you learned so far this summer?

[King Cobra II]

I've learned that you need to be well rounded to be a decent golfer (much life what you were stating). I learned that you don't need to hit the ball perfectly all the time to score well, IF, you have confidence in your short game. Just yesterday I played a round where I had but one putt for birdie on the back nine, yet made 4 pars, and nothing higher then a 6. I've learned that distance isn't important, hitting the ball straight is ten times more important. I use to rip my driver as hard as I could. Sometimes a draw, sometimes a fade, usually around 270 if I got a hold of it. I've eased back on the tee to about 80% and on my good days I'm going 240-255 down the middle. I've learned that improving is hard, but the game is great, and if you have fun thats all that matters!

[gasfreak]

Well you guys made me feel a heck of a lot better.I just got back in to it this year,I played when I was in school you know with all the free lessons I was pretty good.When I was in the 12th grade I was a 2 handicap and now I am a11.7 handicap and getting a little better with time.Now here is what I learned from this first summer back
1:Take Advil before you go
2:Its kinda like riding a bike
3:I am not as flexabile as I used to be
4:Dont beat your self up when you hit a bad shot,just make the next one better
5:This game is more mental than I remember as a kid
6:If you have a blowup hole put it behind,dont let it ruin your whole game
7:Old men cuss a lot on the golf course,some throw clubs
8:Dont try to beat the guys you golf with,this is a one man sport so just try to better you score each time you go
9:Beating the guys you go golfing with (PRICELESS)hahahahaha
10:Have you ever done anything more fun(well i can think of one....)

Having said this,I have always had a great time playing,scoring good or bad
Greg,

[rrassoc]

Holy cow! Good thread topic!

I learned that:

1. I CAN relax without having two beers first!
2. I MUST ALWAYS follow my pre-shot routine, which (unfortunately) includes three mechanical swing thoughts in addition to standard set up stuff and practice swings.
3. I need to balance my practice on the range with my playing time (about evenly) to keep tabs on my top 3 things to work on
4. Listen to Dr Bob Rotella on CD at least once per month!
5. I CAN usually hit a draw with my TM Dual hybrids when I need to!
6. I actually play better in tournament situations. I think it's because there is pressure to remember the above.
   
   And finally, I learned that
7. if I do manage to fit 1-4 above into my hectic schedule, I CAN indeed break 90, after all these years!!!

I think it was good for me to review and list what I've learned. There's certainly more, but these are the biggest.

The good news is that the summer is only about half over. There's still more time to engrain what I've learned and keep moving forward. Maybe I will reply again in September...

[shortgame85]

Holy cow! Good thread topic!

Thank you.

[shortgame85]

1:Take Advil before you go

You are soooo right about this!

[golfunit]

The best thing I've learned:

You CAN get the old putting stroke back with lots of practice.

It's important to leave bad holes behind (although I don't always do it quickly enough)

Playing a round is much better for your game than the driving range (OK, for me it is)

I love my Mizunos

[Norm3333]

I learned that if I stand up straighter, stand closer to the ball, and take my irons a little straighter back than before, it really helps delivering my right shoulder to the ball and I hit less fat shots.

My consistency has greatly improved from this and coupled with a new driver with less loft and a higher kickpoint, my scores have been steadily coming down.

This summer has been great, last 5 scores have been 80, 85, 82, 86, 79.

Didn't break 90 until last summer.

I have to admit to spending a tremendous amount of time at the range and chipping green.

[ganjagolfer]

its nice to read about folks evolving in the game!!! which takes place on both the mental and physical aspects of the game, just curious which golf system (approx 8 major ways to hit the ball...with lots of overlapping theories of the theoreticians such as ben hogan, moe norman, mike austin...) and so what theories or principles are you developing in expanding your golf horizons?

[bcollins]

1. I hit my best when I stay away from the driving range for a few days
2. Keeping accurate scores (i.e. no mulligans, taking all my penalty strokes) is actually beneficial to my improvement
3. I need to be WAY more aggressive in my short game
4. Getting up early and walking 9 holes on a weekday morning when the course is empty is very refreshing

[Slim 11]

Here's what I have learned:

1. I tend to play to the level of my playing partners. Good golfers make me concentrate and score better
2. I score better when playing alone (without cheating).
3. I can hit a draw on the range, but not on the course.
4. If I set up to play my slight fade, I will hit it straight as an arrow.
5. My 56 degree wedge hates me
6. It takes a lot of patience to golf with your wife (just starting) and your 12 and 6 year old sons.
7. I am more addicted to this game every time I play.