I'm stuck in the low 80's whats wrong?

[oreodawg1]

Well it's just like the title says, i'm stuck. Every once in a while I will shoot a 75, but not as often as I would like. I started working at a golf course here, and I hit balls everyday(at least 300-500) on the range. My ball striking is awesome now, and on the range people tell me I am doing alot better. For whatever reason when I get out on the course I just don't put the scores up like I think I should. With as good as I am hitting on the range why can't I keep that going on the course? Has anyone else had this problem, and how long does it take to get past it?

[golf_junkie27]

From experience, that difference is attributed to one thing: relaxation. When I'm at the range, I know that I have the opportunity to hit ball after ball to the same target. On the course, it's just one opportunity. Sometimes, you think about execution more than actually swinging the club. The results are inconsistencies in ball striking and the result is the dreaded carry over effect. Meaning, you start thinking about the previous bad shot as you are taking your current shot.

If this sounds familiar, then you should try keeping a log of what your round is like. Write down all your mishits, the distance and what you were thinking about as you were at the ball. Then correct those mistakes and thought processes when you go to the range.

You might want to check the book section on the sandtrap. Lots of good stuff that may help you overcome your mistakes.

[DavidFehertysBike]

Make putts.

/thread.

[goblue107501]

Make putts.

He beat me to it. Need a little more info from you though. Are you hitting fairways and greens and not making the good birdie chances and even three putting every once in awhile? Or is it just that you hit a bad shot here and there on a few holes and put up a big number that increases the score? If you miss the green, how often do you get up and down? IMO, if you are in the low 80's the biggest thing needed to lowering your score is to hit more greens and make more putts. If you hit 7 greens and two putt that is 7 pars. Of the remaining 11 if you get up and down 5 times that brings the total to 12 pars. Score = +6 (give or take the random birdie or double). Don't know for sure why you can't transfer the range to the course. If you have that kind of time to spend practicing, take it out on the course. Sometimes I get to a point practicing that I get uninterested. Hit 100 balls then go play 9 holes. The range is good practice, but sometimes you need to be put in situations, and practice those situations, in order to get better. Figuring out how to hit a cut shot out of the rough to a back right pin over water just can't be done from the range. Might do some good other than just hitting balls downrange.

[PiKapp23]

When I play I keep track of my statistics, such as Fairways in Regulation, Greens in Regulation, and Putts. If you are not already doing this, you should give it a try. This helps pinpoint where you are losing those extra few strokes and then you can target your practice in those directions. There are a lot of other stats to track including some of these:

Driving Distance and/or length of second shot into green
Scrambling/up and downs
Sandies
Putts per GIR
Length of first putt and/or length of second putt
Club hit (this can really help determine if you're having trouble with a certain club or group of clubs)

Chances are there is one area where you are losing more strokes than any other and this will help you find that. You can keep track of just about anything you want including, as golf_junkie27 says, mishit shots. Once you have that data you can either try to address those issues yourself or possibly see an instructor and work with him/her to address the issues.

Most of all, have fun. It's just a silly stupid game anyway.

[bruce]

Its all down too if you miss a green can you get up and down for a par,if your pitching on or chipping on and two putting its no good,

[ChiChiIsMe]

Well it's just like the title says, i'm stuck. Every once in a while I will shoot a 75, but not as often as I would like. I started working at a golf course here, and I hit balls everyday(at least 300-500) on the range. My ball striking is awesome now, and on the range people tell me I am doing alot better. For whatever reason when I get out on the course I just don't put the scores up like I think I should. With as good as I am hitting on the range why can't I keep that going on the course? Has anyone else had this problem, and how long does it take to get past it?

So where are your issues? Do you have a couple "blow-up" holes? Do you miss greens and not get up&down;? How many putts do yo make in a round on average? More info is needed.

[msd3075]

One thing no one here has really said yet is Course Management.

From what you describe, it sounds like you have most of the mechanics down well enough to have it translate into a good score, but once on the course nothing materializes. To me, this sounds like your "mental" game isn't in check and that you are probably going for the perfect/low percentage shot hoping for a birdie chance on every hole. I might have assumed wrong, but for most people in your situation this is usually the case.

Next time you play a round, try this:
- Off the tee, concentrate on landing the ball in the safest place in the fairway, even if it's 50+ yards short of your usual landing area.
- If on a par 5, do not go for the green in two. Lay up with a club that puts you at a distance from the hole that puts your favorite club in your hand (ie. if your favorite club is your 8 iron and you hit it 150 yards, lay up to 150 from the green).
- On your approach, forget where the hole is and aim at the fat part of the green. Don't worry about ridges or tiers; just aim where you have the biggest landing area.
- On long putts, your focus should be on distance control and not on direction. Aim in the general area or the break, but concentrate on distance control.

If you do this, I guarantee you you'll be surprised how well you play compared to what you expect.

[leo3]

Are you just pounding balls on the range, or picking actual targets, and dialing in shot shape and yardages? 300 - 500 balls per day may be too much of a good thing, take some time off, and get to the short game practice area, and wear it out. As several others have said, the key to going lower is the ability to get up & down from anywhere around the green. Just watch some of the older guys, who have lost some distance, but still score well play, from 50 yards and in, they are money.

[oreodawg1]

Okay here are my stats from today I played 9 holes. This was a good day for me so it's not a very good example, but I do real good then I'll have one of those "blow up" holes. My putting and chipping was dead on today.

Hole # Par Score Putts In the sand
1. 4 3 1 /
2. 4 4 2 /
3. 3 3 1 yes
4. 4 3 0(chip in)/
5. 5 6 2 yes
6. 4 5 2 /
7. 3 3 1 /
8. 4 5 2 yes
9. 5 6 1 yes

Totals 36 38 12


But my putting is usually very good I will keep track of everything next time I play and put up that information.

Thanks for all the input, and yah sorry I understand I can't get help if I don't know where I need it.

[msd3075]

Okay here are my stats from today I played 9 holes. This was a good day for me so it's not a very good example, but I do real good then I'll have one of those "blow up" holes. My putting and chipping was dead on today.

You’re “in the sand” 4 times in 9 holes? Either that’s just a radon thing or you are aiming at every pin instead of just trying to hit the green.

Read my previous post and give it a try.

[whip_it_out]

If your golf course grass is completely dormant, that is why. I'm playing on dormant grass, and my scores shot up 8 strokes. The ground is hard, and lacks any consistency. greens don't roll true or even follow correct lines. In another month the grass will start to grow again, and your scores will come back down.

I live in Texas, too. We got the same deal going here.

[CPHoya]

I'm going to put in another vote for stop firing at sucker pins - you're obviously talented and you can hit the shots, so let yourself use your abilities and just hit greens all day.

Sand 4 times in 9 holes strongly suggests you're hitting irons at tucked areas.

[SALUKI LEFTY]

One thing no one here has really said yet is Course Management.

Good post. This makes sense, I've taken this approach before and shot some of my lowest scores. My first time breaking 80 two years ago, I only hit driver off the tee I think 7 times and the course was a average length. Playing to your strengths and making smart decisions = good scores if you are hitting the ball decent.

[ks8829]

next time you play record the following:

Fairways hit
greens on regulation
putts per round
up and downs

If you want to consistently shoot in the 70s you have to get up and down to make par or birdies so practice everyday on your short game from the hole backwards and within 1 week you will notice a difference.

If you hit range balls spend 90% on chips and pitch shots so that you have the distance down for each club and you will improve you up and down or scramble percentage.

Are you putting under 30 per round? work on your putting also.

[LBlack14]

At the range you have a perfect lie every time.

[1dayIllBaPro]

These are what I could think of now

-Make more putts !!!! very important.
-When you are at a driving range, the ground is level. When you're on the course, it might be downhill, uphill. Maybe the ball is above or below your feet. These things make your ball fly low, high, draw, and slice.
-Also if you're in the rough, the ball is not going to go as far as your normal distance, and it wouldn't have any backspin. So, you have to know exactly where you should put the ball.

You hit the ball really close to the flag in the driving range is good. But on the course, it doesn't mean that the ball is going to stop next to the flag. It might spin back, roll 10 foot more, etc.

Just pay more attention to the details.

[Metanoia75]

Well, different thoughts is what it would be and maybe a lot more work on the short game.
The thoughts and 'free-mind' with which you practice on the range may not be the same as when you are on the course...so different thoughts means different results.

Needless to say you are an avid golfer and watch a lot of it on television... so though its stating the obvious the entire game at your level is played in the last 100 yards...bunker play, rough, putting, chipping etc.... leave the range and the irons there and spend a month doing short game drills....
very soon we should all hear you complaining about how you're stuck in the 70's