Am I too hard on myself?

[Iowa Hawkeye]

I know what I can do with each club, but I only do it about 40% of the times that I hit each club. I know that I am capable of pars and I turn those into doubles with dumb mistakes. I have the ability and tools of a much better player than I am, but I can't seem to put it all together and I get frustrated and angry at myself because I know I'm not playing the way I know that I can.

Sorry for the little rant.

Any advice on how I should go about dealing with this?

[Carolinahooker]

Most of us can hit the same shots scratch golfers can. It's a matter of consistency. I can stick a 7 iron 5 feet away but I can also hook it 15 yrds left of the hole.

Shooting low scores is more about minimizing your misses. From 150 yrds out, a "good" golfer is unhappy if he puts it 20 feet away from the hole. A bad golfer can top it or chunk it and still be 100 yards out.

Just because you hit the shot once doesn't mean that is your ability. Your ability lies in repeatability of a swing. Making the variation between swings be very minimal.

Right now that is exactly what I am working on, improving my bad shots.

[Iowa Hawkeye]

Well, what I mean is that I can make the shots more than once, but I just cant seem to put it all together on one hole most of the time, let alone for a whole round. I've shot 9 holess close to par on multiple occasions, but I can't do it consistently. If I hit well, I can't putt, but when I take extra strokes to get on, I'll nail long putts.

[TN94z]

Consistency is the key....that is something I am lacking as well. Hindsight is a killer in golf. It used to get me frustrated as well. I used to think, if I had made that putt or if I hadn't hit that club, etc...It is easy to get the what if's. Now I am working on the consistency part. The best thing to deal with it is to think of the high points of the day. If you are like me, no matter how bad my ball striking is, there are always some kind of high points that I can think about that keeps me from getting too worked up. Last week I had the worst ball striking day that I have had in probably over a year! One thing I took away from that was the fact that I was consistently working the ball with the driver any direction that I wanted. I also threw one in from about 35 yards out. Granted those were the only things I did good all day...but they held me over.


Also, referring to your second post, that is golf. I have days like that a lot. If I were to go out and everything come together in one round...I could shoot par no doubts. The "getting everything to come together at once" thing is my problem and that is the consistency part.

[thedoxology]

Well, what I mean is that I can make the shots more than once, but I just cant seem to put it all together on one hole most of the time, let alone for a whole round. I've shot 9 holess close to par on multiple occasions, but I can't do it consistently. If I hit well, I can't putt, but when I take extra strokes to get on, I'll nail long putts.

I would say your expectations might be too high. Try consistently breaking 40 or even 41 (80 or 82). I have days I shoot 73 and think I can do it the next time I play only to shoot 80. Most golfers shouldn't be playing against par, they should be playing against bogey.

[LaPuzza]

The last Golf magazine talked about how us high 'cappers shoot our handicap or better on 15.5 out of 18 holes. The 2.5 blow-up holes are where we kill ourselves.

Personally, if I could hit a shot exactly how I wanted 40% of the time, I'd be either thrilled to death or bored by the consistency of the game.

[TheNatural]

Do you know what you do wrong when you mishit?

i have just begun to figure out what the problems are in mid swing...lift shoulder, tempo off etc....

the best is watching a pro who knows when they are about to mishit and they stop at 3/4 downswing before impact. If I can prevent those from happening, I will be on my way.


I like you, know I have the ability, but the consistency is missing. Friday I went bogey bogey birdie par on 4 very hard holes. everything clicked and the swings felt great.

[Fourputt]

I'm convinced that the best and most accurate quote in golf is the one that goes:

"The most difficult part of a golf course is the five inches between your ears."

I know that my potentially good rounds are lost on that part of the course more often than anywhere else.

[whip_it_out]

I know what I can do with each club, but I only do it about 40% of the times that I hit each club.

Then your expectations are too high. We all can hit 300 yard drives, but to expect do it every time would be wrong. So just lower your expectations, and you'll probably hit some great shots.

[alcorn]

Hawkeye
I think you're being too hard on yourself. If you want your irons to get better first figure out what your doing the 40% of the time that you do make good shots and try to replicate that. As far as your short game goes, maybe a lesson but really I think based on your video you submitted a swing overhall and strategy overhall may be needed here. I'm a big fan of simplifying ones game. Instead of trying to 3 or 4 different chip shots around the green mediocre I would focus on doing one or two really well. Focus on the fundamentals and just relax a little bit.
Alcorn

[Dub]

I know what I can do with each club, but I only do it about 40% of the times that I hit each club. I know that I am capable of pars and I turn those into doubles with dumb mistakes. I have the ability and tools of a much better player than I am, but I can't seem to put it all together and I get frustrated and angry at myself because I know I'm not playing the way I know that I can.

You just summed up my round today...played with my father and son...I hit some great shots...but never more than 1 in a row....one bad shot per hole equals some ugly scores...quickly. I just dealt with it by turning my focus on helping my son with his game.

[Iowa Hawkeye]

What really bothers me is that I know what I'm doing wrong for the most part, and I just cant seem to keep it fixed.

[flopdarock]

you are way too hard on yourself... relax and pull off the shots you know you have in you... work your percentages... the shots you know are money... all the rest work on till they become your go to shots... think strategy

[Three Putt]

What really bothers me is that I know what I'm doing wrong for the most part, and I just cant seem to keep it fixed.

Take 2 weeks off, don't touch a club.

[alcorn]

What really bothers me is that I know what I'm doing wrong for the most part, and I just cant seem to keep it fixed.

The sign of a true golfer.

No seriously though, relax buddy. It may be something that you have to seek professional help for. But as someone else said, play the shots you have and relax and most important go have fun. My best rounds have been when I wasn't really focusing on all the stuff that was going on in my swing that I just couldn't seem to get right but going out there and just having fun with some friends and relaxing.

[SasQuatch<3]

Maybe your just as little to hard, enjoy the game..
But the only good thing i guess is that your probably getting better at making shots to "fix" the shots that you chunk or top or slice, ect.

[LaPuzza]

What really bothers me is that I know what I'm doing wrong for the most part, and I just cant seem to keep it fixed.

This was the single most important thing I got out of lessons. Before, I could hit one drive 10 yards and one 250, and I couldn't tell you the difference. After about 10 lessons, I practically didn't need to watch the ball to know the results. I think some of that also came from learning on some 1982 Wilson Blades.

I'd suggest lessons, cause a pro will tell you "that went left because. . . and you'll start to feel what's happening in your game.

[Iowa Hawkeye]

Do you guys think that I'm playing a bit too much club for myself? I learned on a set of true blades and the TZoids aren't quite a true blade, but close. Should I look into a set of cavity or split cavity irons?