How to improve?

[Dragonsrock]

I need some help. I am playing on a 19 handicap (Australian, according to the scorecard software I believe I am 16.2). In any case my stats are as follows for the last 20 rounds:
GIR 23.61%
Fairways hit 63.93%
Total Putts 35.6
Scrambling 13.09%
Up and Downs 27.45%

I have been having between 8 and 10 Pars or better per round, but still managing to shoot low 90's (par 72). Its driving me crazy double bogey's or worse make up 34% of my round, its like I ahve a brain explosion on a few holes a round and I just cant stop it.

My chipping is probably the worst part of my game, but with practice it is improving. What I can not seem to do is stop the bleeding when I am havign a bad hole. Its normally when I take the less agressive option that I fail, like laying up on a par 5 with a 5 iron and blocking it into the trees etc. Its got to be mental, if I can score 9 or 10 pars in a round, how do I have a 10, 12 and 4 sevens?

Anyway, I would be interested to hear if anyone has any advice, my game is mostly good, its the 6 or 7 shots a round that kill me.

Thanks,

D

[mruseless]

I

For me, the difference between a 93 and an 87 is all about getting up and down. My GIR is similar to yours, but on my good days my U&D; is closer to 50%. This also means you need more 1-putts, and working on those 5-footers is a great way to drop more putts.

What is your average U&D; First Putt distance?

[ks8829]

spend all your time with putting and chipping around the green within 20 - 50 yards.

1) putting practice will help you putt like the pros, you simply need to put in the time. focus on lag putting consistently and putts within 3 feet. distance control is more important than the line on lag putting.
2) chipping work on solid consistent contact and distance control. the chipping and pitching practice will also help your overall golf swing. listen to the sound of the ball leaving the wedge when you practice for solid contact.

If you improved your up and downs from around 27% to 50% this means that you will one putt more times and thus reduce your score, but more importantly your consistency will improve. To eliminate the double and triple boogies, ask yourself if you are playing for pars or boogies when you miss a shot. sometimes you simple need to play within yourself and your game and there is such a thing as a good boogie during a round.

[opie]

Seems your GIR should be higher with hitting 63% of fairways (unless you're 180+ from the green in the fairway or something). Maybe work with the 7-PW more and of course we could all putt better

[shankapotamus]

Don't try to be the hero. I would also suggest picking up any book really by Bob Rotella. That will help your mental game to help you get out of your slumps.

[sdped1]

It's a little hard to say by just looking at your stats. 63% fairways hit is ok if your just in the rough, but if your off the rough where I golf your lucky to find your ball( more likely a bear lol). If your unable to recover from one bad shot and your bogey turn into a 7-10, then you have to work on that. I shoot a lot of archery with a longbow and the mental aspects are similar to golf. When I miss my mark with an arrow the first thing I do is ask my self what caused the errant shot. Did I drop my bow arm, pluck the string, alignment, tension in my hand, lack of focus on the spot I wanted the arrow to go etc. Then I take my next arrow and forget about the last one, go through my shot sequence(pre shot routine) in my head and shoot the next arrow. If you don't have a preshot routine then develop one, it will help you forget the previous bad shot and clear your mind for the next. If you let the previous bad shot enter into the equation of your next shot your going create tension in your body which is a killer in archery and golf, so forget the bad shot and relax and hit the next one, remember golf is supposed be fun and a relaxing game. Then if you can turn those blow up holes into a bogey or at worst a double you scores will improve - Steve

[Dragonsrock]

Up and Down first putt is terrible, 12.85ft ... Easy to see hwere improvement is required.

[mruseless]

Up and Down first putt is terrible, 12.85ft ... Easy to see hwere improvement is required.

I wouldn't call that "terrible" for someone in our handicap range.. Last season I averaged about 12 feet, this season I'm averaging about 9 feet so far. I didn't realize that 3 feet made such a big difference, but I think what's happening is that I'm either chipping it really close, or I'm more than 15 feet away when I blow it, so it averages to about 9. My goal is 8 feet.