Please Help Me Improve

[badbeatj]

I have always been a casual player who played around 3-5 rounds a year. However it is only as of recent (last Sept) that I have fallen in love with this sport. I feel that I am progressing quite quickly as I have played alot during this period.

I have started to track things in a quest to improve and hope that people that look at my stats can tell me where I am weak and lacking and where I should focus to get to the next level.

My score is usually in the high eighties.
I calculated and I average about 7-8 GIRs per round. Is that on par with what people normally play with that GIR percentage or should I be scoring better with these stats?

I personally think its my putts that kill me as I average around 33-35 per round.

I also lose about 3 drives a round into the trees or OB
(Usually its due to a slice but I will turn my wrist over too much in an attempt to cure the slice and end up hooking it OB every now and then as well)


These are my stats. What should I be concentrating on at this point?
Should I be concentrating mainly on Putting, Drives?

If someone has a work out plan for me, that would be great

[Thaddy]

It sounds like you have inconsistensies in your swing you haven't ironed out yet. Perhaps a lesson with a local pro will help you control the ball better and hit a few more fairways. More fairways should give you the chance to hit more greens, which is also an excuse to get out and practice putting more.

[Chief Broom]

I'm really not in a position to give anyone tips, especially since we both seem to be playing at the same level. But just from what you've said I'd say a big part of your current problem are the penalty strokes you're picking up off of errant drives. Lost balls hurt, essentially adding 2 strokes to your score each time it happens. Your GIR stat sounds good, and coupled with 2 strokes or less per hole that gives you 8 or 9 pars per round (rounding out the occassional 3 putt and the occasional successful scramble). If you can keep your other holes at bogey golf that puts you in the low 80's consistantly, and depending on the rating of the course you play that can easily amount to a 10 handicap or less. If this sounds accurate I suggest trying another strategy off the tee, especially on those holes where you seem to get in trouble consistantly off the tee. That can mean hitting a 3W or iron/hybrid off the tee or simply dialing your swing with the driver way down. If you're hitting 8 or more greens per round then you've got enough game with your mid and approach shots to make up for any distance you might give up off the tee playing more conservatively.

[badbeatj]

Thanks for the help guys I really appreciate it.
I am planning on getting a video lesson from a golf pro to focus mainly on my drives.
I feel very comfortable with my irons and I think you guys are right.
The penalty strokes off the drives hurt me.
Never really though about it because I saw it as maybe 3 errors a round. Didn't think far enough ahead of the ramifications of having a bad drive like lost strokes and worse chance of hitting greens on the next shot, etc.

How is my putting 33-35 per round?
What do people in the low 80s usually putt per round?

[Chief Broom]

How is my putting 33-35 per round?

To hear folks around here talk you need to be putting less than 30 times per round, but for me anything in the low 30's isn't a terrible round. I guess if I had to nail myself down I shoot for 32 or better per round, but I've had decent rounds (mid to low 80's) where I'll shoot 34-36. Anything over 36 would leave me pretty unhappy, but IMO getting down in 2 is never a bad thing (unless I'm at 4' on my first putt). Now if you're trying to break 80 consistantly (and who isn't) that's where you're going to have to break 30 on your putting. Going low putting-wise will help you make up for a lot of other mistakes in a round, and in a round that is overall pretty good (remember from my perspective as a mid capper) putting low will definitely be the difference for breaking 80.

[badbeatj]

So, I played my next round and was a lot more consistent on my drives.
I actually didnt lose any balls until the 17th when I decided to play "safe" on a par 5. I was at 8 over and thought single digit round was within reach.
I ended up hooking my 3 iron OB!!! Needless to say, my game crumbled as I ended up the final 2 holes with a double and a triple to end at 13.

My GIR was 9/18 and my driving accuracy was 11/14 (2 was in the bunker and I sliced on that I was still able to play.
My putts were 36. (No birdies)

[ks8829]

To improve your consistency and lower your score practice from the hole backwards. In other words focus all your practice time on the following:

1) putting so that you will keep your putts near or under 30 putts per round.
A) practice distance control
B) practice making 3 - 4 footers
C) eliminate 3 putts per round

1) chipping around the greens by keeping stats on your up and downs and one putt to save par, boogies and make birdies and eagles
a) practice making solid consistent contact
b) distance control

3) pitch shots from under 50 yards
a) distance control and consistent contact

while you are focusing on your short game, it seems boring but if you practice your short game it will help you lower your score and be consistent the fastest. practicing your pitch shot will also help improve your overall golf swing.

Practice time:
50% putting
25% chipping
25% pitching

keep records during your round with the following:

putts
up and down
greens on regulations
fairways hits
score per hole

[badbeatj]

Originally Posted by ks8829

To improve your consistency and lower your score practice from the hole backwards. In other words focus all your practice time on the following:

1) putting so that you will keep your putts near or under 30 putts per round.

A) practice distance control

B) practice making 3 - 4 footers

C) eliminate 3 putts per round

1) chipping around the greens by keeping stats on your up and downs and one putt to save par, boogies and make birdies and eagles

a) practice making solid consistent contact

b) distance control

3) pitch shots from under 50 yards

a) distance control and consistent contact

while you are focusing on your short game, it seems boring but if you practice your short game it will help you lower your score and be consistent the fastest. practicing your pitch shot will also help improve your overall golf swing.

Practice time:

50% putting

25% chipping

25% pitching

keep records during your round with the following:

putts

up and down

greens on regulations

fairways hits

score per hole

Thanks for your helpful information. You are definitely right about working from hole backwards. The year I made this post, I ended up playing around 35 rounds and ended the season hitting around 84-85 with 2 rounds in the 70s...

I would hit 2 over on some 9s and then explode on the 2nd half to end at 84-85.

I'm replying 3 years late lol.

I had taken a hiatus from golf as I have been super busy with work and living in Calgary Canada, Golf season goes from May to Oct. I had only gone out 4-5 times a year at most the last 2 seasons.

This year has not been much better in terms of making it to the course as I had my first son!!!

However I've taken it very seriously by reading and thinking golf pretty much every day starting July. As of July 1st, I've gone 4 times and by supplementing going to the driving range, i hit 102, 97, 94 and finally 85.

I don't know how but after all this time off golf, my driver actually improved and I'm hitting a lot more accurately while avg 280 yards (75% fairway)

My irons are also going well as I am super confident about hitting the green from 150yards and in. (about 65-70%)

The big jump from 94 to 85 came because during my 94 round, I lost a LOT of strokes due to chunking chips and 3 putting 15 ft birdie chances on MULTIPLE occasions..

I decided that when it came to chipping, I'll overhit rather than underhit which has stopped me from de-accelerating and chunking my shots.

I just bought a 9ft putting mat and am working on my putting stroke for the 1st time in my life. I've decided to make 10 in a row every night before going to bed and its becoming more and more consistent.

I still haven't worked on my chipping as much as I want to as I don't have the time to go to a chipping green and my backyard is too small.

I am playing this Saturday and I anticipate that I will prob play 2 more time before season ends.

I just really hope to end the season with at least hitting 1 round in the low 80s lol

I will update my progress.