Entering tournies??---Low handicappers

[shankapotamus]

I disagree. I don't see this as a mistake at all. What is wrong with making swing changes to develop a better swing? I am not avoiding playing real golf. I still play at least 2 rounds per week. I have just now started to really consider playing in real tournaments. I want to play competitive golf as soon as possible! I have no thoughts of avoiding it at all. I just didn't know if I should go out there while in the process of swing changes or not.

But there's such a difference between tournament and casual golf. Also, you may want to wait a while before you say anything like that.

[TN94z]

Well done then. Good for you. I know just what you are talking about. Again though, definitely a good idea to test how that swing change holds up under pressure every now and then.

Thanks. And that answers my question....as did every other response. I 100% agree that tournament play is the best test, but I just wanted to make sure that it was the right thing for me to do at this point in my swing changes. Thanks again

[TN94z]

But there's such a difference between tournament and casual golf. Also, you may want to wait a while before you say anything like that.

Not really. I think my choices of getting lessons to help get to scratch, working on my mental approach, and working on my physical approach are all the best choices I can make in my golf game! Not to mention the fact that I have made up my mind to play on a more competitive level as opposed to staying with the casual golf. Now I am not in limbo and I have a plan.

[Cesar]

Not really. I think my choices of getting lessons to help get to scratch, working on my mental approach, and working on my physical approach are all the best choices I can make in my golf game! Not to mention the fact that I have made up my mind to play on a more competitive level as opposed to staying with the casual golf. Now I am not in limbo and I have a plan.

You're on the right track. I basically completely quit the game for 12 years and just started playing again last summer. While my game is nowhere near the consistent level I want it to be, I still have been going out and playing the USGA and NCGA (NorCal Golf Assoc) events as well as other local events. I haven't played well any of them yet, but the experience has been priceless. Nothing like playing under the gun to find out where your game really is and what needs to be worked on. If you haven't already done so, check out amateurgolf.com and consider signing up. They have a great database of tournaments all over the country (world actually) that you can sign up for and get some experience against very good players.

[TN94z]

You're on the right track. I basically completely quit the game for 12 years and just started playing again last summer. While my game is nowhere near the consistent level I want it to be, I still have been going out and playing the USGA and NCGA (NorCal Golf Assoc) events as well as other local events.

I don't think I have ever heard of that. Thanks, I will for sure check that out!!

[youngskip40]

You're on the right track. I basically completely quit the game for 12 years and just started playing again last summer. While my game is nowhere near the consistent level I want it to be, I still have been going out and playing the USGA and NCGA (NorCal Golf Assoc) events as well as other local events.

Seems like you've got your index on the right track... but I hear you, it is a world apart playing under the gun vs. just playing by yourself, no matter how seriously you take your casual rounds.

Hey, how are the 2 Nak clubs you have? Did you do the whole driver fitting deal and get fit to those clubs? I've heard such great things about them, but it's so expensive!

[Leftygolfer]

Reading this is making me excited. I am playing in my club championship this weekend. I haven't played in a tournement in 3 years and when I did, I played well.

Am I super prepared and all the issues in my game ironed out, hell no. I don't care. I just want to see how I am going to play. I really want to get to the point where I can play in the scatch local tournements and just hold my own. I do not know if I will ever be good enough to do this, but that is what I want. Flighted tournements are fun but they are so subject to sand bagging. If I play a great round tomorrow it actually hurts my chances of winning a flight. I would never sand bag but there very well may be people who will.

I just can't wait and I am sure I will have no trouble waking up.

[TN94z]

Reading this is making me excited. I am playing in my club championship this weekend. I haven't played in a tournement in 3 years and when I did, I played well.

This is the whole reason that I started hitting the lessons and working toward scratch. I am tired of the sandbagging, (which I don't have to deal it with it much, but some times I do in my area) and the scrambles are okay but I don't like my outcome depending on others.

[Cesar]

Seems like you've got your index on the right track... but I hear you, it is a world apart playing under the gun vs. just playing by yourself, no matter how seriously you take your casual rounds.

Yeah, playing in tourneys really tests you mentally and physically.

When I first started, everything seemed to be happening so fast. Which sounds weird in golf, where a round takes 4-4.5 hours to play, but it's true. So many thoughts race through your head it's not even funny. Physically, the tension of being under the gun also changes things. Your body reacts differently and that causes the ball to do all sorts of crazy things. It all comes down to comfort level and the only way to fight through that is repetition. I'm feeling more at ease with each tourney which is allowing me to slow down the swing and bringing my scores closer to my weekend round scores. It's a process and there really is nothing you can do to rush it. Just learn from each experience. As for my Nakas, yes I did go to their headquarters here in Stockton, CA. It's about a 45 minute drive from my house. Went into their studio which had a super bad-arse launch monitor and got dialed in. The driver is UNBELIEVABLY good. I've gained 20 yards and my shot dispersion is way down from where it was. I still hit the occasional horrendous drive, but that's due to my swing and swing speed (120 MPH) than anything to do with the club. If I just make a half ass decent swing and get the clubface square at impact, the ball takes off like a bat out of hell! well worth the $$$ IMO. The hybrid was something more of my creation. I didn't have the $$$ to throw in a graphite shaft so I just went with the KBS tour shafts I have in my irons. It's much heavier than the standard hybrid, but I have the swing speed to pull it off. The ball flight is unbelievable and it's my go-to club when I need to put one in the fairway. I can't say enough good things about the quality of their products.

[youngskip40]

Yeah, playing in tourneys really tests you mentally and physically.

Completely agree with all of that. It's so weird to shoot a great score in your sleep on the weekend but not be able to put it all together in a tournament. That's part of the fun though for me. Well said.

The driver is UNBELIEVABLY good. I've gained 20 yards and my shot dispersion is way down from where it was. I still hit the occasional horrendous drive, but that's due to my swing and swing speed (120 MPH) than anything to do with the club. If I just make a half ass decent swing and get the clubface square at impact, the ball takes off like a bat out of hell! well worth the $$$ IMO.

Sounds awesome. I'll have to save my pennies, but the guys I work with for my clubs have the Nak fitting system/launch monitor now and they just rave about it. Someday.

Their hybrids are nice looking, always wondered how they would perform. Sounds pretty good. Just picked up my Sonartec and it gives me the exact results you just talked about, but good to know they make a good one if I ever decide to add a 2nd hybrid to the bag. Sorry, didn't mean to jack this thread! Just curious.