Eliminating the big numbers

[Leftygolfer]

I know I am not alone in that I can not seem to stop making doubles and triples consistantly. For me this is really hurting my scores and keeping me from the 70s. For example yesterday, I shot a 41 (6 over) 6 of 9 greens, 1 birdie, 5 pars, 2 doubles, a triple. I did one of two things, made a horrid swing off the tee and put myself in terrible positions (once OB) or just made a mess around the green from a relatively easy spot.

How do I eliminate the what I like to call the a**hole swings. I know I am much better than the horrid shots. Is this just being better? Even if they are just ok I can make a bogie and take 5 shots off a round.

[Gioguy21]

focus. as you put, 'a**hole' swings happen when you're not focusing on contact with the ball in and around the green...as for off the tee, it happens, it's the ability to recover that keeps you from hitting an 'a**hole* shot after you put one near the woods.

[saevel25]

The OB can't be helped, we all have a bad swing once in a while that causes some issues.

Sounds like you have issues with your short game. Even if you need to get up and down, if you duff a chip you should be able to get the next one on and two putt for bogey. So there has to be a bigger issue with your short game. I would spend alot of time around the chipping green, concentrate on keeping your weight forward and your hands always ahead of the clubhead.

[Saig55]

For me, it's all about losing focus. I get in a hurry. Relax and breathe.............

[delav]

Tension, and as others have said (losing focus) is where I see my idiot-swings come from.

As far as OB or problem areas... as a 10 HC, think about your strengths. If i've got OB on a side of the fairway and it creeps into my mind on the tee, I'll pull out my hybrid or 3 iron. This isn't all the time, but something negative thoughts can get the best of a player. If you don't feel confident over the ball with a driver, for whatever reason, take a shorter club and take a mid iron into the green. You may miss the GIR, however, you'll have a change for a up and down par save, versus an OB tee shot.

[jefftommy06]

For me, it's all about losing focus. I get in a hurry. Relax and breathe.............

Exactly....relax, breathe, and focus on that shot.

[saevel25]

Is the opposite side of OB clear, for example if its right side OB, how does the left side of the fairway and rough look. Because if the rough isn't to high and there aren't many trees, just try to put it on the left edge of the fairway. I play on this par 5 that has OB right, and i blast it 10 yards left into the rough because there are only a handfull of trees over there and if i get behind one then i just punch down the fairway as a lay up, if not i can take an iron to the green.

[chilly]

I'm working on this as well. As other stated, blowing up involves a loss of focus once you hit the initial bad shot. Have to stay calm, regroup, and not try the "hero" shot. Also have to stay in your preshot routine and realize that chip to setup double bogey is just as important as a birdie putt.

Some of it is course management as well. My home course has a logleg left 620yd Par 5. I hit driver to get around the dogleg, but usually have well over 300yds to the green. I had been hitting hybrid here to get a big chunk of yardage, but my first swing of the day with a hybrid can result in a big hook...and this hole has OOB left. After doing this a few times, realized how stupid it was to do this, when I can just hit a 5 iron, and still have a wedge or 9i at worst into the green. Since doing that, I've eliminated the 8/9s on that hole that I'd take way too frequently.

[Leftygolfer]

This one hole does have my number. It is a easy hole but all I can see is the OB left. The second shot is up a hill and typically into the wind. It is only 370 but if I hit my 3W I am sitting 160 to the green and hitting 6 iron. I feel better getting up around the 120 range and giving myself the chance to hit a higher shot.

I don't think it is my lack of short game. I have practiced for years on it and have the ability to hit great shots. It is just a brain fart then I try to make and then hit the first putt to firm and miss the combacker. I acually have more trouble with the "easy" chips. The hard ones, i am very good at. A simple pitch, I can really screw up.

I just don't seem to swing the club consistantly the same tempo and way. When my swing is on I can play, but when it is off the ball can go anywhere. It is these off swings that hurt. Then I combine the bad shot with another and here comes double.

Thanks for the advice all.

[double_j]

Sometimes you just have to accept that bogey is an OK score. It's definitely better than a double or triple.

In other words, don't try to be a hero. Don't compound errors by trying a questionable play in order to 'save' a bad one. E.g., you don't have to hit that 3 wood for a second shot just because you duffed your drive.

Know your weaknesses and compensate for them. Plan to miss well. E.g., if there's nothing but trouble in front of a par three but the back is relatively benign, plan for your miss to be long.

No more wasting chips and wedge shots. Anything within 75 yards should be on the green with one shot (should definitely be possible as a 10 hdcp). It doesn't have to be really tight, just get it dancing and two putt home. You'll save more pars and bogeys with this than anything else (and I guarantee that you've made more doubles or worse by not doing this).

[sean_miller]

Sometimes you just have to accept that bogey is an OK score. It's definitely better than a double or triple.

I played a hole like that on Sunday - it could easily be a par 5, so that's how I played it. Trees left, OB long and right, and a 230 yard second shot - I was happy with a 5.

PS. a consistent pre-shot routine is very helpful with focus.

[Tomassi]

This one hole does have my number. It is a easy hole but all I can see is the OB left. The second shot is up a hill and typically into the wind. It is only 370 but if I hit my 3W I am sitting 160 to the green and hitting 6 iron. I feel better getting up around the 120 range and giving myself the chance to hit a higher shot.

Why are you thinking about the OB? Whenever our minds start to think about something, all our focus and attention goes to that, which in this case is OB and a bad shot. Look at the fairway and that spot in the fairway 120 yards out where you want to be. You want to hit it in the fairway so start focusing your mind on the fairway!

I have no problems with hitting a club to get into a more comfortable yaradge but if you make bogey at the worst hitting three wood & 6 iron, then why not do that instead of bringing double and triple into play with a hole that has your number? If you're not comfortable hitting a 6 iron from 160 yards, then why not just hit an 8 iron close to the green and pitch it up close and give yourself a chance to make par and bogey at the worst?

I don't think it is my lack of short game. I have practiced for years on it and have the ability to hit great shots. It is just a brain fart then I try to make and then hit the first putt to firm and miss the combacker. I acually have more trouble with the "easy" chips. The hard ones, i am very good at. A simple pitch, I can really screw up.

I use to have the same problem, hit great chips and flops when the shot was harder and screw up the so called easy ones. The reason was because I focused more on the tough shots because they required something special. When I got over the easy ones I was very non-chalant and didn't take my time. Easy thing to do is just focus more and not think of the chip as an easy shot.

I just don't seem to swing the club consistantly the same tempo and way. When my swing is on I can play, but when it is off the ball can go anywhere. It is these off swings that hurt. Then I combine the bad shot with another and here comes double.

A good drill for tempo can be seen at the link below in a nice video. Something really cool that I haven't seen many people talk about when it comes to tempo.

http://golfinstructionguy.com/wind-golf

[saevel25]

When my golf pro talked to me, i mentioned how i am basically a two putt machine. This is good if i make alot of GIR's, but he told me that when it comes to putting you got to believe you are going to make it. Not that you are going to try, go into the shot with the mentality that this ball will go in the hole. I think thats what you got to do with every shot. Its not, "Its ok if its over there, or if i miss it here." You got to go out there and say, this ball is going to carry that bunker by 3 yards and be with in 10 feet of the hole. Or this ball will be 10 yards off the left edge of the fairway. I think that type of thinking will greatly improve your focus if you get that specific.

[delav]

Some of it is course management as well. My home course has a logleg left 620yd Par 5. I hit driver to get around the dogleg, but usually have well over 300yds to the green. I had been hitting hybrid here to get a big chunk of yardage, but my first swing of the day with a hybrid can result in a big hook...and this hole has OOB left. After doing this a few times, realized how stupid it was to do this, when I can just hit a 5 iron, and still have a wedge or 9i at worst into the green. Since doing that, I've eliminated the 8/9s on that hole that I'd take way too frequently.

Precisely. I think far too often players reach for the 3/5W or hybrid without really thinking. If I'm 300 out on a par 5 for my second, it's a rare occasion that I'd choose a 230+ yard club!

[chspeed]

I've been working on this too. For me, it's all about managing my expectations. There are a few tough holes where I always seem to make a big number. Instead of trying to crush the drive, I basically play the hole like a wuss. I shorten my backswing even more than normal, and just worry about hitting the ball straight. Sometimes these are bad shots (e.g. 190 yd drive or 150 yd 5-iron), and don't look sexy, but they are straight, and keep me out of trouble. I walk away with a bogey or a double, but that's a lot better than an 8.

[jamo]

For me it was a very gradual transition. I went through nearly a year where my game was about as good as it is now, but I would put up several big numbers a round. It is all about capitalizing on good shots, and making your bad shots less terrible.