How would you react to these statements?

[Bullitt5339]

I played a round with a scratch golfer last week, and he said:

"You have a beautiful swing, I wish mine was that smooth"

Played with the Club Pro yesterday, and he said:

"Man, that is one nice swing you've got"

I said thanks at the time, but now that I sit and think about it, if my swing is so nice, why am I a 22 handicap? My putter and wedges are really good, I just can't seem to hit GIRs enough to get my scores to drop considerably. So how do I react to those statements? I've been working on my ball striking daily, so I guess it's paying off. My putting is decent to good, and my wedges are good. I hit 10-12 fairways a round, but only 2 or 3 GIRs. It feels like I'm always on the verge of a serious breakthrough, but I just can't seem to hit GIRs. Distance is typically good, I'm just left or right usually. I play rounds with golfers who are horrible ball-strikers, and somehow when we add up the score at the end, I'm right there with them, when it's obvious that I'm a much better golfer than they are.

Is this typical of someone who doesn't spend a lot of time worrying about alignment? I really don't think about alignment, I just step up to the ball, line up and take a poke at it.

If alignment is my problem, what are some things I can do to work on my alignment?

I really feel like I'm better than my handicap shows, I just have some bad breaks every round that give me a big number or two. Or am I just expecting too much, just getting back into golf after a 10 year layoff, and things will pull themselves together over time if my swing is truly good?

[Tiger Spuds]

I played a round with a scratch golfer last week, and he said:

The problem sounds more like a timing issue in your downswing than alignment.

Easy solution to this is to post a swing video and let people analyse it and see if it's as nice as they say or if they're blowin' smoke up your ass.What was your handicap before your layoff?

[doctork]

Sounds like you've got a lot of talent, just need to add fundamentals and discipline. Pros and scratch players don't say things like that, unsolicited.

Maybe you should've replied, 'I appreciate that, but why am I a 22-handicap?'

Practice practice practice...

Cheers,
DoctorK

[Bullitt5339]

The problem sounds more like a timing issue in your downswing than alignment.

Before the lay-off, I was around a 15 handicap, but I only played twice a month or so. Now I'm playing 3 or 4 times a week in an effort to be a decent player.

[Scott_K]

After 10 years off, you have to give yourself some time to dial in your accuracy. Otherwise it sounds like you have some solid distance control.

I suggest using your imagination at the range and picking tight targets. Fire at the 150 marker and work on clustering around it. Once you've got that down, fire at the 5 on the 150 marker. Also work with different targets and move from one target to the next because you're not going to hit 3 150 yard shots in a row. That's fine if you're working on groving a swing or learning a fade, but this practice approach is all about aiming and target practice. Watch your trajectories, where the ball lands, how it lands within reasonable boundaries of what your range has to offer. The 150 marker is just an example, obviously use all sorts of targets.

The net at the end is held up by those telephone poles. I aim at them as if they were field goals and imagine them as trees on the fairway. I do this with my drives.

[Bullitt5339]

After 10 years off, you have to give yourself some time to dial in your accuracy. Otherwise it sounds like you have some solid distance control.

That's a really good idea. Practicing has always been my weak point. I love being on the course. If I have 2 hours to spend working on golf, I'd rather play 9 holes than spend 2 hours at the range. I know I should do more practicing, but I really enjoy walking the course and playing. As much as I try to get a practice routine, I either end up just rapid firing balls, or I'll end up pulling my pitching wedge and trying to take easy swings and hit the 100 marker. No wonder my wedge play is decent.

[plugged]

To be honest, I get that reaction a lot too. A lot of people see me practice and think I am a single-digit HC. My swing really is very nice. What I screw up on is the mental game. I have played so badly for so much of my life that although I now have a really good fundamental swing, I still can't trust myself when I set up. So, I sabotage my own efforts by seizing up at the last moment and hit it thin or pull it. Its terrible and very frustrating. I am getting better, though, and the only way I have found to overcome this problem is to practice A LOT. Repeated efforts at forcing myself to make the same swing over the ball as my practice swing is very slowly creating muscle memory.

[pittpanther]

I said thanks at the time, but now that I sit and think about it, if my swing is so nice, why am I a 22 handicap? My putter and wedges are really good, I just can't seem to hit GIRs enough to get my scores to drop considerably. So how do I react to those statements? I've been working on my ball striking daily, so I guess it's paying off. My putting is decent to good, and my wedges are good. I hit 10-12 fairways a round, but only 2 or 3 GIRs. It feels like I'm always on the verge of a serious breakthrough, but I just can't seem to hit GIRs. Distance is typically good, I'm just left or right usually. I play rounds with golfers who are horrible ball-strikers, and somehow when we add up the score at the end, I'm right there with them, when

Two scenarios

1. Par 4 - 420 yards. You hit driver 220 yards, hit your wood/hybrid 200 yards, but 20 yards left. You chip on and 2 putt, for a bogey 5. 2. Par 4 - 420 yards. The other guy hits driver 220 yards. Duffs his second shot 50 yards, hits 7I 150 onto green, and 2 putts for a bogey 5. Which is the better golfer? I think it's open to debate...

[drglew]

Is this typical of someone who doesn't spend a lot of time worrying about alignment? I really don't think about alignment, I just step up to the ball, line up and take a poke at it. If alignment is my problem, what are some things I can do to work on my alignment?

Might be, but maybe not. Is your ball flight relatively consistent with your irons, i.e. always fade, draw etc? If your shot shape is always the same, but the results are sometimes left, sometimes right, you definitely should work on where you're aiming. If you have erratic shot shape, it's more likely your swing (although inconsistent alignment can sometimes lead to different shot shapes!).

Easiest tests are to line up your shot; then put another club on the ground parallel to your foot-line; does the shaft point at your target? If not, you're a heck of lot less likely to start it on line. Another simple way is to have a playing partner "confirm" your alignment after you've set up (caddies often do this for some players in the LPGA)...you may find your body is not set up anywhere near where you think you're aiming.

[Bullitt5339]

I have a slight draw with all my irons. I'm going to try to get someone to line me up and see if that's the problem tomorrow when we're playing.

[Stretch]

If you've got silky smooth swing and a slight, natural draw it sounds like you were born on third base.

Practice. Practice. Practice.

[drglew]

In terms of alignment, my routine starts standing behind the ball, identifying a target where i want the ballflight to start, then walking around to my stance, trying to keep it parallel to that target. Many amateurs (righties) line up aiming more to the right than they think, which is a natural tendency considering your eyes are facing perpendicular to where you're aiming when you set up (esp if you don't pick your target from behind the ball).

If this is the case with you Bullitt5339, then i'd bet most of your iron misses are right (or knowing subconsciously you miss right you overcook your natural draw and hit occasional big hooks)...

[Bullitt5339]

If this is the case with you Bullitt5339, then i'd bet most of your iron misses are right (or knowing subconsciously you miss right you overcook your natural draw and hit occasional big hooks)...

You pretty much hit the nail on the head.

[The Hacker]

Do your clubs fit you? Are your shafts too limber? If not, that might be the cause of the inconsistency. ??

[Bullitt5339]

Do your clubs fit you? Are your shafts too limber? If not, that might be the cause of the inconsistency. ??

I was fitted by Cleveland for my irons with TT S300 shafts, so I don't think they're too limber.

[walk18]

I know what you mean about guys who seem to hack it around but score well. It's a funny game that way.

[Fairway_CY]

Two scenarios

Well... you didn't tell us which one of those guys topped his driver 220 instead of the usual 295 he hit it... so, how are we supposed to know who's the better golfer?

All jokes aside... I've been where you are. A few years back, I played a LOT but I never really got better. I had a bunch of people tell me that they loved the way I swung the club... but, at the end of the day... I was STILL shooting between 97 and 107. In my case... I was playing, at that time, with a set of off-the-shelf no-name clubs that weren't fitted for me or anything. I also never practiced the game except when I was on the course. Now... I'm playing MUCH better golf... but I've yet to hear anyone compliment me on my swing. Clubs are fitted for me... I practice constantly... just - not as smooth as I used to be. So - the guys who are telling you to practice. I'd listen to them. It DOES pay off! CY

[The Recreational Golfer]

I can show you a swing that is so pretty you would weep, but it isn't worth two cents for hitting the ball, so I never use it. Not that I'm saying that about yours, but does your good-looking swing get you at least up to the green in regulation? If not, pretty is as pretty does. If so, your chipping and putting need work.