Getting Over the Hump

[adamgoodman]

I'm sixteen years old and around an 8 handicap. My scores go from about 37-42, but I'm having trouble getting to over that hump. I can say I've been making steady improvements, last year I was around 38-45, but the problem is my low scores haven't been getting much lower. I don't seem to be birdieing enough holes. Because of this, just a few bogeys kill me, and anything worse is suicide. Anything I can do to birdie more holes, or get over this road block? I've never shot a round of even par, and I'd like to get my handicap below 5. Help please?

[shortstop20]

What's your Stats?

FIR, GIR, Putts per round, etc.

[adamgoodman]

What's your Stats?

FIR: 69.2% hit, 5.9% left, 24.9% right

GIR: 56.3% hit (This needs to be improved) Putts per hole: 1.86

[shortstop20]

I'd say work on your mid-short irons so you can get more GIR's.

If you can tighten up your shot dispersion with these clubs just a little bit, you should see a shot or two drop off your HC I would think, unless you're already consistently knocking your pitch/chip close and one putting for par. Even then, you'll give yourself more birdie putts.

Then again, your handicap is lower than mine, so take this with a grain of salt for the time being.

[adamgoodman]

I'd say work on your mid-short irons so you can get more GIR's.

Often I leave my irons just barely off greens, and Im having trouble getting pars off those... When Im not nailing greens in reg, my short game usually doesn't recover for it. :-/

[kpaulhus]

When Im not nailing greens in reg, my short game usually doesn't recover for it. :-/

There is your answer.

Also....do you ever play all 18 holes? Im not saying your handicap is flawed, but only playing 9 is not the full round. Physically/mentally your back 9 could end up much worse than your first, and realistically affect your HI.

[adamgoodman]

Yeah, I play eighteen often enough... Same results.

[ks8829]

Putting and up and downs are the key to low rounds. working from the hole backwards for low consistent scores. Watch the pros and they spend as much time if not more time on the short game than any other part of their game, Putting especially, your putting should be below 30 for 18 holes with 50% or better for your up and downs.

Your last round what prevented you from scoring low, putting and around the greens?

[adamgoodman]

Putting and up and downs are the key to low rounds. working from the hole backwards for low consistent scores. Watch the pros and they spend as much time if not more time on the short game than any other part of their game, Putting especially, your putting should be below 30 for 18 holes with 50% or better for your up and downs.

I shot an 80 last eighteen. 41 on the front, 39 on the back. A mediocre 33 putts in total. Looking at my scorecard, there just was not nearly enough greens in regulation, and they were all just off the green. I don't want to have to go up and down as often as I do. Only one three putt the entire 18, but only 10 pars.

No birdies, again. Last nine I shot a 40 with 16 putts. No three putts, only two one putts. Six pars, two bogeys, one double, no birdies.

[shortstop20]

Are you underclubbing when you miss the green short or just not hitting them good?

If you're underclubbing, learn how to close those distance gaps, like hitting a choked down 7 iron instead of an 8 or whatever it may be.

[adamgoodman]

Are you underclubbing when you miss the green short or just not hitting them good?

Yeah, that sounds about right. I played 27 holes last weekend, and on the par 3 7th, I hit seven iron first time around, and flew it over, then hit eight iron the second time and left it short. Thanks for the advice. I think I'm also going to start getting lessons for the first time since taking up the game.

[adamgoodman]

There is your answer.

The reason I put it by nine holes rounds is because that's what I play for my high school golf matches.

[saevel25]

Hmm, actually most of my under clubs are from me taking one more club and really under swinging it. Though i have accidentally hit the wrong club before. I am really good with my distances, but i just have an issue with horizontal direction. But i rather take one more club, put it back in my stance a bit and swing hard at it. It will de-loft the club and the ball will travel about a half club more.

[adamgoodman]

Hmm, actually most of my under clubs are from me taking one more club and really under swinging it. Though i have accidentally hit the wrong club before. I am really good with my distances, but i just have an issue with horizontal direction. But i rather take one more club, put it back in my stance a bit and swing hard at it. It will de-loft the club and the ball will travel about a half club more.

I feel like I've just been losing distance recently and I can't explain why. I've been hitting the ball pretty pure...

Hmm, actually most of my under clubs are from me taking one more club and really under swinging it. Though i have accidentally hit the wrong club before. I am really good with my distances, but i just have an issue with horizontal direction. But i rather take one more club, put it back in my stance a bit and swing hard at it. It will de-loft the club and the ball will travel about a half club more.

It could just be because I've been playing a lot of away matches lately, and the distances are different than my home course.

[saevel25]

Thats true, are you coming up way short? is your ball flight higher? is your shot type a more pronounce now, ie more curve?

If you are only coming up just short of the green its probably the course having bad yardages. But you should be able to tell if you hit a ball good and come up short that you might want to try clubbing up next time. Don't get sucked into playing the yardages if you have a hint they might be short.

[adamgoodman]

Thats true, are you coming up way short? is your ball flight higher? is your shot type a more pronounce now, ie more curve?

It's just the greens I'm coming usually 3 yards short. My ball trajectory is normally remarkably high, so that's been staying around the same. Today the wind was playing a huge part in knocking down my balls when they were high in the air. It's always mentally tough to take out a lower club selection when I feel confident in my distance control based on other yardages.

[RC]

See a good teaching pro. Learning to control trajectories and a good short game are key skills for a low handicap.

[adamgoodman]

See a good teaching pro. Learning to control trajectories and a good short game are key skills for a low handicap.

I'm planning on starting lessons with the pro at the country club my team practices at. If I could get myself this far on my own, I figure coaching could only do good.