When should you stop trying to get better?

[2bGood]

I am beggining to wonder if I should stop trying to get better at golf? I am a mid 80's players, and most days on most courses I can break 90 no problem, 10% of the time I flirt with breaking 80. My strong part of the games seems to move around, when my swing is off I can scramble well, when my swing is on my short game doesn't seem to be too hot. Either way I seem to get it done and post my 80's score.

I seem to be always working on something and trying to improve, of course playing through changes is tough and I am sure that if I just played the same (flawed) way for a year my scores would get better....

but I just can't seem to accept my game. To be honest my ball striking can be very poor at times, so I have been working on building a better swing and I am now much closer to have swing that can stand up and play well, but I am sure once I get my swing to the next stage I decide that I need to improve power or be able to work the ball both ways.

[danieldrieberg]

My first goal was to get a reproducible serviceable swing. With a full commitment to the 2 plane swing that is done. Next was to practice 100 yards in to the fringe. A game a can count on when my long game is sub par. Done. From 100 and in I guess I average 2.5 strokes counting the wedge shot.

By doing both these I expect to score at the most in the low 80s and put in an occasional sub par round. My latest rounds 75, 72,71,76. The 76 was shot today and was particularly happy with it. My driver and long irons on the opening 9 sucked to the point I was happy to be in bounds. But my wedges and putter kept the damage to a 41 going out. Then I figured out my swing issue. (At set up I has too much forward spine tilt throwing off my balance. Viola!!!! A 35 on the back side.


Spend some significant time with the wedges. Getting them under control will help your scoring AND help you with the long game too.

Happy golfing

[Tifosinumerouno]

When you can hole in one on every hole. Otherwise you can always get better.

[Weezy]

When you can hole in one on every hole. Otherwise you can always get better.

Not really. There wull be a point where your swing will max out its potential. Then you work on making that swing consistent. Same with the short game and putting stroke. That quest for consistency will never end.

[Tifosinumerouno]

But I do get the point of your post. If you're not enjoying playing the game because you're spending all your time thinking about your shots and your mistakes, and you're otherwise satisfied with your golf game, then take some time just to play. I suspect you'll get to a point where you'll want to improve again.

[tws1098]

But I do get the point of your post. If you're not enjoying playing the game because you're spending all your time thinking about your shots and your mistakes, and you're otherwise satisfied with your golf game, then take some time just to play. I suspect you'll get to a point where you'll want to improve again.

well put.

[sean_miller]

From 100 and in I guess I average 2.5 strokes counting the wedge shot.

Wow. There guys at scratch or better who can't claim that stat.

[CG031]

Never. You can always get better. That's what it's all about. Trying to always work on your game...you have to enjoy that...if not, then, just be content with how you play.

[The Recreational Golfer]

Speaking as an economist, you would stop when the marginal cost of improving exceeds the marginal benefit of improving. If golf is your recreation, and not your livelihood, you will reach a point where the extra shot or two you would save aren't worth the extra time and effort that it would take to get them.

[brgolf]

You should stop EXPECTING to get better whenever you do not have enough time to invest in your game to improve. The amount of effort I put in will probably eventually see me down to low single figures but not scratch and so at that point I will accept that whilst I can make day to day alterations and improvements that on balance I'm not going to emerge with a lower handicap overall.

[James_Black]

work on short game if you don't like working on your swing.

But you'll reach a point where you won't be able to get better using your swing, that's why you should change it. Maybe you don't want to change it now but if you don't change it you'l be stuck at around a 10 handicap.

[saevel25]

Never, if i continue to play and get to the point were i can play on the senior tour i will, if i am 35-40 and got good enoug to play on the tour, i will. Goals never die, not this goal. But i got to be realistic, right now its tough to get that good, but circumstances could change.

[Fatphil]

Speaking as an economist, you would stop when the marginal cost of improving exceeds the marginal benefit of improving. If golf is your recreation, and not your livelihood, you will reach a point where the extra shot or two you would save aren't worth the extra time and effort that it would take to get them.

a "law of diminishing returns" reference....on a golf website...LMAO.

and by the way,,,I'm not a real doctor...but I have a masters degree in BS

[acegolfer]

To OP,

What is your objective?

If you want to know where to go from now, you need to know exactly what your objective is. Otherwise, you are chasing a ghost. Your objective needs to be specific. For example, "getting better at golf" or "score lower" is too vague and will not be helpful.

Asking for advice without knowing what your objective is, IMHO, not going to cut it.

[goblue107501]

I agree with 'acegolfer'. What do you want to do? There are many on this forum that were/are in a similar position. You basically have two choices.
1. Accept where you are and be fine with it. You won't be much worse than 90 or much better than 80. If you are fine with that then stop worrying about everything and just go play and have fun. I know several guys in your position. They are solid players who occasionally have a great round, and also never seem to have a terrible round. They are happy with what they have and don't worry about. They like playing and don't really care about the score. They do the best they can for the day and are happy with the result. They have no desire to get any better, which is fine, they play becuase they like the game.
2. Quit trying to fix things yourself and get some lessons with a good pro who should be able to get you where you can improve. It won't be a one or two lesson fix, more like 8-10. If you want to get better that is the way to go. I was in a similar spot 7-8 years ago. I was so frustrated that I couldn't score better most of the time. For every 79 or 80 when I played great, there was an 88 or 89. My short game was good enough I could keep it in the mid 80's on a regular basis. I finally went to get some lessons and it was a big eye opener. My swing was awful. It took around 8 lessons over a 12 month period (taking a winter off) to get me turned around. Then it took another year or two for me to really 'get it'. Now I am pretty consistent in the mid to high 70's, with the occasional struggle round into the mid 80's. I just wish I would have taken the lessons sooner.

My main point is that if you want to get better, you will have to do something (lessons) about it. You can also stop trying to get better, accept what you game is and be happy with it.

[Yukari]

If you have to ask that question, you should give up the game. Basically, you have lost the enjoyment of playing and trying to improve.

[acegolfer]

If you have to ask that question, you should give up the game. Basically, you have lost the enjoyment of playing and trying to improve.

That's too harsh.

I know many ppl who gave up improving the game but still enjoy the game itself. Why should them give up the game?

[iacas]

The day you quit?

Is this a trick question?