Inconsistent great ball striker

[Valleygolfer]

I know practice practice practice but I am frustrated after a round today. I know what I need to do to have a great swing and can hit the ball great. I can go to the range and a lay down quite a few of great strikes. The problem is the on the course consistency. I feel like I have the potential to play 70's golf however I come nowhere near it. It is just that one shot perfect, the next I drop my shoulder or look up to soon. I have to play like I expect a pro caliber shot but 1 out of three end up that way and the occasional two or three in a row. I play with a guy that has consistently wimpy short shots but scores better because he has the same crappy shot each time and does and goes to the same distance.

It would almost be better to be consistently crappy than inconsistently stellar.

[bkoguy07]

You need to man up and have confidence in your game.

[Shanks A Million]

I know practice practice practice but I am frustrated after a round today. I know what I need to do to have a great swing and can hit the ball great. I can go to the range and a lay down quite a few of great strikes. The problem is the on the course consistency. I feel like I have the potential to play 70's golf however I come nowhere near it. It is just that one shot perfect, the next I drop my shoulder or look up to soon. I have to play like I expect a pro caliber shot but 1 out of three end up that way and the occasional two or three in a row. I play with a guy that has consistently wimpy short shots but scores better because he has the same crappy shot each time and does and goes to the same distance.

This is a strange post to say the least. Essentially, what you're saying is that you could compete in a weightlifting contest if they just used lighter weights. That's kind of like what you're saying. Anyone can hit a few great shots here and there, that's not what golf is about. There is no such thing as an inconsistent great ball striker. To be a great ballstriker means to hit it consistently, even if it's not perfectly straight, or beautiful. Anyone can hit one perfect, then the next one terrible, that's why so few people are scratch golfers. Golf is about minimizing mistakes, not hitting great shots. You're judged more by your worst mistakes then by your best shots in this game. Scoring well means keeping the ball in play, and keeping out of trouble. That's more important than hitting great shots any day of the week. To do that, you need to work on technique, which is a long and arduous process, but it's well worth it.

[clam fist]

Get lessons. You'll play better and enjoy the game more. You'll also get more out of your practice sessions.

[WUTiger]

As clam fist said, get some lessons. Find out any major swing flaws you need to correct.

Then, practice smart on the range. Once you get done with swing drills, hit some physical and mental "full shots." Set up each shot, align properly, and hit the ball. When your pre-shot actions become automatic, this allows you to focus on the specifics of the shot.

[Valleygolfer]

This is a strange post to say the least. Essentially, what you're saying is that you could compete in a weightlifting contest if they just used lighter weights. That's kind of like what you're saying.

I see what you mean but when I get everything set up and swing correctly it is better than the average hacker, I mean I have hit greens 225 yards out off the deck and have amazing performing iron shots. I know comparatively that I can hit a better shot than most of the 20 handicappers I have played with. That being said, when I play and some of these shots, people are like wow, you should have a lower handicap or that is the best shot i have seen anyone make on this golf course (Got that one tonight) I am not bragging because my score doesn't reflect anythig to be proud of. Besudes the next shot was a right shoulder drop for about 10 yards, which I followed up with a massive 7 iron shot choked down for approx 170 yards (I only needed 150). I have practiced a lot this year, and some of it is affected by swing changes I have made but scores have gone up instead of down. As far as confidence in my swing, about the only negative is that I get uncomfortable at set up and if I can't get that settled it is usually a poor outcome. I have a friend that is a pro in Kansas and will probably get him to analyze my swing but I have a feeling he will say, "see that one swing right there that is perfect, you just need to repeat it". Which lies the problem.... There is still lots to be said for "manning up" and having confidence in my swing, but I don't really think I think I am going to hit a bad shot, just the ackwardness at setup. I guess more than anything, I am usually good at anything I set my mind to, and I have set a lot of my mind to golf so I was a little jaded today. I guess I feel like Rya Moore does after the open.... Thanks for the input, I assume I will continue to practice and hope it just becomes automatic.

[Shanks A Million]

I have a friend that is a pro in Kansas and will probably get him to analyze my swing but I have a feeling he will say, "see that one swing right there that is perfect, you just need to repeat it". Which lies the problem....

I just don't really know where to begin here.

There's just no way that's true. Swings aren't magically better for one swing, but then suck for the rest. It's a case of getting lucky. Most 20 handicaps have swings that are based entirely on timing, and when it all comes together, they can hit beautiful shots. Still, it's never the case. If you're going from a beautiful shot to a duff, then you can't possibly be swinging anywhere near properly. Your problem is probably merely a case of on occasion having the club in the right place at the right time.

I see what you mean but when I get everything set up and swing correctly it is better than the average hacker, I mean I have hit greens 225 yards out off the deck and have amazing performing iron shots. I know comparatively that I can hit a better shot than most of the 20 handicappers I have played with. That being said, when I play and some of these shots, people are like wow, you should have a lower handicap or that is the best shot i have seen anyone make on this golf course (Got that one tonight)...

Again, hard to gauge my response here. Everyone hits great shots every now and then. When I used to hack around, I played a scramble, and proceeded to duff and top nearly every ball that day. I hit one 7 iron from the rough perfectly, straight and high, and to about 8 feet and got us a birdie. I hit that shot like a laser, just right on. My swing was all timing, and I timed that one just right.

What you likely have is clubhead speed, like I did. When you do catch one right, it goes a mile, and spins back nicely. But the problem is the "if". That is why golf is so hard, you need to get rid of the idea that those great shots are anything more than a fluke. Count yourself by your worst, not your best. Forget that you ever hit these good shots, and concentrate on a consistent shot. That's how you play the game. To do that, you need to eliminate timing, and develop proper fundamentals. These are what help you hit better good shots, and better bad shots.

[The Recreational Golfer]

I know practice practice practice but I am frustrated after a round today. I know what I need to do to have a great swing and can hit the ball great. I can go to the range and a lay down quite a few of great strikes. The problem is the on the course consistency.

If you're only hitting one out of three shots acceptably, I wonder if you really do know what you need to do to have a great swing. I thought the same thing about my swing until I finally realized that while I know what I know, (a) what I know isn't always right, and (b) isn't even close to everything that I need to know to swing consistently well.

Do you take lessons? What you think you're doing and what you are doing can be miles apart.

[Valleygolfer]

There's just no way that's true. Swings aren't magically better for one swing, but then suck for the rest. It's a case of getting lucky.

First there is no such thing as lucky. Second all swings are based on timing. You can not grasp what I am saying for what ever reason. I decided that the lesson route to help me with consistency. My bad shots are due to either swinging too hard, missing a component of set up or not seeing the ball/looking up before/during contact. Since this is my second full year since laying down the clubs 25 years ago (shot mid 80's then) I am asking too much.

Maybe I just needed to vent too and accept the fact that lessons are in order. Regardless, I agree that a little pro fine tuning is in order.

[Shanks A Million]

First there is no such thing as lucky. Second all swings are based on timing. You can not grasp what I am saying for what ever reason. I decided that the lesson route to help me with consistency. My bad shots are due to either swinging too hard, missing a component of set up or not seeing the ball/looking up before/during contact. Since this is my second full year since laying down the clubs 25 years ago (shot mid 80's then) I am asking too much.

Now you're rationalizing. All swings are based on timing, but the best swings have the least amount of timing involved. Your bad shots are not the result of some cosmic force that's plotting against you, and the sooner you realize that, the faster you'll get better. Lifting your head and swinging too hard are things we've

all been through, and they are things that proper technique and practice will bring about. Even the tour pros don't hit every shot perfect, they just miss well. If they lift their head or swing too hard, their good fundamentals save the shot.

[sean_miller]

First there is no such thing as lucky. Second all swings are based on timing. You can not grasp what I am saying for what ever reason.

There are lucky shots. Have you ever played with someone who gets a hole in one (or chips in) after their ball made a 90 degree turn after bouncing off a sidehill or mound? Ever see a guy flub an approach into the rocks and after bouncing around the ball finally comes to rest 2 inches from the hole? I realize this isn't the kind of lucky you're talking about, but it's at least loosely connected.

Solid ball strikers (not even "great") don't miss by much and when they hole out or put the ball 2 inches from the cup the realize that particular shot had a bit of luck involved.

[Valleygolfer]

Now you're rationalizing. All swings are based on timing, but the best swings have the least amount of timing involved. Your bad shots are not the result of some cosmic force that's plotting against you, and the sooner you realize that, the faster you'll get better. Lifting your head and swinging too hard are things we've

I never was irrational, just aggravated that I can't seem to capture the consistency. I know what I do wrong when I do it generally, I just don't why when I am focused on doing everything right I still make dumb mistakes, costing me shots. I hope that I eventually get used to my new swing and start playing better.

There are lucky shots. Have you ever played with someone who gets a hole in one (or chips in) after their ball made a 90 degree turn after bouncing off a sidehill or mound? Ever see a guy flub an approach into the rocks and after bouncing around the ball finally comes to rest 2 inches from the hole? I realize this isn't the kind of lucky you're talking about, but it's at least loosely connected.

No luck involved. The person who hit the ball set up to hit it exactly there. What happens to the ball is a direct result of that person's action. If you do every thing right or wrong it is a diliberate act. Some people like to call things luck and I don't believe in it. I know whatever I "choose" to do effects all my outcomes. Plus if you rely on luck for anything you are generally not rewarded.

[sean_miller]

Some people like to call things luck and I don't believe in it.

You must enjoy playing a links course.

[Valleygolfer]

You must enjoy playing a links course.

Why is that?

[sean_miller]

Why is that?

That's where the term "rub of the green" originated. You can strike a perfect shot and get a bad result or hit one less than stellar and end up with a great result. Great players tend to have more "luck", but they're willing to take it for what it is. The players most able to accept the bad with the good tend to do well on tough courses in general, but links courses especially. You just gotta keep plugging away.

[CarlSpackler]

I would stop playing if I let me bad shots frustrate me. When I rattle off a bad one, I embrace the challenge for trying to save par from where I am. If you play competitively, fewer things can rattle an opponent who thinks you are out of the hole only to hit a great shot or make a long putt to save par. I've hit great shots that land on a sprinkler head and bound way over the green, and I've hit horrible shots that ricochet off a tree and land in the fairway instead of going out of bounds. This is the game we play.

You might consider reading Zen Golf and/or Golf is Not a Game of Perfect to help put your frustration in perspective. Getting lessons to assess your swing is a great idea as well.

[Valleygolfer]

I would stop playing if I let me bad shots frustrate me. When I rattle off a bad one, I embrace the challenge for trying to save par from where I am. If you play competitively, fewer things can rattle an opponent who thinks you are out of the hole only to hit a great shot or make a long putt to save par. I've hit great shots that land on a sprinkler head and bound way over the green, and I've hit horrible shots that ricochet off a tree and land in the fairway instead of going out of bounds. This is the game we play.

I do not really get angry while playing as much as I get a little frustrated when I see the total score. It burns a bit when it is all said and done but after a couple of days the urge and positivity comes back. I made this post just after a round at a course that has houses all around and through it which can cost you a lot of strokes ob where another course you could take a shot.

[CarlSpackler]

I do not really get angry while playing as much as I get a little frustrated when I see the total score. It burns a bit when it is all said and done but after a couple of days the urge and positivity comes back. I made this post just after a round at a course that has houses all around and through it which can cost you a lot of strokes ob where another course you could take a shot.

I am guessing, primarily from what I see in your sig, that you could use some help with the mental game. In one of the books, there is a chapter called fire your caddie. If you had a caddie that told you how bad you are after every shot that was less than optimal, you would fire them. So, fire the caddie in your head that is telling you that you suck and hire one that helps you shake it off and focus on the next shot.

The old me would give up mentally on a hole after a bad shot, or give up on a round after one bad hole. Now I just write it down and head to the next hole/shot and focus on the situation. I started with a double a few weeks ago and followed it with 6 pars (4 were tap in pars) and one bogey. I doubled the last hole for a 41, but focused on the good holes. Focusing on what was good about the round instead of beating yourself up over what went wrong will help build your confidence in your next practice session or round. JMO