Playing / Practice Frequency

[philipy]

I'm stuck shooting around 87 to 90 lately. Try to play or go to the range at least once a week. Can I expect to get in the lower 80's or even dare I say break 80 (my low round is 81) when only playing once a week? It's hard to find time to get out more often even when I want to. Or am I just maintaining?

[J.P.]

Can I expect to get in the lower 80's or even dare I say break 80 (my low round is 81) when only playing once a week?

Heck Yes you can get better going out once a week! BUT! You must mix in range time, AND you must work on the particular problems that are holding you back! I actually get out around once a week. I do alternate a 3 hour or so practice session one week with a day on the golf course maybe the next. Most of the time is spent hitting little chips & pitches around our chipping green. Full swing time is spent on specific drills that are targeted towards my full swing negative aspects. You must change/add to what you are doing to get better, be it in the gym, lessons monthly, or at the range. I think it was Albert Einstein that said "insanity, is doing the same thing over and over, yet expecting a different result ". GOOD LUCK!!!

[drizz]

my advice would be to find a good teacher get a few lessons and drills to do so you can make the most out of your little practice time. then take it to the course

[philipy]

Heck Yes you can get better going out once a week! BUT! You must mix in range time, AND you must work on the particular problems that are holding you back!

Thanks for advice. I think I'm probably stuck in a routine (won't quite say I'm insane by Einstein standards yet) as far as my practice goes.

Seems like as my driver goes, so goes my score. If I can hit the fairway, I'm usually 50/50 for par/bogey.

[GolfnGriff]

I agree with you on the driver thing... It seems to me that if you drive bad you play bad. The short game can really make up a lot for a bad tee game but still my best rounds have come when I hit the fairway off the tee. I would give up 10-15 yards on my tee shot for more accuracy.

[NM Golf]

You don't need to practice more just practice better. Make sure to concentrate on all aspects of your game paying special attention to the scoring aspects of the game ie. SHORT GAME! Lowering your score also comes with learning course management, unfortunately there is no place to practice course mangement but on the course.

[philipy]

Lowering your score also comes with learning course management, unfortunately there is no place to practice course mangement but on the course.

Good point. I played yesterday afternoon and had a par I was VERY proud of. Big push to the right on my drive, decided not to try a risky high draw around trees to hit a small green, so i punched out almost 90 degrees to the fair way. Got up and down with a wedge from about 125 yards. There's no way I would have parred without punching out.