Handicap just got lower

[Arsenal8807]

It feels so good to be playing good golf again, well to me haha. I used to play here and there ,like a tournament a month for my school when I was a sophomore and junior and shot low 100's and now I just started to play again about 5 years later and I have been playing regularly for about 3 weeks now. I started up again about 6 weeks ago but I was trying to work on my swing a little bit and my putting and chipping before going out onto the 9 hole before the 18. I am pleased on where my game is currently and my best rounds so far are, 87, 89, 84(today); of course I have had the occasional 90 round but it was when I started up again on the 18 hole courses. My lowest score was posted today and I am very excited.

Just wanted to share that my handicap is getting lower and I am perfectly content right now shooting in the 80's.

[vmsea]

Share the secret please.

How do you go from shooting in the low 100s.. lay off for 5 years... then pick it up again and shoot mid 80s?!

Man i wish i can get some of that! I also had a 5 year layoff.. shot high 80s when i left the game, and now in the mid 90s..
:(

[Arsenal8807]

Not too sure my friends that have been playing for years wonder the same thing haha. I am just playing really well. Like I said I took a lot of time working on my swing and staying down and not moving my head and grip, etc. I bought the Ben Hogan book, I like to call it Golfs Bible. It taught me tons..

[acegolfer]

Share the secret please.

I went from shooting mid 80s to mid 100s after 3 year layoff. I re-established my HI at 25. Went down to 13 in 6 months. Hang on, it will come back with practice.

If I were you, I'd completely rebuild my swing after lay off. Analyze your swing video and try to rebuild from the ground up.

[kris]

I had a similar experience. Was shooting high 90s/low 100s 14 months ago. took a year off, started playing about a month ago and have shaved about 10 strokes off. don't know how that happened, but i'm pretty stoked about it. I guess now i just sort of focus on the rhythm of the swing and keep it consistent whereas before I was just sort of swinging away carefree. I also chip and putt a lot before a round rather than hit at the range and it's really helped the short game.

[vmsea]

one major difference I do notice is temperment..
in my early 20s, i used to get really pissed at each bad shot.. now i just laugh it off and try to focus on the next one..

hope it all comes back :)

[Arsenal8807]

I know I have a more relaxed approach and I don't think about my swing I just focus on what I want to hit and where to put the ball and it works for me. I'm excited about playing. I get up early to watch golf on tv or just go out and play or go to the range/putting greens and chipping areas.

Going to go play this local course Sunday...
http://www.newportdunesgolf.com/layo...=190&page;=4467

[max power]

Share the secret please.

I don't know, but I was shooting high 80's when I took 19 months off from 2007-2009. Next 18 hole round I played I shot 76-5 strokes ahead of my previous best! Since then I've become a golf fiend and gotten down to my current handicap.

[Futch]

I had a 2 year layoff before picking it back up a year or so ago. Initially I was up to my old routine, just goofing off with buddies. About 6 months ago I was sitting around watching golf and got the urge to hit the range. Since then, I go golfing 4 times a month (alone if I have to), and I went go the range once a week. It is all about working at it. I have had a very similar experience to acegolfer , I have taken my handicap down from 25.0 to 14.0 in the last 6 months. I am completely self taught, and I am now beginning to read everything I can get my hands on. As the OP said, it is a great feeling to play what I feel is good golf. I feel with a little more work I can get down to a 7-10 handicap in less than a year. Fingers crossed.