First Tourney of the Year...

[nikeman6]

Hey guys, so im a sophmore in high school. Our first competetive event is this Saturday. I'm a sophmore, so this is my second year on the team, which is a team of 6 people. Basically me and a senior are going to carry the team on its back...anyways. Last year my best 18 hole tournament round was 92, which included a ten, yes ten, on the 10th hole (Par 5) So it definitely could've been better, but the past is done now. What im here asking is how do you all take it to the course. Last year, more less, I felt like I was finding a sprinkler head, grabbing the "right" club, and swinging myself out of my shoes. All winter I've been thinking about how I'm really going to take all my practice to the course. I've gone to the range several times now and today I really feel like I have much more control over many more of my shots. Which is good, I just want to make sure I take all that practice time and put it to good use out on the course, where the team will need me most. I feel like I can go out there being solid and have no problem whatsoever breaking 90, possibly 85? :)

Does anyone have any good advice/experience on how after a somewhat dissapointing year/month/round whatever and make the most of it and all of your practice and go out there next time and shoot your best round?

Any help would be very much appreciated. :)

[TitleistLefty]

Not knowing your or your game, the best advice I can give to you is this. First, find your distances with all clubs. Know how far your carry and totals yards are. Write them down or remember them. Second, develop a pre-shot routine and stick with it. Third, work hard on your short game. And last, if you get to the course and you're hitting a cut..play the a cut all day; don't try to change it during play. This applies to all shot shapes. Good luck with your game.

[nikeman6]

Originally Posted by TitleistLefty

Not knowing your or your game, the best advice I can give to you is this. First, find your distances with all clubs. Know how far your carry and totals yards are. Write them down or remember them. Second, develop a pre-shot routine and stick with it. Third, work hard on your short game. And last, if you get to the course and you're hitting a cut..play the a cut all day; don't try to change it during play. This applies to all shot shapes. Good luck with your game.

Thanks for replying in the first place :). haha just curious..seing as your a 2 handicap...how do you accurately calculate all your distances? (i dont own a rangefinder and propably wont in the near future..) its almost a bit of a guessing game sometimes for me..and yes...i've been working on a pre-shot routine..especially using it every time on every shot on the range to hone it in. Thanks...it'll give me something to think about. :)

[TitleistLefty]

Before I bought a range finder I went out to the 18th hole at my golf course to gauge distance. (Be sure to check with head pro and to watch for groups coming on to the tee) I'd sit in the fairway and fire shots in from different distances until I learned the yardage. (Assuming you can get the yardage on the course) I don't recommend going to the range and hitting at different flags. One, because range balls are usually terrible and will fly different than the balls in your bag. Second, they are set targets. You can't walk up 30 feet if you need to without the risk of being hit by other golfers.

[Cut68]

Originally Posted by TitleistLefty

Before I bought a range finder I went out to the 18th hole at my golf course to gauge distance. (Be sure to check with head pro and to watch for groups coming on to the tee) I'd sit in the fairway and fire shots in from different distances until I learned the yardage. (Assuming you can get the yardage on the course) I don't recommend going to the range and hitting at different flags. One, because range balls are usually terrible and will fly different than the balls in your bag. Second, they are set targets. You can't walk up 30 feet if you need to without the risk of being hit by other golfers.

This is great advice and I would suggest the same thing. I would give a +1 to understanding your ball flight (cut, draw, whatever) and playing it. The biggest thing is to have a go-to shot that you can always hit when it's really on the line. if you're standing on the last hole, let's say a par 4, and the match is on the line, go with the shot you know you can hit. If it's a 230 Hybrid, go with it. A big part of winning a match is knowing what shots you can execute, and knowing where you can miss it. If you're looking at a 175 approach and you play a draw, get an understanding of if you can miss it left on that hole, or if you have to hit it on the right side at all cost's. If you absolutely can't hit it to the left, play to the right side of the green and give yourself a chance to get up and down.

Beyond that, breath easy, lighten the grip, and take light swings. When you get amped up because the match is getting down to the wire, hit a 3/4 swing (unless going over water) The likely result is that your swing speed will be elevated, and the worst case is that you will hit a solid shot close to the green. Oh, and never, ever try to out-drive your opponent. If you try to, you won't. If you hit a Hybrid close to where he put his driver, it will have a much bigger effect

Oh, and on the 17th tee, ask your opponent if he inhales or exhales at the top of his backswing. Get's em every time! good luck......

[nikeman6]

Originally Posted by TitleistLefty

Before I bought a range finder I went out to the 18th hole at my golf course to gauge distance. (Be sure to check with head pro and to watch for groups coming on to the tee) I'd sit in the fairway and fire shots in from different distances until I learned the yardage. (Assuming you can get the yardage on the course) I don't recommend going to the range and hitting at different flags. One, because range balls are usually terrible and will fly different than the balls in your bag. Second, they are set targets. You can't walk up 30 feet if you need to without the risk of being hit by other golfers.

mhm..i've never thought of that. sounds like it could definitely work out.  I'll have to see if I can do that. thanks for the tips! :)

[nikeman6]

For those of you who may be wondering.. For those of yo uwho were wondering...

I got off to a rough start and shot a 49 on the front nine(really the back nine, started on 10th hole) However, I played IMO some of my best golf and shot a 41 (my best 9 hole score of my life...) on the back with 6 consecutive pars :).

I'm not sure if you guys can view it, but heres a link to a more detailed scorecard...let me know if you can see it. thanks

http://golfshot.com/rounds/detail/110-4284593-4284716

[Pope33]

Good work. When I went to back-to-back state championships in my high school years, I would approach every match the same. I got in my head that I was better than everyone else in my group. So I made them catch me, instead of me always trying to chase them. That way I usually got out to a fast start. Sometimes it's easier said than done, but it worked for me. Good Luck