Any tips on consistency?

[Cut68]

my game's coming around, but I'm finding that if I lose focus on a couple of swing keys and just make a natural swing, the bad habits creep back in. I shot an 86 this weekend, but I had 3 8's, all due to disastrously bad shots that I couldn't possibly recover from. The point being, the only thing holding me back from being right around 80 is 4-5 swing per round that just go off the grid. Is the key to fixing this focus, or are there any drills I can do to build consistancy in my swing (beyond practice: I practice a fair amount) help would be appreciated. My game is so close to turning a corner I can taste it, just need some help to making that last step to get back to where I was a few years ago

[NBGolfer]

The big thing that got me past my corner was I tried to stop recovering from a mistake by making a bigger one.  Usually if I hit a bad shot, which everyone does the key is not to make it worse.  Take your punch out, loose the stroke and you might make it up later with a chip or a putt.

I see all to often people I golf with make a bad shot, try to hit a giant hook out around something hit that, then have to punch out again.

As far as the mental side, just play.  Enter in a few events even if they at a local club, get use to playing with a little pressure.  Sounds wierd but it may help your day to day play after.  That is a big thing that helped me.

If you really need help shaking the bad habits a lesson might help as well.  The bottom line is most of us leave strokes out on the course every round, that is the fun and hard part about this game.  Every day is different.

[ettsn]

Man, that is good advice NB. I catch myself all the time trying to overcome a bad shot with a "hero" shot, that usually ends up bad too and it compounds. I typically blow up one hole per nine (snowman or sometimes worse). I'm roughly a bogie golfer, but I tend to have about two holes add 6-8 strokes to my card. Your advice on taking the safe out and losing a stroke versus trying to recover with a Sportscenter shot is such good advice!

[The Recreational Golfer]

I would review what's going on inside your head when you make those 4-5 five fonebones. If that is the amount of bad swings you make per round, it seems like you have a decent enough swing, but you might not have learned to have confidence in it yet, and every so often the doubt emerges.

Just a thought.