Explosion holes

[DeanS]

Nerves, expectations, pace. I shot 12 over on 3 holes at last Saturdays tourny. Went 53 on the front and 41 on the back, probably the best 94 I have ever posted. Actually 91 with adjustments. This happens to me when I go into these things expecting to score well. Got off to a good start, found myself waiting on the 4th tee box, nerves kicked in then shot a 7, then went 8, then 9. It took the rest of the front 9 to settle down and once I got into the back 9 my expectations were gone I shot a good score. My best scores come when I play without expectations. For me its prepare the week ahead and play the game one shot at a time and let the score take care of itself.

[WUTiger]

Quote:

can you pinpoint what is causing your blow up holes or is something different each time?

eliminating penalty strokes for OB/lost ball is the first place i would look.

Excellent starting point. If it varies round to round, you may need to stabilize basic swing.

Also: If you get into trouble off tee, get the ball back into the fairway. Try for bogie, and may have chance for up-and-down par on occasion.

[ChunkyDivot]

Avoding going OB is the key for me, especially now that I have started playing tournaments with the local club and finally learned (to my dismay) that, unlike plunking it in the water, going OB is penalty + distance.  Getting out of greenside bunkers on to the green in one shot is a close second.

Water isn't as bad since you can drop and still have a puncher's shot at a bogey or even a par on a par 4/5 if you get a nice approach shot.  OB basically is an automatic double bogey for me since you have to tee it up again and face the risk of OB again (which I did twice this weekend, even after clubbing down, resulting in 2 +5s).  Exhibit A: Pros almost never go OB, but its not uncommon to see them in the water.

I have also found that blow up holes often follow on the heels of some of my best holes.  For me, I think my swing stars to loosen up a bit after a couple pars or a birdie, getting wider, faster and more confident. Confident is good, but when its unjustified (as at my handicap) .... look out!  I had my first +5 right after a birdie par 5 where I stuck my 210 approach shot right on the green and was putting for eagle.  I then proceeded to

If someone told me $1,000 was riding on scoring an 85, I would never hit anything that introduced any risk of OB (goodbye driver and hybrid if there aren't fairways to the right and left, hello 5 iron).  I might even take own my advise this weekend.  :)

[turtleback]

Originally Posted by keb

Check out Raymond Floyd's book "The Elements of Scoring."  It helped get me into the low 90's consistently.  I need to reread it and hopefully make another drop in my handicap index.

This is worth repeating because I completely agree with yu and that is where I got the advice I proffered up-thread.