How long did it take you to get good?

[LarryK]

  fusioncal said:

I'm in your 5-7 and 8-present years right now, but I still have problem with when you're 2-4 years. Sometimes when my body is fit, I could hit VERY consistently always straight down and at the center of club face. But few days later when I go out to practice again it seems my body forgets the last swing I did. So I had to find it again and again. Sometimes I do find it, sometimes I don't. But I mostly don't.

Fusion: I may have given you the wrong impression. Progression in golf, like many things in life, is hardly linear. Think "three steps forward, two steps back." You definitely would not want to leave here thinking that I entered year five nailing the ball in the center of the club face and have been drilling the sweet spot every day since. LOL!!!! Sorry. My bad.

It sounds like you're doing fine. My point was simply as the years go by, you will find yourself concentrating on finer details of your swing and elements of course management rather than trying not to fall down during your follow through. Note to Sunchopper: You'll never convince yourself NOT to raise your head. The mind doesn't work well performing "negative" commands. What you can do is convince yourself that it is vital for you to actually see the club face making contact with the ball. You never will, of course, but if you can actually make seeing the moment of impact as your objective and make that more important to you than seeing where the ball went, you will keep your head down. See the moment of impact . It's a good tip for putting too.

[sunchopper]

  LarryK said:

Fusion: I may have given you the wrong impression. Progression in golf, like many things in life, is hardly linear. Think "three steps forward, two steps back." You definitely would not want to leave here thinking that I entered year five nailing the ball in the center of the club face and have been drilling the sweet spot every day since. LOL!!!! Sorry. My bad.

I will try this the next time I am at the range. I appreciate the input. Seems when I focus on actually keeping my head down and I am successful, I hit the ball horribly, but working on seeing the club impact the ball may help me out.

[iacas]

I'll answer the original question.

I took up golf the summer before my sophomore year of high school. I became a junior member at a local course for $100 and played constantly. I never remember shooting above 100, but I no doubt cheated like a madman my first year out. Still, by fall, my stroke average was 95 at one of the tougher courses in my area and my high school team's home course (still my current home course). We won the county championship that year, and I was the #6 guy on and off.

The second year, my stroke average was 85. I was the #3 guy. We won the county championship again. The third year, my stroke average was 75. I was the #1 guy. We won for the third time.

The last two years, I was a junior member at the course, which greatly helped. I didn't have a job (too young) most of the time, and when I did, I still played 5 times a week. I'd putt on the green against friends for hours (and for nickels), and I had a guy on the team a year younger and slightly worse than me - we really pushed each other to improve. He improved at the same rate as me, but from 87 to 77 or so.

Could I do that nowadays? No way in heck. There's something to be said for being of school age and having summers off.

[fusioncal]

  LarryK said:

Fusion: I may have given you the wrong impression. Progression in golf, like many things in life, is hardly linear. Think "three steps forward, two steps back." You definitely would not want to leave here thinking that I entered year five nailing the ball in the center of the club face and have been drilling the sweet spot every day since. LOL!!!! Sorry. My bad.

First of all, I'd like to say "WOW!" for the responses. I'd never thought there were some people experiencing the same problem.

Secondly, I was saying that I acknowledged the concept of "hitting down to get the ball up in the air" and "you don't hit the ball at all, you swing through it" even before you posted your experiences. Like I mentioned before, there were times when I applied the 2 concepts above to my swing and boy it worked like a charm! Nice, effortless and consistent swing all the time. You know you hit good when there's a nice crisp sound to it (taking divot sometimes) and the ball goes to wherever you aimed at. There was a good feel to every swing, but now it's gone and I've been trying to find it back ever since. So yeah, I agree with you that golf is more like three steps forward and two steps back. I just wish that I wouldn't have to go two steps back. But here's a question for you, if you went back 2 steps what would you do to go 3 steps forward? In other words, when you lost your feel, what did you do to get it back? Sunchopper: Sometimes I do the same lifting up my head before the impact. But here's what I do when that habit comes back - make sure you ACTUALLY see your club makes an impact with the ball for even for a split second. Don't imagine it, see it. Hope this helps.

[LarryK]

  fusioncal said:

But here's a question for you, if you went back 2 steps what would you do to go 3 steps forward? In other words, when you lost your feel, what did you do to get it back?

Usually, it wasn't something I did as much as something I suddenly remembered that I was or wasn't doing. I have been on the range or midway through a round and suddenly realized I was too close to or too far from the ball at address for the past hour. Or that I was sliding rather than turning my hips. Or (most often) just getting too damned quick with the back swing. Or jerking the club down with my hands as the first move on the downswing rather than uncoiling the hips.

It could be any of a number of things. But the point is you instinctively know better, and as soon as you realize it, you think, "What the heck am I doing???" So you focus on that, life gets better, and a few days later, you realize you had "forgotten" something else.

[thehillgolfer]

my experience is similiar to erik's, i started playing golf 3 years ago and shot in the high 90s. Luckily i was a freshman in high school so i played pretty much everyday during the summer and was able to shoot in the high 80s by the end of the summer. The next year i was able to get to lower 80s. And last year I was placing in our local junior tour and number one seed on our golf team.

Your golf game is something that is constantly going be changing though...just look at the best player in the world, he's changed his swing twice. But the best way to get better is to play A LOT and to try new things, also getting a golf book isnt a bad idea either. I got my dad Tiger's "How I play golf" for Father's Day one year (guess who actually used it) and i used that as a basis for my swing. I think i have every page in that book memorized. but thats how you get good

[NM Golf]

  fusioncal said:

But here's a question for you, if you went back 2 steps what would you do to go 3 steps forward? In other words, when you lost your feel, what did you do to get it back?

Depends. I hit balls pretty much everyday. So when things go south I do one of two things. I either go to the range, and work through it or a lot of times I just take two days off. I find since I do work so hard on my game occasionally I just get tired, either mentally or physically. I take a couple of days of and things work themselves out. The only time that does not work is when there is a short game issue. I always take the time to work that out.

[elivate]

I have been playing for about 15 years, but I probably have never played more than 30 rounds in a season... I have improved for sure, started out shooting 120's and got down to 90's - 100's in a year or 2... but for me that is where I got stuck... I usually still shoot 90's and sometimes still 100+

The key is playing and practicing regularly... My goal for the summer is to play 2 rounds per week and practice at least twice a week. I am confident that I will stay out of the 100's and get into the high 80's by the end of the season if I can keep up a consistent practice/play schedule...

[SubPar]

There are so many variables in golf, it takes a long time and many slight incremental steps to improve significantly. The rate of progress is dependant upon your natural athletic ability, ability to learn and the amount of time spent practicing and playing. I improved to a single digit handicap fairly quickly because I had a job that allowed me to practice and/or play several times a week (and I'm single, willing to play nines holes, play par-3 courses and play alone or with strangers). Also, I was patient and targeted different parts of the game when I took lessons or went to the range.

As you get better the incremental improvements are smaller and farther apart. I would say that practicing "smart" and practicing a lot is essential to establishing and maintaining a single digit handicap.

Also, you have to factor in the variety of courses you play. If you play the same three flat courses over and over and establish a 7 or 8 handicap, you might be shocked to find you play like a 12-14 handicap on unfamiliar courses with new and unusual challenges.

In any event, you cannot play two or three rounds a month and seldom practice (putting, chipping, pitching, in sand, fades, draws, long and short) and expect to see much improvement in your game over several months, or even a year.

[Long Knocker]

  LarryK said:

Usually, it wasn't something I did as much as something I suddenly remembered that I was or wasn't doing. I have been on the range or midway through a round and suddenly realized I was too close to or too far from the ball at address for the past hour. Or that I was sliding rather than turning my hips. Or (most often) just getting too damned quick with the back swing. Or jerking the club down with my hands as the first move on the downswing rather than uncoiling the hips.

I'd say that the above post is golf in a nutshell.

[Jeepthrills]

I agree with everyone. I've been playing serriously for about 12 years since taking a 5-6 year break from the game to concentrate on basketball. Good is a relative term. I am the best player in my league, but that doesn't mean much. I know that I could improve drastically with more practice time. I rarely get to the range and when I do it's usually with my kids or wife. I spend more time helping them than working on my game.

[Clubswinger21]

I progressed quickly, If I really like something I tend to focus on that thing and that thing only. I caught the bug and started golfing 3 times a week with friends. First im a natural athlete I played sports all my life. Also, Im a visual learner and a quick one, so I tend to soak up everything I see like a sponge. I started to watch the golf channel and playing lessons from the pros. I took everything they claimed that works to improve your game and did it. ie. hold your follow through on putts and shots, work on fundamentals like grip and posture.. which are 2 things I feel are vital to becoming a low handicap. Eventually I started golfing 4 or 5 times a week from spring to summer. (I work nights so my job allows me to) within 2 years of playing (after I got my 1st set of decent clubs I was a 12 handicap. I heard practicing putting and short game was key (from some moron) =). So I put in about 3 hours a week on the practice green. I was a single with in my 3rd year. I have now been playing for almost 5 years and my index is 6.7. Im now playing twice a week if im lucky because im so busy and my progression has pretty much plateau'd. To qoute the post below, I dont know what one would consider good. I feel like doing well for how long I've been playing and hope to one day become a scratch player.

[ezmoney5150]

To be honest with you I still don't think I'm good. When on a bad day I can ham and egg a round and stay in the 70's I'll say I'm pretty good.

My handicap dropped when I started taking more lessons (every other week) and started working nights so I could play almost every day. I also got my mind out of the game more. I stopped being so competitive and realized that most people can't play golf as much as I can and to feel fortunate that I can. I just enjoy the round for what it is now.

[IdahoG5Guy]

In response to the losing your swing portion, I've found myself wondering what happened to that great golf swing last week. Once analyzing a few things, it's usually something grip related. Either different thumb position, or a weaker left hand grip, club handle too much in the palm, etc. Set things back to how I normally grip, and the swing comes back fine. Every now and then I also tend to let my left arm get out from my body causing that dreaded out-to-in slice swing! I remind myself to pull it in, and things work again.

I've yet to get "good", but I started this game in May of 06, having never golfed before, (I'm 40) so almost a year now. Initial goal was "double par", then reaching the green in par. I was a 28 handicap at the end of last year, and thru judicious practice, I am down to 16.7 at last posting. No means good, but getting better. I'm confident enough now, to be able to play with any golfer at my course, and know I won't embarass myself too much.

I start my first league this Thursday, and I've found that when I play a round of golf with better players, it forces me to be a better player, and is usually reflected in my scores. Just as long as I don't let myself get discouraged when I see these guys make perfect shots one after the other! I'm looking forward to the league helping me to better my game with the exposure to different calibers of golfers. I hate being the guy that has to spend a few minutes digging thru the rough to find his ball, or having to split off from the group to a different fairway to hit back. I take a little more time, and control to keep the ball in play, and while I may sacrifice a little yardage, the ball gets in the hole with fewer strokes.

[Parker0065]

The best thing I can tell you is be patient and enjoy the ride. Don't go to the course thinking you have to improve, save that for your practice time. Work hard, take some lessons, and study the game. Then just relax and let it happen!

Good Luck!

[Bryan Kasper]

I was wondering how long you have been playing and how long it took before you started to be able to write down good scores on a normal day on the course?

[saevel25]

  Bryan Kasper said:

I was wondering how long you have been playing and how long it took before you started to be able to write down good scores on a normal day on the course?

I used the search bar above,

http://thesandtrap.com/newsearch?search=how+long+did+it+take+you

There are a lot of threads already about this subject.

[Patch]

Been playing for 40+/- years myself. Breaking the 100 mark was very easy.  Less than 5 rounds if I remember  correctly. Breaking 90 didn't take too long either. Probably less than 1, or 2 months months of casual play, and working on my short game to get into the 80s.

Breaking 80 on a consistent basis took a big decision on my part.  I had to spend quite a bit more time practicing, and playing. Even took lessons from a couple of qualified pga instructors, whom I later found not to be that qualified. Out of necessity, I decided to go the instruction route on my own. read some books, and came up with my own game plan. I'm thinking 12-15 months to become a solid, single digit handicap. I maintained the low handicap for a few years until my life style change, and more important people in my life made golf less important. Once that part of my life passed, I was able to play well again in short period of time.

Some folks will play better, faster than others. Some won't. A good score for one player is poor score for another. It's the way the game is. Personal genetics has a lot to do with it. Some golf guru explained it as one's genetic timing barrier which meant a person could only become just so good at playing golf regardless of the quality of instruction.  Myself, even though I was able to play pretty good golf, I was a much better at playing baseball. I was probably better at running the sprints in track than I was at golf. For a skinny, white boy I was pretty fast with my feet, and legs.

Like other sports/games, it's my belief that to become and elite golfer there has to be some natural ability involved, and plenty of time to develop that natural ability.