What is your personal goal for golf?

[phan52]

Originally Posted by chipandcharge

Very well stated, dak4n6.  I would not have been quick enough to come up with that insight, even though it is reflective of my realities.  Furthermore, to Phan52, I use "goal" in the sense that it is what I want to do (zero contact errors), even if it would be virtually impossible.  Anything less than "goal" would be too weak a motivating factor for me.  Simply saying "I hope to" or "I would like to" make zero contact errors has not been enough impetus.

Goals should be achievable. A reasonable goal in that regard would be to embrace the mishits with the knowledge that they are inevitable, but determine to not let them affect your next shot. What's done is done so don't let it drag you down.

[chipandcharge]

Originally Posted by phan52

Goals should be achievable. A reasonable goal in that regard would be to embrace the mishits with the knowledge that they are inevitable, but determine to not let them affect your next shot. What's done is done so don't let it drag you down.

phan52--I understand your point quite clearly.  I used to do consulting in sports psychology and goal setting.  I understand how important it is for people (some people or most people) to set achievable, intermediate goals.  I also understand the "live in the moment" and not reflect on past errors.  However, as someone who has been playing other sports at a very high level against athletes far more athletic than me, I was only able to compete at those levels by setting and pursuing high goals and being able to manage the psychology.  Thanks for your posts.

[Dave H]

Consistent, repeatable swing. I generally start the year out doing ok and moving forward but at some point I start mishitting more shots than not, get very down and "forget" how to swing at all. At that point my game seems to stay in the crapper for 2 months.

[SweDeuS]

Originally Posted by phan52

Goals should be achievable. A reasonable goal in that regard would be to embrace the mishits with the knowledge that they are inevitable, but determine to not let them affect your next shot. What's done is done so don't let it drag you down.

Originally Posted by chipandcharge

phan52--I understand your point quite clearly.  I used to do consulting in sports psychology and goal setting.  I understand how important it is for people (some people or most people) to set achievable, intermediate goals.  I also understand the "live in the moment" and not reflect on past errors.  However, as someone who has been playing other sports at a very high level against athletes far more athletic than me, I was only able to compete at those levels by setting and pursuing high goals and being able to manage the psychology.  Thanks for your posts.

I'm with phan on this one. A goal should be achievable, otherwise it becomes more like an illusion of a goal. Start by setting a goal that you can actually achieve. And when you do, set a new one. Becoming a better golfer is a task that involves many different variables and obsticals to overcome.

[BuckeyeNut]

I can summarize my personal goals for golf in 2 words..................... "HAVE FUN" .

Pretty simple........

[roperdad]

My goal is to play a round with Lauren Thompson.

[SweDeuS]

Originally Posted by roperdad

My goal is to play a round with Lauren Thompson.

Do you mean play a round or play around?

[roperdad]

Yes! To both!

[SCfanatic35]

Try and focus on one the shot in front of you. To not worry about what my score is or is going to be, but to make this shot I am going to hit be a good one.

[roperdad]

Yes! To both!

[BuckeyeNut]

watch the putter.......LOL

If you do this, you will never be a good putter.

[Pablo68]

Goal for 2013 is to lower my handicap down to 5 or less.

Play smart and don't get cute. Slow down a little on chips and putts so that I quit throwing shots away.

[Na5carr3]

I have been lucky, I have broke 80 a hand full of times at some courses that I shouldn't have, but my only real goal is to beat the guys I'm playing with on any given day. Since we are always playing for some "skins", I just simply want to beat'em. Kinda like with the pros, it doesn't matter how good or bad you play on any given day, it's who has the best score WINS!!!!

[ace3g]

Shot a 90 today, while it could have been lower if I had putted better, I had a revelation on the last 3 holes.  I decided to go with fade shots (right handed) and the results were great. Might as well take a slice and take adv of it and turn it into a fade, just learned to aim more to the left.

The swing felt more natural and I wasn't thinking too much in my swing after making the change.  It felt easier to get in a proper set up and aim my shots.  I guess it is kind of like an enemy of my enemy is my friend.

Just haven't been able to put together descent rounds hitting a draw/straight shots the whole round.  Although my lowest rounds 81 and 82 were with a draw/straight, those were also days when my putting/short game was really good.

My misses trying to hit a draw are low stinger shots that go way too far, especially when I'm trying to make a normal approach shot and/or topping the ball.

On the fade, I'm getting more loft on my shots, even on my misses.

I'll report back when I play a full round of mostly fade shots (since there will be situations where you can't).  I feel much more confident in my game moving forward with a fade.

[Na5carr3]

Originally Posted by ace3g

Shot a 90 today, while it could have been lower if I had putted better, I had a revelation on the last 3 holes.  I decided to go with fade shots (right handed) and the results were great. Might as well take a slice and take adv of it and turn it into a fade, just learned to aim more to the left.

The swing felt more natural and I wasn't thinking too much in my swing after making the change.  It felt easier to get in a proper set up and aim my shots.  I guess it is kind of like an enemy of my enemy is my friend.

Just haven't been able to put together descent rounds hitting a draw/straight shots the whole round.  Although my lowest rounds 81 and 82 were with a draw/straight, those were also days when my putting/short game was really good.

My misses trying to hit a draw are low stinger shots that go way too far, especially when I'm trying to make a normal approach shot and/or topping the ball.

On the fade, I'm getting more loft on my shots, even on my misses.

I'll report back when I play a full round of mostly fade shots (since there will be situations where you can't).  I feel much more confident in my game moving forward with a fade.

The fade with a higher launch comes from the clubhead being open at impact which delofts the club a little. Do you find yourself coming up a little short on these shots?

[ace3g]

Originally Posted by Na5carr3

The fade with a higher launch comes from the clubhead being open at impact which delofts the club a little. Do you find yourself coming up a little short on these shots?

Not on the final 3 holes, but yes I realize that will be a "side effect" of going with a fade, since like you said the club will be open at impact.  I'm actually ok when I hit a shot with height that lands short than say when I top the ball and/or stinger that rolls to the green (unintentional low flight); gives better feedback, I can think more about which club to use for correct distance than ok when I hit this shot, is it even going to get off the ground.

Another thing when I was trying to hit draws/straight shots, I actually preferred to hit straight than trying to curve the ball either direction, I always felts I was staying down on my swing but the results (topping and/or heavy misses) said other wise.  While my swing overall was simple, there was still too many things I was thinking about.

I will mention that part of the reason I had confidence going into my last round was because of this new grip I had tried at the range a week earlier, feel more comfortable holding the club.  By grip I mean my hand grip, not the grip on the clubs.

Again I won't know for sure till my next round if hitting a fade shot is the best thing for my swing or maybe those final 3 holes were just an anomaly.

[Lefty-Golfer]

not having time to practice as much as i would like....goals are below

improve course managment - take the big number out of play

post 80 rounds - have 7 so far from last trip.

play in at least 3 weekend events. - this is gonna be tough one, my bride doesn't seem to see the importance here

play 20 rounds with existing or potential clients - maybe it will take quite a bit of work

4 golf trips out of season - one complete, one scheduled for March and one for first week of April....there is always novemeber!!!

in the event i am able to meet these goals...2013 will be one hell of a year!!

[Arte]

Play consistently in the 70's