Swing Changes and Handicap changges. Interesting observation.

[poser]

So I have been going through a complete over haul since august this year.  The swing is starting to look way better and I'm getting to the point where I am starting to hit it more flush than normal.  Weird thing is back with my old swing I was all over the map in terms of scores.  I could shoot 68 one day then 84 the next.  Now I seem to be posting around 74-78 every time I tee it up.  I haven't been able to make a putt in the last month and my GIR stats are through the roof.  The only issue I have is I will hit 2-3 really bad misses a round to get my score up there. Also my handicap is now the highest it's been in 2 years at 2.7  I just find it funny that I feel like I"m playing better golf but, not posting better scores.  My ballflight when I'm hitting it good is the tightest I have ever seen it considering I use to always fight a pull draw.  Just thought it was a funny observation.  Anyone else had this problem?

My last few scores.

1.     01/02/2012     76     70.9     124     AI     4.6     LONGLEAF GOLF AND CC
2.     12/31/2011     77     71.3     131     AI     4.9     DEVILS RIDGE GC
3.     12/30/2011     74     73.4     133     AI     0.5     CRESCENT GC
4.     12/29/2011     77     73.0     137     AI     3.3     ROCKY RIVER GC
5.     12/19/2011     76     72.1     144     AI     3.1     TOT HILL FARM GC
6.     12/10/2011     79     75.1     144     ATI     3.1     ANDERSON CREEK GC
7.     12/04/2011     74     71.6     133     HI     2     KEITH HILLS CC
8.     11/26/2011     79     73.9     133     AI     4.3     LEGACY GOLF LINKS
9.     11/23/2011     76     71.6     133     HI     3.7     KEITH HILLS CC
10.     11/20/2011     74     71.7     144     AI     1.8     TOBACCO ROAD

[MiniBlueDragon]

In no way am I comparing myself to you but I think I know how you feel.

Last year my swing felt manufactured and un-natural but I was managing to get around the course ok at 15 handicap. Since then I've gone through quite a few swing changes (less stooped at address, a little weight transfer now, less reverse-pivoty, hands ahead more, more rotation on the downswing, less 'swing out' feeling and flatter plane) and I feel like my golf swing is infinitely better than it was and it's far far closer to the Hogan-esque swing I'd love to have, however my handicap is closer to 18 at the moment as all the changes aren't quite married together.

For me I see it as a patience game now that all the foundations are in place; I just need to stick to what I'm doing and keep practicing to tighten everything up more and see the scores drop.

[Ernest Jones]

Originally Posted by poser

So I have been going through a complete over haul since august this year.  The swing is starting to look way better and I'm getting to the point where I am starting to hit it more flush than normal.  Weird thing is back with my old swing I was all over the map in terms of scores.  I could shoot 68 one day then 84 the next.  Now I seem to be posting around 74-78 every time I tee it up.  I haven't been able to make a putt in the last month and my GIR stats are through the roof.  The only issue I have is I will hit 2-3 really bad misses a round to get my score up there. Also my handicap is now the highest it's been in 2 years at 2.7  I just find it funny that I feel like I"m playing better golf but, not posting better scores.  My ballflight when I'm hitting it good is the tightest I have ever seen it considering I use to always fight a pull draw.  Just thought it was a funny observation.  Anyone else had this problem?

Makes total sense to me. You only use your best scores for the handicap so your old inconsistent swing had more peaks that would give you a better handicap. Now your more consistent, ironing out the peaks and valleys so its averaged out as a higher handicap. Look at it this way, before you never knew which game you were bringing, now you know exactly what you have every time you tee it up.

Incidentally, I would kill to have either one of those handicaps. Golf would be so much more fun!

[poser]

Very true Ernest.  I know for one my GIR has went up and my putts also.  My chipping and putting is what held me together most of the rounds now it isn't there.  I use to pracitce that alot too now I seem to only be focusing on the long game.  Hopefully once things are more comfortable I can focus on those again.