Terrible apporach shots are ruining my game

[Taco]

Hi everyone,

I could use a little help...

After many sessions on the range and practice tee, I feel like I have finally honed in on a good swing.  I have started killing the ball off of the tee (240-250 with a driver), many of them in the fairway.  I swing loose and make good contact.  I have been hitting every club very well off of the tee... On par 3s, I usually hit the green off the tee no problem and par the hole.

It is when I get to my second shot that I'm blowing it.  I constantly duff/hit fat my next few shots and make double bogey or worse for the hole...I cant figure it out.  It doesn't matter what I hit off the tee, its  been good, then whatever I hit from the fairway is a fat shot.

Another point, typically, if I have time, I will drop another ball on the fairway to hit the shot again, 9/10 times, that second shot is perfect...I think it has to be a mental issue.

Please, any words of wisdom will be helpful!...this small mental block is ruining my scores.

Thanks!

-Chris

[Gregoryhouse]

Originally Posted by Taco

Hi everyone,

I could use a little help...

After many sessions on the range and practice tee, I feel like I have finally honed in on a good swing.  I have started killing the ball off of the tee (240-250 with a driver), many of them in the fairway.  I swing loose and make good contact.  I have been hitting every club very well off of the tee... On par 3s, I usually hit the green off the tee no problem and par the hole.

It is when I get to my second shot that I'm blowing it.  I constantly duff/hit fat my next few shots and make double bogey or worse for the hole...I cant figure it out.  It doesn't matter what I hit off the tee, its  been good, then whatever I hit from the fairway is a fat shot.

Another point, typically, if I have time, I will drop another ball on the fairway to hit the shot again, 9/10 times, that second shot is perfect...I think it has to be a mental issue.

Please, any words of wisdom will be helpful!...this small mental block is ruining my scores.

Thanks!

-Chris

Play the second ball first!!!!!

Seriously I think it's probably a mental issue. I've been where you are and it was just a mind game. Reading "golf is not the game of perfection" (Rotella) helped me. Now I don't care anymore.....

[ladders11]

Originally Posted by Gregoryhouse

Reading "golf is not the game of perfection" (Rotella) helped me. Now I don't care anymore.....

In fact the title of the book is "Golf is Not a Game of Perfect".  If you don't care at all , maybe you have gone too far.  Dial it back a bit?  In all seriousness, I second this recommendation.  Any of the Rotella books would be beneficial, he has written several.

Originally Posted by Taco

It is when I get to my second shot that I'm blowing it.  I constantly duff/hit fat my next few shots and make double bogey or worse for the hole...I cant figure it out.  It doesn't matter what I hit off the tee, its  been good, then whatever I hit from the fairway is a fat shot.

Another point, typically, if I have time, I will drop another ball on the fairway to hit the shot again, 9/10 times, that second shot is perfect...I think it has to be a mental issue.

Please, any words of wisdom will be helpful!...this small mental block is ruining my scores.

This may be related to your setup and alignment.  The pros all have a consistent preshot routine for good reason.  If I were you, I would work on your routine and practice switching clubs at the range.  Hitting drive after drive is always easier than hitting driver, wedge, 4-iron, etc. when you change clubs each shot.

[Chipless]

Originally Posted by ladders11

I would work on your routine and practice switching clubs at the range.  Hitting drive after drive is always easier than hitting driver, wedge, 4-iron, etc. when you change clubs each shot.

My coach just started me doing this.  He calls it "chaotic practice".  I will hit a driver, then a six-iron.  Then a driver, a hybrid and a nine-iron.  Etc.  I see the wisdom in this method, and believe it will really help me to eventually make my first shot with each club as good as the next one could have been.

[Gregoryhouse]

Originally Posted by ladders11

In fact the title of the book is "Golf is Not a Game of Perfect".  If you don't care at all, maybe you have gone too far.  Dial it back a bit?  In all seriousness, I second this recommendation.  Any of the Rotella books would be beneficial, he has written several.

This may be related to your setup and alignment.  The pros all have a consistent preshot routine for good reason.  If I were you, I would work on your routine and practice switching clubs at the range.  Hitting drive after drive is always easier than hitting driver, wedge, 4-iron, etc. when you change clubs each shot.

Sorry for the changed name of the book. I live in Argentina where translation was as I quoted

[ladders11]

Originally Posted by Gregoryhouse

Sorry for the changed name of the book. I live in Argentina where translation was as I quoted

No problem, it is a good recommendation.