Are you a Better Golfer than a Year Ago?

[Zekez]

I am pretty much the same.  The one thing that has changed it that I am more consistent this year, but not shooting as many lower rounds.  Last year I think I shot 4-5 rounds in the upper 30's, but also had a few rounds in the upper 40's.  This year my scores have ranged from 39 (once) to 45 (once), so i shooting in the lower 40's nearly every round.

[fairwayguy2]

17.3 to a 14.5 this year.  Got two new knees, replacements.  Allows me to be more consistent and not tire as much at the end of a round.

The three months I was off with the recovery all I could do was chip and putt.   Consequently I became much better at it.  When that's all you do it can make a big difference in your score.  Now if I can shake this pull hook off the tee I can save some stokes and really make some hay

 

Edited July 22, 2016 by fairwayguy2

[jbishop15]

It's been a weird golf year. I've put in a ton of work, but it took months to come to fruition; had I saw this post two months ago, I'd've said I was as bad as I've ever been. But it's come around, I've started shooting mid-high seventies and low eighties again. 

I think I'll be better next year, simply because I most likely won't be working three jobs and will have more time to really focus. 

[RFKFREAK]

Lack of practice and playing this summer means my game reverted to putrid.  If all goes the way I want, I likely won't have much time to practice and improve, therefore, my game will still be awful.

[Valleygolfer]

On 7/22/2016 at 2:28 PM, fairwayguy2 said:

17.3 to a 14.5 this year.  Got two new knees, replacements.  Allows me to be more consistent and not tire as much at the end of a round.

The three months I was off with the recovery all I could do was chip and putt.   Consequently I became much better at it.  When that's all you do it can make a big difference in your score.  Now if I can shake this pull hook off the tee I can save some stokes and really make some hay

 

I need to do this....the chip and putt, not the knees...

[Bucki1968]

I am about the same for the past couple of years. The only way I'm going to improve is practice more and I just don't have the time. I've pretty much resigned myself that this is about as good as it's gonna get (unless I win the lottery or change my work situation).

[Kalnoky]

On 5/22/2016 at 9:22 AM, Abu3baid said:

Much better than last year.. I almost never broke a 100 and now if I don't break a 100 I'm disappointed.  I'm hoping by this time next year I'm consistently breaking 90.

I'm exactly in the same boat

[tristanhilton85]

I am definitely a worse golfer now than I was a year ago, and I don't see my self being better a year from now either. Between a new job where I am working a lot more hours to having a baby and taking care of him on my days off, the time for golf is very limited. A year ago, I played once a week and had opportunities to practice, 2 years ago I was playing 3-4 times per week. Now, I'm lucky if I play once a month. It'll probably be that way for at least a couple of years, but once the little guy can get out on the course himself, I'll start playing more. 

[yai]

i have definitely gotten better in the past year. last year i had 0 tournament rounds in the 60s. this year, i've had 2 so far, and both were in usga qualifiers! cliche, but hard work really does pay off.

[Rabbs4]

Much better than last year. Have a better understanding for the game, and my swing. 

On August 4, 2016 at 7:07 PM, yai said:

i have definitely gotten better in the past year. last year i had 0 tournament rounds in the 60s. this year, i've had 2 so far, and both were in usga qualifiers! cliche, but hard work really does pay off.

Good for you! 60's is excellent!

On August 1, 2016 at 8:45 AM, Bucki1968 said:

I am about the same for the past couple of years. The only way I'm going to improve is practice more and I just don't have the time. I've pretty much resigned myself that this is about as good as it's gonna get (unless I win the lottery or change my work situation).

That is the hardest thing about this game, is the time it takes. Good luck!

[hillis11]

I am about the same as I was last year or maybe a tad bit better all around. I can shoot anywhere from mid 80's to high 90's. I  hope to be better next year. I am finally breaking down and getting lesson for the first time in my life. Little nervous about it honestly. 

[Tat14]

In 2015, I worked my index down to its lowest - 13.6. Broke 40 over nine holes, good times.

Started this season with some new gear (because I do that). A little winter rust but I shot another 38 a few rounds into 2016, and then a firm regression to the mean. Lots of 88, 89 combined rounds and an index trending up and now slightly over 16.

I think too much - problems with my approach and not the clubs. I debate whether or not I should accept a natural shot shape or force cuts and knock-down irons all in the name of more GIR.

Lately, I've returned to SGI irons that are easier to play (for me) and have basically just let the ball fly. Low 40's for nine holes, still chasing more GIR.

Golf is hard, right?

 

[Jeremie Boop]

Re-evaluation: Even though my scores don't necessarily show it, I actually am feeling like I'm better now than I was at this time last year. I'm hitting far fewer horrible shots, even the shots I hit bad are more of just a push or pull instead of wicked slice or horrible snap hook. I'm much more comfortable with the distances I can expect to hit my clubs. I still have a bit of hesitation over shots that are not full swings though, but that will come in time.

[Al Bundy]

I am definitely a better golfer now than when I started approximately 18 months ago, but there's still room for significant improvement.

I practice as much as possible at my local range, but I find that playing actual rounds of golf is better practice since I have to adapt to the varying lies and strategize my approach to the green.

Range work is just to improve my consistency in ball strikes, chipping, and putting. I found that zeroing my distances with cheap range balls is not very accurate, but it does provide a little information, which is always helpful.

[FinTurma]

Pretty much the same. Started of the year nicely and got my index down a bit. Shot some nice rounds including a 70 from the backtees at a tournament. Game hasn't been so good recently, and my handicap index is back to where I started the year.

[dove694]

My ball striking has definitely improved. I have lost a substantial amount of weight in the last several months, and in turn my swing speed has increased and I'm hitting it much farther. I average 250-260 off the tee now (275 if i really connect) as opposed to about 235 last year and all my irons are a club and a half longer. That has made all the difference in the world! My short game has always been good, so lately I have been surprising myself with some pretty respectable scores. My handicap hasn't dropped all that much (maybe a shot or 2) but I feel like a completely different player. More"solid". 

[DaveP043]

On 5/23/2016 at 8:26 AM, DaveP043 said:

I voted about the same.  My handicap is about a stroke lower than it was at this time last year, so maybe I'm a little better, but it would be a small improvement.  I'll see over the summer, once the monsoon season ends and I can play more often.  If I follow the normal trend, and my handicap drops by another stroke or even two, I'll definitely admit to improving.  For next year, I hope I can keep playing at this level.  

As an update, I'm going to admit that I'm probably a better player now than I was a year ago.  At the time I wrote that, I was a 4.7 index.  I may be jinxing myself, but on September 1 I'll be a 3.2 or 3.3 index, lowest of my life.  

Whether I'll be better in another year, who knows.  I don't have any plans for swing changes or instruction. All I can do is keep going with my practice and play routine and see what happens.

[imsys0042]

I am definitely better than one year ago.   My index is down from 10-12 to between a 7-8 but there are more and more rounds where I have long stretches of pars and birdies.  A mistake is now a bogey and not a double or higher and my work schedule let me play 2-3 times per week and I had time to practice before/after a round.   

I think I am going to stay about the same.  Over the next year I won't have as much time to play or practice however so far over the past month with more limited time I have shot some low scores and hit the ball well.   it doesn't take a lot of practice to keep me in form, but I don't see much improvement for a little bit.