Can you remember when it all started to click ?

[paininthenuts]

Now, I have only been playing 9 months, so I openly admit I am still very inexperienced, and by most of your standards a pretty crap player. However, I am keen, and my handicap has dropped 5 shots in a few weeks. I now have an official handicap of 23, but am finding my gross scores at the end of any game reflect that of players with a far lower handicap. A close friend of mine, who has been a pro for many years once told me that at some point something will click, and your progression will become quite rapid. Of course, it will then slow down, and progress there after will be quite gradual. 

Up until a few weeks ago I was making very gradual progress, until I had a "short play" lesson, and all of a sudden I started to play some proper golf. Of course, I still duff the occasional ball, I still slice some drives, and like most people I can still miss a two foot putt. That said, it was like somebody pressed a button, and things became easier. 

So, can you remember when this happened to you ?

[Braivo]

I can't speak to that because I started playing golf at a young age. It's great to hear you've reached that point. 

[Patch]

I remeber my first par, birdie, eagle, and hio. I remember the first time I broke 80 thinking "finally, now what?". Making that last putt for a 78 was a very personal,  rewarding golf event in my life.

All my tee shots pretty much did what I wanted them to do. All my second shots were on line, and my putting was way better than it had been up til then. 

I also remember thinking "where the hell am I going find another .3 strokes per hole."

Of course the biggest plus was knowing I could actually play the game to single digits. That 78 was a tremendous confidence booster. 

[drmevo]

I've been playing about 8 years (not always consistently during that time) and I think I might be in the midst of this right now. My handicap was in the low to mid-20's all last season, and it felt like I was constantly scrambling for bogey's or worse.  This year, I found a couple of feels that have really helped my consistency. I am also a total believer in the importance of the long game thanks to this site. When your drives are mostly in the fairway or just off and leaving you 120-170 yard approaches, it's a different (less frustrating) game.  I finally feel like I'm playing golf how golf is supposed to be played.

I went on a golf trip a couple weekends ago and was shooting high 80's, low 90's on courses I had never played before.  I had a few blow-up holes, sure, but many more pars than I am accustomed to. Before that, I had only been in the 80's a couple of times on my home course.  This past Saturday, I shot a 43 at my brother-in-law's course in wet, rainy conditions.  I had three doubles, all the result of poorly placed drives, one bogey (first hole, wasn't really warmed up), and the rest pars.  

I think once I can get a little more distance, I will be able to shoot low to mid-80's.  For now, I definitely have the feeling that things are at least starting to click.

[paininthenuts]

25 minutes ago, drmevo said:

I've been playing about 8 years (not always consistently during that time) and I think I might be in the midst of this right now. My handicap was in the low to mid-20's all last season, and it felt like I was constantly scrambling for bogey's or worse.  This year, I found a couple of feels that have really helped my consistency. I am also a total believer in the importance of the long game thanks to this site. When your drives are mostly in the fairway or just off and leaving you 120-170 yard approaches, it's a different (less frustrating) game.  I finally feel like I'm playing golf how golf is supposed to be played.

I went on a golf trip a couple weekends ago and was shooting high 80's, low 90's on courses I had never played before.  I had a few blow-up holes, sure, but many more pars than I am accustomed to. Before that, I had only been in the 80's a couple of times on my home course.  This past Saturday, I shot a 43 at my brother-in-law's course in wet, rainy conditions.  I had three doubles, all the result of poorly placed drives, one bogey (first hole, wasn't really warmed up), and the rest pars.  

I think once I can get a little more distance, I will be able to shoot low to mid-80's.  For now, I definitely have the feeling that things are at least starting to click.

First of all, why is that horrible little boy in you avatar just about to kill a duck? Secondly, I'm not entirely sure everyone  understands by what I mean when I say "click", and that I am sure is my fault. It's the feeling when you think that golf is more on your on  your side, and not a hobby that is for OTHER people to be good at. It's when you stand in front of the ball, and you actually feel you know what you are doing. Like I said, I only started playing when I retired, 9 months ago, and my ambition was to be a reasonable 28 handicapper after a year, a mid twenties handicapper after two years, and perhaps one day to get to 18. I am now down to 23, and my stroke play is equaling other golfers with a far lower handicap, and on a regular basis. This has literally happened in the last few weeks, when I felt things had clicked !!  

[mcanadiens]

6 minutes ago, paininthenuts said:

It's the feeling when you think that golf is more on your on  your side, and not a hobby that is for OTHER people to be good at. It's when you stand in front of the ball, and you actually feel you know what you are doing.

Had that feeling many times. It usually is a delusion that is quickly shattered with what comes immediately after.

 

[drmevo]

Why is that awful bear in your avatar about to punch the other one in the nuts?  

Well, I'm not sure if my post was unclear as well but that's pretty much what I thought you meant and what I meant by my post.  For example, one of my 9-hole matches on that trip, I had a 43 and a 7-handicap I was playing with had a 42.  So, I think we're on the same page?  

[paininthenuts]

3 hours ago, drmevo said:

Why is that awful bear in your avatar about to punch the other one in the nuts?  

Well, I'm not sure if my post was unclear as well but that's pretty much what I thought you meant and what I meant by my post.  For example, one of my 9-hole matches on that trip, I had a 43 and a 7-handicap I was playing with had a 42.  So, I think we're on the same page?  

Accepted and understood. With reference to the avatar, I attempted to upload a photo, but unless it contains less the 3 pixels the software won't accept it, so perhaps something needs updating

[CarlSpackler]

That actually happens???

[Lihu]

5 hours ago, paininthenuts said:

Now, I have only been playing 9 months, so I openly admit I am still very inexperienced, and by most of your standards a pretty crap player. However, I am keen, and my handicap has dropped 5 shots in a few weeks. I now have an official handicap of 23, but am finding my gross scores at the end of any game reflect that of players with a far lower handicap. A close friend of mine, who has been a pro for many years once told me that at some point something will click, and your progression will become quite rapid. Of course, it will then slow down, and progress there after will be quite gradual. 

Up until a few weeks ago I was making very gradual progress, until I had a "short play" lesson, and all of a sudden I started to play some proper golf. Of course, I still duff the occasional ball, I still slice some drives, and like most people I can still miss a two foot putt. That said, it was like somebody pressed a button, and things became easier. 

So, can you remember when this happened to you ?

I think the first time I broke 80 was when I thought everything was going perfectly. It was like my swing couldn't possibly get bad again, and I felt like I was starting to "master" the game. Obviously, I was wrong. . .

Well, about four or more up and down cycles later, I feel like I'm just lucky to be able to make decent contact with the ball possibly 20% of the time. Don't get me wrong, I am currently carrying my 9i 145 to 150 yards when I don't thin/fat/duff/shank/hook or slice it and driving 260-ish when I don't hit a tree or slice the heck out of it or whatever other bad thing can happen off the tee because I start over swinging and/or coming OTT again.

To me, golf is not something that comes easily.

For instance, I hit 8 greens and 8 more near greens recently but still scored 99. It wasn't like my chipping and putting were all that bad, but somehow I over putt, double tapped chips and whatever other bad thing could happen around the green. I still felt okay after the round because my long game although bad for me, was still reasonable. My score was terrible.

Basically, scores will go up and down no matter how good you get, but it's a matter of how you feel about your game that counts. If by clicking you mean that you are starting to enjoy your game, then that's a good feeling and everyone has had that point. That's not what you asked, though. Any answer to your question could bring up anything from fears of reprisals from the golfing gods to OMG any answer I give is going to sound obnoxiously conceited.

That's why no one will really say that they "clicked". Golf is hard and a truly humbling experience in my mind.

 

4 hours ago, paininthenuts said:

I'm not entirely sure everyone  understands by what I mean when I say "click", and that I am sure is my fault. It's the feeling when you think that golf is more on your on  your side, and not a hobby that is for OTHER people to be good at. It's when you stand in front of the ball, and you actually feel you know what you are doing. Like I said, I only started playing when I retired, 9 months ago, and my ambition was to be a reasonable 28 handicapper after a year, a mid twenties handicapper after two years, and perhaps one day to get to 18. I am now down to 23, and my stroke play is equaling other golfers with a far lower handicap, and on a regular basis. This has literally happened in the last few weeks, when I felt things had clicked !!  

Yes, I think many of us understand what it means, and all I can say is that "Golf is Hard^TM". It just kind of fizzles in and out at any time. Generally out, after you tell someone you are starting to "click".

 

37 minutes ago, CarlSpackler said:

That actually happens???

Right, the "clicking" kind of fizzles in and out. It's not really a click so much as a "Fzzz" both ways. Generally, the wrong way.

[CCC]

On 6/14/2016 at 1:26 PM, Lihu said:

"Golf is hard and a truly humbling experience in my mind."

 

3 minutes ago, CCC said:

Very humbling. And, at times, very embarrassing.

 

Edited June 16, 2016 by CCC
Quotes

[ladders11]

I have been struggling all year, hitting range balls probably 20 times and battling a huge slice. Just recently I read something critical, worked on my swing path, and completely crushed the ball. Really it made such a different sound, an onlooker even commented. 

That shot and the next one that day were good enough, I knew what had gone wrong with my swing thoughts and just needed to repeat what I know how to do. I do not think I hit the ball that well all last year, it was a long time without my best swing, then it clicked.

[Buckeyebowman]

I no longer remember exactly when it happened, it was far too long ago. But, it definitely did happen, and I think it had to happen twice. The first time, on the range when I could actually aim at a target and hit the ball there with decent flight. The second time, on the course when I could take those skills and use them to hit fairways and greens.

BTW, not to pick a nit, but that's a goose in that avatar.

[Club Rat]

It all started "clicking" years ago. But then it turned into a "thump, thump, thump"

Now, I oil the cogs daily and it's a slight wobble now and then.

Every once in awhile, it's "smooth as glass"

Then the "shit hit's the fan" and "all hell breaks loose"

When that happens, I'll have a few beers and all is well.......    

[Rainmaker]

Maybe it's clicking now, lol.  I have gone through periods where I'd play golf a little (and never improve) and then long periods where I didn't play at all.  I started at 14 or so and played until I was about 16.  Then I didn't play again until I was 35.  I played for a few years and took some lessons and then stopped again.  Then found a new teacher and things started to click . .but I had my second child and I pretty much took another 2 years off. 

I decided to start playing again 3 months ago so I hit the range a few times and went for a lesson.  I expected it to just be a single lesson to kind of get me "tuned up" and then I'd go play golf all summer, etc.  However, it didn't turn out that way, lol.  Because of that lesson, I had this major "realization" about my swing and how I was doing it all wrong.  I started practicing a ton, using video a lot, posting a ton here, consuming tons of golf swing information but with a focus that I didn't have before. 

My swing has improved a ton in the last 3 months.  I'm hitting it better and farther than ever. I really want to play but I'm still really so much in practice mode that to play I'd have to "revert" and I don't really want to bother with that right now.  Not that I ever work on it directly . .but my impact position is what I use as an indicator of progress.  I take a lot of face-on video of my swing.  My impact position is so much closer to what I want it to be.  

I've increased my backswing coil, reduced my sway, improved my plane, achieved a flat left wrist at impact, improved my weight shift, I've finally started to increase my club head speed and see some real distance gains.  All in the last 3 months and all because I had this "realization" about how wrong I was thinking about things and then got super annoyed about it and decided "no way am I not going to fix that".   

[Alx]

I'd say Im right about there now. I havent been able to take my swing progress at the range to the course but.. On the last few rounds I've started getting the hang of it and I've been able to get that "real" swing on the course.

Its looking quite promising as I shot my best ever full round of 81 today. The score is great but Im actually more excited about the ballstriking. Hitting alot of good shots. Flying 2 iron 200-240m, 5 iron 190 or even 220m! Just absolutely insane ball striking. And it isnt something thats just come out of the blue. I just havent been able to take the swing from the range to the course. Who knows maybe my swing is finally decent enough to get a driver!

[phan52]

On ‎6‎/‎14‎/‎2016 at 7:33 AM, paininthenuts said:

Now, I have only been playing 9 months, so I openly admit I am still very inexperienced, and by most of your standards a pretty crap player. However, I am keen, and my handicap has dropped 5 shots in a few weeks. I now have an official handicap of 23, but am finding my gross scores at the end of any game reflect that of players with a far lower handicap. A close friend of mine, who has been a pro for many years once told me that at some point something will click, and your progression will become quite rapid. Of course, it will then slow down, and progress there after will be quite gradual. 

Up until a few weeks ago I was making very gradual progress, until I had a "short play" lesson, and all of a sudden I started to play some proper golf. Of course, I still duff the occasional ball, I still slice some drives, and like most people I can still miss a two foot putt. That said, it was like somebody pressed a button, and things became easier. 

So, can you remember when this happened to you ?

I had a similar experience. I knocked around some with golf in my youth because I was a caddie and played with the other guys on Mondays, but never took it seriously. After I graduated high school I didn't pick up a club for 10 years. I took it up again because I had developed a customer base where a lot of them played golf and I needed to take them to play. I sucked right out of the gate and didn't like it even a little bit. After about a year of torture I took some lessons concentrating on "100 yards and in" and my scores started to drop and I found I could compete. My handicap dropped from 26 to 18 that season and I developed a love affair with the game that is now going on forty years. My course handicap has bounced around between 9 and 13 over the last thirty years or so.

Edited June 22, 2016 by phan52

[woodzie264]

still waiting...