Unusually inconsistent?

[Pushy]

The last couple of times I've gone out I've played nine holes as a single at a course near my house, Both time I played two balls.  The first time, I played best ball and shot -1 for nine.  Yea me! The next time I played worst ball and shot +18.  I suck!  Now, I *am* mediocre.  My handicap index is a hair under 20 most of the time.  But I do wonder about a 19 shot spread between best and worst.  Does that seem like a lot? I guess if you average it out it does come out to about what I would normally shoot there. 

[AbsoluteTruths]

I think it speaks a lot to the mental side of the game. When there is time during a round and I have hit a really bad drive I will tee up another ball and stripe it down the middle. I think my mind on the second shot is more carefree and uncluttered. Just my 2 cents.

[No Mulligans]

My experience is if I hit about 50% of my shot's decent or better, the other 50% being mishits... If I do that I'll be about 18 - 20 over for 18 holes.  Even with mishits I can sometimes scramble for a bogey or even par.  The point is, inconsistency is what makes us high handicappers.

Playing best ball and being -1, the stars must have been pretty well aligned for that round.  I played a 4 person scramble when my HI was about 18ish and was the best golfer in my group.  We went 9 under.  I think the playing best ball out of 2 and being -1 is in the range of expectation, in the really good part of that range though.  I'd think you must have putted really well getting two balls if needed for every putt.

[Hacker James]

3 hours ago, Pushy said:

The last couple of times I've gone out I've played nine holes as a single at a course near my house, Both time I played two balls.  The first time, I played best ball and shot -1 for nine.  Yea me! The next time I played worst ball and shot +18.  I suck!  Now, I *am* mediocre.  My handicap index is a hair under 20 most of the time.  But I do wonder about a 19 shot spread between best and worst.  Does that seem like a lot? I guess if you average it out it does come out to about what I would normally shoot there. 

Is that not what Handicap Index is all about? Calculating your "potential"?

[Big C]

That doesn't sound surprising at all. Worst ball is an incredibly difficult format. If you averaging double bogey as a 20 handicapper in worst ball, you are actually holding it together pretty well. I would expect far worse from most 20 cappers.

[Dave2512]

I don't think a best ball worst ball comparison does much for a higher handicap golfer only shows the potential of the best shots and the penalties of the worst shots. Just looking at my last 20 the best to worst is 9 strokes and a good chunk of what makes a good day or bad day comes down to a few bad bounces and decisions.

Honestly I am surprised a best to worst ball comparison wasn't more than 18 strokes. At my last FlightScope session my 7 iron pattern was 35 feet left east to west and about 15 yards north to south tossing out the unusual stuff. That's hitting balls on the range with no pressure and taking advice from my instructor. The one thing I've learned to count on is my inconsistency, it's my only consistent thing.

 

[paininthenuts]

A wise man once said to me, you can get your handicap down to single figures just by being consistent, after that you have to be f*%&i"g good. 

 

I play off of 21, which is pretty accurate over 10 games, but I am probably the most inconsistent player on the planet. Last Monday I was 13 over, two days later I was 36 over on the same course. A difference of 23 shots over 18 holes is just crazy.  

[iacas]

I second (or third, or fourth) the idea that playing best ball and worst ball is not an ideal way to compare anything… nor is doing something for nine holes often very indicative of much.

You only have two very small, bad samples, basically.

[Hardspoon]

@Pushy, if you want a better way to gauge how consistent you are, try calculating your "anti-handicap":

 

[stealthhwk]

Saw the title and thought of myself. 2 different rounds but Im so inconsistent that no one believes my scores any more. And I dont blame them. I shot 83 last time out and a 109 today. Days like today make me Want a new hobby. 

[paininthenuts]

7 hours ago, stealthhwk said:

Saw the title and thought of myself. 2 different rounds but Im so inconsistent that no one believes my scores any more. And I dont blame them. I shot 83 last time out and a 109 today. Days like today make me Want a new hobby. 

Like I said in an earlier post, I shot 13 over on the Monday, and 36 over on the Wednesday, a difference of 26 shots. I am presently trying to figure out all the reasons this should be. 

1) I am retired, and have probably being playing to much. Muscle fatigue isn't always noticeable, but in my opinion it is the single biggest reason my game varies so much. I am now  disciplining myself to play less. Over the last few weeks I have cut back, and haven't had a very bad game since. Fingers crossed !!

2) Conditions. Weather conditions, such as wind and rain effect my game more than most people I think. I sort of use it as an excuse to play badly, and I shouldn't.

3) Bad driving. Driving is the most inconsistent part of my game. People keep telling me "driving for show, putting for doe", but I don't believe it. I am not that worried about distance, but taking 3 off of the tee, or a drop out of the trees leaves me playing catch up all the time. I am toying with the idea of trying out a 12* driver.

4)  Psychology effects sportsman more in some games than others. Golf and snooker are the two best examples. We have all been their, you know before you even address the ball that you are going to make a poor shot, and on another day you know it is going to be a cracker. Nobody ever masters the mental part of the game, but I am simply light years away from it.