I swear I'm improving - but my scores say otherwise!

[klossy]

@Buckeyebowman But I can understand it can be frustrating if you're waiting on a group ahead and they're dropping and playing a second shot when it doesn't count, that totally makes sense.

I usually play by myself, and I walk, so it's a rare case that anyone is playing behind me, let alone waiting for me to play my shot.

[woodzie264]

18 hours ago, No Mulligans said:

I could certainly look at the top 10% of my best shots and think I should be a scratch player because I can make those shots. But that is faulty logic. The problem is inconsistency.

This inconsistency is why high handicap players are high handicap players. 

I fall into this faulty logic quite a bit lately.  I've had two extraordinary rounds for me in the past 2-3 months which has greatly improved my HCP. Now, it's hard for me to NOT raise my expectations on future rounds, but realistically I have to be aware that I had two days where I couldn't miss...but I shouldn't expect to play that well every round. It's not my ability to hit great shots that determines my overall improvements, but my level of consistency that is the better measure.

[boogielicious]

25 minutes ago, klossy said:

Prove that you can hit the shot as intended, yes, when it doesn't "count" - the only difference is the mental game at that point: same conditions, same shot, etc.  

Think about any other sport - take basketball, for example:  4th quarter, you pull up for the elbow jumper, ... and miss it.  What will you most likely do after the game?  

... You go practice that shot until you can make it 10 times in a row! Sure, it doesn't "count", since the game is over, but it instills mental confidence and experience so that the next time you're in that situation, you give yourself the best possible chance of making the shot.  

That IS the whole point of practice - whether it's on the driving range, putting green, or the 2nd shot into a green...

You're in PA, so like Boston, your season is coming to a close soon. Try this. Change your approach for the next few rounds and be more aggressive with your shots off the tee. Hit the longest club you can safely hit. By safely, I mean where you won't hit it into a stream the crosses the fairway etc.

If you tend to fade or slice your driver, aim left edge of the fairway and expect the ball to fade back. If the driver doesn't work the first few holes, don't give up on it. Observe what the ball is doing on your miss and adjust to that. You need to practice being more aggressive off the tee.

Like many of us, you lack confidence in the longest clubs when they go awry. On the range for practice or warm up, work only on the driver and woods. Watch the flight. Use that information on the round. If you are fading 30 yards right with the driver, aim 30 yards left of the center. Those extra 20 or 30 yards you get from the driver will make a big difference in the GIR you get.

Try it and report back. Golf is a game. Play it like a game.

[klossy]

On 10/31/2016 at 6:58 AM, boogielicious said:

You're in PA, so like Boston, your season is coming to a close soon. Try this. Change your approach for the next few rounds and be more aggressive with your shots off the tee. Hit the longest club you can safely hit. By safely, I mean where you won't hit it into a stream the crosses the fairway etc.

If you tend to fade or slice your driver, aim left edge of the fairway and expect the ball to fade back. If the driver doesn't work the first few holes, don't give up on it. Observe what the ball is doing on your miss and adjust to that. You need to practice being more aggressive off the tee.

Like many of us, you lack confidence in the longest clubs when they go awry. On the range for practice or warm up, work only on the driver and woods. Watch the flight. Use that information on the round. If you are fading 30 yards right with the driver, aim 30 yards left of the center. Those extra 20 or 30 yards you get from the driver will make a big difference in the GIR you get.

Try it and report back. Golf is a game. Play it like a game.

I went and walked 18 holes today since the weather is so nice - I'm starting a new job next month and expecting my first child in early next year, so I'll probably have to hang up the golf clubs this week or next for quite some time.

Anyway, I took your advice and was more aggressive off of the tee today.  I had a few short pitch shots for the 2nd shot onto the green, which was pretty satisfying!  I did, however, have a few horrible shots with the longer clubs, which resulted in bogeys or worse.  Interestingly enough, the only birdie on the day was on a shorter Par 5, 450 yds, that I went 5i, 5i, 30 yd pitch to 5 feet, and sank the birdie putt.

I had an 89 going into the last hole, a long downhill Par 3. The white tees (where I play from) were back, and my GPS app said it was 209 to the middle, but the flag was at the back.  I don't have a 4i, but I felt like I could push a 5i to get it close if I could play the draw that I was hitting most of the day.

I step up, felt the pressure of potentially shooting a 92 or 93 and... I shank the ball 100 yds right into the no mans land. Ball is lost..

I tee up my 3rd shot, and hit a perfect ball into the middle of the green, about 30 feet below the hole.  I three putt for what would have been a bogey, but was a triple bogey 6 with the lost ball.

So, I shot another 95 on the same course. I hit some decent shots, and my wedges and putter saved me a few times.  

One of my biggest mistakes was on a short 140 yd Par 3.  I joined up with 2 older guys, one with a rangefinder, which is a luxury I can't afford at the moment.  He said the pin was at 149 yds, in the back of the green.  I didn't think a PW (44*) could get there (remember, my PW used to be my 130 yd club, but working on my swing has increased my distance substantially).

So, I choose a 9i, and hit a beautiful high draw that starts at the pin and comes left of it... and land in the bunker 15 yds behind the green. I guess my 9i is now my 160-165 yd club.  It didn't bounce at all either, rather it was a 'fried egg' in the sand.  I have an awkward stance, and duff the next shot barely out of the bunker. I chip on, and 2 putt for a double bogey 5.  

I was frustrated at the result, but it was a good shot and roughly where I was aiming, I just pulled the wrong club because I incorrectly guessed my yardage.

Another tough break was on the 390 yd Par 4, with a creek bed running 220 out and a lake on the right.  I played 5i to be short of the creek bed. but landed on a patch of hard ground, and it bounced forward into the creek bed.  The lie was OK, but I didn't have a stance.  I had to awkwardly semi-chip w a PW out, and hit the green with my SW from 80 yds out, and 3 putted for a Double Bogey.

It was a great shot with the 5i, and an unlucky break with the bounce forward into the creek bed. If I had played a 6i, or maybe even played a longer club into the gap, things may have gone differently... but that's golf!

All in all, it was a fun round, and I look forward to shooting in the low 90s or high 80s by next summer hopefully!

 

[paininthenuts]

On 10/30/2016 at 3:01 PM, gregsandiego said:

Same here. There are a lot of permutations and ways to screw up a score. You could par a few then implode a few for example.

 

There you go, it happened yesterday. I played 9 holes, thought I was rubbish, and even blobbed on a hole. My score was 20 points. Felt I played much better on Monday and scored 15. How strange

[No Mulligans]

2 hours ago, paininthenuts said:

There you go, it happened yesterday. I played 9 holes, thought I was rubbish, and even blobbed on a hole. My score was 20 points. Felt I played much better on Monday and scored 15. How strange

20 points for 9 holes.   Stableford? Bogey 1, Par 2, Birdie 3,...  That can't be it as that certainly is not rubbish; that would be lights out.  What was the method of scoring?

[DrvFrShow]

I get pars and mostly bogeys on about 15 of 18 holes of the round. I've learned how to get out of trouble and advance the ball. But then there always seem to be two blow up holes during the round where I can't seem to hit the broadside of a barn that completely ruin the score for the round. They usually occur either on 5 or 6 or on 10 or 12. Then I recover and play out. Go figure.

Ironic part is that I only lost 4 balls over the summer. Previous summer I shot better scores and lost more balls. More double bogeys, too. Fewer blow up holes. Might be because I practiced more. Shoulders just can't take the pounding on the mats anymore. I'm resigned to sucking, but I have fun going out in the sunshine and hitting the ball around.

If I had a 12' ceiling I could work on my swing inside in front of a mirror. If I had more room in the house I could work on my swing in front of a mirror. I don't have the room anymore. Life goes on.

[RandallT]

On 11/2/2016 at 2:34 PM, klossy said:

I went and walked 18 holes today since the weather is so nice - I'm starting a new job next month and expecting my first child in early next year, so I'll probably have to hang up the golf clubs this week or next for quite some time.

OT, but I regret not keeping up as I started a family. You might put a club in an umbrella stand in your foyer, do drills against a window reflection when you get 5 minutes, and sneak to the range for 30min or an hour to keep your sanity at times. Don't lose touch, my friend.

But back to thread- I enjoy topics like this. Definitely hits a chord for me over the years. I think I'm the best golfer I've ever been, but somehow my scores don't show it! But just like the Cubs, there's always next year.

[gregsandiego]

13 hours ago, paininthenuts said:

There you go, it happened yesterday. I played 9 holes, thought I was rubbish, and even blobbed on a hole. My score was 20 points. Felt I played much better on Monday and scored 15. How strange

20 or 15 on a 9 hole par 3? Not sure I follow, are you saying one of those scores is a problem ?

[iacas]

2 minutes ago, gregsandiego said:

20 or 15 on a 9 hole par 3? Not sure I follow, are you saying one of those scores is a problem ?

Stableford, I believe.

[gregsandiego]

32 minutes ago, iacas said:

Stableford, I believe.

Cool, never heard of it surprisingly, not even on this nerdy forum.  How great would it be if I simply announced to my partners I'm scoring using Stableford now 

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stableford

 

[Rainmaker]

7 hours ago, RandallT said:

OT, but I regret not keeping up as I started a family. You might put a club in an umbrella stand in your foyer, do drills against a window reflection when you get 5 minutes, and sneak to the range for 30min or an hour to keep your sanity at times. Don't lose touch, my friend.

But back to thread- I enjoy topics like this. Definitely hits a chord for me over the years. I think I'm the best golfer I've ever been, but somehow my scores don't show it! But just like the Cubs, there's always next year.

Double OT . .but I don't.  I hung up the clubs for almost 5 years after my first, then second one was born.  I did go to the range . .about twice a year.  Now that they are "older" (they are 3 and 5) I can play and practice more often . . but when they were little it was all-hands-on-deck.  I'm sure every family is different but that's how ours was and I definitely don't regret not playing golf.

[sirhacksalot]

Along the off topic, it's nice for babies to get outside and play in the sand(traps) while you're putting on the putting green 

Back on topic, what clubs do you have between 5i and your driving club which I believe you said was your 18* hybrid? I play a short tight course and most parts 4s are driver/ Feely wedge, 3 iron/ 85-125. Shorter par 4s maybe even less depending on shape.  With bad tee shots giving me the chance  to use my other clubs.  

But shape has a lot to do with it as well.  My driver has a two way miss with a high blocky fade bias, my 4 wood tends to go both ways as well, my seven wood is a lil left and right off tee also , my 3 iron / most my irons draw with a miss being pull draw.  

Some holes set up better to a high fade some to draw, I'm not good enough to hit the shot that I want all the time, but today I was smart enough to to hit a good club for the hole, with the exception of a few. Hit 3 iron ending up in trees that I was trying to draw off of when a high fade would have carried the corner. Or the opposite and hit driver to water hazard right when a 3 iron would have been a better play. 

It sounds like me you are leaving a lot out there with your short game. I struggle converting NGIRS to pars.  and sometimes a chip 2 putt standard even becomes a 3 putts. The long putt for Eagle saving bogey is what really gets me.

I also struggle  when I try to manufacture shots off the tee. You mentioned trying to hit a knockdown  6I from the tee, instead of grabbing a different club on a short par 4 I pulled my 3 iron into the water trying to hit a soft one. For me grabbing any other club would have been better, whether it would have been up or down then trying to hit a "soft" one.  

[stealthhwk]

I have gone through this very thing lately. My abilities improved vastly, yet scores and handicap all went up. Turns out for me, I was partially right. My abilities improved which made for less bad shots and better bad shots. But at day's end, its the bad shots that make or break rounds. Sometimes that means one blowup hole, sometimes that means punching out over and over. Keep at it and dont be discouraged. I kept at it and shot my best ever an 83!!!! So, yes, Im better. But Ive had 6 rounds since and havent broke 100. And Im gonna need to second reading Lowest Score Wins. Turns out every cliche in golf is pure crap. Lsw reveals true strategy to playing better golf right now. 

P.s. I also discovered that your golf swing can improve while your golf game can deteriorate. We must all remember that can sometimes be two different things.

Edited November 7, 2016 by stealthhwk
Addition

[Swungover]

I've sadly found that playing well and scoring well don't necessarily happen together. Both enjoyable, though.