Broke 80... now what?

[Big_M]

Two years ago I broke 80 for the first time. My handicap was about 16 when it happened. This year (2007) my goal was single digit handicap, and I made it for about a week then slid back up to a 10. I did break 80 several times though last year. I am 28 now, I played JV for two years in high school, shot mid 40's for 9 then, but hockey was my sport in high school. After that I played regularly on leagues for 5 years, but not much other than league day. Then I went back to school and started playing less. Played very sporadically (maybe 10 rounds a year) until I moved here and started law school in 2005. Hopefully I can still get out a bit while studdying for BAR next summer, and after July I should get out plenty. Also, will play almost year around after I move to NC to take BAR.

How hard is it going to be to get down to low single digits (0-5). Going from 18ish to 10 was pretty easy. I am completely self tought (can't afford lessons) and in the last two years I have completely changed my swing (based on reading and understanding fundamentals). I practice my short game when possible and am learning to work the ball. What's the best way for me to reach my goal, and assuming I play/practice 1-3 times a week, how long should I expect.

[artfulgolfer]

I picked up the game nearly 3 years ago at 46. Got down to 12 quickly. Then I picked up Extraordinary Golf by Fred Shoemaker which helped me get down to 4 a year later. I also didn't take lessons and worked instead on practicing my short game, focusing on a precise target, and improving how I think on the course. My goal is to get down to 2 this year after getting stuck around 4 last year.

[gogolfing]

Does the book you talk about, Extraordinary Golf, focus solely on the mental side of things, or does it also give tips for practicing and play as well? Sounds like you really benefited from it. I am also in the same boat. 2 years ago I was at a 16, got down to a 9 and broke 80 a few times, but got to play very little last year and went back to a 12. I'm interested in picking the book up again, and hope to be down to single digits by summer.

Thanks

[neudi]

Just keep playing, it will happen, biggest thing is to not think about it b/c you will just put added pressure on yourself.

[artfulgolfer]

Does the book you talk about, Extraordinary Golf, focus solely on the mental side of things, or does it also give tips for practicing and play as well? Sounds like you really benefited from it. I am also in the same boat. 2 years ago I was at a 16, got down to a 9 and broke 80 a few times, but got to play very little last year and went back to a 12. I'm interested in picking the book up again, and hope to be down to single digits by summer.

Yes, the book does help with mental aspects of the game, but isn't limited to that. It mostly helped me improve my attitude on the course, staying open to better results, playing creatively, using the game to identify where "I" was getting in the way.

[wolverine318]

Just keep playing, it will happen, biggest thing is to not think about it b/c you will just put added pressure on yourself.

I went from a 8.x-9 to a 6 in about a year and a half. I didnt really do anything just overall improvement from playing. I play 2 times a week max. And I throw in a range session somtimes. This past year I really started concentrating on putting and keeping stats to know where I have to work at. I shot some pretty good scores, 2 and 3 over near the end of the year. So we will see for next year.

[wolverine318]

Just keep playing, it will happen, biggest thing is to not think about it b/c you will just put added pressure on yourself.

Great advice. Let me dig deeper into this.

In one of my traveling leagues we have a game called beat your handicap. Howerver they figure it out, Im a 6 and usually get 9 strokes somehow. Depending on slope/rating, whatever. Whoever breaks the most wins, we get some money, like $300 so its worth it for sure. This is like a month of golf in the league free. Anyways back to the point. I won this thing last year, and Ill be playing, and its hole one. And a guy says, I have 8 bogies to give, and ill break. This is along the same lines at neudi said. First off this thinking is totally backwards, and 2nd, why put the added pressure on yourself? Then these guys get on the last hold, they are 7 over and they need par to break they handicap. They are freaking out. One shot at a time is the best advice I can give. If you are playing all round and are thinking about your overall score and are like holy shit par gives me 77!!!!! You are just adding pressure. You are more worried about the overall score than your shot at hand. Obviously yoru overall score matters, but what I'm saying is that if you take it one hole/one shot at a time. You will see improvement. You cant be on hole 4 and be like shit i made 4 bogeys in a row. Golf is 18 holes. It doesnt matter where you make teh bogeys, it doesnt matter where you made the birdies. I hope I am making sense

[ThisIsWhyImHot]

if you want to get in the low single digits the 3 things you need to focus on the most is the mental side of the game, not only getting to down when you double but not getting to excited if you birdie or eagle, second would be work on everything inside 100 yards from wedges to putting and last would be course management... realize when bogey isnt a bad score and what pins to fire at and which ones to play to the middle of the green, good luck