PooN

Welcome to the 12.x index

Nope... now you know you have the ability to make every shot on the course. You've practiced hitting the shot before. You've hit the shot on the course before. You know how to get the result you want. Only now when you actually hit the shot and DON'T get the result you want you get angry. Also, the score is in play... at this level we truly know how hard it is to post a low score, so every little shot counts, and every missed shot that we know we could've made is like a slap in the face.

Here's what I've found: 99-90: Still learning how to hit the ball. Quite a few shots will be offline, duffed, topped, etc. Lots of OB penalties. Putts aren't even a thought until the ball reaches the green. Fear is an issue at this level... because the ball somewhat rarely goes where it is being aimed. 89-80: Figured out how to hit most shots pure. Driver starts to get under control. Less OB penalties and duffed/topped/offline shots. Putts become a forethought on approach rather than just something you have to do with the ball once it reaches the dance floor. One mental issue: I've found that anger sets in on bad shots in this range. This can make the difference between an 83 round and an 89+. 79-72: Ball striking is no longer an issue. Irons are pure, driver is mostly online. FIR & GIR become HUGE. Course management becomes main focus. Mental game is completely different. Of course, it helps that where you aim the ball is where the ball goes (mostly). That comes from going through all the above ranges/handicaps and practice practice practice. Scratch+: This is an art form. I can't even imagine what it takes to change from the 79-72 level. As most have said, it is more of breaking through mental barriers. Overcoming the fear during the learning process, keeping your cool during the level where you know you can make the shots but sometimes hit it bad, then playing a game of chess with the course, where making good decisions to keep the score down becomes the focus because the ball striking is no longer an issue. Making the putter get the ball in the hole always helps too.

I've learned just how important the putter really is, as well as keeping your cool on bad shots. Think I can squeek a PAR round out by the end of the season? Pipedreams.

I'm glad you brought that up... my whole approach on golf has changed immensly this past season. I used to get upset at myself after bad shots and missed putts and throw clubs and slam them on the ground (broke a few and chucked a wedge in the drink a couple years ago). I am COMPLETELY past all that now and my scores prove it. Just by learning to keep your head from getting into that "explosion mode" you will shave off a minimum of 5 strokes per round... I GAURENTEE it! I'm not saying I don't ever get pissed... but I get pissed right after the shot and then forget about it and focus on the next shot. I've gotten so good at keeping my cool now I can hit 2 duffs in a row followed by a water ball and only spout off a couple choice words and move on. By the time I hole the putt I'm over it. I'm all about course management and saving scores. Golf is fun again.

Coming off the 79 from yesterday I shot an 85 today on a par 71 course. Had fun but the putter just didn't have any gas in the tank today.

Like so: Key: F=Fairway f=1st cut G=Green g=fringe D= Drop d=duff/mishit ↕=up & down (underneath putt #) s=sand save (underneath putt #) #=putts (sometimes I put the distance underneath)

Rory McIlroy shoots a record-tying 3-under 63 on Thursday, followed by an 8-over 80 on Friday. 17 strokes in one day! It happens to the best of 'em.

Yeah, I forgot to mention... even though I had 3 birdies on the round I had an 8 on the card as well. I called it off the teebox after my drive on a wicked par 5 went into the marsh and I had to hit 3 from the box. Just can't avoid the blowup hole(s).

That made me 'evil laugh' inside my head.

I used to feel this way too. Earlier this season, however, I was a part of the really really REALLY slow group. We had a 1st time golfer (my brother who I was steadily giving advice/encouragement to), an old guy that hadn't played since 20 years and 100lbs ago, and 2 more experienced (read: we play frequently) golfers in the foursome. We had to wait on every hole... between flubbed/lost/wayward shots, walking to the putting green from the cart, putting away clubs, etc. We let 2 groups play through. I started off a little frustrated because I gave all the cues of ready golf and etiquette, but the older guy just had his own pace and there was nothing that was going to change it. He did get very tired (and progressively scored worse) through the round so I chalked it up as an "it is what it is" and luckily we were all just having fun. I shot an 83 without even noticing at a time where my previous (and subsequent) rounds were mostly in the 90's. Yesterday it was me and a buddy and we were on a course that has a $42 all you can golf after 2:00pm rate, so as you would imagine there are quite a few golfers. We were waiting on every shot on the front 9... I shot a 38 and my buddy shot a 39. We played phenomenal golf even though we were standing over the ball or sitting in the cart for a couple minutes for EACH shot! I am still a fan of fast golf as I can still tell if I played a good round of golf, but I know I leave more shots behind when things speed up.

Finally did it! 79 through 18 (38/41 on a par 72). Started off with a birdie, followed by 3 pars before a double, then another birdie (par 5 - on green in 2), two bogeys, and a par. Four more pars and a birdie on the back. 30 putts (only one 3 putt). 9 FIR / 9 GIR. I drove to the back fringe on a 273 yard (downhill) green. Still had 7 strokes I left on the course with penalty strokes and 2 flubbed shots. What a day.

Finally did it! 79 through 18 (38/41 on a par 72). Started off with a birdie, followed by 3 pars before a double, then another birdie (par 5 - on green in 2), two bogeys, and a par. 4 more pars and a birdie on the back. 30 putts (only one 3 putt). 9 FIR / 9 GIR. Still had 7 strokes I left on the course with penalty strokes and 2 flubbed shots. What a day.

I've tried keeping track with a couple different iPhone apps and on my SkyCaddie but have ultimately found it WAY easier to just enter it in on the scorecard.

Here's how I do it: Key: F=Fairway f=1st cut G=Green g=fringe D= Drop d=duff/mishit ↕=up & down (underneath putt #) s=sand save (underneath putt #) #=putts (sometimes I put the distance underneath)

Driving: 20 handicap. Super long but sometimes left, sometimes right. Too many OB's from bad drives keep my score about 5-7 higher than it should be. Fairway Woods: 9 handicap. Put a new 16* wood in the bag and it has given me 2 birdies on par 5's and got me close to green from way out on another. Irons: 10 handicap. Mostly clean draw shots that go the distance I want with a pretty decent hold on accuracy. Wedges: 10 handicap. Replaced a sole 54* with a 56* & 60* and have really been sticking the greens from 100 & 70 yards respectively. Short Game: 5 handicap. Been getting a lot of good up&downs; lately. Putting: 5 handicap. As of late my putting has come into its own. New putter = newfound confidence. I'll add a couple new categories: Mental Game: 5 handicap. I am learning that bad shots are part of my game. Overcoming them with an "aw shucks" instead of a "&$#^%%@&* #&$*# #*&$# *#$#&!" is making my game a ton better. Course Management: 10 handicap. Still making some bad decisions thinking I can make the 'hero' shot to save a good score. After walking off the green I find myself saying, "I should've just taken the drop and hit a good iron shot to layup in the fairway" or some such. Even with the bad decisions, I am also making some very good ones as well.

Let's just say that you did the right thing and didn't get into any altercations over a golf ball... albeit a very expensive golf ball. Golf is about integrity and you showed yours... this other guy clearly did not. That's all there is to it and you are a better man for it. Bravo.

Breaking 80 is NO JOKE. I broke 90 3 years ago and have yet to break 80. Just be prepared for more rounds in the high 90's (even above 100 can happen still) so don't get too upset on those 'off' days. I feel like the 80's-90's shooter is the one who's scores can vary so much on any given day, and they are also the one's (myself included) that need to worry about anger management more, because at this point you feel like you are good enough to make all the shots, but the ones that get away are from 'stupid' mistakes that can/should be avoided. The difference between my 95 round and my 85 round is simply keeping my cool after the blowup hole(s). Congrats on getting into the 80's... and good luck on your quest to the 70's!

I went from a 21-ish to a 15-ish from mid-April to mid-June. Then I bought a new set of irons and faltered a bit, but now my iron game is about as strong as with my old clubs, and I'm back on track to breaking 80.

I always find balls when I search for my own lost ball. Every round I end up with 10 or so and usually 3 or 4 are ProV1's. I currently use only Callaway HX Hot Bites, but I'm running out of my supply, so I'll switch to the found balls very soon. Maybe I'll do more ball hunting if/when I realize all the balls work similar enough for my game.

Where I go to practice they have 6 different chipping/pitching greens... sign reads "no chips over 50 yards" so I take full advantage and spend an hour each session from 50 yards and in, then pick up my bucket of balls and move to the firing line for about 1/2 hour. After I'm finished with the bucket from the line I head to one of 4 putting greens and spend another 15 minutes putting. I love this place. Needless to say, my chipping/pitching/up-and-downs have really improved this season... and I'm well on my way to breaking 80 because of this.

My best shots yesterday were all putts... I drained 7', 15', and 20' putts on three par 3's for birdies. I left a 30' putt sitting on the lip on the fourth par 3 as well for the easiest tap-in par I've ever had.

86 with 3 birdies again... this time on three of the par 3's. Drained 7', 15', and 20' putts... I left a 30' putt sitting on the lip as well. Putter was HOT to say the least. 10 shots left on the course... (5 penalty strokes and 5 duffs/flubs/mis-hits). Potential 76 today and it felt like it most of the time. Starting to like my game.

This has taken at least 6 strokes off my card per round. It can make the difference between shooting in the 90's or managing an 80's round. Only swing thought... Tempo, Tempo, TEMPO!

Actually, I should've elaborated on this thought a bit more. The 7 (or 8) iron should be a very easy club to master in your bag. Just the length and loft of the club makes them very easy to hit consistently. Figure out which one gets your ball to the 150 mark. The most accurate way to do this is to get on a golf course on a non-crowded day and drop a couple balls on the 150 mark and smack them to the green. Do this from multiple holes with differing scenarios (ie. uphill to green, downhill to green, into wind, with wind, fast greens, slow greens, etc)... from fairway and from rough... also play with ball position... try to hit one a little forward in your stance, then hit one a little further back in your stance. Try cut shots and draws if you start to figure out hand and foot position and can still manage a good swing. Once you figure out the club that gets you to 150, add/subtract 1 club per 10 yards and finagle your ranges until you feel confident with each club. Here's my breakdown on a full swing (more like a 5/7 or normal tempo swing) (+/- 5 yds): 205 yds: 3 iron 195 yds: 4 iron 185 yds: 5 iron 175 yds: 6 iron 160 yds: 7 iron 150 yds: 8 iron 140 yds: 9 iron 130 yds: PW 105 yds: 56° 1 85 yds: 60°