eBay beckons

[Lancj1]

Don't you hate it, this godforsaken game!

 

More time to play this year and take it "seriously" meaning playing a more active role at my club, getting a handicap and entering competitions when I can.

 

Clubs have been sorted and comfy for a while so May saw a couple of lessons, a ball fitting, some regular driving range activity, a real improvement in my ball striking through the bag and some confidence. Regular practice rounds, or shorter loops of 5 holes saw better tee shots featuring, fairways getting hit more regularly, girl now and then, some gross pars, the ODD birdie. Putting improved too, after a lesson.

 

Three cards submitted for handicap got me a 17.5, which I was delighted with, in my head I have 18 as a benchmark for "proper golf", if you see my point.

 

Since then - well this last two weeks the last four rounds I have played the whole house of cards has come crashing down and yesterday it was hooks, slices, fat, thin, lost balls, OOB, in reality a complete hacker, or the old me, had replaced the fairly happy golfer of mid July. To the point yesterday that thoughts of selling up and going back to fishing crossed my mind.

 

Course today, I'm back here and going to the range after. Don't know why though, I hate this bloody game ...... :)

[Warrick]

9 out of 10 people I watch play golf, just swing too hard/fast.

 

If you can create a nice consistent tempo, and keep your head still, striking the ball is not overly difficult.

 

If more tried to repeat a Lydia Ko, as opposed to a Stenson, there would be more progress made.

[zonadub]

Sounds like a classic case of increased expectations after getting back out in the spring when I lived in snow country. The first few rounds went well because there were no expectations after a winter layoff. Then a couple good rounds and suddenly I thought I was back in mid season form, expecting all the scores to be better than they typically are after only a few rounds. Those expectations came with less control of my swings because I was swinging too hard/fast and a shorter fuse. Things get back to normal eventually.

 

You got to your target relatively quickly, and I would be willing to guess that one poor short led to another and one bad hole could follow you the whole round. The best advice I heard was what you see in my signature. Hit the ball. Find the ball. Repeat until the ball is in the hole. HAVE FUN!

[puttin4dough]

9 out of 10 people I watch play golf, just swing too hard/fast.

 

If you can create a nice consistent tempo, and keep your head still, striking the ball is not overly difficult.

 

If more tried to repeat a Lydia Ko, as opposed to a Stenson, there would be more progress made.

 

Completely agree with this. I was doing all you were doing to get ready for upcoming tournaments. Once the tournaments passed, I took a step back and maybe play once a week if I have time. Went out last Saturday and the first 9 holes were very rough. highest 9 hole score of the year. Second 9 was completely different, slowed down and got in tempo and was swinging the club back to form.

[NJpatbee]

Sounds like something wicked has crept into your swing so I suggest having a pro take a look at it - probably a simple fix. Four rounds in a row of suddenly bad golf is much different than just having a bad day.

[North Butte]

When you speak of "practice rounds" and "loops of 5 holes" and then mention just the three rounds in comps to get your card, that sounds to me like what golf coaches call a translational issue. You may have gotten too good (not really, good is good) at some of the specific elements of the game and outstripped your ability to bring it all together in actual playing conditions.

 

I know it's a UK thing where you sort of mentally have to think of playing outside comps as something less than real golf. But maybe your "practice rounds" need to be more like a competition except, you know, not actually officially counting toward your handicap.

 

Perhaps you need to introduce into your mix some simulated serious rounds. What I'm guessing is you may be using your "practice rounds" to work on mechanics and such rather than working on shooting a score. If so you are now to the point you're going to have to make work on shooting a score into a specific skill you practice. It's the "translation" from practice mode to playing mode that may be tripping you up.

 

Just a thought.

[Medic]

Just imagine that your swing is sort of like taking a drive on a crowded highway in a heavy downpour of rain.

 

Go fast and you might get there. But then again....

 

But take it easy, pace yourself, and slow down - odds are far better you will make it to your destination. (without any unplanned/unanticipated bad things happening on the way)

[Lancj1]

When you speak of "practice rounds" and "loops of 5 holes" and then mention just the three rounds in comps to get your card, that sounds to me like what golf coaches call a translational issue. You may have gotten too good (not really, good is good) at some of the specific elements of the game and outstripped your ability to bring it all together in actual playing conditions.

 

I know it's a UK thing where you sort of mentally have to think of playing outside comps as something less than real golf. But maybe your "practice rounds" need to be more like a competition except, you know, not actually officially counting toward your handicap.

 

Perhaps you need to introduce into your mix some simulated serious rounds. What I'm guessing is you may be using your "practice rounds" to work on mechanics and such rather than working on shooting a score. If so you are now to the point you're going to have to make work on shooting a score into a specific skill you practice. It's the "translation" from practice mode to playing mode that may be tripping you up.

 

Just a thought.

 

Let you into secret - if i didn't play in another competition again I wouldn't mind. I now have a handicap, which I will maintain by playing in the regulation three comps a year. It does seem to be a cultural thing were clubs evolve around the comps, you are right.

[m111]

setup, balance, and rhythm

[New2this]

9 out of 10 people I watch play golf, just swing too hard/fast.

 

If you can create a nice consistent tempo, and keep your head still, striking the ball is not overly difficult.

 

If more tried to repeat a Lydia Ko, as opposed to a Stenson, there would be more progress made.

 

This. This the truth

[kozubs]

What Zonadub said is very true. I'm a 5 hcp from Canada so I go at least 3 months a year without playing and two more months playing in sub zero conditions. Every year my first month or two of playing are incredible usually around or below par. I think I'm going to kill it this year and it's just so easy. Then late June hits and things start to go bad and within a week I'm shooting low to mid 80s. It's like clock work. I'll have two good weeks and two bad weeks. The bad just comes from nowhere and I just can't find that magical swing thought that brings me back. It just happens. It gets worse and worse from lack of confidence and you feel like you'll never play good again.

 

Why do I think this is? I feel that the biggest difference between a scratch golfer and a a 3 to 6 hcp is hands. I believe that scratch golfers don't use their hands. Well to be more specific, dont depend on their hands and timing to save the shot. Its the big core muscles that make the shot, not the small, fast acting twitch muscles. I know I depend on my hands for my swing. When my timing is on its magical and you almost never miss. When it's off, it pure survival mode. This is most evident in the driver.

 

As many above mentioned, swinging too hard or too fast. This somewhat the same thing and likely the root cause. If you swing in tempo and a smooth rythem, using your body properly, you won't need to save the shot with your hands. When your under pressure, not relying on timing is huge.

 

I may be wrong. I haven't reached that next level yet. Until then, Im destined for streaky golf and it kills me.