A winter of regression....

[turkish]

How has everyones winter practice/lessons been going?

I feel if anything my game has went backwards since the end of the season and stuck on what to do.... my driving is awful and been having lessons on it but still struggling. Swing path is ok I have been told by coach but I am really struggling with downward hits- watched pretty much every video on getting upward angle of attack too and still struggle.

Irons I can get the ball out there pretty well but when I video it my swing is pretty fugly with a fair amount of technical swing faults. Before Christmas was having lessons on this and was helping but upon recent video evidence I have went back to old ways.

BUT even after these 2 aspects I genuinely think the best way to get my game back in shape is improve further on short game as although my driving pretty bad, high spinny ones anywhere between 200-230 (a little further in summer) I generally manage to keep it in play, if usually 1st cut. Then although my irons aint the prettiest I get it down there ok.

So do I stop trying to improve on the crap driver and irons and concentrate on my average short game or do I continue with practicing everything? Obviously time constraints of work and a wee one on the way limit my practice and play time

 

[Garush34]

I have progressed nicely this winter. Tightened up the swing to gain some more control over shots in general. The changes that have been made have been for me easier to undertake and have not been extreme changes. Hope to get another lesson in before the season starts just to check over the swing and make sure everything's where it should be and get a quick bit on chipping as that is my real struggle area at the moment.

I'm looking forward to this season and hope I can kick on from this winter and achieve the goals I have set out.

 

[SteveJay]

My Winter has been good. Moved clubs in November, been having fairly regular lessons here for a while and hoped to get my handicap confirmed at around 18-20.

Lessons have worked and bought some new irons and driver and it all seemed to fall into place, despite course conditions. Culminated in getting a 14 handicap and picking up cash in my 3rd roll up.

The handicap has improved my confidence too, the transition from hoping my tee shot or approach was OK to actually expecting to hit most fairways and getting to GIR a few times per round helped. Hoping I can keep it going as the weather improves, but being realistic that it might go up as tees go back and greens firm up.

 

[Robobum]

I started having lessons for the first time this winter to try to be much more solid with my ball striking. 6 lessons down and there is a big change between the old and new swings.
Last lesson out it was consistently better through every shot in the lesson.

The best thing for me is that, by trying to stick religiously what we are working on, I've also managed to transfer it to the course with good results.

Three 67s a couple of 69s and a course record equalling 65 (although it's winter so doesn't count). Who knows what season will bring!! 😊😊

 

[Dan2501]

Been an okay winter, made some good strides, but with another 2 months of winter left there's still plenty of improvements to be made. Getting a driver fitting done tomorrow at Tour X, so hoping that will help with the driving game, an area I've worked very hard on since the back-end of last season. Have made distance increases with the driver for sure now that I'm completing my backswing (and that swing change has also massively reduced the shanking) but consistency still lacking a little bit, still have a tendancy to leave the clubface a couple of degrees open but getting there and continuing to have lessons and practice.

Need to get back into using the DST for my iron play. Used it for a practice session last week and the difference it made to my ball striking over the weekend was tremendous. Need to get that back into play for sure.

Chipping and pitching has gone a bit awry over winter due to a lack of practice, but that's the area I'm most confident in with my game, so that will come back once I get some good solid practice done.

Putting starting to improve too. Work at home on the Welling putt made with Putt-out is definitely helping. Starting the ball much more on line now and my pace control is getting a lot better. Need to get a bit more disciplined and consistent with the practice between now and the start of the season.

So yeah, overall, pretty good. Keen to get as close to single figures as possible this year so just need to keep up the hard work and then grind out some scores when the season starts.

 

[Capella]

I have hardly any chance to really practice in winter. There just isn't enough daylight to get to the range or course during the week. Our putting green and short game area are closed for most of the winter as well. So I normally limit myself to play a round on the weekend whenever the weather allows. Our golf club plans to re-fit the driving range this year and equip it with floodlights, so maybe it is going to get better. But at the moment I feel very rusty, especially my short game has completely gone out of the window. I am just back from a four day coaching trip to Portugal (with Fletch and Carter from ImproveMyGolf), but even there the weather was so dreadful that we didn't get nearly as much coaching and playing in as we had planned.

I did go to the gym during winter, though, to build some strength and speed. Maybe that will help. Provided I manage to actually hit the ball instead of the air or the ground once in a while ... I did not seem to be able to do even that in Portugal

Today is acutally the firt time this year that I am going to the course/range just for a practice session and I am really looking forward to it.

 

[chris3081]

My winter has been superb. Luckily found out I have a range 5 mins from work so try to go on my lunch. Bucket of balls and chipping/putting for 45 mins then back to work. Eat at my desk.

The handicap has gone from 17 -13 this winter and these are the best tips for others.

1) Get a coach to GC2/trackman your actual carry distances and write them on your clubs (Just use paper and then sellotape it one). Get 3 shots with each wedge so you have a go to shot for 50/70/80/90/100 etc. The confidence alone is amazing and ever if you fat or thin they still go close.

2) Short game practise is crucial. I only do two drills - 10 balls 20-40ft putts. 2 putt for a point. 3 points if you hole one first time. See how many you can get. Then do the same, but for up and downs. If you chip and hole the put you get a point. Make yourself a 2 putt king so you know every green is a chance of a 2 putt. Stats from Shot scope show 43% of my shots are with the putter. If you shoot 90 roughly 39 shots vs Max 14 with the driver.

I know loads of single figure handicap golfers 50-70 yrs old who hit the ball 200 yrds off the tee and short game is epic and just putt like legends. Shot 70's every time. Never hit a high wedge always get the ball rolling for better judgement and more reliability.

3) Read DR Bob Rotella and learn some mental strength. Really interesting.

Finally for those with back pain as I always had for the last 5 years. Stretch once in the morning and once in the evening. Takes 10 mins and flexiblity has improved massively and so far very few back problems. Got a standing desk too.

Cannot wait to try and get to single figures.

 

[C&R]

I started having lessons for the first time this winter to try to be much more solid with my ball striking. 6 lessons down and there is a big change between the old and new swings.
Last lesson out it was consistently better through every shot in the lesson.

The best thing for me is that, by trying to stick religiously what we are working on, I've also managed to transfer it to the course with good results.

Three 67s a couple of 69s and a course record equalling 65 (although it's winter so doesn't count). Who knows what season will bring!! 😊😊

That's brilliant golf. 👍

 

[chris3081]

Forgot to say make sure you have been fitted for your clubs especially the putter. Saving 7 putts around by being properly fitted to a decent putter

My winter has been superb. Luckily found out I have a range 5 mins from work so try to go on my lunch. Bucket of balls and chipping/putting for 45 mins then back to work. Eat at my desk.

The handicap has gone from 17 -13 this winter and these are the best tips for others.

1) Get a coach to GC2/trackman your actual carry distances and write them on your clubs (Just use paper and then sellotape it one). Get 3 shots with each wedge so you have a go to shot for 50/70/80/90/100 etc. The confidence alone is amazing and ever if you fat or thin they still go close.

2) Short game practise is crucial. I only do two drills - 10 balls 20-40ft putts. 2 putt for a point. 3 points if you hole one first time. See how many you can get. Then do the same, but for up and downs. If you chip and hole the put you get a point. Make yourself a 2 putt king so you know every green is a chance of a 2 putt. Stats from Shot scope show 43% of my shots are with the putter. If you shoot 90 roughly 39 shots vs Max 14 with the driver.

I know loads of single figure handicap golfers 50-70 yrs old who hit the ball 200 yrds off the tee and short game is epic and just putt like legends. Shot 70's every time. Never hit a high wedge always get the ball rolling for better judgement and more reliability.

3) Read DR Bob Rotella and learn some mental strength. Really interesting.

Finally for those with back pain as I always had for the last 5 years. Stretch once in the morning and once in the evening. Takes 10 mins and flexiblity has improved massively and so far very few back problems. Got a standing desk too.

Cannot wait to try and get to single figures.

 

[Junior]

Winter always lures me into a false sense of security. If I shoot my handicap I fee like I have played poorly. A shorter course and receptive greens means I've consistently been shooting a few better than my handicap. It also helps that our competitions are usually bb pairs , or best 2 from 4 etc so you can also go for your putts with a bit more ooompf.

Come Summer , the tee's will be 3 or 4 clubs back and the greens being firm and fast will see me back to my usual timid self with the putter !

 

[Tiger]

I started having lessons for the first time this winter to try to be much more solid with my ball striking. 6 lessons down and there is a big change between the old and new swings.
Last lesson out it was consistently better through every shot in the lesson.

The best thing for me is that, by trying to stick religiously what we are working on, I've also managed to transfer it to the course with good results.

Three 67s a couple of 69s and a course record equalling 65 (although it's winter so doesn't count). Who knows what season will bring!! 😊😊

You play a different game to me at the moment mate...but maybe one day! Great shooting :thup:

 

[Papas1982]

I feel you pain.

I hate winter golf!

my driving has remained pretty good. But I always seem to hit behind the ball in winter (or at least it shows up more). So I'll be hitting a seven iron and it could end up at target if I get it right or any distance short when I fat it.

Same with chips, have finally succumbed to chip and runs constantly and that has stopped the nightmares (unless faced with a bunker). But my iron play has gone to peices!

cmsoderimg a lesson, but ATM all seem to be off of mats and that won't help with my mishit.

 

[Tashyboy]

Nine times outta ten I am hitting the middle of the fairway so quite happy.
Bunker lesson was best twenty quid I have spent.
my scoring has regularly been high 30,s to 40 plus.

My problem is around the green, when I am good I am good, but it is picking the right club. Yesterday I played a PW into the green instead of 9 iron. I picked the wrong club outta the bag.

My biggest weakness is concentration.

Overall it's been a very good winter, but I had a good winter last year. Fingers crossed.

edit to say at the end of last year I finished 3rd in the men's order of merit so suppose it wasn't a bad year.

 

[full_throttle]

It hasn't been good.

 

[anotherdouble]

B+ for me. But still can't draw the ball with the big stick. I have more chance off seeing the man in the moon, but winter is not officially over yet. So there is still time

 

[DCB]

So do I stop trying to improve on the crap driver and irons and concentrate on my average short game or do I continue with practicing everything? Obviously time constraints of work and a wee one on the way limit my practice and play time

Did your Pro give you some simple drills to do to try and get the lesson work ingrained ?

Sounds to me that you are practicing too wide a range of things rather than focus on a few specifics. It's only mid Feb, you still have time to turn this around before the start of the season.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Barely played with today only my 6th round since Christmas. Pitching still a nightmare and I feel I'm at least a month behind the majority in the club who've played throughout. Starting to hit the range again and so hoping it'll start clicking soon

 

[HawkeyeMS]

I din't play for most of November and December because I was looking after this little one and her litter mates...



The first few weeks of January we were either on temps, frozen of in torrential rain so I didn't play my first complete round until 2 weeks ago. Last week however I started to hit the ball great so hopefully I'm back on track and in for another good year.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I din't play for most of November and December because I was looking after this little one and her litter mates...

View attachment 21972

The first few weeks of January we were either on temps, frozen of in torrential rain so I didn't play my first complete round until 2 weeks ago. Last week however I started to hit the ball great so hopefully I'm back on track and in for another good year.

Loving the FB pics of the dogs. Keep the good work up. 6 or lower for you this year

 

[Smiffy]

Last time I played was 23rd October......put the clubs away and haven't looked at them since.
I'll still be cheesed off if I don't par the 1st next time out....