Almost at my natural talent point

[HomerJSimpson]

I have the ability to be lower. I just need to keep the faith. Had some exceptionally good front and back nines this year and just need them to coincide

 

[Stuey01]

I buy that some people have the potential to be better than others, if someone is naturally athletic with great hand eye co-ordination then they probably have a higher ceiling than someone without those attributes.
That said, golf is predominantly a learned skill. I have a hard time getting on board with the idea that the threshold for any healthy adult is a hcap of 14.
If you don't have time or inclination to play or practise more, then fine, that's why I've been stuck at 11 all year. But that's not the same as reaching your talent threshold.

 

[Spear-Chucker]

I buy that some people have the potential to be better than others, if someone is naturally athletic with great hand eye co-ordination then they probably have a higher ceiling than someone without those attributes.
That said, golf is predominantly a learned skill. I have a hard time getting on board with the idea that the threshold for any healthy adult is a hcap of 14.
If you don't have time or inclination to play or practise more, then fine, that's why I've been stuck at 11 all year. But that's not the same as reaching your talent threshold.

Couldn't agree more - extremely well put.

 

[UlyssesSky]

I'd always looked at myself and thought I had the natural talent to play to around 14.....

May I ask what made you believe that? And even more important: why do you still believe that's true? It seems like you kind of made up your 'natural talent point' without any real evidence and now take it like a universal truth that can only be accepted...

Like others said, the mental game is a very important part, and it seems like you need to make sure your randomly made up 'natural border' doesn't become a self fulfilling prophecy...


There is a theory that we tend to 'self-regulate' our scores to what we believe they should be, i.e. if you (as a 14 hcp) are 5 over after 15 holes, expect some triple bogeys (and worse) to bring your score back to its usual territory, or, if your already 17 over after 15 holes, prepare for some pars/birdies...

 

[HawkeyeMS]

I buy that some people have the potential to be better than others, if someone is naturally athletic with great hand eye co-ordination then they probably have a higher ceiling than someone without those attributes.
That said, golf is predominantly a learned skill. I have a hard time getting on board with the idea that the threshold for any healthy adult is a hcap of 14.
If you don't have time or inclination to play or practise more, then fine, that's why I've been stuck at 11 all year. But that's not the same as reaching your talent threshold.

Couldn't have put it better myself :thup:

 

[Deleted member 18121]

May I ask what made you believe that? And even more important: why do you still believe that's true? It seems like you kind of made up your 'natural talent point' without any real evidence and now take it like a universal truth that can only be accepted

When I first started playing I used to hack around in the 100-105 bracket, although I used to strike the ball very well. As time went by I made gradual improvements and I had a feeling that I could eventually score mid 80s.....that I felt was where my natural talent could take me.

Now what do I believe...... if I'm honest with myself I think I have enough flaws in my game, grip and swing that would limit me from every becoming a true single figure handicapper, although I am capable of scoring par on any hole I play.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

I'm a firm believer that golf is like most sports

Everyone will have a natural level of ability and no amount of teaching will get them past the high spot of that level

Some will hit it without teaching etc - some will need teaching to it hit

People will naturally plateau at any sport

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

I got to 6 with no lessons but playing a lot - does that mean my natural talent is 6 or indeed better?

I like to think I can get back to 8 without too much difficulty (though it is taking longer than I'd hoped) - but not sure I'm going to bother trying too hard to get lower than that. First though - need to get to 9

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Natural talent only takes you so far. I believe that if we all played from a young age, didn't work and committed all our time to the game we would all be single figures. I believe if I did this I would be a scratch golfer. Realistically we can not do this but the time point in helps us. If I could commit 10 hours a week to practice in addition to my playing time that I have now I would be cat 1. This is something I intend to do over the winter.

Golf is 90% mental. The mental side of golf is well documented and, while we can not just flick a switch to change our mindset we can do certain things to help us. For example, stroke index 1 at my course is a 440 yard par 4 uphill. A hole that you would take a 5 and run. Changing my mindset from '5 will do' to 'I can par this' means that I can par it more than before, take 5 the rest of the time and near enough get rid of the 6s and 7s. So much so that even with wild drives I can still make par and am confident in doing so.

Changing small things in your approach to the game help you to focus. I played at the weekend and played well, getting a handicap cut. The next day I went out with some friends for a bounce game and did not practice some putts before hand or warm up. I was talking during my pre shot routine and enjoying the company rather than the golf. At the turn I was 7 over par. I then forced myself to focus and play as I normally would and finished with an 80.

Don't underestimate the mental side of golf.

This. Our 2nd - 475yd par 4 will rising fairway off the tee to a crest about 150yds from green then falling to green.

This is the members 'always happy coming off with a 5' hole - and so it has been with me also. But so many times I find myself walking off with a 6.

Then this summer - having had a couple of lessons that seem to have significantly improved my iron striking - I have been hitting a 5i or 4i 2nd shot - really positively going for the green. And I can feel my thinking changing from 'I might get a 4' to 'I can get a 4'. That's quite a change in mindset I believe. And now starting to get more frequent 4s, usually a solid 5 and 6s becoming rarer.

 

[jamielaing]

This. Our 2nd - 475yd par 4 will rising fairway off the tee to a crest about 150yds from green then falling to green.

This is the members 'always happy coming off with a 5' hole - and so it has been with me also. But so many times I find myself walking off with a 6.

Then this summer - having had a couple of lessons that seem to have significantly improved my iron striking - I have been hitting a 5i or 4i 2nd shot - really positively going for the green. And I can feel my thinking changing from 'I might get a 4' to 'I can get a 4'. That's quite a change in mindset I believe. And now starting to get more frequent 4s, usually a solid 5 and 6s becoming rarer.

No one wins thinking that they just need to make bogey. The positivity really does help and, while going for everything can give you trouble, expecting a poorer score gives you a poorer score. For me know, everything is a par hole. If I bogey it I am happy so long as I played it with the right mindset. If I make mistakes that could be avoided I am disappointed. My game now is trying to avoid the doubles knowing that the pars will come as will the odd birdie.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I'm a firm believer that golf is like most sports

Everyone will have a natural level of ability and no amount of teaching will get them past the high spot of that level

Some will hit it without teaching etc - some will need teaching to it hit

People will naturally plateau at any sport

Not sure, given full, fitness, that this is true. I think you only get out what you put in, not just in golf, and that there is always an area of golf that can be improved to get better. If people keep getting cuts, even in their sixties how do they know when they reach that plateau. There's a guy of 67 at out place that is down to his lowest ever just because he's invested in a series of short game lessons with our assistant pro

 

[backwoodsman]

I'm a nineteen h/c with imho no great natural ability. But often thought I could get down to low teens if I tried. Indeed, a coach once told me so. As posted elsewhere, I shot a 6 over round the other day. So that rather blows away any idea I had about my natural ability level. Is it 6? Who knows. Am I a 6 - of course not. Could I be - of course I could. Been there. Do I have the attitude and inclination to get there permanently. Now that is the real question. Which sums up golf I think.

 

[Smiffy]

I think you only get out what you put in

 

[ScienceBoy]

I have the ability to be lower. I just need to keep the faith. Had some exceptionally good front and back nines this year and just need them to coincide

It will happen, I'm certain.