My frustration just goes on...

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mashleyR7

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My golf feels like its in turmoil. 10.2 at the turn of the year, 10.8 today, three q comps in the next two weeks so that'll prob mean i'll 11.1 by then. This was the year i was meant to come down to single figures.

This time last year i was ripping out +2, +6 and +7 rounds, 45 points here, 43 there etc etc.

This year I barely able to scramble 30 points together, 98 shot on Sunday :angry:

Today I played Chart Hills, perfect conditions, great course. Par 1st, then blob blob blob, then straight par's holes 4-9 to end up on 15 points. Then the back 9 i managed to scramble another 15 points from all over the place, only two pars. Not a sniff of a decent birdie chance all day.

I don't think my problem is the swing (although I know I could improve this) but instead I think it's down to not having a game plan, the right mind set, a pre shot routine..... no clear thinking. I just seem to walk up to it and each shot and every time I'm doing something different. Each week I'm having different thoughts with the same shots.

I just don't know what to do? Do I need a course of lessons on game management, or more technique lessons.....

I'm so depressed!!
 
A playing lesson would let the pro see what you do in a real environment. Other than that I would recommend New Golf Thinking (sorry but I find it works). If the ball is going where you want most of the time it doesn't sound technical and to be honest that would only add to the head full of chocolate frogs. You need to strip it down, enjoy it, forget about the 0.1's and get back to doing what you did last year. I started the year at 11.7 and was at 12.4 and in danger of hitting 13 but found a round from nowhere at the weekend and a nice 0.6 cut. If I can do it you certainly can
 
HomerJSimpson said:
Other than that I would recommend New Golf Thinking (sorry but I find it works).
Click to expand...

What was your handicap when you went on the course/day through GM almost or more than a year ago and what is it now, and if its not improved or stood still, where has the New Golf Thinking worked for you?
 
Guys this is a thread to help Adey, not to pull apart NGT.

Adey, we all have good spells and bad spells, Rory is currently having a bad spell, so are you.

Form has taken a short holiday and will be back soon, in the meantime, you may be trying too hard which could be making things worse short term.

Play some rounds without scoring, just relax, enjoy the game, have a lesson to check the basics
You'll be fine
Put it this way , there's plenty on here who would swap their game for yours , me included :)
 
PhilTheFragger said:
Guys this is a thread to help Adey, not to pull apart NGT.
Click to expand...

Nobody is "pulling apart NGT"! It has been mentioned and put forward as a remedy and has also been stated that "it works", as such I am interested in knowing to what degree, it's all relevant IMO.
 
If you read my recent thread, you know my game is suffering too! I honestly believe I play better when I am totally relaxed and clear my mind! For me, I try and forget about points and play each hole on its merits with a what will be attitude! You are obviously a good player, enjoy yourself and I am sure the improvement will come. All the best anyway
 
I set exactly same goal for season - get from 10.4 to SFs. But still on 10.4 - and so yesterday booked a lesson - though won't be for a couple of weeks as on holiday. Just felt I had to do something as I too am very frustrated.
 
Have you tried breaking your round up more? Like grouping the holes in threes? Only concentrate on a your goal for the 3 holes you're on, rather than front 9/back 9. Might help focus a little.
 
PhilTheFragger said:
Guys this is a thread to help Adey, not to pull apart NGT.

Adey, we all have good spells and bad spells, Rory is currently having a bad spell, so are you.

Form has taken a short holiday and will be back soon, in the meantime, you may be trying too hard which could be making things worse short term.

Play some rounds without scoring, just relax, enjoy the game, have a lesson to check the basics
You'll be fine
Put it this way , there's plenty on here who would swap their game for yours , me included :)
Click to expand...



Thought it was mashley? :D

Edit : Yup where I said Adey I meant Mashley, thanks for the heads up #braincell melt
 
Last edited by a moderator:
welcome to my world - but we are not alone!

I'm still trying to work out if I am really the 8 I got don to 3 years ago, or the 12 (or more) I seem to be heading for (although I have managed to hold on to 11 for a year now!)

Analyzing as best I can I have now concluded that I am overly focused on getting to the green (driving irons etc) and way to relaxed about what happens when I do get there. In practical terms this might be represented by drive and a really well struck 7 iron into an uphill 450 yd SI 1 hole that finishes pin high on the fringe above the hole......and walking off with a 5 (individual thoughts in the process may have varied from intense concentration trying to sink the chip to a relaxed just run it down below the hole for the 4....doesn't seem to matter!)

I attribute some of this to spending most of my golf playing matches and events at different courses in different conditions through the season - but the reality is that this shouldn't cost more than 1-2 shots a round. I will literally leak 8 shots a round compared to how I used to score.

Having concluded this I have now decided that my target is to become known as a short game wizard rather than a great ball striker...we will have to see if I can reverse my 11.1 as a result.

Note that I am expecting some positive results as a result of the mental decision as well as appropriate practice routines to support the objective (I would already class my chipping and pitching as good, bunkers about average for handicap)

Good luck with any approach you take - but think about taking a positive step in some direction.
 
duncan mackie said:
welcome to my world - but we are not alone!

I'm still trying to work out if I am really the 8 I got don to 3 years ago, or the 12 (or more) I seem to be heading for (although I have managed to hold on to 11 for a year now!)

Analyzing as best I can I have now concluded that I am overly focused on getting to the green (driving irons etc) and way to relaxed about what happens when I do get there. In practical terms this might be represented by drive and a really well struck 7 iron into an uphill 450 yd SI 1 hole that finishes pin high on the fringe above the hole......and walking off with a 5 (individual thoughts in the process may have varied from intense concentration trying to sink the chip to a relaxed just run it down below the hole for the 4....doesn't seem to matter!)

I attribute some of this to spending most of my golf playing matches and events at different courses in different conditions through the season - but the reality is that this shouldn't cost more than 1-2 shots a round. I will literally leak 8 shots a round compared to how I used to score.

Having concluded this I have now decided that my target is to become known as a short game wizard rather than a great ball striker...we will have to see if I can reverse my 11.1 as a result.

Note that I am expecting some positive results as a result of the mental decision as well as appropriate practice routines to support the objective (I would already class my chipping and pitching as good, bunkers about average for handicap)

Good luck with any approach you take - but think about taking a positive step in some direction.
Click to expand...


This is my world also - am I the 8 I was before I took my break from golf - and that folk today tell me I should be? Or am I stuck on 10 and only going to head north? It is indeed frustrating being told I play like a 7-8 handicapped when I know !y general play doesn't yet merit it. So same issue as being a 20 and folk muttering about you playing like a 12-13
 
I feel your pain. 18months ago I was shooting around level par and had got down to 4. 6 months later I couldn't break 85 and my handicap now sits at 6.0, although at least I've buffered in recent weeks. Putting average has gone up from 28 to 36, but my long game is, almost, the best its ever been. I'm hitting greens from up to 240yds out, then 3 putting for fun.

Frustrated or FRUSTRATED?!
 
Momentum
You hear this word all the time on TV.

Everyone misses fairways and greens but it's how you deal with these misses that makes the difference.

The 'good players' will salvage par with a good chip or putt and walk on to the next tee feeling good and momentum intact.
The 'other players' will walk off with bogey or worse and get on the next tee feeling dejected and duff the next tee shot. Momentum gone.

How you finish a hole can have a huge impact on how you play the next hole, so.........
practice your short game and keep your momentum
 
OP, Id recommend a couple of process goals (stolen shamelessly from Dr Bob) - fancy words for getting the basics right.

1. Have a clear vision for what you want the shot to do with a nice detailed target in mind
2. Quick practice swing rehearsing the aforementioned thinking about how to make it happen with the skills you have
3. Relax over the ball and whack it
4. Accept whatever the result is and repeat

Don't think too much about the scores (hard not to eh?) and they will come good as we all know.
 
I've had a mass of highs and lows in the last 3 years with my golf so I hope these thoughts help.

Many facets of my game needed a bit of good old TLC but as some of the other guys have been saying on here, relaxing and enjoying your golf is crucial. That doesn't mean you can't concentrate and be focussed on every shot but try and put a bit less pressure on yourself.

I can't recommend 2 books from Bob Rotella enough - Golf is not a game of perfect and Golf is a game of confidence. They will emphasise the importance of a pre shot routine, positive thinking, focussing in on specific targets and the importance of the short game. I was a sceptic of the psycho mumbo jumbo as I used to call it, but I've been converted! My golf since reading these books has improved immeasurably and I enjoy playing now more than ever.

Reading these books was recommended to me by the head pro at where I play and I combined them with a series of lessons from him. We focus on the fundamentals and the short game over and over again. I practice twice a week and 85% of this I focus on the short game from within 40 yds of the green - my scores have come down and so has my handicap and I am really enjoying my golf.

Good luck on getting back on track......beleive me I'm sure anyone who has played this game feels your pain.
 
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