My Golf

[Matty2803]

Hi there! I used to lurk on and around this forum for months, just getting hints and tips from people.

I then didn't come on for months, and find myself back here today.

I'm a junior, I play off of 27. I used to be the best Junior for a long period of time at my Golf club. I was having a great spell until my h'cap got cut to 26, from 36. I then played some steady rounds, to see out my season. Over the winter I had some lessons, and work on the given changes, over winter. I was playing with a friend, and I played a gross 9 over par. I then haven't hit a good round in the following 5 or so months.

I play to around the 18 h'cap for most of my round, but the reason for the high handicap, is I generally have 1 or 2 bad holes, which generally ruins my round. I really want to make it into the professional game, in a few years. In the Paul Lawrie foundation events I play, I have beat a 19 handicapper, gross. I just can't seem to convert my good play in those events, to the medals, which makes my h'cap go up. I was playing in a schools competition, I played the front 9 in 5 over par gross, beating a 11 handicapper, as he shot 7 over. Then I shot my round to pieces after having two bad holes on 16 and 17. I know I can do it, but it just doesn't always happen.

I practiced lots over winter and the previous season, but I have not practiced as much this season, (due to playing football 3 times a week, due to games getting cancelled over winter) so now that the football is done, I'm going to get practicing most nights after school. Should I make a practice routine, or something along those lines?

Any help or tips, would be much appreciated!

p.s I'm playing Links Golf This afternoon, and the wind is howling and the rain in pouring

Thanks Matty

 

[sev112]

Hi mate - good luck with your golf

EVERYONE, including Tiger and Phil Mickleson all have 2 bad holes a round - typically our handicaps are dominated by the size of our 3 worst holes . So you will never get rid of them, you just have to make them less destructive.

You need to analyse what is the theme on those bad holes . Is it poor course management or shot choice decisions, is it a certain shot you can't play , is it a part of your game (eg driving or pitching or putting).

Good golf scores are about consistency over 18holes, not being able to play the occasional brilliant shot. So you have to practice your weaknesses.

So, speak to the local pro, tell him you need to work on whatever your identified area of weakness is, and the ask him for some practice ideasntomwork on.

Good luck

 

[Matty2803]

Hi mate - good luck with your golf

EVERYONE, including Tiger and Phil Mickleson all have 2 bad holes a round - typically our handicaps are dominated by the size of our 3 worst holes . So you will never get rid of them, you just have to make them less destructive.

You need to analyse what is the theme on those bad holes . Is it poor course management or shot choice decisions, is it a certain shot you can't play , is it a part of your game (eg driving or pitching or putting).

Good golf scores are about consistency over 18holes, not being able to play the occasional brilliant shot. So you have to practice your weaknesses.

So, speak to the local pro, tell him you need to work on whatever your identified area of weakness is, and the ask him for some practice ideasntomwork on.

Good luck

Ok, thanks very much for the tips. I think it is going wrong on the longer holes, where I'm trying to hit the ball to hard, with my 3 wood off of the fairway. I am thinking of starting to hit, my 4 iron or hybrid and taking one extra shot than risking it with the big shot.

thanks agian and yeah, I have spoke to the pro. I am also enrolling myself into the Scottish Development Program, thus hopefully leading onto Scottish Academy ect.

thanks.

 

[lyden]

As Justin Rose so rightly said if your practising not to hit bad shots forget it because it will never happen were human. What you can do is build a pre shot routine that gives you the perfect setup and the best chance of making a good swing. I've personally found it very difficult to hit two bad shots on a row after implementing a PSR. It doesn't have to be something stupid like kegan bradley, just an alignment, grip, posture & ball position check will suffice.

 

[Spark.]

Totally agree with Sev, having a look at and ironing out your weaknesses should see your handicap drop. Maybe find yourself a playing partner that will be able to guide you and pick out your weaknesses. I play with my uncle every other weak, whos a low handicapper, he helps me out with what im doing wrong and what i need to work on and i can see my game improving. Id shoot alot better if i put my driver away as my long irons are good off the tee but i want to try and sort my drives out this year. I know i can hit them well, just need to practice to get the consistency there. I know i need to have a look at my shot choices aswell as i get drawn into just picking out my 5 iron rather than laying up and 3 or 4 holes ruin my round with 6s or 7s. I know on a clean round i can play sub 90. Just be honest with yourself about where your lacking.

 

[sev112]

Matt- sounds really exciting

You will get millions of tips, but one that has stood me very well over many years.
Go to the range (don't try the first time on the course) and try hitting your long irons at about 80%. You do this by practice swinging as hard and fast as you physically can and still hit the ball. Do that 2 or 3 times, then do it again but with less effort, and then reduce again with less effort. You will get to a swing speed which feels comfortable, stable, and which maximises your distance. You will be surprised at how much slower this feels. however, this doesn't mean that this should be your "main" swing tempo - it is only an exercise for you to see the effects of a slower tempo. Now you know this, when you are faced with those hard shots, usually the long clubs , then you can slow down your swing and reduce the margin for error from your normal swing.
Pro did this exercise with me years ago and it was illuminating. I have swung with a slow tempo ever since, but I don't necessarily recommend thatbtoeveryone, but it gives me goat consistency albeit some loss of distance against others

 

[ScienceBoy]

It is not about eliminating bad holes or bad shots but making your bad shots better. If your bad shot only removes the birdie chance but makes par likely then that is fine.

The problem is when your bad shots lead to 7s and 8s.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Welcome along and good luck with your ambitions. I played my club champs this weekend and had 2 triples and a double yesterday. A triple and several doubles today. Not playing bad but my whole season has been blighted by one or two bad holes per round that have seen the handicap drift out and makes my competitive play so frustrating. I have faith in the work I'm doing with my teaching pro with my swing and and have total faith that I will get better and hit single figures