Practice makes.....

SamZeMuel

SamZeMuel

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We all play golf for some reason or another but it definitely frustrates the hell out of most of us. Played my first game today (12 holes managed due to light) since the end of last year. In practice on the range I am hitting the ball more consistently, cleaner contact, straighter (I have a big fade most of the time) and generally making leaps and bounds since this time last year. I go out on the course and it all goes to rat s%$t, first 9 I score worse than when I first started playing.... go figure! So frustrating, seeing the pro on monday for another lesson, I love this game but dam it makes itself hard without a doubt
 
Are you hitting them straight on the range because you're setting yourself up to allow for it, and therefore they go 'straight'. Where as on the course, you might be setting up fairly normally, and consequently hitting big fades?

Just a thought, and one of so many possibilites.
 
I work at a golf range and I see many people come up and hit fantastic shots, however they still maintain a reasonably high handicap. I have come to the conclusion that when people go onto the practice range they are loose, care free and tend to focus on just hitting the ball rather than focusing on where the ball will end up. When a lot of us get on the course we factor in a lot more in our thoughts and by the nature of the game care where the ball ends up. You know the thoughts 'don't hit it left' 'watch out for the trees' and 9/10 we will hit a poor shot.

Maybe its worth looking at how you practice and what your thinking about when practicing and then comparing it to the thoughts you have on the course.

I think most golfers know they can swing well and so hit great shots on the range but when they get on the course they worry about not swinging well and end up with bad scores.
 
I am guessing you are trying too hard. On the range its easy to get into the "this one doesn't matter" mindset. Personally on the range I step off the mat after every shot and treat each ball as I would do on course and go through my set up. It might also be that on the mat you have reference points (edge of th emat) to help align yourself and out ont he course you might have slipped into old habits.

I wouldn't beat yourself up about it too much. I only got 25 points in the stableford competition but actually it the ball much better than that scoreline indicates. Its not meant to be a fair game and other rounds you'll hit the ball better but still won't score and then go out next time and hit it worse and set a personal best score. Like you say - go figure
 
Are you taking lessons on the range or at a grass practice area? When you are playing off mats you can be hitting the ball a little bit fat and the club just slides through hitting a good shot, when you then go on to grass the club doesn't slide through and hey presto your hitting it crap for a round until you adjust to hitting off grass.

This may not be the reason, but it used to happen to me when I first started playing from mats in a driving range.
 
Are you taking lessons on the range or at a grass practice area? When you are playing off mats you can be hitting the ball a little bit fat and the club just slides through hitting a good shot, when you then go on to grass the club doesn't slide through and hey presto your hitting it crap for a round until you adjust to hitting off grass.

This may not be the reason, but it used to happen to me when I first started playing from mats in a driving range.
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I definitely suffer from this get away with fat shots on the range but not on the course. Wish I could practice full shots on grass but have no options at the moment.
 
I think you do have options Tiger, play 18 holes on the course,the best practice you can have. Don't get me wrong, I really admire what you're doing and wish you well with your quest. Just surprised you're not out on the course learning the game and with all the opportunities the round will throw up at you, in terms of all types of shots - chips,pitches,fairway shots,bunker shots,teeing off with irons and last but not least, driving with a 5wood, 3wood and driver. IMHO there is no substitute for getting out on the course, not worrying about double or triple bogeys,pars or birdies. Each time you go out just try and better the last score. Then as you start to come down,(cut),which I think will happen quite quickly, start thinking about each hole and course management.

When you get down to Homers level is the time to delve into the game in much more detail, again, in my opinion of course. :)

And most of all, enjoy :cool: :D :D :D

Golfmmad.
 
I am having lessons on the range and have always been hitting the ball fat until the last month or so. I have been working on contact with ball and its paid off in practice. The psychological element probably doesn't help as when I hit these bad shots my mind goes into negative overdrive. I was just amazed that with my driver on the range 7/10 shots would go straight but on course zip. Its all in the name of the game we love ay?
 
Hear what you're saying golf mad main issue for me is finance. Playing a round in two weeks, 9 holes two weeks later and hopefully one more round before my membership starts. I promise once I am a member I'll be out every weekend! :D
 
Hear what you're saying golf mad main issue for me is finance. Playing a round in two weeks, 9 holes two weeks later and hopefully one more round before my membership starts. I promise once I am a member I'll be out every weekend! :D
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Where are you joining Tiger ? Woodbridge , Rushmere , Fynn Valley ?
 
Where are you joining Tiger ? Woodbridge , Rushmere , Fynn Valley ?
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Would Iove to join Woodbridge but can't afford it. Rushmere & Waldringfield are the nearest affordable courses. Fynn Valley is where I have my lessons but for cost, ease of access and knowing other members I'll probably end up joining Waldringfield. I know the Club Captain there and will have more chance of playing with low handicappers. Played there already and hoping to play Rushmere in March before I make up my mind.
 
Tiger what's wrong with just going out on a field with a load of balls? (Take your clubs too)

I'm not a member and play twice a month. Any weekend I'm not playing I'll spend atleast 2 hours hitting balls on the field.
 
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