Realistic targets...

[krootking]

Hi, just joined the forum, 52yrs old pretty fit, and currently play off around 20, my round typically looks like 6-7 pars, and a few blow up holes. I love short game, and rarely 3 putt. My long game isn't great, and struggle with distance. Now my parental responsiblities have eased, I am looking to really improve my game. I am trying to practice at least twice a week and a round at least once a week.

What are realistic achievable targets for me in terms of my handicap and over what timeframe, taking into my age. I would love to get into the low teens....

Thanks for the feedback...

 

[The Squirrel]

With now having time to work on and embed stuff, a series of lessons would likely identify your long game issues and give you a chance to rectify them by working on the suggested changes.

 

[krootking]

Thank you, yeah I have booked a set of lessons, and I know golf is an inherently frustrating hard game, but I want to also feel that I can achieve something and really improve, not be 6 months down the line with no measureable gains.

 

[Springveldt]

Don't see why you couldn't get to low teens at least, especially if you are having 6 or 7 pars per round. Age shouldn't have anything to do with it unless you have a long standing injury/impairment, it's not like we are out there playing 7000+ yard courses.

Just depends how much of a natural aptitude you have for the game and how much work you are willing to put in. If you practice twice per week, play once per week and have decent hand to eye coordination then you should be aiming for single figures.

 

[krootking]

@Springveldt thank you! That's good to hear, it's just all the high level golfers I come across tend to have started playing as children!

 

[IanM]

Having never seen you hit a ball, from what you've said, I bet distance is NOT as significant as getting it in play of the tee, and finding something you hit consistently off grass.

If you're making 6 pars a round, keeping the big numbers off the cars the key.

Hero shots are best avoided!

 

[krootking]

Thank you Ian. My long irons and hybrid consistency off the deck is the problem....I have 20 year old irons and putter, I love my putter so that won't be replaced, but I have been advised that the new technology would make a difference, but I am reluctant to invest yet....as you say, keeping the big numbers off the card is the key...

 

[IanM]

Sorry, I missed the word "NOT" out, and have just put it it!!!

Someines not going for the green with a long iron/,hybrid isnt prudent, and a 7 or 8 iron lay up, and pitch on will take out the blow-ups!

 

[Neilds]

How do you play the shot after the one that got you in trouble? I dropped from 21 to 17 last year by playing better, more sensible shots after a bad shot instead of trying the hero recovery. I suspect some of your blow up holes could be due to silly shots where expectations outweigh ability.

 

[krootking]

You suspect correctly....last round 21 over with a 9 on a par 5! Topped the driver, then topped two consecutive 5 woods before calming down! It was especially frustrating because I usually hit my 5 wood really well...

 

[irip]

I would suggest you need to make sure all your putts get past the hole, never up never in.

To be serious you need to find out what is causing the blow up holes, bogeys won’t ever hurt you

 

[Skytot]

I’m off 9 and generally average around 6 or 7 pars a round so you must be having some big blow up holes . My short game is very tidy and I’ve improved my course management considerably. I play with mates off 17 &18 they all drive as well as me , their short game isn’t as good mine but not far off, but most of all it’s their decision making when in trouble . They try worldie shots out of trees and rough, and on holes let’s say they are 200yrds out they can reach but probably once or twice out of 10 but they always go for it and end up OB or in water , I will play short and probably get a 5 or maybe a par (par4 hole) . Checkout Golf Sidekick on YouTube on how to break 90

 

[Lord Tyrion]

What shot can you hit consistently that is your longest shot? I guess, what is it, how far does it go?

Maybe try to hit that in a round rather than a longer club, see if that reduces the blow ups. It might not be glamorous but it could well be effective.

 

[timd77]

What shot can you hit consistently that is your longest shot? I guess, what is it, how far does it go?

Maybe try to hit that in a round rather than a longer club, see if that reduces the blow ups. It might not be glamorous but it could well be effective.

Yep, getting somewhere near the green with the 2nd shot, chip it on giving yourself a chance of par, bogey at worst. Takes the blow out out of the equation.

Easy to say this. If I nob it off the tee, half the time I’m trying to make up for it on the next shot. When I’m playing well I take my medicine and bogey at worst.

Think it was on a podcast I listened to recently about altering your targets/goals after every shot. Hit a bad tee shot, then maybe bogey should be the new target.

 

[Mandofred]

It's golf....it's make-believe land. I think I'm about to play scratch golf any minute now......just have to believe!!!

 

[Orikoru]

Hi, just joined the forum, 52yrs old pretty fit, and currently play off around 20, my round typically looks like 6-7 pars, and a few blow up holes. I love short game, and rarely 3 putt. My long game isn't great, and struggle with distance. Now my parental responsiblities have eased, I am looking to really improve my game. I am trying to practice at least twice a week and a round at least once a week.

What are realistic achievable targets for me in terms of my handicap and over what timeframe, taking into my age. I would love to get into the low teens....

Thanks for the feedback...

This sounds like a description of a 15 handicapper already!

I'm not sure you need massive distance for your aim, I've managed to get to 11 not hitting it particularly far. If you can develop a reliable 200 yard shot, whether that be a high-launching 3 wood, or a 5 wood, it goes a long way to helping the score. Playing one round a week and one practice session a week should be plenty, if you're practicing the right things.

 

[irip]

This sounds like a description of a 15 handicapper already!

I'm not sure you need massive distance for your aim, I've managed to get to 11 not hitting it particularly far. If you can develop a reliable 200 yard shot, whether that be a high-launching 3 wood, or a 5 wood, it goes a long way to helping the score. Playing one round a week and one practice session a week should be plenty, if you're practicing the right things.

I agree finding the right swing/club you can trust to go 200 yards roughly but straight will make a big difference.
Also it will depend on if the course you play is long or short.
Tight or more open
Lots or no water

 

[krootking]

What shot can you hit consistently that is your longest shot? I guess, what is it, how far does it go?

Maybe try to hit that in a round rather than a longer club, see if that reduces the blow ups. It might not be glamorous but it could well be effective.

consistently, 7 iron about 130 yards, 6 and 5 irons very inconsistent, 4 hybrid is my most consistent 'long' club, 160-170 yards. I don't really have a consistent 200 yard shot. I am accurate from 130 yards and closer. So I usually par most of the par threes, and the shorter par 4s and par 5s. I struggle with long par 4s and >480yard par 5s.

 

[kp17]

Spend your money on lessons with a good pro. If you usually make 6/7 pars per round and rarely 3 putt you wont be long in handicap shooting down

 

[Lord Tyrion]

consistently, 7 iron about 130 yards, 6 and 5 irons very inconsistent, 4 hybrid is my most consistent 'long' club, 160-170 yards. I don't really have a consistent 200 yard shot. I am accurate from 130 yards and closer. So I usually par most of the par threes, and the shorter par 4s and par 5s. I struggle with long par 4s and >480yard par 5s.

I don't have a 200yd shot either, not many do in reality. If you can repeat 160-170yds then mid teens, along with your decent short game, is very achievable. Get to that place first and then see how you can eek out those extra yards. Don't try to make too big a leap through impatience (we all do incidentally )

One thing that I find helps, I'm not a big hitter either. On a long par 4, have your target as bogey. Come off with a 5, job done. That takes the pressure off and occasionally you will par it. Fixating on par on a long hole will usually lead to frustration.

Over time you may decide to drop your 5 and 6 irons and replace them with hybrid equivalents. Very common now, don't feel uncomfortable or awkward about doing that. Easier to hit and if you play a 4 hybrid well it suggests others won't be an issue for you either.