Realistic targets...

[irip]

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.

When I said a 200 yard shot I was thinking off the tee.
If you can do that then even on long par 4s it should be 2 short irons to make the green which sounds like his strength.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

When I said a 200 yard shot I was thinking off the tee.
If you can do that then even on long par 4s it should be 2 short irons to make the green which sounds like his strength.

Very much agree with this . I think we get duped by watching the pros into thinking that any length of par 4 is reachable in 2, par 5's are reachable in 3.

In the case of the OP, until his longer game calms down, hit second shots as you describe. Hit them well, utilise his strong short game. This will eliminate the shockers.

It's how I play longer holes, when my brain is working correctly . On the other days......

 

[irip]

Very much agree with this . I think we get duped by watching the pros into thinking that any length of par 4 is reachable in 2, par 5's are reachable in 3.

In the case of the OP, until his longer game calms down, hit second shots as you describe. Hit them well, utilise his strong short game. This will eliminate the shockers.

It's how I play longer holes, when my brain is working correctly . On the other days......

We all think we can hit a green 180/220 yards away every time.
In truth 2 short irons would leave us better placed most times and help keeping the big numbers off the card.

Now where is my 2 iron?

 

[Voyager EMH]

Realistic Targets.

Focus on the spot on the fairway that you can realistically achieve from the tee.
Second shot - focus on the spot on the fairway that you can comfortably achieve.

These shots should have the same "mind sense" as 100 yard shots to a green.

A common mistake is to see a green that is a long way off, and then the wrong "mind sense" takes over where you try to hit a big perfect shot that goes a long way, because the target you have set yourself (even if you are not fully aware that you have done so) has little chance of success.

 

[bobmac]

What is the problem with your long game, is it poor contact? eg duffs/tops/thins?

 

[krootking]

Poor contact from the 6 iron upwards. Hybrids and 5 wood weirdly better than 5 iron and 6 iron. But in general I don't seem to achieve penetrating flight with any irons, seem to come off high and weak.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Three objectives for this year

1) Do more often what I already do well
2) Do a bit better what I don't do well

But first

3) Decide what I do well and what I don't

 

[bobmac]

Poor contact from the 6 iron upwards. Hybrids and 5 wood weirdly better than 5 iron and 6 iron. But in general I don't seem to achieve penetrating flight with any irons, seem to come off high and weak.

I think people complicate golf too much. I think it only has two elements....
1. how you hit it and 2. where you hit it.....contact and direction.

If your contact is an issue, you're probably swaying (keep your head still)
If your direction is off, check grip, aim and swingpath.
As your issue is contact, check to see if you're swaying and if your flight is weak, I take it you don't take a divot with your irons?
Try this drill...try and miss the back ball

 

[pendodave]

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.

Please don't take this the wrong way, but if you really play off 20, this doesn't sound very likely

I play off 8.9 and this describes my golf most rounds (except that I 3 putt more often than I'd like).
If you're serious about improving (and it seems like a great time of life to be coming to this), it might be worth recording some actual data for (say) 5 rounds once the weather improves.

You might find that what you need to improve isn't what you think. Or that you're actually playing off 10...

 

[bobmac]

But first

3) Decide what I do well and what I don't

If you want do this, analyse every poor shot you hit and decide if the problem is poor contact or poor direction. Then mark on a scorecard C or D for each shot then add them up at the end.
I'd guess, knowing your history, that it's direction thats still a problem

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

If you want do this, analyse every poor shot you hit and decide if the problem is poor contact or poor direction. Then mark on a scorecard C or D for each shot then add them up at the end.
I'd guess, knowing your history, that it's direction thats still a problem

I’ve actually managed to overcome the most unfortunate tendency I had - to hit shanks…well I no longer do outright shanks. My problem is more to do with poor contact - related I have no doubt.

 

[krootking]

Please don't take this the wrong way, but if you really play off 20, this doesn't sound very likely

I play off 8.9 and this describes my golf most rounds (except that I 3 putt more often than I'd like).
If you're serious about improving (and it seems like a great time of life to be coming to this), it might be worth recording some actual data for (say) 5 rounds once the weather improves.

You might find that what you need to improve isn't what you think. Or that you're actually playing off 10...

I think you're being too generous! My last round in the rain, I was 22 over, had 6 pars, (3 par 3s, and 3 of the short par 4s) a 9 on a par 5, and 8 on a par 4 and then smatterings of double bogeys and bogeys. But I think your suggestion of recording rounds is a really good one.

@bobmac my problem isn't direction, I rarely lose balls, it's length, or fatting shots straight ahead.

 

[irip]

I think you're being too generous! My last round in the rain, I was 22 over, had 6 pars, (3 par 3s, and 3 of the short par 4s) a 9 on a par 5, and 8 on a par 4 and then smatterings of double bogeys and bogeys. But I think your suggestion of recording rounds is a really good one.

@bobmac my problem isn't direction, I rarely lose balls, it's length, or fatting shots straight ahead.

Someone a lot more clued up than me will explain properly but those big scores will get reduced for handicap purposes.
Look how good the forum is we got you down to a 14 handicap already

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Someone a lot more clued up than me will explain properly but those big scores will get reduced for handicap purposes.
Look how good the forum is we got you down to a 14 handicap already

…and our poster getting pars on three of his course’s par 3 suggests a big drop in handicap is on the horizon.

 

[Burnsey]

Was chatting during the Saturday comp and my partner said 'you're only ever 8 games from being a scratch golfer' and as much as that's true, it reinforces the biggest influence in lowering my own handicap - course management.

 

[krootking]

Someone a lot more clued up than me will explain properly but those big scores will get reduced for handicap purposes.
Look how good the forum is we got you down to a 14 handicap already

If only it was this easy!!