secret to consistency?

[pierreman]

Folks I have a problem with achieving any sort of consistent scoring. When it comes to pro-sweeps all its ok, I have had a 50, 46 and 36 - 44 points. However these occur all too infrequently. When it comes to playing medals I'm all over the place and regularly play over my terrible handicap (27).

Before the terrible weather started, I started going to the practice range on a sunday to work on chipping and pitching. I played 1 - 3 under my handicap on a regular basis until playing in a medal. I can play 2 - 3 good shots and then 1 - 2 terrible shots.

Any advice folks?

 

[theeaglehunter]

Your previous scores show you have it in you to play better. Therefore it is all in the mind- start thinking positively about each shot and indeed your game as a whole and this is bound to give you an improvement. For a start don't put yourself down by saying 'I have a terrible handicap'- everyone has to start somewhere. Come on chin up, keep the practice going, think positive and watch the shots drop. Good luck.

Oh and also I am still looking for consistency myself- one round could be an 82 the next a 95. I'm not kidding you I can vary that much- how long have you been playing the game? I have been told it comes with practice/ experience so be optimistic and keep working away.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

The obvious answer is you are trying too hard in a medal. I am guessing in these other events they are fairly informal gatherings and chances are you relax and let your game flow. With a pencil and card in your hand I think you are probably trying to force a good score. I am only guessing, but I bet if you hit a bad shot you try and recover and perhaps take on shots that are risky or if you have a bad hole try too hard ont he next to get the shots back.

With this bad weather it is the best time to get your whole seing looked at. If you keep stats have a look at where you have been losing shots (if you don't and want to in the future I recommend scoresaver 2) and then have a chat and a lesson with a pro. The problem I find with chipping at a range is that a mat will mask a slightly fat or thin contact whereas playing off grass has no margin for error. The only downside is that no-one wants to stand in a sodden practice ground in the rain hitting chips.

At the end of the day try as hard as possible to relax in medals. Everyone gets nervous and it is hard to play in these conditions. Remember it is the same for everyone so if you can use your golfing brain and take your punishment if you miss a fairway or green and use your shots wisely you may surprise yourself.

Let us know how you get on!

 

[pierreman]

Eaglehunter/Homer - been playing about 13 months now but have developed an obsession for the game. i think your perhaps right about trying force the shots etc. i will listen to your advice and take heart from it and will let you know how things progress.

Have a good christmas.

 

[Herbie]

I think its a case of trying too hard, often all golfers do this but higher h/c players do it a lot more. Without seeing you play I cant really comment on your personal game, but the next time you play ease up on your swing, deliberately hit shorter than you normally would per club and relax as much as you can.(Thats you game playing advice for now)
Consistancy itself will only come when you find that optimum ball striking (for you at this moment in time)and can repeat it regularily. Without good solid ball striking and a reasonably controlled accuracy you cannot get on that long road to consistancy (Im speaking of overall play and score consistancy) also the right kind of thinking.

All of this comes with practice/play and seeing a good pro is the way forward, consistancy has to be earned and when you earn the first stage which may only yield a stroke or two off your h/c then you have to do it all the more to improve.
There is no quick fix even for the naturally gifted, it all requires commitment and effort for every stage of the way. Some can do it quicker than others with a natural feel for the game others take much longer. Some think its all gonna happen overnight, it doesnt. Some people can only reach a certain level no matter how much they try, but the majority I feel can reach single figure h/c (and a few better than that) if they practice practice practice with the right guidance and commitment.

 

[Smiffy]

As has been mentioned above, good course management will lower your scores quicker (and more consistantly) than lessons and practice.
When you are playing in a Stableford or matchplay situation with your mates, a bad hole isn't too costly. You can get it back on the next one, and therefore you tend to relax a little more and can be a little more aggresive with your shotmaking.
In a medal, it's all about keeping the ball in play.
200 yard carries over lakes and trying to curve it around trees, hitting woods when you know in your heart of hearts you should be playing safe with a mid iron to get back into a scoring position are the sort of shots you can take on when there is nothing at stake.
Watch the old boys at your club....the guys who in their youth were once down to low single figures. They can't hit the shots they used to a few years ago. They've still got the short games (that's the last thing to go in most cases) but age (and the restrictions it brings) dictate that the one big advantage they have over the "gung ho" merchants is a wiley old head and experience and they will use their shots wisely to make up for lack of distance.
I'm fairly consistent from about 150 yards so if I'm in trouble on a hole and can't reach the green or close to it I will look for the 150 markers and make them my target knowing that if I can somewhere around those I have a fair chance of getting onto the green with my next shot and at worse will make bogey, with maybe even the odd chance of saving par.
Off of 27 you have loads of shots to play with. Level 5's all the way round (even on par 3's!) will give you a nett score (on most courses) of 63 or thereabouts!

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Fair comments about the older players at most clubs. Most are still pretty accurate if not long. Only anything over 350 yards they normally knock one off the tee another down the fairway and then onto the green. Even if they do miss most still have decent short games. Most settle for bogey net par and even if they do miss the green it is normally still a net bogey and 1 point in stableford to keep the scoreboard moving.

THey are actually the worst players to get drawn against in matchplay events as they normally get shots and you know they will hardly be in any trouble so will contest every hole and not give you a free ride for a hole or two.

I think the answer to consistency lies in being able to make a repeatable swing even if it isn't textbook. As long as it gets the ball moving forward in a shpare that you can control and doesn't put you in any trouble learn to play within those limits. Get yourself lessons to sort out the kinks and above all get a short game. The mechanics of chipping and putting are simple and can be practised even when the course is shut. If you can putt well (especially the short 2-3 footers) and can get up an down 1 in 4 times off your handicap the scores will take care of themselves.

You look like you are on the right track. Get a pro you trust and stick with him. Pactice hard and don't get too down if you don't see immediate results.

 

[AliB]

Pierreman
Plenty of good replies - I'd add that 13 months is a very short golfing career, even if you play a lot. Consistency comes from experience and patience as well as the stuff mentioned here.

AliB

 

[dandpl]

Hi Pierreman

Do not forget that the tour pro will shoot 68 one day and 75 the next!

Keep working on the short game from 100 yds in, chipping and putting that is where most of your shots can be gained.

As other have said find a good Pro that you can get on with and see him say once a month if you can during the winter, that gives you time to practice enough before you see him again.

Good luck .....your handicap will tumble during the next season.

dandpl

 

[viscount17]

I have a similar problem to OP, have way decent rounds followed by a duff medal or society comp. But, the other week I played in my first game where there was money at stake and played a blinder, net 4 under for 9 holes, and won.

I have therefore come to a, not particularly scientific, conclusion; having heard and absorbed all the 'try too hard', 'get too tense' horror stories of medals, I subconsciously relax too much. For instance I am never terribly concerned over the first tee shot (or don't notice it if I am); I just stand there and let one go.

So, for the next medal, in January, I need to find a way to create a manageable level of tension.

 

[ricardodaintino]

I found that reading any (or all) of the Bob Rotella books helped me. It obviously is just a book so isn't going to make you play better, but it will help you play smarter and change the way you think about it.

27 isn't a bad handicap unless you compare it to Tiger, but as you're not playing against him what does it matter!

I think someone mentioned about course management too. This is huge. Don't be tempted to just smash a driver off every tee and then worry about getting to the green afterwards. Think about where you would realistically like to hit your next shot from and actually aim it there.

A well placed drive, short but fairway bound, makes for a better score then an absolutly scorched drive, into the trees or rough!

 

[USER1999]

My take on this is different. No 27 handicapper should be trying to play medal.

The reason you shoot a good stableford score, is you can relax, and think 1 bad shot isn't going to ruin your round, and so when inevitably you hit a shocker, instead of trying to hit a miracle recovery, you get it back in play, or put it in your pocket.

If you medal for a gross score, then you will compound errors, so if you get a 10 on the card, your whole round goes to pot, your head drops, etc, where as with stableford, you have dropped two points. So what, you can net par the next hole and get it back.

So where am I going on this?

Well, in medal, you can still get cut on stableford adjustment. So playing off 27, you shouldn't be worrying what your gross score is, but play it as a stableford (you do need to putt out each hole, but view it as practice once you can't score a point, and then regroup for the next hole).

As your handicap comes down, you will find more consistency, this will happen naturally, and then medal will be more relevant.