Hello,
So, played on and off for a few years until last year where I got my first membership, took winter off completely then back at it again from March this year. Got my first official handicap from WHS of 23.4.
In between this time golf has literally consumed my mind almost every day, I've done so much research, reading, listening and watching in an attempt to try and improve and become more consistent. I had 3 lessons last year with a coach with a good reputation and who is slightly more expensive than average around here. He changed my grip, then gave me drills for hip rotation which I then went away and worked on. They worked to some extent, but I wasn't scoring any better. I then went back after a month for lesson number two and he got me doing the complete opposite to what he told me to change the last time. So I went away once again and practiced, went back for lesson 3 and he then completely changed it up again. I left each of those two lessons completely frustrated and feeling low on confidence despite understanding what and why he wanted me to change it, I couldn't figure out why he kept flip flopping. I just got the impression I was being taken as a bit of a mug.
So I made the decision just to not go see him again as it really never done anything for my game despite me putting in lots of practice and effort and money into it. I then just went along and played instead of worrying about swings. Sure enough I started to figure little things out on my own over the months as time went by and I played more and my handicap index is now down to 18.5. I've also been labelled at the club as a bit of a bandit as I am capable of shooting 84 one day, then 98 the next. I'm so inconsistent. I must be doing something right at least surely or is it just because I'm playing 2/3 times a week? My putting has improved, so if my putter is working then I tend to score alright for me.
I decided I wanted to improve further on that and decided to go for another lesson, this time with a different coach just to see how we got on. He diagnosed that I was bringing the club inside on the takeaway and opening the face, which meant I was having to work really hard on the downswing to try and square the face and that was leading to inconsistent shots. He kept it really simple, gave me a very, very basic drill. Thought I'd give it a go at least, and I did practice with it, but I've seen absolutely zero improvement with it at all in a few weeks. I can do the drill easily and I understand what he is trying to get me to do, but I can't put a swing together with it and strike the ball properly.
I am trying to look at the positives, I met a good group of guys who I play with regularly, I've somehow managed to get my handicap down by 5 shots in the space of 4 months and I won a competition this year. But it just sucks, because I know I am capable of better, but I just can't get things to work. That's two different coaches I've tried over the year, and by all means I do not expect instant results, I've went away for a month after each lesson and practiced and I just end up even worse than what I was before the lesson. It gets me down and it's got to the point where I don't really enjoy playing as much now. I've seen one of the guys I play with, he's went from playing off 19 to 7 in about 6 months. Never had a lesson. Yet here I am, so determined to improve, spending my hard earned cash on lessons, practicing almost every day even just 10 minutes here or there if thats all the time I have, and still being so inconsistent. My swing is inconsistent, my ball striking is inconsistent and my scoring is inconsistent, and it just sucks. I have the distance to be a single figure handicapper, but I don't feel as if I am getting anywhere. I think the only reason I've dropped shots off my handicap is because of regular play time and knowing the course, not because I've improved as a golfer. I'm thinking of just packing it in to be honest. I don't expect to be consistent like a pro or anything either, I'm aware I'll never be that consistent and I'm aware that improving takes time, but it's been a year, and I've not improved from a technique standpoint. If anything, I've got more physically fit and stronger over the last year due to regular gym time too, so it's not like I've piled on the weight or whatever. From a physical fitness standpoint I haven't been this fit since my early 20's. I'm 30 now.
I don't know what to do now. I took week off from golf altogether not that long ago, and it helped as I was excited to get back out playing after not playing for a week, but I'm just getting more frustrated and disheartened as time goes on. Not sure what to do now to be honest, for me apart from the social side the best part of the game is knowing you have the technique and ability to hit the shot you want, and when you pull it off it's a great feeling. That's all I want really, that and to eventually be single figures but I can't keep going through this cycle of lessons - practice - playing - not improving.
So, played on and off for a few years until last year where I got my first membership, took winter off completely then back at it again from March this year. Got my first official handicap from WHS of 23.4.
In between this time golf has literally consumed my mind almost every day, I've done so much research, reading, listening and watching in an attempt to try and improve and become more consistent. I had 3 lessons last year with a coach with a good reputation and who is slightly more expensive than average around here. He changed my grip, then gave me drills for hip rotation which I then went away and worked on. They worked to some extent, but I wasn't scoring any better. I then went back after a month for lesson number two and he got me doing the complete opposite to what he told me to change the last time. So I went away once again and practiced, went back for lesson 3 and he then completely changed it up again. I left each of those two lessons completely frustrated and feeling low on confidence despite understanding what and why he wanted me to change it, I couldn't figure out why he kept flip flopping. I just got the impression I was being taken as a bit of a mug.
So I made the decision just to not go see him again as it really never done anything for my game despite me putting in lots of practice and effort and money into it. I then just went along and played instead of worrying about swings. Sure enough I started to figure little things out on my own over the months as time went by and I played more and my handicap index is now down to 18.5. I've also been labelled at the club as a bit of a bandit as I am capable of shooting 84 one day, then 98 the next. I'm so inconsistent. I must be doing something right at least surely or is it just because I'm playing 2/3 times a week? My putting has improved, so if my putter is working then I tend to score alright for me.
I decided I wanted to improve further on that and decided to go for another lesson, this time with a different coach just to see how we got on. He diagnosed that I was bringing the club inside on the takeaway and opening the face, which meant I was having to work really hard on the downswing to try and square the face and that was leading to inconsistent shots. He kept it really simple, gave me a very, very basic drill. Thought I'd give it a go at least, and I did practice with it, but I've seen absolutely zero improvement with it at all in a few weeks. I can do the drill easily and I understand what he is trying to get me to do, but I can't put a swing together with it and strike the ball properly.
I am trying to look at the positives, I met a good group of guys who I play with regularly, I've somehow managed to get my handicap down by 5 shots in the space of 4 months and I won a competition this year. But it just sucks, because I know I am capable of better, but I just can't get things to work. That's two different coaches I've tried over the year, and by all means I do not expect instant results, I've went away for a month after each lesson and practiced and I just end up even worse than what I was before the lesson. It gets me down and it's got to the point where I don't really enjoy playing as much now. I've seen one of the guys I play with, he's went from playing off 19 to 7 in about 6 months. Never had a lesson. Yet here I am, so determined to improve, spending my hard earned cash on lessons, practicing almost every day even just 10 minutes here or there if thats all the time I have, and still being so inconsistent. My swing is inconsistent, my ball striking is inconsistent and my scoring is inconsistent, and it just sucks. I have the distance to be a single figure handicapper, but I don't feel as if I am getting anywhere. I think the only reason I've dropped shots off my handicap is because of regular play time and knowing the course, not because I've improved as a golfer. I'm thinking of just packing it in to be honest. I don't expect to be consistent like a pro or anything either, I'm aware I'll never be that consistent and I'm aware that improving takes time, but it's been a year, and I've not improved from a technique standpoint. If anything, I've got more physically fit and stronger over the last year due to regular gym time too, so it's not like I've piled on the weight or whatever. From a physical fitness standpoint I haven't been this fit since my early 20's. I'm 30 now.
I don't know what to do now. I took week off from golf altogether not that long ago, and it helped as I was excited to get back out playing after not playing for a week, but I'm just getting more frustrated and disheartened as time goes on. Not sure what to do now to be honest, for me apart from the social side the best part of the game is knowing you have the technique and ability to hit the shot you want, and when you pull it off it's a great feeling. That's all I want really, that and to eventually be single figures but I can't keep going through this cycle of lessons - practice - playing - not improving.
