What would you say is a realistic 2011 goal?

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Alex1975

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Hi all,


Bit of a selfish post but I am trying to work out what a realistic goal would be for me for next year. I like to set goals for myself as part of my self improvement program. I had set myself a two year program of getting to 18, I am one year into that and am at 19 so I feel I should set a new goal for 2011.

This year I have had about 8 lessons and come down from 28+ to 19. In the summer I was playing 36 holes+ and two range sessions, it’s more like 27 holes and a range session now it’s dark early. During the year (2010) I made steady progress with a six week dive at the end of the summer. I have come out of that dive and back to the standard I was playing at just before my summer peak. I have changed all my woods and putter this year and will be looking for a custom fit for irons before the summer lands (this week’s love affair is Mizuno MP53).

I believe my strength is my long game, I hit a pretty steady driver and on a good day some very impressive(to me) hybrids (hit the 18th green the other day from 200 yards out, it has a bunker on each side of the green) I believe my weakness is my short game. I don’t fluff a lot of chips or pitches but I am not accurate enough in the main and I am not a consistent putter of the ball. If I drive well and putt well I usually have a good day, even if the rest is a little off.

I would love to set my goal at 15 to try and catch Kid2 up but I am not sure I have that rate of improvement in me, am I underestimating myself? Is that a bad attitude to take?

I am not a natural golfer but I am fit and strong and as you all know, VERY willing, to a fault. I learned a great deal this year, not just about my swing but about how to score on bad holes and not to chase golf too much.

What would you think would be a realistic goal for 2011 for me?
Also what is your goal for 2011 please.

Thanks so much for any and all input.

Alex
 
It really is all down to you fella, your effort at practice can be wiped out by the wrong mindset.
Once anyone who has dropped down to the middle handicap brackets, progress starts to slow down as the rewards for a good card are slightly diminished. id say 2 shots off is a good target and as shown by a couple of guys on here this year, if that comes early, then kick on and see what you can achieve above and beyond that.
 
I think you need to aim a little higher. If that's your recent improvement I'd be looking at another 5 shots off your h'cap next year.
 
Sounds like your short game needs attention. That is where you will see the biggest improvement. If you can get better in this area, certainly another 3 or 4 shots can come off.
Getting below 18 really just involves cutting out the silly mistakes. You don't need anything flash.

Off 18, I would think twice about MP series irons though.
 
I would personally set targets that are not over demanding. 19 to 15 is well realistic but if your competition season starts properly in, say April, then I would maybe set a target of 17 by the end of July and 15 by the end of October. Any better achieved than that lets you reassess your goals.

Look at your game realistically and work out what will save you shots. Last season I purchased a driver that put me on more fairways and a new putter and they both helped my scores. I took some swing lessons and a putting lesson. As a result I almost got my handicap to where I had set a my target, so I was still upbeat and I also won a "gold letter" competition - my target will be reset in the early spring.If your target is too ambitious then you will start competitions feeling too much pressure to perform and rarely does that produce results.

I used to think it strange on the last day of European Tour golf when the Pro who was leading would say "I am just going to enjoy the round and see what happens" but the fact is, you can't win a competition by trying too hard.

Look at every part of your game and see where you can shave off a shot and practice that, so it could be putting or mid irons. If you can save one shot with a better drive, a better putting action, a better chip and a better mid iron then you are already down from 19 to 15

Best of luck!

Chris
 
i think realistically if you play hard and practice well i think you could be off 12. I think this is the next milestone from 18. When you think of it it only requires you to make 6 pars and making bogeys is easy if you play smart. Very achievable if on every tee box you say to yourself. "how do i play this hole where my worst score is a bogey"
 
Sounds like your short game needs attention. That is where you will see the biggest improvement. If you can get better in this area, certainly another 3 or 4 shots can come off.
Getting below 18 really just involves cutting out the silly mistakes. You don't need anything flash.

Off 18, I would think twice about MP series irons though.
Click to expand...


I am off 19 and I know I must think twice about MP clubs (OMFG they look nice though). The new MP53 is only just an MP club, I had a chat with the Mizuno fitter and he said it’s so usable that he has been fitting good ball strikers as high as 20 with it this year. It got me thinking and so I looked at a few online reviews that corroborated what he said. One great review said they he wondered what the 800 pro was for as the MP53 was so usable and the 800 (non pro) so good for beginners that he saw no real use for the 800 pro. I will not be jumping into anything and will be doing as the fitter thinks best.

A short game lesson will come at the start of the summer I think and I will have a look at some drills before then.


check it out

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOD-OdFxBQg
 
I would personally set targets that are not over demanding. 19 to 15 is well realistic but if your competition season starts properly in, say April, then I would maybe set a target of 17 by the end of July and 15 by the end of October. Any better achieved than that lets you reassess your goals.

Look at your game realistically and work out what will save you shots. Last season I purchased a driver that put me on more fairways and a new putter and they both helped my scores. I took some swing lessons and a putting lesson. As a result I almost got my handicap to where I had set a my target, so I was still upbeat and I also won a "gold letter" competition - my target will be reset in the early spring.If your target is too ambitious then you will start competitions feeling too much pressure to perform and rarely does that produce results.

I used to think it strange on the last day of European Tour golf when the Pro who was leading would say "I am just going to enjoy the round and see what happens" but the fact is, you can't win a competition by trying too hard.

Look at every part of your game and see where you can shave off a shot and practice that, so it could be putting or mid irons. If you can save one shot with a better drive, a better putting action, a better chip and a better mid iron then you are already down from 19 to 15

Best of luck!

Chris
Click to expand...

Pretty much bang on, your bordering on falling into the trap of targets over enjoyment, something that bit me HARD this year.

At the start of the year my aim was to playing consisantly off tweleve, and a few purple patch games mid summer suggested that 10 was acheiveable, I began all my matches/games with the wrong mindset and ill be honest in saying now that them target almost killed me. The odd good game doesnt make me a single figure golfer, it make me a mid teen golfer with a reason to celebrate that particular round.

This year my long game has fallen away but this was mainly due to a swing issue creating alot of pressure in my back which would relate in to pain in the later stages of the round. Me and my pro have identified key points to releive this issue which should see my long gmae come back,

There are a few points that i find are relevent to me and without them its easy to get fed up that your not hitting your goals:

1 (and most important) - Enjoy it!
No point buying clubs, spending money at the range, buying new clubs, memberships etc and not enjoying it
2 enjoy your strengths in your game and use them to your advanatage
3 Identify and work on your bad areas

my advice would be like the above, set realistic goals, but maybe instead of one goal, have 2 and have time periods in which to acheive them, if you aim to shave yourself from 19-17 and you have done this by may, then aim for 15 by october, if not, getting to 17 by the end of the year is still good for someone who has only been playing for 2 years ;)
 
Hi Alex

My personal instincts for you would be to say not to set a specific handicap goal for the year, as I think the effect of not making it may out weigh the upside of doing so (especially by latish summer if you are still a few shots off)

With regard to the specifics within your game, driving the ball is definitely your strength and the short game (and probably moreso) the putting are your main weaknesses.

Long game wise, I think you would benefit from taking a couple of lessons with a decent pro and working almost solely on weight transfer, nearly all your bad shots are where your weight ends up on the back foot, and the times where you reverse pivot reduces your ball striking greatly.

Short game is a time process, currently at AVGC you need to do this out on the course but by spring there will be the new short game area to practise and the upshot is that hours need to be spent there (I will be almost resident in the spring!!!)

As for the putting we spoke the other day about the need to slightly shorten the backswing to make sure you are not decelerating through the putts, again its a practise thing but one lesson with a decent pro in this areas would be worth its weight in gold.


As for me, Id like to get back to cat 1, though that may slightly too much of an ask for this year, it may take till the following year. I just want to get back playing as many comps as I can, including some local Open comps, and stay fully fit. Ive still another stone of weight to lose, also want to improve my flexibility some. Golf swing wise, my focus with the long game is still using the bigger muscles over the hands (which i did to compensate lack of faith in my knees strength) as i still get too handsy far too often, but my main focus will be short game short game short game!
 
I'd be inclined to make the goal to simply cut the handicap. 1 shot or 5 its an improvement. Even setting a realistic target of 2 shots off can lead to pressure when you've got 1 comp left and those 2 shots still need to come off or your season's a failure.
As long as your handicap falls and you enjoy your golf then you've had a sucessful year.
 
I'm another for 'not setting targets', in Handicap terms, a sit just heaps pressure on yourself and becomes counter-productive.

Sure, set targets in relation to practice, lessons, drills etc, and how you 'approach each game', but we are all too guilty of forgetting to enjoy the game, and worry too much about 'how low we are'.

I recall at exactly the same stage as you, I was so wound up with 'trying' to get better, that it rarely did, and just frustrated the hell out of me.
One day, I suddenly snapped out of it, told myself to stop worrying about it all, and before I knew it, I was off 12, where I stayed for years, and was happy at, kids were young, I didnt play 'that much', etc etc.

Only in 2009 did I finally tell myself that if 'ever I was going to reach Single Figures', 2009 was the year to really try, and I finally achieved it, before sneaking back up to 9.5, and currently 9.8.

I dont worry about it anymore, I know what I'm capable of, and sure, Id like to be a 7/8 H/Cap, but I also know what it will entail to 1.- get there, and 2. - Stay there, so I just enjoy my golf at 10.

IMO, the biggest chance you can give yourself is to deliberately play in Medals with any better players that dont mind playing with you, ie a couple of Low Handicap boys, - in my experience, that focus's the mind like nothing else.
Sure, the first couple of rounds will be intimidating, and you may collapse score-wise, but if you can become comfortable with Single players, your game will come on leaps and bounds.

This year, Ive played regularly with a +1 & 4 H/C lads, and watching them play has been an absolute joy, and inspirational.

Socially, I'll play with anyone, but with a Card in my hand and good intentions for score, I want to be made to concentrate.

Try it, and if you do, I'll bet that this time 2011 you're off 14 or less.

Good luck.
 
Lots of sound advice. Not sure if I can add much.

If you can identify some specific areas for improvement that might save you 2-3 shots a round and work on these and you put in a reasonable amount of practice and have a few lessons to generate some general all round improvement then I don't think 15 is unrealistic. You'd only need a handfull of scores in the mid eighties and not too many 0.1s. As indicated above a bit of smart thinking to improve your course management can also save strokes, without requiring any technical improvements.

When I was improving (seems a long time ago now :( ) I found keeping a few basic stats (fairways hit, GIR, up+downs, putts per GIR) helped identify weaknesses. Your pro should be able to tell you if these are good or bad for your standard. Looking at my hole by hole scores showed the holes where I was losing strokes and maybe needed a different strategy.

Hard to say what impact some new sticks will make. If they are right for you they might be a revelation, if they're not, they could be a curse. I see no reason why something like the MP53 wouldn't work for you. It's not as if they are pure blades and getting the right shaft is at least as important as the head design.

It may depend on you how you react to playing with really good players. Some are good and offer encouragement other times I have felt a bit inadequate and intimidated as I knew I could never match them. Personally I found it helpful playing with guys just a few shots better than me. It helped me see what was needed to shoot those kind of scores and that in fact it wasn't that dfficult.

Overall I'd say having specific things to improve in your game is better than having a handicap target. If your game improves your handicap will follow over time although we all know the feeling we're not scoring as well as we're playing. Above all enjoy what you're doing, take pleasure in your successes, put the bad rounds behind you and don't worry if you don't reach your targets. It's not supposed to be an easy game.

Whatever you do good luck and keep us posted.

Now all I need to do is follow my own advice and I might yet get back to 10
 
I'm in no way qualified to offer advice mate.

What I would suggest however, regardless of handicap is to enjoy your golf.
Mt golf this season generally was a tale of two halves, ie front and back 9.
Some days I'd be out of the traps and playing well on the front, followed by the wheels falling off on the back and vice versa.
Toward the end of the season (typical) things came together for me and I played some of my best ever golf.
Haven't played for a couple of months now but I still maintain those successful thoughts in my head.
Of course I'm looking to reduce my h/c next season and the way my season ended I have some confidence that this is achievable.
Shaved 2 off my pre season handicap this year, will be happy to shave another 2 next season, though being a greedy bugger I'd love to get down even further. I won't beat myself up if I don't achieve it though.

As long as I enjoy my golf I'll be very happy.
 
My ultimate aim for 2011 is to par the last 2 holes at my
club,Ive never parred the 17th or 18th both par 4s,wether
it be tiredness or lack of concentration I just dont know,
but they always cost me..445yards is all they are,dog leg
what am I doing wrong?
 
Remember its not how many, its how.

It really doesn't matter what you shoot as long as you look good doing it.

It those irons are screaming buy me everytime your near them then buy them or don't go into the pro shop. Mizzy make some lovely irons and if you look after them they'll last you for ages. I know alot of people who are enjoying their golf more because they brought better players irons and in nearly all cases they state their irons played a major role in helping them improve.

You do gain a better understanding and feedback of shots using better equipment.
 
I dont think you have the right goal, improving your handicap is the end product of improving your short game which as you say needs improving.
From a lot of advice I have seen here on these forums and around my club, the short game is the secret to a lower handicap.
Your goal should be to improve your short game next year, the handicap will be what it is...
 
I would love to set my goal at 15 to try and catch Kid2 up
Click to expand...

You won't catch him up as he's going to be a single figure golfer next year! :D

I reckon 12 is do-able as a goal depending on how much work you want to put in (and whether or not you have the physical capability). Do you really need shots on those 6 easier holes? :) :)
 
Thank you all so much for your response to this post, I have really enjoyed reading it. I don’t think anyone has said anything I could disagree with. I usually enjoy my golf and I also enjoy practice. I will put in all the effort that is needed; I am totally committed to this dream. If I was a 12 handicap you can take me now lord as I will dies a happy man.

New irons is just something I put the post to give all the info anyone may need to help with the post and as we are about to have a baby it’s by no means set in stone. The MP53 is just this week’s love affair. People do say custom fit can help so it is something I would like ticked off the list but I will be keeping an open mind when being fitted. That said is he fitted me for MP53 with a stiff shaft I would wear it like a badge of pride.

Although I will be playing and practicing throughout the winter I will not be making any swing changes as I have been burn in recent times from over input.

I do try to play with better player and am out with Steve/Fundy as much as I can (don’t let him fool you, he will easy be low single figures this summer), and Ian/Imurg though I was in a slump when I played him is another very talented golfer that I would love to play again with. I am trying to sick with people like this to see if I can get something to rub off on me.

Last point is….. Maybe I won’t set a numerical target and do as many have said and just set the target of making the bad bits better. Trouble is, that seems a little vague to me, I guess I am target driven.

So for a bit of fun I do have all my stats from last summer.

Driving
83.3% fairways hit, 5% left, 11.7% Right.

GIR 20.8%

Putts
Per Hole 1.88
Per GIR 2.15

Score by par
Par 3 -4.1
Par 4 -5.3
Par 5 -5.9

Scoring
Birdies 1%
Pars 24%
Bogies 42%
2 Bogies+ 33% <-- 1/3 of my game is pap :o
 
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