When does a purple patch become your new standard?

[Lump]

Question for you all….

…..you've played well for a few rounds/weeks/months. You've had a few cuts, you're scoring consistently better.
When do you start to think of that "purple patch" as an improved you?

When you're playing partners comment?
When you don't get 0.1 back the round after a cut?
When the mechanical thoughts stop?
When you stop apologising for your handicap?
When you can't wait for the next round?
etc, etc

Genuinely interested what you lot think..

 

[Deleted member 15344]

When you play to the same consistent level for over a month

A purple patch imo is two good rounds together

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Question for you all….

…..you've played well for a few rounds/weeks/months. You've had a few cuts, you're scoring consistently better.
When do you start to think of that "purple patch" as an improved you?

When you're playing partners comment?
When you don't get 0.1 back the round after a cut?
When the mechanical thoughts stop?
When you stop apologising for your handicap?
When you can't wait for the next round?
etc, etc

Genuinely interested what you lot think..

Think there's a difference. A purple patch is an increase in performance but an "improved" me is someone making regular progression across all facets. Don't think the latter can always be measured solely in handicap cuts. That said, all of the above certainly make a purple patch but I'd say things like stopping the mechanical thoughts fall more into the "improved me" category. I'd never apologise for my handicap

 

[nta73]

To me, just picking up the vibes from your post i think your skill level is on the rise, you know your playing better, enjoy but keep up the effort/concentration.:thup:

 

[One Planer]

I think I'm at this point now.

I've put a lot of effort into my game ovet the last year under the watchful eye of my pro.

Over the last 3-4 weeks I've struck the ball consistently better, had a much more consistent shape which in turn has helped me score better.

Confidence is the key word.

I'm more confident over the ball now than I have ever been. Yes, I still hit bad shots from time to time but I feel I can make amends with the next one.

Lessons over the winter are focusing on 100 yards and in as this is where I feel I lack.

Once I have that cracked I'll be on tour

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

when you have to work hard to play to your handicap

 

[dufferman]

I started a purple patch in August, and am still riding the coat-tails of it. I think I can finally say that playing to an 18 H/C instead of 22 (3 cuts over the summer) is no longer a purple patch but in fact an improvement.

I'm scared to admit it though, 'cos it'll disappear after admitting to it. oo:

 

[Spear-Chucker]

I couldn't define a purple patch exactly, other than to look at the output, which for me is increased belief. I've had a period of 2-3 months where I've made a gradual step change and a series of around 6 good rounds moved my game on significantly. Last year, one round did it for me and the result was just the same.

 

[Val]

A purple patch is a couple of good rounds, it becomes the new standard when it no longer become a couple of good rounds.

 

[ScienceBoy]

If your average score over a season is lower then your standard has improved.

In a single season I have gone from struggling to shoot under 100, shooting mid 70s to high 90s. All with patches of low 80s to low 90s in between.

Golf is like that, anyone can have a good or bad stretch and any "New Standard" is hanging by a thread!

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

and transition to your new 'standard' is settled when you can can score 31/32pts or better stableford on a regular basis (four rounds out of five) and 36pts every so often (one round in five?)

 

[duncan mackie]

when you have to work hard to play to your handicap

:thup:

 

[Canary_Yellow]

For me, it's all about how my scores look when I have a bad round, that's how I measure improvement. Although I like to try and improve on my lowest ever score, I think the better measure is how bad my bad golf is.

So if I'm having a great spell which for me would be shooting low-ish 80's and playing really well, swing feeling good etc. then I have a bad round but that yields a score of 87, say, when in the past it might have been 93, then that's the end of a purple patch and my new standard.

Similar to what was said above about being able to rack up 32+ points regularly even if not having a day where the swing feels great.

 

[Retread61]

when you have to work hard to play to your handicap

I reckon that sums it up precisely. We progress sometimes on a curve but equally sometimes in a leap. Our handicaps catch up fairly quickly providing we are playing in Comps and then when we reach our "new reality" it settles and we don't cruise around for a while.

 

[Retread61]

and transition to your new 'standard' is settled when you can can score 31/32pts or better stableford on a regular basis (four rounds out of five) and 36pts every so often (one round in five?)

Yep, agree with this too.

 

[Joff]

I was a 8 handicap in July (8.0). My new standard is around 15/16 I'd say.

 

[patricks148]

when the scores you shoot now only make buffer and before would have got you cut

 

[Lump]

when the scores you shoot now only make buffer and before would have got you cut

I got 0.1 back for shooting 35 points 2 weekends back…cat1 sucks!

 

[IanG]

I got 0.1 back for shooting 35 points 2 weekends back…cat1 sucks!

Ouch, that must sting!

 

[NWJocko]

Hopefully now for me!!

Playing better than I ever have for the last few weeks (ever since I dried out from H4H ).

Typical that the qualifiers have finished, hoping to keep it up though