Why are you the handicap you are?

Driver is ok at best, but just can't hit any kind of fairway wood off the deck. So losing distance on the long holes.

Around and on the green I would say my game is about 4-5 shots under my h/c.
 
Changed club after a 2 year nomadic period so have gone from 6 to 9. Managed to pick up a groin strain, which really upsets the back. Been really rubbish with my irons but have sorted that out and starting to get the confidence back.
Was level par for the front 9 last weekend got a bit cute on the back 9 and was 5 over. So now it's a head game, I have all the holes mapped out and strategies, if I can complete the strategies I would be going low. So next season could be interesting if I can find the time to play and no work projects make extra demand on my time.
 
No one still have the correct answer. The main reason people don't trend downwards is because of lack of practice. The 10-13 hcp you refer to are happy with their game and don't have the time to put proper practice in, which is why they don't become better players. There is nothing wrong with that, but it's important to realise that there are no shortcuts.

Not to start an argument but you are wrong. There are plenty of people that practice and take lessons but only ever get to a certain level. It doesn't matter how hard they try, it is what it is. I think a lot of people want to believe that they can get better and if they stop believing then they will probably stop playing.

I don't care how hard you practice and try I still believe you will be what you will be and if it was just a case of good practice and lessons then I'm giving up work and going on tour next year.
 
Not to start an argument but you are wrong. There are plenty of people that practice and take lessons but only ever get to a certain level. It doesn't matter how hard they try, it is what it is. I think a lot of people want to believe that they can get better and if they stop believing then they will probably stop playing.

I don't care how hard you practice and try I still believe you will be what you will be and if it was just a case of good practice and lessons then I'm giving up work and going on tour next year.
Sadly this is so true, there is a stopper it could be anything.
Practice doesn't make you better just because you do it. You have to do the right things. It took me ages and I practiced frequently, like I had when I got to 4. However physically I had changed a snapped ACL in my right knee means the movement needed adjustment or was causing a small adjustment. Lessons did not help because those pros did not understand the impacts - it would be nice to know one who does any suggestions would be welcomed! Now I feel I am where I need to be my irons are getting better almost to the level of where I was 20 yrs ago. My driving accuracy is up, distance down but not embarrassingly so, and the putter is better, the head is wiser, the temperament is calmer (major asset, keep it calm) .
 
I don't hit enough greens. Need to improve my iron play especially from inside 100-150 yds to reduce the number of blobs per round.
 
I started playing only two and a half years ago at the age of 43, without any atheltic background whatsoever. I'm throwing as much practice and playing time in as I can and play all qualifiers available on weekends at my club. I'm fine with were I am handicap-wise and expect to continue to go lower next year.
 
I think it is a mental thing for me. I play off 10 and have had non comp rounds of 3 over gross when totally relaxed and not thinking of the score.

When playing a comp I am more tense and my best comp rounds have been 8 over gross even though I must have beat that at least a dozen times in non comps.
 
100% down to driving for me. If I could hit more fairways consistently then I'd easily be single figures.

My irons, wedges, putter are all reasonably good.

I just know when I hit more than 50% of the fairways and keep the 1-2 really wild ones out then I'll break 80 most of the time.
 
I don't practice and don't play as much as I'd like to

I have managed to knock around 5 putts on average off my round so sitting around 33 per round now so that sums up my main weakness
 
In a word Putting. Got to 10 in my 60s as I played a lot and practiced. Became fairly consistent, although a bit short through the bag. Which also does not help on a 6800 course. Can't hit most of the the 4s in regulation now and while a 3 under was my best last year at 70 years old missed the buffer zone most weeks...I believe most club golfers have a glass ceiling and even though I practiced regularly. I ran around 11/12 for 12 years now 14.
Thing is.....enjoy it first set targets only if they don't spoil your enjoyment.
 
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I'm the handicap I am because that's the natural ability for the game I have ;)
 
I am not sure why I am the handicap I am, I still think I am a higher handicapper and I would like to have two shots for some of the holes, oh for those days again, I miss them.

Leaking shots is the reason for me and not taking every shot seriously, like not caring if I sink a two foot putt or not even concentrating on the target when swinging. I don't think whatever I did I would now ever get down to low single figures, I came to the game to late in life and just don't have the time to play enough to get good at it.
 
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