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Why do I do this. I am an 11 handicapp and have gone as low as 9 at points in time. I have a lack of power in my game averaging 220-230 yds off the tee. Most people tell me that I should hit the ball farther than I am. They tell me this as I am beating them.

So occasionaly I discover my power swing. Today I was driving the ball 250-270 and I did drive a 300 yd green with assistance from the wind. I was driving the ball long and straight. I missed one fairway. I shot 90.
Why does my short game and putting dissapear when I hit the ball long. Oh yeah the green I drove , I 3 putted for par. Brutal.

I think when I drive shorter, I tend to use my head more and control my game a bit better.

how long was the course you played? if you have a lot of short par 4's then you could be hitting half clubs into them when you are driving long but when you are hitting short you are hitting full aproach shots. without more info this is just a guess. Are you blowing putts by the hole? that could be adrenaline from swinging harder on the drives? I got **** today while playing and started putting 5-6 feet past most every hole, i normally am within 3 feet of the hole. My advice is stick with the long ball because if you increase the distance on all your clubs then par 5's become reachable in two and on some par 4's you can tee off with a 3 wood or 3 iron or on the long par 4's use a driver. Distance gives you more options when playing golf.

Believe me when I tell you that hitting the ball 220-230 is not short. In fact, many players strive to hit it that way consistently.

You should be more concerned about accuracy than length. As long as you can get on the greens in regulation, there should be no worries (even if that means playing from the white tees).

I feel strongly that this is sound thinking. Some people seem to be able to combine power in the drives and long fairway shots with finesse in the short game......but not too many. Golf is perceptually and mentally difficult rather than physically difficult. If a golfer hasn't got hours a day to practise, it is difficult to adjust the mentality needed to change from power driving to finesse swinging..

On the days when the power drive seems to be working, the finesse game is usually not in the physical 'feel' packet....and often vice versa. If your long game is accurate, you are more likely to have access to the swing required for the short game..and the putts.

It seems to be a game of swings and balances (forgive the pun). You often need to give up something to get something.

This is not to say that both aren't possible...it is just that it is very difficult for the average golfer to master the mental switching required.

when i'm being beaten i pull little tricks out like stroking my oponents ego by saying "wow you hit that flaming HUGE"
this make them try to hit harder and harder and they more often than not start going sideways . hehehe

as for the gaining distance and losing the shortgame
could it be a case of stepping outside your comfortzone?
putting pressure on yourself ?
losing the focus of playing 1 shot at a time
or - the extra power comes from your wrists which you beforehand were'nt using enuff
and now using too much "on the shortgame"

I do that too. It works.

Thanks for the reply. I tend to agree with you because I know that a shorter drive puts alot of pressure on my second shot in to the green. The course I played is a pretty long course. That 300yd par 4 is not the norm but a little gift before you hit the tough 18th hole. For the most part, I was hitting the green in regulation but my putting seems to really be affected by how I am driving the ball. I three putted a ton of greens yesterday. some from as close as 10 feet away. Last week I was making those or rolling to tap in length. My equation is simple Shorter drives = good putting. Long drives = poor putting. It is very possible it was adrenaline because I was pretty excited inside over the rediscovery of my power swing. A few years ago. I started crushing the ball in one game and shot 110. My drives were picture perfect but the rest of the game was . If my drives were sprayed all over the place, I could understand it but they were right down the centre in prime position. I will put it down to losing focus on what is really important in scoring and that is around the green.

Swingezy I agree with you assessment on golf being a mentally difficult rather than physically difficult, I have contented for years that physically power off the tee does not win golf games it is the mental ability. In Ben Hogan's book Power Golf he talks about the mental ability to play the game rather than the physically. It is great to hit 300 yard drives with todays clubs but it you can't get up and down than what good is a 300 plus yard drive. I would much rather have a average 225-240 drive off the tee and be able to get up and down that to get to the green in one or two shots only to three of four putt on the green. just my 2 cents worth

"It's not how far.....it's how often!"

I have always thought this too about my own game. It seems if my long game is going...my short has taken a vacation and vica versa. The other day I played at a not to difficult course and shot 80. I was hitting my driver like 290 off the tee, but I 3 jacked like 4 greens. I mean to take those 3 putts and turn them into 2 putts that cuts off 4 strokes right there I my score and that score would be right there around my handicap. I mean these three putts were not like from 80 feet either. It was like 15 footers I was three putting. I just want to kill someone when I do this! lol

That's why it is called a handicap! LOL

I think it's a good mix of both mental and physical. Why? Because 99% of the golfers playing the game want what? More distance. We fall into the mental pit, because suddenly -- we find ourselves, as someone pointed out, desperately wanting to take advantage of that extra 10-15 yards we're getting off the tee. But then we realize that even though we just cranked out a bomb off the tee, the objective isn't over. Matter of fact, it's only just begun, and that's regardless of whether you average 230 off the tee or 300.

Then there's the physical aspect -- we suddenly find ourselves hitting approach shots from distances we're usually not accustomed to. If you're playing a typical-length par4 of 380 yards, and you hit a 300 yard bomb, that leaves you with an 80 yard approach. For some, that might be the perfect distance for a full swing with wedge or whatever. For others, however, they could potentially be in the "finesse" range, where less than a full swing is needed.

One thing that I realize when my tee game is on -- my wedge play isn't as great as it should be. Everyone has their own abilities, but if I have a wedge in my hands, I feel that I shouldn't be looking at a birdie putt over 40 feet from the hole. And much of the time, that's the case. But the funny thing about that? If it's my third shot on a par4 (say I hit a bad tee shot and had to pitch out to wedge range) for some mysterious reason I will get that 3rd shot with wedge much closer to the pin that if it were a standard second-shot approach! Focus and determination is different, maybe....

Then, there's the simple fact that outside of those days where career rounds are posted, which are very rare, you're going to be very lucky to have two aspects of the game clicking in a single round, and if you get greedy, the golf gods will sense it and will suddenly give you more to complain about than 40 footers for birdie. ;)

I played with an older fellow the other day who only hit his driver around 210 yards or so. He beat my socks off.
I tried to play smart, which is HIS game. 3 iron off the tee on short par 4's, and I was still out-driving him. Finally, I said to heck with it, pulled out the driver, and had some fun. My scoring improved dramatically after I did.
I think it's the comfort level thing. I'm comfortable hitting a 270-290 yard drive, and a wedge or 1/2 wedge shot in. I'm not comfortable playing smart golf. I put too much pressure on myself when I do.
For those wondering about the difference, I shot a 54 on the front 9, and a 44 on the back 9. I pulled out the driver for the first time (on a par 4) on 10.

On approach shots you are now hitting into the green from positions you are not used to & yardages you perhaps are unused to & therefore maybe uncomfortable with. It may be that you need to use a differnt type of shot for an aproach. Most people may naturally have one type of aproach shot (though if you are an 11 handicap you should have quite an armary of shots at your disposal). I mean why do some of us always go for that full shot or lob shot, when a bump & run or a chip & run, or even variations withing the above will get us to where we need to be.

I've always put the times when we hit great tee shots & approach shots, then the putting goes to shite as the golf gods laughing at us. Their way of bringing us down a notch or two. Same as when we are putting brilliantly we either can't hit our driver for toffee or end up overshooting or duffing approach shots.

We are most comfortable when we do what is familiar to us, but I'm not sure this makes for a full rounded player, we need to experience playing shots from possitions we are not familiar with & to try & get used to playing shots we might not normally play. I suppose its a good way of teaching ourselves course management & the different alternatives of getting trom tee to green in the same amount or safest amount of shots, or maybe less shots that are safe.

Though all this I suppose is for the practice round & not generally for that big competiton, until we can feel comfortable with everything all the time.

this lady diane that works at one of the courses i often play at told me this theory:

"when you find your putting game, your irons go. When you find your irons, your driver goes. And when you find your driver, the putter goes."
i think its an excellent theory...