I am a 11 handicap right now but my projected USGA index is around a 13 when they re-calculate this week I believe. I started off the year shooting low 80s and pushing high 70s, now frequently I can't break 90. In the last two weeks on my home course that I've been playing for about six years I have shot 92-93 about four times, with one 80 and one 85 in there. It just doesn't make sense though, I am hitting the ball off the tee further than ever, close to 290 or so which is good for me. I don't know if its the ever dying grass here in New Jersey and the lack of rain. I can't get approach shots down, I can't get chips close on the first attempt, typically chunking one or two around the green. To put it into perspective last week I shot a 92 with 26 putts, I mean c'mon! I was one-putting for double bogies, that is not my game. I am trying a new course tomorrow, so we'll see how that goes but you guys go any tips? Thanks!
I think the most valuable practice is 100 yards and in. When people are busy, they do not devote enough time to it. If you would give 50% of your available practice time to the short game, I feel sure your game will really improve. It really is fun and rewarding also to scrape it down the fairway, chip it close, and put it in to win the hole.
Where are you losing shots the most? It does not sound like the putting green. If it's bad decisions, then you probably need to be more conservative and take your medicine and play for the bogey. If it's something else, then work on that.
I am similar in golf as you, in that I am an 11.2. I can shoot a few strokes lower than that on some days and other days, I can shoot a 95. The handicap system does not work in our favor since the system only uses your 10 best scores. Personally, I think the handicap system should factor in all 20 scores with weighting and put some added weight to recent play. But, that's a different discussion.
I am a 11 handicap right now but my projected USGA index is around a 13 when they re-calculate this week I believe. I started off the year shooting low 80s and pushing high 70s, now frequently I can't break 90. In the last two weeks on my home course that I've been playing for about six years I have shot 92-93 about four times, with one 80 and one 85 in there. It just doesn't make sense though, I am hitting the ball off the tee further than ever, close to 290 or so which is good for me. I don't know if its the ever dying grass here in New Jersey and the lack of rain. I can't get approach shots down, I can't get chips close on the first attempt, typically chunking one or two around the green. To put it into perspective last week I shot a 92 with 26 putts, I mean c'mon! I was one-putting for double bogies, that is not my game. I am trying a new course tomorrow, so we'll see how that goes but you guys go any tips? Thanks!
Slumps will happen...I'm in one right now...when they do, you need to revisit your fundamentals...grip, stance, posture...and then you need to just get out there and have fun...the game will come back to you but the worst thing that you can do in a slump is to overthink things...especially on the course...stressing about where your game went will only make you tense, and that's when the REAL slump sets in...also, be careful about making wholesale changes...you have a game that got you to an 11, it's in there somewhere, so just be careful about sawing off table legs to straighten the table...you're apt to have no table legs left if you don't start at the basics, then try ONE different thing at a time, that way you'll know what you did to get "it" back...good luck...
Well, if you are hitting good t-shots and putting well, obviously it's the short irons, wedges, pitches, and chips that are killing you. Shooting 92 with 280 yd tshots and 26 putts says it all ... in that round you lost over a shot a hole between fairway and green. If you can hit a 280 yd t-shot and keep it in play almost every hole and have 26 putts, that's better than scratch.
My advice would be instead of playing 3 times a week, play twice a week and spend the time you would have spent on the 3rd round practicing ... 2 sessions of about 2 hrs each. I would suggest spending 1/3 of that time on chipping, 1/3 on pitches and bump and runs, and 1/3 on full wedge and short irons. If you have a range with a short game area nearby, that would be best, but not absolutely necessary. I would only hit 3 or 4 balls with each club longer than a 7 or 8 iron.
Another thing to consider is to use less than a full swing with short irons and wedges. It doesn't matter how far you hit your short clubs as long as they are consistent. It may not be for everyone, but using about a 3/4 swing for more control on approach shots could help. It sounds like you are getting plenty of length off the tee, so you don't really need to be able to hit a 130 or 140 yd 9 iron. It may be worth trying a more controlled easy swing and just hitting the 9 iron 115 or 120.
Well, if you are hitting good t-shots and putting well, obviously it's the short irons, wedges, pitches, and chips that are killing you. Shooting 92 with 280 yd tshots and 26 putts says it all ... in that round you lost over a shot a hole between fairway and green. If you can hit a 280 yd t-shot and keep it in play almost every hole and have 26 putts, that's better than scratch.
My advice would be instead of playing 3 times a week, play twice a week and spend the time you would have spent on the 3rd round practicing ... 2 sessions of about 2 hrs each. I would suggest spending 1/3 of that time on chipping, 1/3 on pitches and bump and runs, and 1/3 on full wedge and short irons. If you have a range with a short game area nearby, that would be best, but not absolutely necessary. I would only hit 3 or 4 balls with each club longer than a 7 or 8 iron.
Another thing to consider is to use less than a full swing with short irons and wedges. It doesn't matter how far you hit your short clubs as long as they are consistent. It may not be for everyone, but using about a 3/4 swing for more control on approach shots could help. It sounds like you are getting plenty of length off the tee, so you don't really need to be able to hit a 130 or 140 yd 9 iron. It may be worth trying a more controlled easy swing and just hitting the 9 iron 115 or 120.
You get 26 putts by missing greens, chipping on and tapping them in...putts per round can be misleading...I played 16 holes the other day, hit an awful 4 gir, had 23 putts and finished +4...
One thing that brings me out of a slump is lots of pitching practice for two reasons...one, when I am missing greens, at least I'm practicing for that, and the other is that it is a mini version of a full swing, and practicing while reviewing fundamentals seems to tickle the dead spots in my full swing and get me back on track...
It sounds like your approach shots are not working for you. You may want to try and master shots that range from 140 to 200 yards to the greens. If you go to the driving range, use clubs for these yardages and practice aiming to the signs 150, 175, 200. Hopefully, you can find a range that has these yardages in the center and left or right? Once you can get your ball to go within 10 feet left or right (by looking at it). It should help a lot and lower your score.
July 23rd, 2008, 08:55 PM
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