golfrewind.com

HI All
I came on here 4 months ago with a handicap of 27,after playing golf for 3 and a half years. I knew my driver was holding me back,and after advice from many members of G R ,I am now playing of 23.
The problem I have now is I cant break 90. I allow myself 5 shots on every hole ,I can fin the first 9 holes 42 or 43 and then the back nine is usually 48 or 50. Somedays it can be the opposite way round.
I nearly did it a few weeks ago in a comp I was on 84 after 17 holes and guess what,yes youve guessed it I fin up with 94. Should I just relax and forget it for awhile,or should I keep trying ? Is there anyone else in the
same boat?

I struggled with the same thing breaking 90 not too long ago. Heck, I still shoot nines like you just said. All I have to say is keep playing; I broke 90 with an 86. I shot 46 on the front and 40 on the back. It's just a matter of getting close a lot and then just having an extra putt or two fall. And now it's a lot easier to break 90 now that I've done it once.

I'm not in your situation, but I've been there. When I first started playing I picked up a wonderful book by Tommy Armour, Sr. It's "How To Play Your Best Golf All the Time." I gave a copy to one of my friends about a year ago, so it should still be in print. Over the years I've gone back to it many times and the instruction from the old master are good at every level of golf. Hope it helps.

Thanks for your replys.I shall keep trying and when I do beat 90 I shall post on the board,in the meantime I shall look out for " How to play your best golf all the time"

No sense in stopping now...just think about all the days you thought you'd never break a hundred, or 110

Part of the trouble may be that you are beginning to accept poor play at times and at others seem to be trying too hard !!!!
Choose your target area (having allowed a margin for error); visualise your coach moulding your swing for that particular shot. deep breaths to clear the mind, then trust your swing.
Work on it during practice sessions, not on the course.

Regards

A.C. Duffy (golf psychologist)

We all have those odd rounds. I was playing Tulleymore near Stanwood MI (great course). On the front I had three birdies, three pars and three bogies for even par. On the back I shot 50. You just can't worry about the score. Your sub 90 round will just happen as your game improves.

You probably don't realize how close you are. Cold winter months are the hardest time to score well and you are still coming close. I'll wager that when the weather warms up you will slip into the 80's without a hitch.

Ok lets go mentally with this one. Do you play this course a lot? if so have you bogeyed each hole atleast 1 time one round or another. Hoping this course is par 72, I did this with a friend and it worked. If you have bogeyed each hole atleast 1 time just go out with the thinking that all we need here is a bogey on 17 holes and 1 par. Usually there is a hole if not 3 holes during the round that you have had a par. So if just put 1 on the fairway and 1 close to the green(on a par 4) then chip on and take 2 putts if not 1 putt for chipping close. this will take the pressure off having to think you have to hit the green in 2 on a par 4. You will break 90 and may even find yourself shooting 87 or better really fast. We put too much pressure on ourselves when we are greedy or impatient. Let it flow and think 17 bogeys and 1 par.

Very good goal-setting advice from golfdawg. Remember that the round is made up of individual shots not a group package.

Focus totallly on each one. We have a saying in GB&I "take care of the pennies and the pounds will take care of themselves".

Forget your total 'till you've finished the round.

Don't you think your putting too much pressure on yourself for a certain number? Why not try to break 92, or 95? In other words, if your a 23 handicap, why is the number 90 so important? Sure it feels good, but your first concern is your handicap and learning the game. The first time I broke 90, it was completely washed out by a 103 four days later. I would just focus on trying to improve by learning and practicing the fundamentals and trying to master the game from 100 yards and in rather than hoping to shoot a certain number. I get MUCH more satisfaction after a productive practice session. In time, scores will begin to show your effort. Don't focus so much on a certain number, focus on constantly trying to improve. The final number you put on the card doesn't always equate to your actual level of play- And, you never want to "settle" for an 89.

if you think you are going to get a 9 or even a 12 on a really long hole, if you use your driver & not happy with the results, then take a club you are happy with the shot from & simply live with the slightly shorter, but safer distance. I know that's at time been my fault. Taking the driver & fluffing the ball when I klnow I can get my 4 iron to get me more than as far as my driver tends to & in a much better possition.

Just pick out the driver on such holes as wouldn't make too much difference what the outcome of the first shot was, just so you are keeping using it somewhere on a game.

A well hit 4 iron, hybrid, or 3 wood shot off the tee is worth more than a misjudged driver shot no matter how long it is.

play the percentages, relax & simply enjoy the game... It gets my score down when I practice what I'm preaching now.

For instance I can hit a lovely 4 iron shot off our 257 yard 4th hole & be 20 or 30 yards from the hole, wheras if I take my driver on the same shot I could just as easily be 60 or more yards back in the deep rough, left or right.

Thanks everyone for your advice. As from tomorrow the pressure is off Im just going to enjoy my golf