I am a golfer who is usually in the low to mid 80's but have only shot in the 70's 1 time before this year.  I have been golfing for over 10 years but I have only played 5 times or so a year.  I love golf and would have loved to have played more but started a family 4 years ago and had a job that was demanding on my time.  In the past year I have been playing a lot and in the past 3 months I have really started to play more and more consistent.  not 13 bogeys 3 birdie and 2 pars but more of 9 pars and 9 bogeys.  Scoring more consistent and not having to recover as much.  I was really frustrated for awhile because I was playing better but it was not showing in my scores.  Well about a month ago I made some alterations to my swing.  I have always had an outside in swing path (fade) and it is hard to control and takes out distance.  I have tried to correct it but it always turned into a nasty hook which was impossible to control.  So this time I really buckled down and used 4 things that I knew that would correct the problem.  It was frustrating for the first 3 weeks at the range and on the course.  It looked like I couldn't play, so that was embarasing, toping balls and hitting them way off line.  I didn't even keep score for 4 rounds cause it was so bad, but I worked through it and stuck with it.  I have a good short game and I am a very good putter, I hit the ball fairly long of the tee, but now I have control over the ball.  My last three rounds since my swing changes have really felt solid have been 79,77,78.  It feels really good to be hitting the ball this well and the confidence goes into my putting too!  My last round was really special for me.  the first time in the 70's I had 4 birdies which was great but that means 11 bogeys...  this last round was 12 pars and 6 bogeys.  I believe the best round I have ever played.  I even looked back and saw where each of the 6 bogeys came from, where I could have taken off the 6 strokes if only I would have played smarter.  Changing your swing especially swing path is very difficult to do with consistency but if you stick with it and endure the hardship of awefull rounds you will come out better on the otherside!