COMMUNITY

No theories here, I am having the same problem. I actually feel like I am hitting the ball better and with more accuracy but just can't get away from the 3 or 4 holes that tanks a decent score to bring down my Handicap. Has been a very frustrating year. Gets real frustrating when I can't get out and play because of other commitments.

Yes. The pressure of leading the SFGT heading into the summer stretch got to you.

Got mine down to an 11.6 on July 1st and have only broken 90 twice since then with a low score of 88. One round it's missed fairways, another poor short irons, another the putter, or an avalanche of penalties. I can get hot for a few holes and then NOTHING goes right for a few holes. It's a friggin nightmare.

Exactly.

Just one....keep it straight! Hit more fairways. One putt more often. LOL...oh you probably already know this. I tried to help.

Thanks for.the reminder of the fact that I suck in July and August. I've often thought that the sticky hot humid weather here in Philly contributes to my demise. This would also explain why I never play well in Myrtle Beach in late August/early September. Sometimes I wonder if I should just go on sabbatical for those momths. Very frustrating.

I'll have to keep track of the weather and see if it actually is a legitimate factor.

It might be the way you are all dressed. The game will be a lot better if you take your skirts off!!

Weather? humidity? You guys need to man up.

Here's the key: Hit it 300 yards; make lots of GIRs and sink a few putts. Easy game.

You are thinking about your score too often. Especially if you are aware you can lower your handicap because of score from last year. This is why I stopped keeping the scorecard years ago. I play with one guy in particular who likes to give updates every 3 or 4 holes. I tell him I don't want to hear mine. I just play the next hole and don't worry about what already happened or what I could shoot. When I was able to that successfully, my scores started dropping because I only had concern for my next shot. Even when playing alone I do not keep a card but can go back over the round when I am done.

The other thing that really helped me was playing a little more conservative. I no longer try the hero shot to try to make birdies. I want par and no worse than bogey. You'll be surprised how often you can take away big numbers just by playing for par or bogey.

What he said!
And clean your balls. Shweaty balls are your worst enemy.

I've seen the same thing in the past for my game, and my theory is this:
At the beginning of each year, I play conservative, smart golf, don't swing too hard, and concentrate a bit harder. As the season wears on, I get more confidence in making shots and swing harder, take more risks, and play a bit more loosely.

I am not able to play as much as I would like, so I try to play more like the beginning of the season and less like the end. That and really concentrating on short game practice has kept my handicap at the same level for quite some time.

Hopefully a slump is temporary until that next normal round. Just have to endure it. Face it, what else can you do, quit?

Better advice has never been given.

Regression - Dave you described it in your original post and others you've made earlier this year. You made some changes that had you hitting the ball crisply and with much more consistency and now as you've said--crapola. When you make changes it's hard to keep them in place without some regression to your old ways. Golf improvement is never linear. Go down the list of what you were working to change and find out where you've regressed...and keep in mind that even things like changing the tempo at which you are executing your changed swing can screw things up.

AND take your skirts off too!

Must be catching. I was shooting right around par for a month until I looked at my swing on video. I tried to change my footwork and hand position at impact and today I went to the range and had the shanks.

Screw it I am pushing forward to see what's on the other side of this swing change. I know I need to make the changes.