COMMUNITY

You started out in the 90's? You are a natural. Congrats!

I think I am going to try playing left handed.

Because after 4 years, the right side still hits all of these.

Congrats!

You might be on to something Joe. My 1st round was a 138. 7 months later I have only broke 100 about half a dozen times and only have 3 birdies to date. My driver resembles your shot pattern also. If someone starts out in the 90's there are only 3 possible reasons:
1) they are a natural
2) they do not keep a correct score (Mulligans, foot wedge, etc...)
3) they are not playing the back 9

Ha! I guess I should've explained what I mean by "I'm picking up the game." I've played my whole life, probably several rounds a year. More when I was on my "off crew" cycle on a ballistic missile submarine in the 90s in Groton, CT. But mostly just a few rounds with the boys, foot wedges, mulligans, scramble tournaments, but certainly never a lesson.

I played baseball, soccer, basketball growing up, and I had the "curse" of everyone telling me my swing looked so natural. My only golf swing coach was probably Ted Williams- I just brought that from the ballfield to the course.

So last summer, I replaced my 1990s clubs and took lessons at GolfTec, after their $99 swing analysis. Turns out my swing was crap. Completely over the top. And here I was reading golf magazines for years, ignoring all "over the top" articles because I was cocky that wasn't me. After all, people told me my swing was fine!

So last year I worked on my swing to undo years of mistakes- totally rebuilt it, and struggled on the course. But the scoring was not really my goal, because why track my score when I don't even have my swing yet- that was my thought. By the end of the season, I think I was mid 90s. This year, I'm going to get a handicap and play it as it lies. Play it by the rules and hit 3 from the tee if I hit OB (instead of dropping in the fairway to the game moving along!).

I'm learning that bringing my swing to the course is tough, and I still revert back to my over the top despite my constant drills (check out my Fairway Accuracy- can you see the slice right and pull left pattern?). The range is very different, but I'm hopeful I can get over this hump and bring the new swing consistently to the course.

So there's my history! I'm thinking mid 80s average from the white tees is do-able (on slope 120ish/rating 70ish courses), but also wonder if I'm setting myself for massive disappointment. I am just curious if anyone has done anything similar- focused intensely on their swing after years of neglect, set a goal, and then achieved it.

Randall, I'll get back to you on that in a year!

Your goal is defiantly achievable with practice and good fundamentals.

Since 2008, I've gone from ~110 to ~90. The first two years (2008 and 2009) were a waste because I thought I could teach myself how to swing. I never got below 100. Starting in 2010 I began with lessons. The scores started dropping. I got into the 90s about 50% of the time last year. This year I am in the 90s just about all the time.

In hindsight, the most dramatic improvement came from the instructor (I've used four) who explained how to get the clubhead on the swing plane. The other guys were trying to get me to do the same thing, they just didn't verbalize well. A lot of people have knowledge; few can teach effectively.

Also key: I go to the driving range every day. And I really make a point of sneaking out of work to play. A lot. I can't remember the last time I worked an 8-hour day.

Not too much opportunity to practice golf on a sub is there Randall?

I have been following Dan. Clearly he is going to fall short of his original lofty goals, but it's been an interesting story.

As far as your goals, they are attainable under the right conditions. I dropped my handicap about 5 years ago from an 18 HDCP to 6 inside of a year and a half. Currently at a shade under 1. There are several similar success stories represented by people on this site.

Yep. I went from a 15 to 1.5 in a little less than a year and was a +1.3 before I stopped keeping a hdcp a few months ago.

Great feedback, guys. Appreciated! Very impressive improvement is definitely possible, so that gives me some hope.

And yes, no golfing on the "boat." Heck, not even bowling.

Agreed that Dan's goals are overly ambitious as the hours tick away- I think his goal is still PGA card via Q-school by 2016, but I could be wrong and I'm still rooting for him. He's a single digit handicap, but that leaves a long way to go to distinguish himself from the others like you guys at that level. I'm intrigued watching him getting into TrackMan and new equipment/fittings. Reminds me that if one were incredibly motivated and had the time/money, there are so many ways to move forward with improving.

For now, I'll stick with a more modest (and less costly) approach!

If your a baseball fan try Babe Ruth's swing.......if you check out Jimmy Ballard he teaches a derivative of Ruth's baseball swing. To shave strokes..... short game.....short game.....short game.

Looking at your graphic, is that what it means to be a 'fan'?