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Confidence is a crazy thing. At one point I played a lot of golf and enjoyed trying to improve. Then this site starting passing out handicaps. I found myself forcing and trying to score. I had to step back because I wasn't enjoying the game.
For the last 2 years, I've rarely played any golf other than what could only be considered practice rounds, and just working on my swing. I haven't put a lot of time into my short game because I need to work on consistent sweet spot contact. First 2 times out this year, I was hitting it really well. I didn't score well because little shots around the green and 3 putts just killed me. I was feeling pretty good. Finally, took what I had to the big boy course. It started OK, but as my playing partner started heating up, I started pressing. Things got away from me really fast. I don't think I hit a solid shot on the back 9. I really need to remember, just because you can hit a wedge 150+ doesn't mean you should. |
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| # 1 5/19/2014 12:37:47 PM |
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This is a difference in "swinging easy" and "swinging hard" without tension... Take Dead Aim by Harvey Penick was a book where Mr. Penick never wrote "swing easy."
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| # 2 5/19/2014 12:50:42 PM |
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Its all relative.
I'm sure plenty of people can swing hard with tension and still play well. Speaking for myself, I've come to find that being able to hit the ball a long way isn't always the best option. Its probably more of a course management issue or perception vs reality thing. Back to the wedge. PW used to be my 130-140yd club. I found myself going to the wedge for shots that were 145 front edge. Sure a perfect shot leaves me in a good spot, but I didn't hit anything perfect yesterday. |
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| # 3 5/19/2014 3:46:13 PM |
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The two main swing thoughts working for me right now are:
1) Good solid foundation at setup. 2) Tension free grip and swing. For me the results have been better contact with consistent distance. |
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| # 4 5/19/2014 3:51:43 PM |
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I'm just going to have to force myself to play better golf. And by that, I mean, play smarter. Smarter layups, smarter angles, and not trying to max out the club that I pull out of the bag.
With my handicap, playing for 5 should be what I'm trying to do. |
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| # 5 5/19/2014 4:09:59 PM |
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You made a good point about playing for the "right #" for your handicap. I play a lot with my friend who is a bogey golfer and he always tries to hit the hard shot that will get him Par. On the harder handicap holes I always remind him that he will not get it up in 2 on the 440 yard Par 4, but by trying to do that he will ALWAYS put it in a deep bunker and take 2 more to get out of it. Instead, I tell him to play a layup of the bunker where he has a good angle to the hole and when he does that, he chips it to a spot where Par is possible. If he misses the Par putt, he gets "Par" by getting a 5. Swing Easy!! BUT Play smart.
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| # 6 5/20/2014 11:11:03 AM |
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that's about it JayPet
I need to remind myself on the course about why I'm there and why I play. This kind of reminds me that I don't need a lesson, I just need to be better with course management. |
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| # 7 5/20/2014 11:52:09 AM |
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that's about it JayPet I need to remind myself on the course about why I'm there and why I play. This kind of reminds me that I don't need a lesson, I just need to be better with course management. So what prompted my response was something I said to Mongo while we were playing. I shot a horrible round (for me) last week at a course where every green was mounded like a turtle. Typical Donald Ross greens and started with a couple of bogeys. I pressed and fired at every flagstick and everything hit and rolled off and I was short sided. I mentioned to Don if I just started the day going middle of the green I would've literally been 6 strokes better. We all go thru this stuff regardless of ability. That's why we're Amateurs. Keep that smooth tempo to the swing and manage your way around. Bogey is Par. I have a feeling you will see some success. Best of luck... To you and me. |
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| # 8 5/20/2014 1:57:08 PM |
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hey, what about the rest of us?....................
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| # 9 5/20/2014 2:27:10 PM |
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Good lookin out JayPet. I probably just needed that confirmation. Bad shots are going to happen, but if we play the percentages, and play smart, we should still be in a good spot.
Pressing, going for everything, and not playing smart will usually leave us frustrated and keep us from getting to the next shot in the right frame of mind. Its definitely more frustrating to lay the sod over a ball then to catch a bad break on a decent shot. |
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| # 10 5/20/2014 2:29:13 PM |
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careful playing with that Mongo character.
I hear he's a closet Rangers fan |
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| # 11 5/20/2014 3:47:21 PM |
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careful playing with that Mongo character. I hear he's a closet Rangers fan Now WAIT a minute! I'm a diehard Flyers fan. I was born and raised in the state that they play in, unlike you, you Devils, Jets and Giant homeboy. My favorite color combo is orange and black and that was before Rickie Fowler was a twinkle is his father's eye. Never, ever, ever, even if Giroux was traded to the Rangers would I ever be a Rangers fan. |
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| # 12 5/20/2014 5:06:17 PM |
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careful playing with that Mongo character. I hear he's a closet Rangers fan Now WAIT a minute! I'm a diehard Flyers fan. I was born and raised in the state that they play in, unlike you, you Devils, Jets and Giant homeboy. My favorite color combo is orange and black and that was before Rickie Fowler was a twinkle is his father's eye. Never, ever, ever, even if Giroux was traded to the Rangers would I ever be a Rangers fan. What about the "Lone Ranger" ? |
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| # 13 5/21/2014 10:48:43 AM |
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Fantastic Post David and Jay thank you very much, I think I just learn a lot and I'll be using some of these comments in my next rounds.
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| # 14 5/24/2014 9:18:28 AM |
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You are just out of shape from lack of playing / practicing.
You will be fine. Remember when you are tired or stretching at the bottom half of your physical ability, the smaller muscle tend to take over. This means your hands and arms tend to take over the golf swing and the core did not finish the winding and the unwinding. Do a slow practice swing , relaxed but finish the back swing and the follow through. Execute the shot the same way with regular speed. |
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| # 15 5/24/2014 9:20:04 AM |
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Oh, and I had seen golfers do the same when they are under stress.
They are not tired but owing to the stress, the same thing not able to execute a full swing happened. |
