Obstacles to your improvement

FixdePitchmark

Haven't done a thread in a while - so here it goes.

No, was thinking about my own game a little and have definitely gone backwards the last year. There was a number of personal factors in that.

But in general, wanted to explore what holds back my own game and others on the forum ?

I think as average club players, there can be a bit of delusional aspect to golf - compared to other sports you get involved in. We tend to think you can turn up once a week and some magic will just happen. Golfers must be the most head in sand sports people out there ?

Considering my own game

Coaching

I stopped going to coaching and got a bit isolated with improving. I know you can only do so many lessons - but there should be an external eye - a mentor - an advocate for anyone trying to get anywhere , in anything , not just golf.

I've taken a few steps to improve this and hope to turn things around in next 6 months.

Short Game

I got a bit lazy with short game practice , that 2 or 3 hours alone in the short game area - it just slips away. I know there are golfers out there that seem to have solid short games with little or no work - but sadly that is not me.

Putting

Again that hard work over the 6 foot to 3 foot in - if I don't do it , it goes. Simple - that extra hour or two a week was 20 to 30 mins.

Competitive edge

Like Rory :P
I stopped playing golf in competition - amazing how that grinding out a score goes away - you loses that finishing edge , that mental edge , even the routine of a round.

Routine and accuracy

Got a bit careless with distance measurement and accuracy - the laser was hardly used for months , I even started using any ball in the bag mentality - very careless stuff.


Anyway - above is sort of a golf confession - but needed to get it out and be honest. I think honesty is key to improving.

Looking forward to next 6 months work.


Maybe nobody else has anything like above going on - but if you want to have a confession work away below

backspin.

I take the club back too much on the inside in the back-swing. I have tried a few times down the years to fix it but haven't managed to. Any time i go to a coach its the thing they focus on. I have now given up on coaching and have accepted (for now) that its the way i swing. I'm stuck around 8 at the min and know if i want to get lower i probably need to address the problem once and for all.

finglashoop

Time is my biggest issue.

I get out for a game once a week. Went driving range on saturday for first time in i dont know how long.

Im not delusional and play once a week. Consistency is the problem for me and thats down to just not playing/practicing enough.

An example is i never use woods at all. Saturday i hit one for the first time in about 6 months as i was swinging well and caught it lovely. Didnt take it out again at all

spacecoyote

Have to agree with Finglashoop, the biggest block I have in place is, without a doubt, time.

Work in Dublin city centre, so have a decent commute each day. Combine that with long hours and it doesn't leave a massive amount of time to work with.

Add in being married, and it can become a bit much to look to devote 2-3 days a week to working on golf.

It can be very frustrating, as I know that playing once a week & squeezing in the odd range session is nowhere near enough to make a real improvement, but I guess I just have to live with that for the moment & enjoy the time that I get out on the course

valoren

I spent some time over the summer trying to improve one thing. My tee shot.
Quite simply, I reached a point last summer where I had no idea where the ball was going to go off the tee.
I could stripe it down the middle on one hole, banana slice it the next and then hit a wild hook on the following hole.

It shattered my confidence. Ironically, my iron play and short game has never been better.

Since April, I've played all of 4 rounds of golf. Nothing competitive, just by myself.
I wanted to get accuracy from the tee. I wasn't concerned with distance I just wanted to keep the ball on the course.
I got a lesson last year which helped with my rhythm, there were also some short game gems that were brilliant but mattered little if I was wild off the tee.

I took two pearls of wisdom from Ben Hogan where he mentioned the most important shot for him was the tee shot, it set up, according to him, whether or not you could birdie a hole. The second was his mantra of digging it out of the dirt. I would need to figure it out for myself.

So I spent the summer at the range trying to find something.
Long story short, I found it.

There was a multitude of concepts that all meshed into a competent, repeating swing that was accurate.
The keys for me were the following;

I opened my stance. I was keeping it square/closed to prevent a slice but I don't have the hip flexibility to open into impact. This lead to a lot blocked shots right, so I experimented with an open stance.

I keep the takeaway low and slow. Based on Adam Scott's swing thought that he feels like the takeaway and backswing seems never ending. He knows he's in position if he feels that.

At the top of the backswing, I now try to keep my back to the target for as long as possible when coming into the down swing. I have always been an OTT swinger with the driver and 3 wood. I was hitting from the top. Keeping my back to the target let's the club drop into the 'slot' naturally. That's the theory I guess. I don't purposefully, manually do that. Keeping the back to target at the top let's that happen automatically.

From here, once I don't get too quick, which produces more of a draw, I focus on making impact at the '4 o'clock' position on the ball which makes me come from the inside path.

All of the above is now becoming automatic. I can carry the driver 250 in the range easily with dispersion extremely close. That's long enough for me. With that all going well, I hit a baby draw. If I get too fast it turns into a manageable draw (i.e. I'd be in the left rough, but not off the course!). If I forget to come from the inside, it is a push and not a banana ball.

Now that I have the pattern, the swing repeating I'm looking to cement it and play more next year. I needed sort that out because my tee shots were just ruining my love of the game. In terms of time, I think the above is repeatable, once I keep fit and healthy, it will just become a case of 'getting into the slot' before playing.

In addition to the above, I've religiously practiced 100 yard shots. I now know my club to use from that distance. 52 degree wedge, nice firm swing. When on course, I drop two balls at the 100 to the centre spot and practice them when appropriate. I use that as my benchmark for the other distances.

WheresMyPar

backspin. wrote: »

I take the club back too much on the inside in the back-swing. I have tried a few times down the years to fix it but haven't managed to. Any time i go to a coach its the thing they focus on. I have now given up on coaching and have accepted (for now) that its the way i swing. I'm stuck around 8 at the min and know if i want to get lower i probably need to address the problem once and for all.

I can relate a lot to this! I have the same swing problems and addressed it but iron play has struggled this year,
Really felt I could get to 6 this year because I am putting the best I ever did. I am starting to think my biggest problem is maybe its my ability holding me back, taken the game up to late or like most sports you find your level,
Still believe next year is my year

charlieIRL

Obstacles to your improvement - wife and kids!!!

Just don't have time at the moment. I know i can be a much better golfer, proved that last few times out. Spent a lot of time practising for club team the month before and it started to come together.

Haven't hit a ball since Kilkenny now though

rickis tache

time. 20 mins from my club but with 2 young kids and a wife grieving for a parent passing this year I have played a quarter of the golf I had planned. hopefully soon I will return to the course more once free time comes my way and I can improve. don't want consistency. want improvement.

FixdePitchmark

WheresMyPar wrote: »

I can relate a lot to this! I have the same swing problems and addressed it but iron play has struggled this year,
Really felt I could get to 6 this year because I am putting the best I ever did. I am starting to think my biggest problem is maybe its my ability holding me back, taken the game up to late or like most sports you find your level,
Still believe next year is my year

I think there is a truth here - you hear people go on about no limits and all that, but it is a bit of a bull**** concept (IMO)- There are limits.
Be it ability - core - hand eye coordination - time - money - swing.

There is a limit at some point. Yes, you can change each issue one at a time sometimes 2 at a time.

Say you want to become expert at golf !- over say 12 year (100000 hours (rounded)) - you need to spend 10% of your time at it. About 16 hours a week to reach this so called 10,000 hours.

It isn't going to happen. And 12 years is a very long time frame - we want to do it in over 3/4/5 years.
So you have a limited time - and you are not sure how that limit is impacting on your handicap.

I guess rather than being all that complex - your limit with the various variables at a given time is your handicap.

The problem is you never know what your true ability (without limits) is, because you have limits outside of just ability. It is horrible and tortures you - It is called golf and why we love it.

At some point you need to have a golf life balance, a sort of break even point , that you are happy to play at a certain level with the time you have. It is frustrating - particularly in modern life when commuting is horrible, daylight short, weather not always agreeable and work is long hours to pay for a house you probably can't afford and Subs around the corner.

Golf is just bloody hard - and the lads that are very good - had a time in their life they had that 20 hours a week - were young - with no external pressures we talk about here. There are freaks who break all the rules - but they are few and far between. With a serious effort you can sort of play off about 9, to get any lower takes time that in modern life is not realistic.

So my new target is 9

Joking - in the head in sand mind - I can make scratch and be on the edges of Elite golf - the mind is incredible - it can play tricks on us. But dreaming is a positive side of the human condition too.

pinkdoubleeagle

Kids

charlieIRL

Sorry for your loss Rickis, golf isn't important at a difficult time like that.

BigChap1759

I do really think time on the course is the biggest one for me. It's generally a few loose shots per round costing me double or worse.

When you're playing a lot i.e. 3+ rounds a week your consistency goes up so much and it becomes more and more about strategy rather than technique - for me there's nothing better than playing proper rounds on the course to improve your game.

Unfortunately for me this is a pipe dream for the foreseeable future with two young kids unless I win the lottery. But, by keeping fit I don't see any reason why you can't keep improving into your 70s - well that's what's keeping me going!

Cat 1 would be my ultimate goal but can't see it happening on 1 round per week...

Russman

For me, I think one of the biggest obstacles has been playing "golf swing" as opposed to "golf" over the last 6/7 years.
I was having a lesson there a month or so ago with a pro I've been going to for a few years now (probably get 3 lessons a year), and I was pretty much able to hit shots to order, high, low, draw, fade etc., and he basically said to me "what the f-k are you doing scratching around off 8/9 handicap ?" We had a good discussion about playing shots rather than making a type of swing. I've committed to doing my best to forget about swing and just play golf shots for two months to see how I get on. Can't say I'll be 100% able to do it (old habits die hard !) but so far so good, 3 small cuts in the last 3 weeks.

I think lots of guys could improve by working with what they have rather than an endless search for an X factor or eureka moment.

Running Balance

Russman wrote:

I think lots of guys could improve by working with what they have rather than an endless search for an X factor or eureka moment.

This is so true - playing within yourself is a big factor to improving - going for the miracle shot is crazy.

I ve tried to cut these out this year and I ve become much more consistent.

I also try to make sure I get a good night's sleep before a comp- no ipads etc. Seems small but definitely helps.

tommypepper

Sorry Fixed but if golf became for me what it sounds like for you I would hate it.
I play off 9. I have no interest in practicing putting or chipping.
The only thing I care about is strike.

Hitting a driver or iron pure is what I go out for. The odd day my putting and chipping will be really on and I can shoot close to par. The other days it could be +15. I don't really mind once I can hit a ball pure and watch a lovely ball flight.

2 hours of chipping and putting sounds awful

FixdePitchmark

tommypepper wrote: »

Sorry Fixed but if golf became for me what it sounds like for you I would hate it.
I play off 9. I have no interest in practicing putting or chipping.
The only thing I care about is strike.

Hitting a driver or iron pure is what I go out for. The odd day my putting and chipping will be really on and I can shoot close to par. The other days it could be +15. I don't really mind once I can hit a ball pure and watch a lovely ball flight.

2 hours of chipping and putting sounds awful

The point being, I wasn't doing it - But I know what it takes to improve from where I am is the point.

I said everyone can get to 9 - without doing anything drastic. I mean people spend 9 + hours a week at gym, running, cycling, swimming, playing candy crush. Some people just genuinely love hitting golf balls , love chipping and putting , love playing golf as much as they can. I wouldn't be a big fan of short game practice myself.

And I have to accept - the majority of golfers at a golf club are perfectly happy to float around at a particular handicap - useful for a certain club team and can pull off 45 points the odd time. In fact I think this becomes everyone's norm at some point in their life. Lads who were off 5/6 float out to 10 to 12 , but with any sort of effort can flip it for a big event.

I think the golf forum is a little different - from reading it and meeting people from it - there is a higher % here in pursuit of excellence , trying to get to their limit, seeing how low they can get to.
,
There is also a personality aspect - some people ( I know a good few of my friends are like this) - push themselves in everything they do - then there are just others who float around happy with their lot. I'm not saying one way or the other is right - it is about being happy at the end of the day.

In relation to hating golf - honestly the feeling is mutual - I couldn't handle being a 10 handicap player with all the gear looking the part , thinking I am great at golf - talking about the great strikes I had shooting an 84. Then over 10 pints telling everyone , I could have got to 5 if I tried :P

Horse for courses Tommy - but one thing for sure - I love golf, be it 68 - 78 - 88 - 95.

tommypepper

FixdePitchmark wrote: »

In relation to hating golf - honestly the feeling is mutual - I couldn't handle being a 10 handicap player with all the gear looking the part , thinking I am great at golf - talking about the great strikes I had shooting an 84. Then over 10 pints telling everyone , I could have got to 5 if I tried :P
.

Ah ha! There is the difference. I go home happy in myself after a good hitting day. I don't talk about it. There are plenty of guys who say they shot 36 and had 3 blanks. I'm not one of them

BigChap1759

tommypepper wrote: »

Sorry Fixed but if golf became for me what it sounds like for you I would hate it.
I play off 9. I have no interest in practicing putting or chipping.
The only thing I care about is strike.

Hitting a driver or iron pure is what I go out for. The odd day my putting and chipping will be really on and I can shoot close to par. The other days it could be +15. I don't really mind once I can hit a ball pure and watch a lovely ball flight.

2 hours of chipping and putting sounds awful

Slightly tongue in cheek but, if what you say is really true, you could save yourself a fortune by just going to the driving range?

FixdePitchmark

tommypepper wrote: »

Ah ha! There is the difference. I go home happy in myself after a good hitting day. I don't talk about it. There are plenty of guys who say they shot 36 and had 3 blanks. I'm not one of them

Would you not like a few more good strikes.

If your shooting 9 to 15 over - you actually don't need to strike the ball very well at all ?

tommypepper

BigChap1759 wrote: »

Slightly tongue in cheek but, if what you say is really true, you could save yourself a fortune by just going to the driving range?

Jeez I hate the driving range.

The enjoyment of hitting it pure isn't just about the strike. For me its about looking up and following the flight of the ball out along the line you aimed. Its about the picture in front of you before you strike and then seeing the ball fly out toward it. Its a one off, you don't get mulligans.

The range is like bad porn, you watch it but after you just dont feel satisfied.

Real golf on the course is ......well real.

tommypepper

FixdePitchmark wrote: »

Would you not like a few more good strikes.

If your shooting 9 to 15 over - you actually don't need to strike the ball very well at all ?

Ive read enough of your posts to know not to keep this discussion going
We're all different.

FixdePitchmark

tommypepper wrote: »

Ive read enough of your posts to know not to keep this discussion going
We're all different.

No need to be like that.

Your going on about pure and strike - that is just nothing to do with thread.

You don't want to improve - so not sure how this thread is for you, you have 7 / 8 posts - only 2 were pured.

dan_ep82

My main obstacle is skill.

Playing more often can cover over the gaping holes in my game but normally its once a week for me.

Generally a comp is a .1 back for me due to 3-4 very bad holes, yet when I played 4 times in one week this year i hit the buffer twice and got a small cut at courses I've never played before.

Most of my days are 12-14hrs so even getting up early for golf once a week can be a killer never mind finding time to practice.

Minderbinder

I grip the club cross handed which I think costs me distance. Started playing P&P by myself at maybe 10 years old and have never been able to change to an orthodox grip. It feels totally alien to me and it's a reason I've never gone to a coach or joined a club/ gotten a handicap.

It just feels embarrassing. If anyone new sees me playing they ask me if I'm left handed. They think it's odd and my long game is poor. My drives are usually accurate but short (difficult to go too far off line when you're hitting it 200-230 yards). My short game and putting is quite strong and I know if I put the effort in on that it would be very strong. But with the ghastly cross handed grip it doesn't seem worth the effort.

dan_ep82

Absolutely nothing wrong with cack handed, my brother used to hit it further cack handed than he does orthadox.

200-230 isnt short for a club golfer either, 230 being on the higher end from my experience.

WheresMyPar

If your hitting drives 200-230 and in play, what's wrong with your long game?
Most courses par 4s are under 400 yards you still should be able to score

backspin.

tommypepper wrote: »

Ah ha! There is the difference. I go home happy in myself after a good hitting day. I don't talk about it. There are plenty of guys who say they shot 36 and had 3 blanks. I'm not one of them

To me the game is about scoring as low as possible that's the challenge. I know some guys who if they have a good day driving the ball they are happy. I like to score low. I've had a few 1 overs. I've never got a level par or under. That's my goal.

Chipping is a big weakness for me, if I have a good day chipping I'm fairly happy as that normally means a good score. I never practice it though. I think that would be the key to getting down to 6 or 7 for me.

backspin.

tommypepper wrote: »

Jeez I hate the driving range.

The enjoyment of hitting it pure isn't just about the strike. For me its about looking up and following the flight of the ball out along the line you aimedl.

I agree about the strike too. A purely struck fairway wood or long iron into a green is a thing of beauty.

Minderbinder

backspin. wrote: »

tommypepper wrote: »

Ah ha! There is the difference. I go home happy in myself after a good hitting day. I don't talk about it. There are plenty of guys who say they shot 36 and had 3 blanks. I'm not one of them

To me the game is about scoring as low as possible that's the challenge. I know some guys who if they have a good day driving the ball they are happy. I like to score low. I've had a few 1 overs. I've never got a level par or under. That's my goal.

Chipping is a big weakness for me, if I have a good day chipping I'm fairly happy as that normally means a good score. I never practice it though. I think that would be the key to getting down to 6 or 7 for me.

I would spend hours doing the 10 yard bucket challenge in the garden back in the day. But I would change the distances obviously. Made a game out of it pretending I was competing with Mickelson and Woods. Happy out, and really improved my touch.

death1234567

Obstacle to my improvement : Poor hand-eye co-ordination which results in off centre strikes. Hand eye co-ordination is the single biggest factor in dictating how good you are at golf.

rickis tache

try telling these guys...
http://www.internationalblindgolf.com/news-events/events-2017-Irish-Open.html