Are You Improving ?

FixdePitchmark

Do you feel your are improving as a golfer.

I know we can just look at raw data of handicap, but that is not the full picture sometimes.

So , over the last year and at present are you improving ?

Tin_Cup

Over the last twelve months where I have been concentrating hard on trying to improve there have been plenty of spells where I have been shooting brutal scores but I know my ball striking is improving or my fitness, short game etc etc.

The handicap is a good reflection but as I have seen if everything clicks into place a couple of the times in the season your handicap can drop very quickly and might not be an exactly accurate view of your game. (i.e. you get cut with an ESR)

I feel that if you are honest with yourself even though the scores mightn't reflect it you will know if parts of your game are improving.

FixdePitchmark

I am very up and down - but feel I can play golf now I never could have before - So I've voted improving. My best scores ever have been in last year.

dan_ep82

Started in September at an average of 120 strokes. Averaging low 90's now with a personal best of 88. That being said usually if one part of my game gets better another suffers.

Russman

Personally I feel I'm improving a lot over where I was 2/3 years ago, but I'm nowhere near the level I was at 7/8 years ago.

My stroke average from 2003-2008 was 73.8 (around 140 singles comps) and from 2009-2012 was 80.5 (around 100 comps). Second half of this year its been back to around 77. Plus the course is now par 70 where it used to be par 69.
Injury and surgery had a big part to play, but some bad swing habits also. The main difference was my bad shots got worse, a bad drive used to be edge of the fairway or first cut, then it became in the trees, leading to 3 or 4 total car crash holes every round. Good news this year is that the real bad shots have been a lot fewer, no less bad though, so still work to do.:)

Ben1977

Ya, this year i've improved. Although my handicap has not shifted at all, i'm definitly improving. Can't wait for next year to start. My decision making has changed which is a big step for me. Instead of averaging around the 30pt mark, its increased to 34pt. I feel like I'm very close to shooting sub 80 and maybe finally getting to single figures.

TheDoc

In one weekend I went from 12 to 6. Back out to 7 at the moment.

I've been down low before as a teen, and after coming back last year I knew it would be a case of getting back in the groove after so many years out of the game. But there was times last year I could feel things were clicking, and I was playing really good golf but not scoring well. This year early in the summer I decided to ditch the cheap ass wedges I got, and invested in good Cleveland ones. Coupled that with just gaining some confidence and I shot three rounds of sub 76 in 4 days all of the abck stakes which got me slashed six shots.

I'm somewhat struggling at the moment, but only due to me being fiddly and changing my swing : / Hopnig to settle down over winter, and then hit the ground running next year

shane0007

For me, I have struggled due to back injury. Got to 5 handicap, car crash damaged my lower back & I had to give up the game for about 12 years. Started back playing 3 years ago but struggled with my back & ultimately my turning within my swing. Playing off 20 upto September this year. Got some lessons from my local pro & down to 17.5 now. Striking, turning & hitting the ball so much better now. Home club is par 71 & I am shooting 65 to 69 net lately.

More importantly I am really enjoying the game now I am not recovering from every shot.

FixdePitchmark

Positive looking so far - should have left results open so we could see who is who (not sure if I can change that ? )

So congratulations Boardsies - proves that all our talk and effort is working in a way. I'll take the positives and say we are getting there on here. Wherever there is. We think we are getting there and that is half the battle.

realgolfgeek

funny how the average handicap hasn't improved in the past 40 years with all these improvers though

FixdePitchmark

realgolfgeek wrote: »

funny how the average handicap hasn't improved in the past 40 years with all these improvers though

You always know how to keep it real - real.

But maybe we are not average - we are far more into golf than a bloke who turns up and plays once a week / 2 times a months. The are great lads for keeping the average - average.

But - yes, we are dealing with a sentiment here and not a reality.

ForeRight

I've got worse. I'm not too bothered though as I'm just not playing regular enough to be able to maintain a good level of play.

I've had 2-3 very very good rounds but one thing that has cone into my game is a shocker of a hole. I could be on level 2's for 7-8 holes then baling cones 2-3 scratches. I used to somehow manage to scrape a point when I had a bad hole but not anymore.

As I said I'm putting if down to limited play time and no practice so I'm not too disheartened. Next year will be no different I feel.

I still love playing though even when I play poor as there are always a couple of shots that make me think yeah, it's still in there. They bring me back the next day.

CarefulNow!

Yes I am glad to say I am improving, 7-5 this year. To keep improving I will concentrate on short game and mind game

slingerz

staying the same really.

have massive scope to improve short game which should save me a couple of shots a round if i manage to improve

putting is also weak so a big improvement needed there

spacecoyote

Would have to say that I feel my overall game has improved in the last year.

It hasn't really shown in my handicap, as its been fairly static for the year, but my average score has improved & the Standard Deviation of my scores is a lot tighter.

My bad rounds now are considerably better than my bad rounds a year ago.

Do I have more room to improve further, yes, a massive amount. But I think that technically I'm in a much better place too. I've been out for my first Winter lesson recently. After 2 rounds playing & sticking to the changes they already feel fairly comfortable. First round after there were a couple of poor contacts, but at the weekend I didn't duff a single shot, only really lost strokes with the putter (struggled for pace) & through finding my share of greenside bunkers out in the Heritage.

I'm hoping that the next year will see real meaningful results in handicap & scoring through some hard work over the winter.

TrapperChamonix

2 wins and h/c reduction from 18 to 13.7 this year. Lessons, targeted practice (mainly putting) and new irons have made the difference.
In July 2012 I set a goal of 14 H/C by end of 2013.
Goals for next year: H/C to 12 and to break 80 for 1st time on my course.

benny79

Hey Trapper can you be more specific in how you dropped? what area you practised drills etc.

I started off @18 2 years ago and now off 20 and rising should be probably higher! didnt hand a lot of cards in due to embarrassing scoring, Have played more golf then ever this year aswel!

started the year with lessons started to improve missed a couple of weeks playing and slowly detereated!( ended up back at square 1) which is very dishearten.

back getting lessons now again decided just to practise till feb, get stuff drilled into me.

but any help much apprecated did you get fitted for Irons? did they really make a big difference? my conference is at a all time low and lessons are expensive!

Wombatman

benny79 wrote: »

Hey Trapper can you be more specific in how you dropped? what area you practised drills etc.

I started off @18 2 years ago and now off 20 and rising should be probably higher! didnt hand a lot of cards in due to embarrassing scoring, Have played more golf then ever this year aswel!

started the year with lessons started to improve missed a couple of weeks playing and slowly detereated!( ended up back at square 1) which is very dishearten.

back getting lessons now again decided just to practise till feb, get stuff drilled into me.

but any help much apprecated did you get fitted for Irons? did they really make a big difference? my conference is at a all time low and lessons are expensive!

Can you tell us more about the putting also Trapper? Thanks.

TrapperChamonix

benny79 wrote: »

Hey Trapper can you be more specific in how you dropped? what area you practised drills etc.

I started off @18 2 years ago and now off 20 and rising should be probably higher! didnt hand a lot of cards in due to embarrassing scoring, Have played more golf then ever this year aswel!

started the year with lessons started to improve missed a couple of weeks playing and slowly detereated!( ended up back at square 1) which is very dishearten.

back getting lessons now again decided just to practise till feb, get stuff drilled into me.

but any help much apprecated did you get fitted for Irons? did they really make a big difference? my conference is at a all time low and lessons are expensive!

Man I feel your pain, cause I've been that soldier.

Here's what made a difference to me where I felt I made the difference in the last 18 months

#1 Motivation or keeping ahead of my 13 yr old son: He dropped from 28 H/C to 18 this summer, so I was highly motivated to keep ahead of him as I expect a similar improvement by him next year. Also it’s a lot of fun practicing with him.
#2 Lessons: Approx 1 every 4 months. When I started lessons last year I was horrified at what my swing looked like and my Pro was hard pushed to say anything positive about it. He started with simple steps and when I have engrained them I go on to the next step. Closed club face, not cocking my wrists on the top of the backswing, wrong swing path and tempo are the biggest things. We are trying to develop a draw instead of my usual fade/slice. I’m at the stage where I am hitting straight most of the times but on my drives I still have the tendency to fade and more damagingly slice very badly. FYI most holes on my home course is set up for a draw.
#3 Putting: Discussed on earlier thread
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=87388890
#4 Pitching: Self learning: Started practicing in July using the clock method. Good example shown on boards.ie
https://us.v-cdn.net/6034073/uploads/attachments/532469/245531.jpg
#5 Game Management: Poor game management was a big area of lost shots for me. I now have a game plan for each hole on my home course. It will vary according whether I am playing green or white tees and the strength and direction of the wind but I have a clear idea of where I want to hit the ball to. E.G. Our 10th hole is a par 5 (540 yds off the Whites) with oob on the right. Most of the time I would hit a driver and hit oob at least 30% of the time. Even if I did hit a whopper of 280yds on the fairway I still would have 260yds to the green. If I hit that perfect shot 10% of the time I would be lucky and if you fall short the ball drops to the right leaving a very difficult pitch. Far better hitting a 3w 220 yds off the tee, hit a 3w or 5w and leave yourself a 8 to PW for the 3rd shot. I would say that I have reduced the number of times I hit my driver in a round from 13 to between 7 & 9. My rule is that I only hit it if there is a material advantage in using it.
#6 Don't count your score: I'm a great man for getting overexcited if I have 2 good holes in a row and make a mess of the next hole. So I purposely don't count my score as I go around. Time enough at the end of the round. I try to play every shot the same. Biggest problem with this is your playing partners giving you updates as you go along.


I was playing with a really good set of TM RAC irons, but I suspect they were better suited to an 8 h/c than an 18. I got a set of Mizuno's 825 about 5 weeks ago. So I had made a lot of progress already. While my good shots are no better my bad shots are not anyway as bad.
I didn't get them fitted because. I am regular height (5'10'') and I had already decided that playing with stiff shafts was making be force my swing, so I moved to R flex.

I had an epiphany this year, in that I realised that I was making decisions based on the golfer I thought I should be rather than the golfer I actually am. Whether it is blades v game improving Irons, R flex v's S, being overly aggressive in the shots I take (220 over water to stop on a dime) or thinking I can hit my 5i 190yds I was always on the macho side of the equation.
You will see another thread on here where Greenbo exposes the use of conservative game management and (with the exception of laying up on the par 3:D) he is absolutely right. But I think you also need to apply that logic to you improvement goals. They need to be realistic and achievable. I wonder if you are putting too much emphasis (and pressure) into one area and when that fails you, you get disheartned. From June 2012 to April 2013 my H/C went from 17 to 18, then I had a round from heaven that showed I could do it. This was followed by another 3 months of not getting over 30 points in a competition. But ironically I was getting better and better. In August / Sept / Oct I've played consistently well and won again. I fully expect another period of poor performance again soon, but believe that I will come out of it better again.

Sorry for the Essay:eek:

benny79

Essay! I have read books at this stage still no joy! Im like your twin
I was seriously thinking of throwin in the towel till I had a lesson last sat and although he told me I have gone right back 2 the start and was dishearted it has giving me hope some at least.

Think is: I use a putting grip, have game improvement irons (which could be still wrong I know) and try not to count my score cause Im totally like you get carried away very easily.

as far as game management I can just as easily hit my 3W OOB just as my Driver! and my motivation is very low at this point was even considering going to FG for a custom fit thank god I didnt as I would of gone with all my bad habits!

hopefully after a few lessons Ill be back on track defo going to use the pitching method and your putting idea of not looking at ball in practise of course

PARlance

Initial HC of 17, Closing HC of 17.... the improvement has been immense though. (Not be sarcastic btw)

ND's of 10's, 11 and even a 12 at the start of this year were all too common.

However, looking at golfnet there, my last 10 rounds gave me a total of 325 points, 1 bad round of 25 points in there and only 1 cut in there too of 40 points.
Take those out and I averaged 33 points per round over 8 rounds in Sept and Oct.
I was playing great in September barring the fact that I was having a nervous breakdowns on the greens.
Even more encouraging is that I was going through the motions in October (not deliberately so don't bite) and I was still walking off with good scores.
I take far more encouragement from October than September.

Gutted when the winters rules kicked in, I was actually depressed for a week after it tbh. But I've copped myself on and looking forward to lessons and a lot of work over the winter.
Time to switch my attention to short game and putting!

I could very likely be in line for a observation cut based on the last while, if I'm being honest, I have mixed feelings about that.
I want to go as low as possible, but I'd prefer if it was me putting in a good round that resulted in a cut to get lower.

TrapperChamonix

benny79 wrote: »

Essay! I have read books at this stage still no joy! Im like your twin
I was seriously thinking of throwin in the towel till I had a lesson last sat and although he told me I have gone right back 2 the start and was dishearted it has giving me hope some at least.

Think is: I use a putting grip, have game improvement irons (which could be still wrong I know) and try not to count my score cause Im totally like you get carried away very easily.

as far as game management I can just as easily hit my 3W OOB just as my Driver! and my motivation is very low at this point was even considering going to FG for a custom fit thank god I didnt as I would of gone with all my bad habits!

hopefully after a few lessons Ill be back on track defo going to use the pitching method and your putting idea of not looking at ball in practise of course

Darkest before the dawn. Keep the Faith

ssbob

This is what has given me the faith that I have improved:

I played with a friend recently whom I hadn't played with in about 18 months, he is a former scratch golfer(maybe 15 years ago) but lately maybe 8-10 handicapper, he couldn't believe the difference in my ball striking. He reckoned before that I didn't have the ability to play but now he can see the ability but also said he can nearly hear my swing thoughts and thats whats causing the brain farts.

It was nice to get reminded that I am indeed improving, even if the handicap is quite static.

GreeBo

Started the year at 8, got to 9.5 on the last qualifier of the season.
So No, I'm not!

PARlance

GreeBo wrote: »

Started the year at 8, got to 9.5 on the last qualifier of the season.
So No, I'm not!

If we "thank" that what way would you take it?

You were unlucky with injuries during the year weren't you?

GreeBo

PARlance wrote: »

If we "thank" that what way would you take it?

You were unlucky with injuries during the year weren't you?

Cant really blame them to be honest, but they did contribute to 3 or 4 0.1s.

Left it too long between lessons (from never getting lessons until 3 years ago) and went off the rails big time; no consistency.

Still putting like a pro though...;)

PARlance

TrapperChamonix wrote: »

...
You will see another thread on here where Greenbo exposes the use of conservative game management and (with the exception of laying up on the par 3:D) he is absolutely right.

GreeBo wrote: »

Cant really blame them to be honest, but they did contribute to 3 or 4 0.1s.

Left it too long between lessons (from never getting lessons until 3 years ago) and went off the rails big time; no consistency.

Still putting like a pro though...;)

What's more annoying, being called Greenbo or drifting out to double figures?
I'd have blamed the injury! You'll get right back down again next year with that putting

FixdePitchmark

Best of luck Greebo getting back to single figures - you will with your short game.

So we are a positive bunch us Boardsie's or delusional as "Real" would think (65%) - but it goes to show we are feeling good about where we are going.

Most would think it is the handicap that counts - but at least we can dream and think we are improving , if we are in fact not (lol).

I've had a great year Breaking 80 3 times - It is like you are going nowhere then it can just click. The more work you put in , it will pay off eventually.

Great Post Trapper - my story is the same as that.

One thing that I discovered ,now invaluable to my future as a golfer - is that my swing goes back to the old swing after a few months - it means like an NCT - I need to go to a pro when I don't need to go to a pro (if you get me) - it will be like a service every 3 months. If the big stuff is right for me - I have more time on the short game.

So here goes scratch (****ing dreamer).

I said to my Dad today - what do you do if you shoot in the 60s , there is nowhere to go then - my brother said 59 (lol).

denishurley

Started the year at 21.7, had reached 22.4 by the start of September, down to 17.4 by October 10. Came straight back up to playing off 18 but finishing the year far happier with my game.

FixdePitchmark

Lads is it it to late to change poll to show who voted what ?

Barnaboy

Continuing the generally upbeat feeling on this thread, I also voted improving. Started year at 15.1, started got 6 lessons in May/June and drifted up to 15.9. Was very slow to improve, a combination of bedding in a new swing and putting too much pressure on myself. Only when I relaxed did the improvements come. Finished the season at 13.9.

Interestingly I have had three goals in golf for years- break 80, get an eagle and have a double bogey free round. Finally got an eagle during the summer, holing out a 9-iron from 120m. I've had two 82s and an 83 since September so getting closer. On Sunday just gone, I got to the 15th without one and it was a bit unlucky too.

All of those have happened, or almost happened because my ball striking has improved significantly because of the lessons.

That said though, still a lot of room for improvement. Still too many out of nowhere poor shots.

sydneybound

I'm one of the 12 who said I'm staying the same. Since 2011 I've consistently played to a 8 handicap however due to a lack of competitions in my club I don't get the chance to play in that many qualifying events, normally between 6-8 comps a year.

Generally out of six rounds I get four .1s, hit the buffer once then get cut in another which have been cuts like .2, .4, or .6 so after that I always end up around the same handicap. Actually I think I'm 7.6 to be exact and I started the year at 8.0.

That said I do find myself getting better and if I consistently played in comps every single weekend I reckon I'd be off 6/7 at a push. Dreaming to play off 5 one day.

Most importantly I really enjoy my golf and look forward to it all week.

ballyk

Started the year off 19 (18.5) following a 0.6 cut in the end of year review. Finished the year at 16.3 which was a nice bit of progress.

The year started well as I was shooting good scores and got a few cuts. Then I got a lesson and changed my swing which took some time to bed in. Driving in particular became inconsistent and is the one aspect I'm not happy with and will need to work on.

Year summary
4 cuts of 0.3 and 1 cut of 2.1
7 rounds in the buffer zone
6 rounds where I missed the buffer by 1 or 2 shots
5 rounds where I did worse than that

In stableford terms
Best score: 45 points (81 shots)
No of rounds where I scored 30 pts or better: 18

Overall it was a good year as I finally won a competition in my home club. Handicap went the right direction and probably better than I would have expected at the start of the year. The most pleasing thing overall was that my consistency improved a lot with 18 out of 22 rounds being in the 30 points or higher range. The plan is to get a couple of lessons over the winter and see where we go from there.

Mr. Larson

GreeBo wrote: »

Started the year at 8, got to 9.5 on the last qualifier of the season.
So No, I'm not!

Same here! Started 8.0 finished 9.9. In my defence, I changed every club in the bag from driver to putter [feel like I have a class setup now] & played about a third less golf due to losing my job and getting another one. Feel like I'm a better golfer somehow... despite the drift... ah the deluded golfer's mind . 8 was probably a bit too low for me in hindsight.

ssbob

FixdePitchmark wrote: »

Lads is it it to late to change poll to show who voted what ?

Had a look there and don't seem to be able to allow that. Greebo any thoughts?

GreeBo

ssbob wrote: »

Had a look there and don't seem to be able to allow that. Greebo any thoughts?

Nah, if you create it privately it wont remember who voted what, so you cant get it back

alxmorgan

I would say that I am yes. Started year on 14.1 before drifting out to 14.9.
Then had my purple patch of my first win and 40 pts in an open 3 days later for cuts of 1.5 and 0.9 to get me to 12.5 which is where I finished after a number of 0.1s and smaller cuts.

Would have liked to get to 12 and I've found some form since qualifying ended (typically :rolleyes: ).

I have started to develop a safer shot from the tee. I accidentally ended up with 2 drivers (don't ask).....a 12 degree K15 which won't go right and a 9.5 degree G20 which won't go left. Have both in the bag now and both get used in different scenarios.

My irons are generally pretty good but my miss is left and that will be main focus of lessons I am going to start in next few weeks.

Pitching is pretty solid...use a cut-down Pelz method...cut-down as haven't time to dial in the whole set so use 9 o'clock swing with Sw, GW, PW and 9 iron.

Chipping has improved a good bit in last few weeks as I have rediscovered my touch with my SW which had left me.

Putting has been much improved this year and it generally varies from solid to very good.

So all in all quite happy with where I am heading. Hoping current good from lasts and I hit the ground running when qualifying starts again. I have a fear as kids get older I'll be able to play less and less so ideally I'd make single figures before then. Putting myself in decent position off tee has always been my biggest issue and hopefully my new found confidence in that regard will carry the rest of my game on.

Bring on next year !!!

FixdePitchmark

Class alx - goes to show it is all a state of mind.

Love the 2 drivers in the bag - I'm thinking, would my bag carry a spare brain ? , there is a drink section that keeps things cool.

Kids are the next issue for me too - thinking the young lad (7) - needs to start coming out with me. At his age I was out playing anything with a ball with other kids alone - that doesn't happen these days in Dublin. The Dad has to be a combination of Super Nanny, Bob Geldof and Bill Cullen - my Old Lad could do what he wanted once the cash came in.

I hope to beat you to scratch. ("The Scratcher")

alxmorgan

FixdePitchmark wrote: »

Class alx - goes to show it is all a state of mind.

Love the 2 drivers in the bag - I'm thinking, would my bag carry a spare brain ? , there is a drink section that keeps things cool.

Kids are the next issue for me too - thinking the young lad (7) - needs to start coming out with me. At his age I was out playing anything with a ball with other kids alone - that doesn't happen these days in Dublin. The Dad has to be a combination of Super Nanny, Bob Geldof and Bill Cullen - my Old Lad could do what he wanted once the cash came in.

I hope to beat you to scratch. ("The Scratcher")

Looking forward to bringing my two out playing with me but that's a good ways off yet. Will give them the start I never had. Didn't start playing till 5 or so years ago and regret it now.

Doubt I'll ever make scratch but I'd be happy with being single figures

My second driver is my version of Phils Frankenwood

blackwhite

My handicap has only improved by 0.3 this year, but then I've only managed to get in 3 qualifying comps.

GAA has clashed with competitions nearly every weekend this year, and last weekend was the first since last December that I didn't have football at least one day of a weekend (I'm relieved to be retiring this winter!).

Even weekends when matches were on Saturdays, the CCC in Sligo usually only confirmed the fixture at the start of the week, meaning that competition slots were usually fully booked up by the time I'd know the fixtures :mad:

I've managed to get quite a few casual rounds in, and from that I can feel that my iron-striking has improved quite a lot. My short game is probably a little bit worse than it was last year, and is certainly an area that needs more attention over the winter and into next year (I'd consider my putting to be above average, but chipping and wedge play has slipped back). It's play from the tee where my game has fallen away this year - I've switched to mainly using my 3 wood towards the end of the year, and my general scoring has improved a lot since then. Hoping to get a few rounds in between now and Christmas, and then will be ready to hit the group running when scoring comps resume next March/April!