No mans land. (Stuck on a handicap)

FixdePitchmark

Anyone else just stuck at a handicap at present.

Stuck between 4 and 5 and just floating in that area.

Strange place when you go to 4 - float back up, get to 5, float back down.

Anyone else stuck .

I'm particularly in a strange place as floating from Junior to senior, makes you a bit useless for club teams. And the jump to senior is a different game.

I guess everyone finds a place they settle in - but to change you need to probably change routine - practice - swing - lessons - equipment. You need a new approach perhaps.

Anyway - anyone elses stuck ?

Maybe you are happy where you are ?

Any plans to change where you are and how ?

Russman

FixdePitchmark wrote: »

Anyone else just stuck at a handicap at present.

Stuck between 4 and 5 and just floating in that area.

Strange place when you go to 4 - float back up, get to 5, float back down.

Anyone else stuck .

I'm particularly in a strange place as floating from Junior to senior, makes you a bit useless for club teams. And the jump to senior is a different game.

I guess everyone finds a place they settle in - but to change you need to probably change routine - practice - swing - lessons - equipment. You need a new approach perhaps.

Anyway - anyone elses stuck ?

Maybe you are happy where you are ?

Any plans to change where you are and how ?

Yep, stuck in the 7/8 bracket this last long time. Very frustrating, was a very comfortable 3 about eight years ago, then all the way out to 9, back to 5 three seasons ago, out to 9 again before hovering at the 7/8 mark. It's a mad game.

This year is the year..........:rolleyes:

CMOTDibbler

In terms of golf, I'm a high handicapper and so still have plenty of room to improve relativey easily. But in another sport I would probably have been the equivalent of a four or five handicapper at certain times.

The difference imo is training. And usually good quality coaching as well. I'm talking about five to six times a week training and at least one coaching session a month. Training can be gym work and mental skills as well as technical and on course work.

You're at that point where there's a natural plateau that you have to put in a big effort to get past. The relative effort is much higher than say for a 20 handicapper to get to 12.

FixdePitchmark

Russman wrote: »

Yep, stuck in the 7/8 bracket this last long time. Very frustrating, was a very comfortable 3 about eight years ago, then all the way out to 9, back to 5 three seasons ago, out to 9 again before hovering at the 7/8 mark. It's a mad game.

This year is the year..........:rolleyes:

This is almost sacrilegious or slievenenaghmonish :P:D

But at least you are in a wider band that is interesting in that - you get your wins and have days you flash back to your top level .

Like it is a wide range from 8 to 3.

I guess I'm finding out Cat 1 is a new game - to make any move at .1 cuts you need a serious couple of shifts in ability.

FixdePitchmark

CMOTDibbler wrote: »

In terms of golf, I'm a high handicapper and so still have plenty of room to improve relativey easily. But in another sport I would probably have been the equivalent of a four or five handicapper at certain times.

The difference imo is training. And usually good quality coaching as well. I'm talking about five to six times a week training and at least one coaching session a month. Training can be gym work and mental skills as well as technical and on course work.

You're at that point where there's a natural plateau that you have to put in a big effort to get past. The relative effort is much higher than say for a 20 handicapper to get to 12.

Agree with above - I'm not saying I'm not loving golf.

But I think the time in anything in life where work pays off and you see the improvements is the most rewarding.

Be it relationships.
Professional life.
Learning a new skill.

For people on here who have pushed hard at the game - you do hit a wall at different points.

Someone asked me recently how did I get to my handicap - I told them golf was the hardest thing I ever did to try improve.

You put a few hours a week into anything you improve.

But golf gets to a point where it is 15 hours + a week you have to put in. That is getting fairly serious.

I'd say lads near scratch - must have had periods that they are putting in 20 + hours a week.

It is a sport for the young, off all summer - if you want to get low low (IMO)

All the amateur events are dominated by kids from 16 to 23 or so.

So outside of that - I guess we have to accept we will all meet a limit of handicap, the limitation being the time we can give the game.

FixdePitchmark

Another point also;

Is how daft we are as golfers. We may put little time into our game, but go out and buy a set of clubs or a 400 euro driver. Turn up at weekend no work on game and give out **** about an iron or drive.

I know another topic - but are we a bit delusional golfers.

We are probably very bad (golfers) at actually understanding what it takes to get better at golf.

Russman

FixdePitchmark wrote: »

This is almost sacrilegious or slievenenaghmonish :P:D

But at least you are in a wider band that is interesting in that - you get your wins and have days you flash back to your top level .

Like it is a wide range from 8 to 3.

I guess I'm finding out Cat 1 is a new game - to make any move at .1 cuts you need a serious couple of shifts in ability.

Ohh jeez I'm nowhere near good enough for a PP team

I suppose to be fair there were 3 hip surgeries involved too so that's a factor also.

Fwiw I found the biggest difference from say 6/7 to 3 was that my bad shots were just a bit better. Instead of being in the hay I was a few yards off the fairway, or a poorly struck iron was on the fringe or close to the green rather than in the pond.

Cat 1 is very manageable if you keep your wits about you. I remember playing against a former Irish Close winner and he was seriously impressive, the funny thing was, he didn't really hit any shots a 5 handicapper couldn't hit, he just didn't hit any real bad/destructive ones.

FixdePitchmark

Russman wrote: »

Ohh jeez I'm nowhere near good enough for a PP team

I suppose to be fair there were 3 hip surgeries involved too so that's a factor also.

Fwiw I found the biggest difference from say 6/7 to 3 was that my bad shots were just a bit better. Instead of being in the hay I was a few yards off the fairway, or a poorly struck iron was on the fringe or close to the green rather than in the pond.

Cat 1 is very manageable if you keep your wits about you. I remember playing against a former Irish Close winner and he was seriously impressive, the funny thing was, he didn't really hit any shots a 5 handicapper couldn't hit, he just didn't hit any real bad/destructive ones.

Yes - like a 4/5 handicap player should be able to go say 9 to say 15 holes under par , odd 18 under.
Just his bad days can be bad bad. His bad shots can be doubles and can happen twice a day. He can have 2 bad shots in a row. The lower you get bad shots are followed by good ones - great up and downs. Pars are made.

Like a lad off say 3 or lower should never shoot over 80.
A guy off say 6 will a lot.

One thing I noticed about the younger lower guys is how routined and to be honest, slow they are. It helps their game , but it a form of torture to watch.

Russman

FixdePitchmark wrote: »

Yes - like a 4/5 handicap player should be able to go say 9 to say 15 holes under par , odd 18 under.
Just his bad days can be bad bad. His bad shots can be doubles and can happen twice a day. He can have 2 bad shots in a row. The lower you get bad shots are followed by good ones - great up and downs. Pars are made.

Like a lad off say 3 or lower should never shoot over 80.
A guy off say 6 will a lot.

One thing I noticed about the younger lower guys is how routined and to be honest, slow they are. It helps their game , but it a form of torture to watch.

Agree with pretty much all that. Apart from maybe a 3 rarely being over 80 - in theory I totally agree, but you only have to look at the scores in scratch cups or the provincial championships and there's often as many over 80 as under it (slight exaggeration but you know what I mean !).

Couldn't agree more about the slow play and the "routines". I think I mentioned it ages ago but I played with a young fella off 3 a while back and he was lasering 30 yard pitches !! FFS !!

Mantis Toboggan

Yeah that's the one thing I took from going to the Irish open in County down, their recovery shots.

Almost nobody was hitting fairways at one stage but their recovery shots were excellent, like no matter how far into the rough or how bad the lie was, they could take out a 4 iron and launch the ball 220 yards back onto the fairway.

Unfortunately I'll be stuck at 11.1 until the first week of qualifying in March

FixdePitchmark

Russman wrote: »

Agree with pretty much all that. Apart from maybe a 3 rarely being over 80 - in theory I totally agree, but you only have to look at the scores in scratch cups or the provincial championships and there's often as many over 80 as under it (slight exaggeration but you know what I mean !).

Couldn't agree more about the slow play and the "routines". I think I mentioned it ages ago but I played with a young fella off 3 a while back and he was lasering 30 yard pitches !! FFS !!

He would say - he has a 30 yard shot.

Is daft - but laser for short shots is probably lower down the list for me.

There is the unreal shot routines - not to mention the putting routine that only starts once the stage is clear.

I guess it gets to a point, that it gets so difficult, minor elements of your game are considered that - 0.1 % of the parts that make you a top top level amateur.

If you are an elite player, say scratch to + 4 + 5. You do have a licence to do whatever you want in a way.
But is tearful to play with.

Good to see that the GUI are actually putting them on the clock in the major amateur events.
But that is a little off topic.

Maybe not - we probably shouldn't ignore that the majority of better players have incredibly detailed routine.

Keano

90% of the lads I know who are off scratch, 1 or 2 have played the game since their teens. Getting their with other commitments I think is very difficult, as you said you'd need a lot of time to practice/play.

Montgolfier

Is it all mental? I mean I played off 20 when I started got to 17 then to 12 and in all that time (3 years) I never shot 42pts in a competitive round. I feel I can go lower but I do need to work at it. My point whatever handicap I'm at shooting level 36pts or a shot or two better is my goal.
Supposing my memory was wiped and handicaps didn't exist my goal would be to shoot level par.

FixdePitchmark

Montgolfier wrote: »

Is it all mental? I mean I played off 20 when I started got to 17 then to 12 and in all that time (3 years) I never shot 42pts in a competitive round. I feel I can go lower but I do need to work at it. My point whatever handicap I'm at shooting level 36pts or a shot or two better is my goal.
Supposing my memory was wiped and handicaps didn't exist my goal would be to shoot level par.

It is mental - but also - physical and mathematical.

First off - 1 shot better off 20 is a 5% improvement.
1 shot off 4 is 25 %

Cuts off 20 are .3 - but .1 off 4.

If handicaps didn't exist - far fewer people would play the game.


To be off 20 - you have to hit maybe 1 GIR
Cat 1 golfers need to hit 12 +

So as trap would say "mentality" - but there is a bit more to it at that level of difference.

So there are step changes at certain points for everyone.

The Categories are good guide as the cuts change at them points.
It puts manners on anyone who has made big strides

red ears

Whats the weak part of your game, where are you actually losing shots.

CMOTDibbler

red ears wrote: »

Whats the weak part of your game, where are you actually losing shots.

Mostly at that level, all parts of the game are pretty good to excellent. If you think about pro golfers, bogies and doubles are always possible in their game. You get offline from the tee and you're struggling to make par. You're shooting for the green needing a one putt for par.

Usually it's a lapse in concentration. You're playing well and you drop part of your routine out of over-confidence. For some people (actually for most), having a good run of holes can have a negative effect. Pressure comes on because they're counting the score before they're in the clubhouse and a dropped shot will undoubtedly ensue which can then spiral out of control as they try and 'get it back'.

One of the hardest things to do, is to put a bad shot behind you and wipe the slate clean mentally. Each shot should be looked at as your first one and everything ahead and behind forgotten about. Just concentrate on that one shot and build your round that way.

Golfgorfield

FixdePitchmark wrote: »

He would say - he has a 30 yard shot.

Is daft - but laser for short shots is probably lower down the list for me.

There is the unreal shot routines - not to mention the putting routine that only starts once the stage is clear.

I guess it gets to a point, that it gets so difficult, minor elements of your game are considered that - 0.1 % of the parts that make you a top top level amateur.

If you are an elite player, say scratch to + 4 + 5. You do have a licence to do whatever you want in a way.
But is tearful to play with.

Good to see that the GUI are actually putting them on the clock in the major amateur events.
But that is a little off topic.

Maybe not - we probably shouldn't ignore that the majority of better players have incredibly detailed routine.

Ive played GUI championships since i was 14, guess how many slow penalties have been issued?


0

luvthegame

FixdePitchmark wrote: »

I'm particularly in a strange place as floating from Junior to senior, makes you a bit useless for club teams. And the jump to senior is a different game.

I'm at 9 right now. But thats light years off category 1.
I play mostly stableford off the whites. What would happen if i started playing stroke off the tips? I'd be shooting in the 100's.

Ive put up the scoreboard for Lee Valley SC in cork. Granted its easy to lose a ball down there but look at the number of NR's and high scores from Cat 1 players. Players who hit the ball farther than me, are better putters than me, practice more than me etc etc etc

Lets set ourselves more realistic goals.

Russman

luvthegame wrote: »

I'm at 9 right now. But thats light years off category 1.
I play mostly stableford off the whites. What would happen if i started playing stroke off the tips? I'd be shooting in the 100's.

Ive put up the scoreboard for Lee Valley SC in cork. Granted its easy to lose a ball down there but look at the number of NR's and high scores from Cat 1 players. Players who hit the ball farther than me, are better putters than me, practice more than me etc etc etc

Lets set ourselves more realistic goals.

Lots of vanity handicaps knocking around in Cat 1 too

Golfgorfield

luvthegame wrote: »

I'm at 9 right now. But thats light years off category 1.
I play mostly stableford off the whites. What would happen if i started playing stroke off the tips? I'd be shooting in the 100's.

Ive put up the scoreboard for Lee Valley SC in cork. Granted its easy to lose a ball down there but look at the number of NR's and high scores from Cat 1 players. Players who hit the ball farther than me, are better putters than me, practice more than me etc etc etc

Lets set ourselves more realistic goals.

Golf is hard, what isn't clear on that leaderboard is the conditions, late march, no run, windy, cold and greens like glass with crazy pin positions.
Clubs go mad setting up courses impossible for SSC whereas they dont do this for any other comp.
In the height of competition its so easy for a round to get away from you on an away course in these conditions, ive been there many times and its demoralising knowing the armchair expert is giving it loads about how crap and fake the Cat 1 hcaps are.

Hoof Hearted2

luvthegame wrote: »

I'm at 9 right now. But thats light years off category 1.
I play mostly stableford off the whites. What would happen if i started playing stroke off the tips? I'd be shooting in the 100's.

Ive put up the scoreboard for Lee Valley SC in cork. Granted its easy to lose a ball down there but look at the number of NR's and high scores from Cat 1 players. Players who hit the ball farther than me, are better putters than me, practice more than me etc etc etc

Lets set ourselves more realistic goals.

Ah the auld hurler on the ditch, uses incomplete data to back up a weak argument.

Never mind that the CSS was 74 and for a cat 1 golfer shooting 76 is the same as shooting 106 in terms of HC adjustments, and don't even mention the prevailing weather conditions or the fact that most of the NR's were by 5 handicappers ( who in all likelihood were there just to make up the numbers), only focus on the negative and not the good scores and whatever you do don't take into consideration that Cat 1 golfers are essentially the same as any other category in terms of a scoring spread on any given day.

But other than those points your argument is sound;).

luvthegame

Hoof Hearted2 wrote: »

Ah the auld hurler on the ditch, uses incomplete data to back up a weak argument.

Never mind that the CSS was 74 and for a cat 1 golfer shooting 76 is the same as shooting 106 in terms of HC adjustments, and don't even mention the prevailing weather conditions or the fact that most of the NR's were by 5 handicappers ( who in all likelihood were there just to make up the numbers), only focus on the negative and not the good scores and whatever you do don't take into consideration that Cat 1 golfers are essentially the same as any other category in terms of a scoring spread on any given day.

But other than those points your argument is sound;).

Please explain what you think my argument is

luvthegame

Golfgorfield wrote: »

Golf is hard, what isn't clear on that leaderboard is the conditions, late march, no run, windy, cold and greens like glass with crazy pin positions.
Clubs go mad setting up courses impossible for SSC whereas they dont do this for any other comp.
In the height of competition its so easy for a round to get away from you on an away course in these conditions, ive been there many times and its demoralising knowing the armchair expert is giving it loads about how crap and fake the Cat 1 hcaps are.

You have missed my point. I'm not ragging on the Cat1's. I'm trying to say that the difference between Cat 1 and Cat2 is huge. I know LeeValley well, I know how tough it is off the tips in winter. I'm trying to point out that Cat 2's would have put up huge numbers in that setup. Hell playing even 18 holes stroke off the blues in most clubs causes chaos.

Yes lets be realistic. A guy off 5 who does everything better than me shoots 80's in a SSC. What do I think I'll score? I think I know but many others are in la la land.

Hoof Hearted2

luvthegame wrote: »

Please explain what you think my argument is

Not 100% sure and TBH I don't think you do either, but I'll give it a go.
I think the gist of it was, don't even bother trying, it's too hard, if better golfers can't shoot the lights out then I have no chance and look here is evidence (scores from the LV SSC), to back up my BS belief.

Close enough?;).

luvthegame

Hoof Hearted2 wrote: »

I think the gist of it was, don't even bother trying, it's too hard, if better golfers can't shoot the lights out then I have no chance

Don't think you read my post at all. I think you inferred what you wanted and then got the hump.

Hoof Hearted2

luvthegame wrote: »

Don't think you read my post at all. I think you inferred what you wanted and then got the hump.

Ah ok, that must be it alright, thanks for explaining.

FixdePitchmark

Enjoying the thread . Not sure what it is about, but enjoying it. Nice to get an insight into the lower game and limits.

Scores above are interesting. But good points by gorfield

I think breaking 80 off the back sticks is a good/great round anywhere .

But ..I'm beginning to think Cat 1 is too big a category ability wise. I'm not around it too long . But a lad off scratch/1 or lower is literally a different game to 5.

I guess what I'm saying (thread wise), no matter what level you are at, you hit a wall at some point .

Breaking through that wall is the hardest part of improving. It sometimes requires considerable extra effort. This extra effort can be unrealistic within your work/golf/life ballance.

And at certain times . You just don't have the time to do that .

You basically have to accept this is me now as a golfer . Embracing that perhaps is a depressing moment for some , or the start of enjoyment of the game as a game and you know your place .

Once you are enjoying it, that is all that matters .

One thing I've changed on, is this idea out there "he is a single figure player" . This idea, they are good / exceptional at golf is a nonsense.

I think . To be critical of golfers . The handicap system gives a freedom to not work on your game .

I played loads of sports at a decent level and golfers are fairly delusional. They talk about a good game but lack the work ethic. They buy equipment, they give out on course about shots and haven't swung a club in 2 weeks. It's gas. They talk about big plans but they lack action (excuse the generality to describe the group thay i am talking about).

Also there is a delusional aspect to some lower players holding up the course thinking they are on tour and can't break 80.

But the handicap system is why we can go out every week and have a modified competitive environment.

They say it is the best part of the game . But are there downsides to it too ?

I haven't fully got to the inners of that.

It certainly is different to real competitive sport.

Montgolfier

FixdePitchmark wrote: »

Enjoying the thread . Not sure what it is about, but enjoying it. Nice to get an insight into the lower game and limits.

Scores above are interesting. But good points by gorfield

I think breaking 80 off the back sticks is a good/great round anywhere .

But ..I'm beginning to think Cat 1 is too big a category ability wise. I'm not around it too long . But a lad off scratch/1 or lower is literally a different game to 5.

I guess what I'm saying (thread wise), no matter what level you are at, you hit a wall at some point .

Breaking through that wall is the hardest part of improving. It sometimes requires considerable extra effort. This extra effort can be unrealistic within your work/golf/life ballance.

And at certain times . You just don't have the time to do that .

You basically have to accept this is me now as a golfer . Embracing that perhaps is a depressing moment for some , or the start of enjoyment of the game as a game and you know your place .

Once you are enjoying it, that is all that matters .

One thing I've changed on, is this idea out there "he is a single figure player" . This idea, they are good / exceptional at golf is a nonsense.

I think . To be critical of golfers . The handicap system gives a freedom to not work on your game .

I played loads of sports at a decent level and golfers are fairly delusional. They talk about a good game but lack the work ethic. They buy equipment, they give out on course about shots and haven't swung a club in 2 weeks. It's gas. They talk about big plans but they lack action (excuse the generality to describe the group thay i am talking about).

Also there is a delusional aspect to some lower players holding up the course thinking they are on tour and can't break 80.

But the handicap system is why we can go out every week and have a modified competitive environment.

They say it is the best part of the game . But are there downsides to it too ?

I haven't fully got to the inners of that.

It certainly is different to real competitive sport.

Is it pointless to go as low as possible then as your good day will be holding your handicap? No meat on the bone for wins.

ChippingSodbury

FixdePitchmark wrote: »

Also there is a delusional aspect to some lower players holding up the course thinking they are on tour and can't break 80.

Or 90, or 100! I don't think the slow play is restricted to just the lower handicaps with fancy routines!

I'm in the same boat as you re handicap. The best way to improve is:
1. Go out and buy a 1m steel rule. Practice putting along it (in front of the telly or wherever). This will really improve your putting stroke.
2. Work on your concentration: most bad shots (certainly mine) are due to mind wandering or thinking about set-up being wrong, wrong club, wrong shot instead of just picturing the shot and sticking to the plan when making the stroke.
You can do both of these at home so no excuse.
If you can get to a course, practice your short game from 50 yds in. There aren't too many courses in Irl that you won't get to within 30 or 40 yds of green in regulation: if you can get down in two from there, you're laughing.

As you can see, I've got it all figured out and will be off scratch or better by the end of the year

ChippingSodbury

Montgolfier wrote: »

Is it pointless to go as low as possible then as your good day will be holding your handicap? No meat on the bone for wins.

Isn't that what we're all supposed to be trying to do??

Montgolfier

ChippingSodbury wrote: »

Isn't that what we're all supposed to be trying to do??

Being devils advocate here isn't that the problem with the handicap system.

The best players should compete against their own equals not some bandit with an inflated handicap thats a bit unfair. Especially when lower hcps when their out practising putting the work and the reward is swept away by a 15hcp. I suppose their not playing for prizes but it must be a motivation killer.

Barnaboy

For me the prizes never really mattered. Prizes for the most part are things you don't want (or need!). I may be a bit sad but getting a handicap cut of any size has always been a big deal for me. Probably because it continues to be a rare event. I have been making progress year after year but the progress is painfully slow. Have gone from 16 to 12 but took 5-6 years of effort. Last year was first year I didn't finish lower than I started but I'm quite hopeful about 2017. Like most have great plans for practice regime but never find the time to do anything about it....hence the slow progress!

FixdePitchmark

Montgolfier wrote: »

Being devils advocate here isn't that the problem with the handicap system.

The best players should compete against their own equals not some bandit with an inflated handicap thats a bit unfair. Especially when lower hcps when their out practising putting the work and the reward is swept away by a 15hcp. I suppose their not playing for prizes but it must be a motivation killer.

Well - lads on here have said, that there is a pattern in Ireland that lads have 3 to 4 shots in the bag. Meaning, that they have 40 pts+ in them when needed.

For lads in Cat 1 - if a lad has even 2 or 3 shots in the bag, he is against the odds.

But - look , if you are in the right club , all that is sorted out.

If wins every week in your club are 42 pts + - the club is wrong and the attitude needs to change

Russman

FixdePitchmark wrote: »

Well - lads on here have said, that there is a pattern in Ireland that lads have 3 to 4 shots in the bag. Meaning, that they have 40 pts+ in them when needed.

For lads in Cat 1 - if a lad has even 2 or 3 shots in the bag, he is against the odds.

But - look , if you are in the right club , all that is sorted out.

If wins every week in your club are 42 pts + - the club is wrong and the attitude needs to change

There's probably is a built in "cute h00r mentality" in some clubs/regions in Ireland alright. A bit like the old joke about the guy moving from one area to another and his new club ask him what he plays off. When he says 9, he's told "...well you can f--k off, you'll play off 18 like everyone else up here....":D!

Joking aside though I think I'd disagree with the "when needed" part above. The best players in the world can't produce good golf on demand, there's no way a 15 handicapper who maybe should be off 12 can produce to order.

Are there many Cat 1 guys carrying a shot or two ? I doubt it really. Yes if a Cat 1 player plays well he'll beat his handicap by anything from 1 to maybe 4 or 5 shots if he has a really good day. I mean most 5 handicappers will probably shoot level par or better maybe once a year or two years, but he'll also shoot 80 plenty of times too. I don't think that's carrying shots tbh.

To get a little closer to OT, the only way I could possibly see a Cat 1 carrying shots is if he's spent some time in the no-man's land of 3/4 where its too high for senior scratch cups and championships, too low for junior scratch and Junior Cup and nothing decent really to play in. At some point he'll ask himself (maybe even subconsciously) if he can afford the time and effort required to push on to get seriously low. If he even steps back a tiny bit its pretty much guaranteed he'll drift up to 5/6 whether he wants to or not. On his good days he'll be very good and will probably more often than not, in a match, beat the 5 who has just come down from 7, but meh, I don't even think that's carrying shots tbh, just the nature of the game.

Dublin Spur

FixdePitchmark wrote: »

Anyone else just stuck at a handicap at present.

Stuck between 4 and 5 and just floating in that area.

Strange place when you go to 4 - float back up, get to 5, float back down.

Anyone else stuck .

I'm particularly in a strange place as floating from Junior to senior, makes you a bit useless for club teams. And the jump to senior is a different game.

I guess everyone finds a place they settle in - but to change you need to probably change routine - practice - swing - lessons - equipment. You need a new approach perhaps.

Anyway - anyone elses stuck ?

Maybe you are happy where you are ?

Any plans to change where you are and how ?

I'm in exactly the same position.

Started 2016 at 4.5, got to 3.5 in July and now I'm back to 4.6.

I'm pretty happy where I am - I never practice and don't have the desire to be any lower unless it just happens naturally

Senecio

I have been between 5 and 7 for the last 20 years. But I don't consider myself stuck. Rather I have reached the level where my natural ability ends and hard work takes over. The fact is I don't put in the effort required to go lower as I have a 55hr/week job and other commitments as many of us do. I turn up on a Saturday morning and spend 10 mins chipping and putting before my tee time and that is the extent of my practice. I challenge myself to maintain my handicap. I have a fairly good idea of what it would take for me to get down to 2/3 and think I have the ability to get there and should I win the lotto one day I might set a plan to do so.