Gaining consistency

More often or not I play to my handicap (21).
Most rounds I am either good of the tee with a poor short game or poor off the tee with a good short game and always manage to play to 21. Whats the secret to getting boths parts to come together regularly? If I could manage this I am sure my h/cap would tumble.

I feel at the moment that it is mental and that I probaly relax too much on one part and then as I have to save shots concentrate on the other part.

Any help would be very welcome.

I don't think I have to say any more... you should check the thread on preshot routines. Tension is a killer on short game (less than full swings). Adrenaline will juice up all your shots, resulting in longer shots than you want, (and then shorter shots when you try to compensate for the adrenaline).

Work on practicing all the areas you have trouble with. If you are just playing golf without getting out to the driving range to work on your shots, you will have trouble becoming consistant.

If you do go to the range, don't just whack a bucket of balls. Make your practice meaningful. Aim for targets, imagine hazzards you want to avoid and work with all your clubs. The idea of this type of practice is so that it is representative of the types of shots you will face in a regular round of golf. If you can consistantly make these shots on the range, you will feel more comfortable and confident about making the same shots on the course.

__________________
Gord

Quote of the month:
"It's easy to see golf not as a game at all but as some whey-faced, nineteenth-century Presbyterian minister's fever dream of exorcism achieved through ritual and self-mortification." ~Bruce McCall

Gaining Consistency,

This is the Holy Grail of golf from the top players in the world to the once a month hacker.

Gaining Consistency only comes as Gord says with practice and experiance, by this I mean recalling shot you have already played at some time and using these thoughts to escape the present shot.

I would think most players off 21 can drive the ball ok, so for me they just over estimate their present ability.

Try playing one round of golf with your driver or three wood off the tee and then don't hit a club bigger than a 7 iron, even if you can't reach the green.

The idea is you can probably hit 7 to wedge very well anything longer starts problems, with 7 to wedge you will stay straight and on the fairway thus reducing you wasted shots.

If I am wrong about you ability to hit longer clubs then it must be your short game because the difference between single figures and 20 is chipping and putting. Remember you only have to chip and putt if you miss the green so try the round I have descibed above.

Hope this helps


Ian.

Let me tell you what I do at my schools ...

Anybody from an 18-handicap up take 7 clubs and that is it. They take a 3-wood or 5-wood, 7-SW and their putter. They play a round a golf (sometimes 2) and the aim of the 'game' is to hit good shots. We look for good strikes, keeping the ball in play, keeping it moving towards the green in a semi-stright line and avoid major f-ups. If that means 5-wood tee shots or 7-iron tee shots - keep it out of trouble and go where the short grass is!

Most (and by that I mean more do than don't) of them cut 5 shots off their average score, in the first round. I have had 1 or 2 players who instead of scoring in the 120's, score low hundreds and high 90's.

We always play safe golf (not conservative, beyond that, way beyond that). I tell them it's like running through a landmine field - SAFE. Even if you have a bunker in the way, play way to the outside and then onto the green for an example ...

Where a lot a very high handicappers struggle is the short game and recovery shots. Eliminate all of those by avoiding the trouble and by leaving full shots into greens or to get the ball near the green and they're in business.

In fact, even if you're a 12 or a 13 handicap - try it for good practice.

__________________
Golf is easy ... once you know how.
Graham Arnott, teaching professional
Kelrosa Golf Studios
www.kelrosagolf.com
Class 'A' PGA Member
Full Member: World Golf Teachers Federation (GB&I)

I agree with everything said so far but would like to suggest a bag composition of my own.

13° 3 wood
19° 5 Wood
24° Rescue club/9 Wood
These three woods will give you options from distance and the ability to reach undefended greens.

5-SW theres no point carrying a 3 or 4 iron if you can use the 24° Club

Chipper This club needs practice (as do all clubs of course) but is a better percentage club than a wedge for chipping.

Putter (naturally)

Thats 11 clubs.

Try and get a rough idea of how far you hit each club and invest in a course planner for your course. This way you know what club is required for each shot. It also tells you what club cannot possibly reach a hazard and lets you plan that way. When attacking the green always remember the target should be the top of the pin, not the cup. Always add a club to what you had in mind and you will rarely drop one into a hazard short of the green. The most effective way for a higher handicapper like yourself to trim shots off is to become the best putter you can be. Unlike the long game there is no physical barrier to you putting as well as the pros. If you save yourself even half a putt a green thats nine shots a round and would get your handicap down well into the teens.

Always stay positive and realistic. Don't play to impress, play to win. Use every shot you are given. If you have two putts to break standard scratch, take two putts dont get greedy and risk three putting. Six inches short is better than six feet by.

Good Luck

Thanks for the tips guys.

Should be out at the weekend so will give the reduced number of clubs a go.

The caveat is that a dual chipper cannot be used in competition (a single sided chipper can, however).

But, for the sake of your golf game, you might want to learn how to chip with your other clubs. Dave Pelz gives some great insight into what club to pick for a chipping situation. That aside, my favourite chipping club is still my Texas Wedge (as my chipping is still horrible - I don't trust it yet, so often overswing and decelerate). The Texas Wedge, however, is easy to use, and is often more accurate for someone with weak chipping. My mantra is 'If you're on the collar, use the putter'. Plus, this leaves room for another wedge... mmmm.... wedges...