Finally did it...broke 80

I knew I was going to do it too. Everything molded into place today, driving was fine, hit 10/14 fairways, on the green in two on par 4s, on in 3 for par 5s. The conditions were dry and the wind was ridiculously cold and gusty here in Kansas.

Shot a 39 on the front due to some bad putting, but rebounded back by shooting a one over 36 on the back nine, finishing with a nice 75

When I told my playing partners I had only been playing for about a year, they didnt' believe me and well, there was some animosity throughout the round, probably thought I was sandbagging. At the end of the round, we combined scorecards (can you believe they actually kept track of my score like that), nonetheless my card and theirs matched up and that's when I knew it, felt great.

I know I can repeat, just a little more work on the shortgame and fitness for my core and I'll be breaking 70 soon.

__________________
IN THE BAG:
- 10.5 deg GX Squared TI w/UST Proforce 65 SFlex (GigaGolf.com)
- Ben Hogan CFT Ti 3i Hybrid, Steel (Used)
- Nike Pro Combo 3-PW/TT DGSL S300 (From LowPost42 on GTO - Thanks man)
- 56 deg SGS "Score Grind Scale" Wedge (GigaGolf.com)
- 54 deg Cleveland CG10 Wedge
- White Polymer Putter Model 692 - Stainless Steel
- TaylorMade TP Red Golf Ball or Titleist DT Solo (Quite the difference I know)

MY GOLF BLOG

that is great matt, not just breaking 80 but shooting a 75. A round well played

thanks shootin, how have you been scoring lately?

actually matt I had gotten so frustrated by being incosistent there was a point where I put the clubs down for a week, besides surfing vacation I had not done that in years. I then took a lesson and learned more about the back swing pivot and shifting off the ball, and a couple other things. I am not going to play a round untill I feel comfortable but I am now at four days in a row where my ball flight has been good. I have never had two days in a row where I flighted the ball this well, but right now I have done it four days in a row. with how well I am striking it, I believe it is all just a matter of time to get the feeling of this swing. It is feeling really good right now but I am not going to rush on the course and take back some of the great work I have done so far. I believe I can always go out and hack it around and play a big fade or slice and break 85 every time, but that is not fun for me. my range sessions over the last week have been very fun

MAtt,

Congrats! A job well done.

I too dream of breaking 80 (in this millennium ). I think I'm on the right track. I hope to get it before the season ends... Cheers!

I cracked it just recently, too - shot 76 several weeks ago. My current index is a 17.2 trending towards a 16.5.

Sounds like we're about the same in terms of score/index. I'm in my third year. Cracked 90 w/in 3 months of starting and couldn't break my low of 86 for 2 years now. Since the 76 I've shot 82, 85 to break the old mark twice more.

Great feeling, ain't it?

Matt
Well done ! I am in envy.
I went out today (Sheerness, Kent), and set myself up with a +1 (37 ) on the front nine and I thought I was on course to break it. I usually do the back nine in 41-42 except the wind got up and the colapse took place.
I manage to keep finding the ditches with penalty drops and ended up coming home in 46 (+11 aargggghhhh ).

How did you hold it together ?
What was your thoughts as you got close to the target?

This is not the first time in the last few weeks I have been on the verge.

anyway well done again.
Barry

Oh shootin, that's too bad about the frustration - but knowing you I'm sure you'll find a workaround and the amount of self discipline it seems that you're setting for yourself will definitely aid in your search to solid play again. good luck and keep me up to date; then you will teach me the way of shootin, right? .

It was tough, but I took one shot at a time and mainly focused on where is the best place to miss on my approach shots. My putting was absolutely spot on, finished with 34 putts which was nice. My mindset that day was very simple, Par = 70, make 70 good strokes - so I basically had a number for every stroke. And depending what number stroke that was, I would just say that in my head on the backswing to keep my tempo.

It's pretty cool, surprised it worked - but when it didn't, part of keeping it together, I never ever got down on myself - if I hit a bad one I took my 3 seconds to get mad, then moved on.

Good luck to everyone else, I played for my league today and shot a 78 with a missed Eagle on the last hole to make 76 But the fact I was on a par 5 in two alone was a great feeling.

__________________
IN THE BAG:
- 10.5 deg GX Squared TI w/UST Proforce 65 SFlex (GigaGolf.com)
- Ben Hogan CFT Ti 3i Hybrid, Steel (Used)
- Nike Pro Combo 3-PW/TT DGSL S300 (From LowPost42 on GTO - Thanks man)
- 56 deg SGS "Score Grind Scale" Wedge (GigaGolf.com)
- 54 deg Cleveland CG10 Wedge
- White Polymer Putter Model 692 - Stainless Steel
- TaylorMade TP Red Golf Ball or Titleist DT Solo (Quite the difference I know)

MY GOLF BLOG

well I am putting a positive spin because I am taking care of some issues I have had for a very long time. right now on the range I can hit the slight draw and for now that is my shot of practice because if I am hitting three yard draws then that means path and face are in good shape. I feel right now I am closer to being a scratch golfer then I had ever been, even closer then when I was a 4.3 index in may. It is also a good lesson for myself in mental discipline.

so matt,
I did not play for a month and focused only on working on the pivot. so first round out I shot a 75 with three three putts and two balls in the water. played an extra nine and my knee started swelling from a surfing injury a month ago so I am forced to lay off the golf. so was I getting it figured out, not sure but I did hit 12 greens and drove the ball well, best ball striking round I had played in a long time. have you broke 80 again since your first post on this thread?

Fantastic, well done, dont be too dissapointed if you dont shoot 70's all the time, i remember when I broke 80 for the first time. I thought that was it and every time I was getting midd or low 80's I was very angry with myself, even now i have rounds in 80's and have to take the good and the bad.

Shootin, it all sounds just about right for you - I apologize for not resoponding in this thread, have had some odd CPU problems.

How is your knee? It's funny you mention knee-swelling because my father is actually going through the same thing right now from when he blew out his knee playing baseball in his younger days, he just had surgery two days ago.

Thanks for the congrats SLF -I've actually been shooting very well since I broke 80 - there is just so much more confidence for me in club selection because I know my yardages and my putting is quite satisfactory. Since breaking 80, I've played only twice, both rounds of 76 - my 3wood on the same par 5 keeps acting up, might have to toss it, but other than that everything feels spot on.

At the moment I'm working hard on building the core to get some more distance - but my swing is absolutely effortless (amazing how just 'releasing' everything works) and is repeatable. I'll have to post a video of the new swing sometime soon when I get the chance.

keep me updated on your progress as well,shootin.

__________________
IN THE BAG:
- 10.5 deg GX Squared TI w/UST Proforce 65 SFlex (GigaGolf.com)
- Ben Hogan CFT Ti 3i Hybrid, Steel (Used)
- Nike Pro Combo 3-PW/TT DGSL S300 (From LowPost42 on GTO - Thanks man)
- 56 deg SGS "Score Grind Scale" Wedge (GigaGolf.com)
- 54 deg Cleveland CG10 Wedge
- White Polymer Putter Model 692 - Stainless Steel
- TaylorMade TP Red Golf Ball or Titleist DT Solo (Quite the difference I know)

MY GOLF BLOG

sounds like your doing great matt, mid 70's is pretty good there man. at the range try running through your bag on a day when you are hitting well, if a club is not acting the same as other clubs then it could be the shaft does not match well with the other shafts, different sized grips, or the offset and internal weighting can be different. Sometiems it is as simple as the clubs dont match and not a swing flaw of yours.

As far as the knee, it seems like it might be a partial ligament tear from surfing, I plan on playing but only swinging at what feels like 50%, funny thing is the other day while playing three holes with my 6 year old nephew I hit driver 4 iron into a 506 yard par 5 swing easy and hit it as long as normal

Keeep up the good work man, and it sounds like you may be breaking 70 soon, btw, when are you going to update your handicap, sounds as if you should be in the single digits by now

Oh, you're right - I should go check for my handicap tomorrow. thanks for the heads up.

I think I'm doing well, I'm proud that I learned this game quick - it was a little project that I obsessed over and am really crazy about it. I think my mental game has been a real key to my play lately, I'm really just 'goin with my instincts' and having amnesia when needed.

Now,shootin, I'm not sure if you have a problem - but out of all the problems I could have, it's the driver. The big stick just isn't getting me the yards I want. I'm going to the range tomorrow to definitely work on it. Any tips?

So swinging easy and still normal result? you don't say - amazing the feeling of effortless power, that's something I need to work on a tad. Just keep swinging at 50%, I know you'll do just fine and will most likely put up some great numbers very soon.

I hope to break 70, that's my goal at the moment - the winter season is coming around, so I hope to break 70 before that's over, if not - no biggie.

Thanks again for everything, you know I can't thank you enough - take care and keep me updated. Oh, and I'll get a swing video up as soon as I can.

__________________
IN THE BAG:
- 10.5 deg GX Squared TI w/UST Proforce 65 SFlex (GigaGolf.com)
- Ben Hogan CFT Ti 3i Hybrid, Steel (Used)
- Nike Pro Combo 3-PW/TT DGSL S300 (From LowPost42 on GTO - Thanks man)
- 56 deg SGS "Score Grind Scale" Wedge (GigaGolf.com)
- 54 deg Cleveland CG10 Wedge
- White Polymer Putter Model 692 - Stainless Steel
- TaylorMade TP Red Golf Ball or Titleist DT Solo (Quite the difference I know)

MY GOLF BLOG

Hi All,

I got close last week. I shot 80 on the first round, then an 81 on the second at Poolesville, MD. (they were having a special where you could keep playing after 18 for $1 more! - of course I had to go for 36 )

I played well, probably my best "combined" games. (Power game, short game, mental game, putting, & course management). I was predictable off the tee (great yardage, but a fade/slice with the driver), my mid irons were decent, my putting good (except for a stretch of 3 holes where I three-putted - lost the touch). The one element that still was inconsistant is my short game - under 100 yds. I have lost track of the par 4's over the Summer that I have almost driven, being within 30 yards, only to bogey the hole... It was better that day, but not great.

I started the Pelz SG Bible, that is the stuff! But it will take awhile to absorb and practice it into my game. I've only had time to read through the first few chapters in the past week and a half.

Yesterday I played Hampton Greens, one of the nicer Montgomery County courses, with a lot of hidden greens. I never played there before and played inconsistantly. Couldn't control my tee shots as well as the other day, mid irons were good, putting average to bad, wedge play AWEFUL! I am making good contact now, but my distance control is aweful. The day I played 36, I could "feel" the way to hit the wedges and putts. Yesterday - no feel for it at all and shot 90. Mostly because of the classic 3-hole melt-down, 2 triples and a double. OB and lost ball added to the carnage.

Funny thing, after back to back triple/double on the back 9, I birdied the next hole, a par 3! Knocked in a beautifully stroked Hybrid 3I from the fringe. Go figure...

The Quest continues...

__________________
My Bag:
Cleveland Hi-Bore Driver
MacGregor Mactech NVG 3W & 7W
Callaway X 4Hybrid
Callaway X-20 Irons 5-P
Taylor Made RAC 52º GW (bent to 50º)
Titleist Volkey Spin Milled 56º SW & 60º LW
Odyssey White Hot XG #9 Putter