Frustrated with lack of consistency

Hi, This is my first post. I started playing 2 years ago when I retired. I thought I was making good progress as my handicap went from 30 to 18 during this time. On Tuesday I shot 111 and today 82. This is how my scores vary from one week to next. I always wonder who is going to turn up to play each game, the mediocre hacker or the pathetic clown. Should I just call it a day and play tennis?

No way. Play golf. You have the 82! That's awsome after 2 years. The 111 is always and will be there ... until your learn to control your head. Golf is not the process of getting a club to hit a ball into the hole. It's about learning how best play each shot, formulating a plan of attack, and convincing yourself that your plan is the right one...Once you master that, the execution is easier and all the rest of the fun.

Tennis is for guys that can't be 1) parient enought to think more then .062 seconds in the future and 2) secure enough to be seen in really silly clothes.

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I'm a golfaholic, no question about that. Counseling wouldn't help me. They'd have to put me in prison, and then I'd talk the warden into building a hole or two and teach him how to play. ~Lee Trevino

Thanks for the words of encouragement Greg. Although at my age it's pretty difficult to alter one's behavior and in particular, the habits of a lifetime, I guess you may have hit a nerve. Scoring badly on a hole usually spills over to the next 2 or 3 for me. A great shot has the opposite effect. Being consistent is a huge challenge.

My first rule of golf is to practice more then I play. If I can keeping hitting consistently good shots on the driving range then that will spill over to the course. Also, it builds confidence. I know when I'm 157 yards from the pin that it will not be a problem taking my 7 iron and putting the ball within a few feet because I've done it time and time again on the driving range. At 185 yards, I know I'm going to hit a perfect shot with my 5 iron. Practice builds confidence. Confidence goes hand in hand with consistency. And if you do hit a bad shot and you don't want it getting into your head and messing with your confidence, blame it on someone talking or whispering. Better then that, blame it on someones camera phone.

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Golf is a game of inches. 36 inches = 1 yard
I think you put that one about 2160 inches too far right. LOL

Classic Tour Highly High Bore (Cleveland HiBore clone) 10.5 degree, Gramman TP440 stiff 3.5 torque shaft
KZG Maraging Power 9.5 degree steel shaft #1 "fairway wood"
Knight Virage woods, irons and wedges
Knight putter
Cheapest double titanium balls I can find. lol

Thanks canadian man. You are right when you say I need to practise more than I play.

Been there, done that. Focus on the positives and practice, practice, practice--i.e., groove the good/effective swing.

On another forum that I frequent, a scratch golfer there talked about how one day he went out - carefree - and shot 3 under. The next round, he expected to rip it up, and shot 3 over. The next round - again, zero expectations - back to 3 under.

I assume you expected to shoot low when you shot your 111?

I pulled the same stunt at club champ. Had a new PB round (both 18 and 9), and had expectations of doing it again the next day. Nope. I was 9 strokes worse. Go figure.

My advise? Relax! Play care free (not careless) golf. There's nothing you can do about where the ball goes - you can only choose the next shot you're going to attempt.

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PCS Class 'A' Clubfitter

A new highlight: Golfing the home course on Christmas Day.

I say it too often: If it's golf club shaped, you can play with it.

For the record, I'm a club doctor, not a swing doctor.

Good advice lowpost - I keep telling myself to go out with no expections but it is difficult. When I do I tend to be on the course on my own and play great.

Next time I go out I plan to just enjoy hitting the new MP60s and forget aout my scoring, just enjoy the shots, good and bad.....

We are only human and like all humans we live in hope and high expectation. To go out and play without having any hopes of doing well is beyond me. The secret of maintaining cool while falling apart is something that alludes me quite frankly. I think canadian man had it right when he implied that if one can get into a groove through practice then moods should be secondary.

sdscouse

maybe that is why you are posting this in the first place then!

I suggest reading "Golf is not a game of perfect" by Dr Bob Rotella, if nothing else it will give you an insight as to who pros approach the mental game.

Grooving a swing is only part of the game, taking it to the course and playing with the good and the bad is another story. Look at the top pros, they groove swings we can only dream of having. Do they consistently win every week (well apart from Woods - but what makes him stand out - his mental game!!!).

I hope it helps.

Good luck

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JCBDB

Thanks for the advice jcbdb. I'll try to find the book you recommend.

The difference between a good day and a bad day for the pros can be a matter of just a few strokes. My swings vary by 20 strokes or so and that's more to do with lack of practice (I think) than my "mood" or lack of concentration. Yes, I would surely improve if I thought out every single aspect of my shot before I address the ball. For one thing, not looking up would help a lot. But at the end of the day I know I need to hit practice balls a lot more than I do right now.

sdscouse