Stuck in Golf Hell

[SiberianDVM]

With the advent of cold weather, my game has gone downhill. Previously, it I hadn't witnessed it myself, I would have said that was impossible. But nevertheless, I have gotten worse.

In October I was shooting in the 90's. Since then I haven't been able to break 100.

Evertime it's something different: putting, wedging, fairway woods, driving. Yesterday it was the sand. I should be better at sand the next time I play, because I got plenty of practice. Nine, yes, that's nine bunkers in one 18 hole round. One one hole I was in three different bunkers.

Now for the stuck part. My last 3 scores, on 3 different courses, have been 106, 106, and 106. Is God trying to tell me something?

[Ibwrong]

Nah God is just trying to test you. Im going through the same thing right now!!

[Chas]

666? I'm not sure that's God...

[Pa Jayhawk]

Originally Posted by Chas

666? I'm not sure that's God...

1+6, 1+6, 1+6
777, God is after him, first he sent him a couple Candadian Geese to mock his every move, and now this
... actually this is his way of getting back at people he gives warm weather year round. Us cold weather folk get long breaks to get all the garbage out of our head. I 've played better on the rounds so far this year then since about May and June of last year.

I know I always go back in the spring with a fresh mind knowing that I have forgotten all of the mind clutering swing thoughts and don't expect much in the first month or so, only to smooth out the swing.

[SiberianDVM]

Originally Posted by Ibwrong

Nah God is just trying to test you. Im going through the same thing right now!!

If you're playing as bad as I am, then you have my deepest sympathy.

If the Devil is still making deals, I'm ready to trade whatever he wants for a par round.

[obagain]

Get a wiffle or nurf ball and prictice chip shots. You cold weather guys can do this too because you can do it indoors.
The full swing is just an extension of a chip so if you can get really good at that 5-10 foot chip you will see an improvement in your game as a whole.

[slicerdude]

I live in Scotland, and man is it cold most of the year, but for me thats ok, cause not too many golfers take to the fairways, which mean a more relaxed game.
I needed to shoot 95 to get my handicap down, and I shot 96, then on my last game, i shot 115, so dude god must be chasen us all, or maybe he can`t stand golf, and for me its those couple of really good shots that keeps me begging for more.
Hope your game picks up soon buddy.

[SiberianDVM]

OK, remember when I said I had shot 3 rounds of 106 in a row?

Make that 4.

Different scores on pratically every hole, but same total. Wierd.

[ualtim]

4 X 106. Are you adding up your score during the round or are you just writing the scores down and adding them afterword? Might take some pressure off yourself if you don't know what you are shooting until you are done with the round. Keep the brain from getting in the way.

[SiberianDVM]

I just write down the score for the hole, and total them after the round. I usually don't even total after the front 9.

To save time in the future, I may just write 106 on a scorecard. To save even more time, I may skip the first 18 holes, and retire to the 19th.

I was hitting my fairways and hybrids the best I have ever hit them yesterday. Couldn't putt. Couldn't hit 15 yard lobs over bunkers.

[ualtim]

I feel your pain. Been there and done that.

Sounds like the short game is letting you down. That is usually my downfall as well when my scores start shooting upwards or I can not break through a plateau. I have found better success by concentrating on the short game in my practice range time rather than my long game. 50% of the bucket on 120 yards and in. 5 drives, 5 hybrid/fairway wood, the rest on a mid iron to a set distance. I start the bucket with the short shots and do not progress into the mid iron until I am consistant with the short shots. Post bucket, I chip and pitch until I get comfortable with different length shots (about 15-20 minutes normally.) Post chipping, I spend at least 20 mins putting. Most of the putts are 10-15 feet and in with occasional forays into long putts to work on distance control. I putt with one ball only and hole every miss. Anytime I 3 putt, I then work my way around the hole from 4-6 feet with 4 putts (one from each direction if I can: uphill, downhill, left to right, right to left) as a form of punishment for the 3 putt.

Since I can not always find the time to get out an practice as much as I need to, I have found the above routine helps me tremendously. My iron shots are not as accurate as they should be and I am not as consistant as I used to be, but I can keep my scores in the low 90's on a bad day and the high 80's on a good day by working more on the short game. I am lucky if I can get to the range once a week and the 60 to 90 minutes I spend there have been more productive since I have concentrated on the short game more that the iron play.

Come up with a short game practice routine and I am sure you can break through your 106 barrier before you head out to Kiawah.

[SiberianDVM]

Come up with a short game practice routine and I am sure you can break through your 106 barrier before you head out to Kiawah

You are 100% right about the short game. Thankfully, the days are getting longer now, and I can practive chipping in my yard after work. The range (which has a very nice chipping/putting area) is still on winter hours (close @ 6PM), so I can't get there at all during the week.

But I will try to get as much short game practice as I can.

[DouginGA]

Originally Posted by SiberianDVM

I was hitting my fairways and hybrids the best I have ever hit them yesterday. Couldn't putt. Couldn't hit 15 yard lobs over bunkers.

First rule of golf- IF you are a double bogey golfer you will make double bogey, i.e. on a par 4 if you were somehow on the green in one you will five putt to make double B. on the other hand if you have dubbed your way down the fairway and finally get on in 5 and have a forty foot putt you will somehow make it cause you are a double bogey golfer. Trust me, this is true more often than not.
(same is true for the pros but for par. they drive in the rough, second shot short and in the sand, tough out and yet they sink a 40' putt for par cause they are a scratch player)

we all play only as well as we believe we can

[mont86]

We just received 4 inches of snow, I would love to be stuck shooting 106s
And not shoveling. And I was worried we weren't going to flood this spring.

[Eracer]

Originally Posted by DouginGA

First rule of golf- IF you are a double bogey golfer you will make double bogey, i.e. on a par 4 if you were somehow on the green in one you will five putt to make double B. on the other hand if you have dubbed your way down the fairway and finally get on in 5 and have a forty foot putt you will somehow make it cause you are a double bogey golfer. Trust me, this is true more often than not.
(same is true for the pros but for par. they drive in the rough, second shot short and in the sand, tough out and yet they sink a 40' putt for par cause they are a scratch player)

we all play only as well as we believe we can

Extend this thought to read: "If I am a 106 golfer, then I will shoot 106".

Try playing few rounds without keeping score. Or pick up your ball after bogey, no matter where you are. Reprogram your mind.