How to break 90

[gpo]

To break 80 here is a basic formula. Hit 8 greens in reg. Play even par for those 8 holes. Then get up and down 50% of the time on the remaining 10 holes. That puts you at 5 over. Then have one screw-up shot like a penalty stroke or something.

The key is you are not really making huge mistakes.

 

[ezra76]

Ouch. I shot right on the number, 90 today. Went down for the cap as 89 though. Pathetic 3 fairways and 2 GIR. The putting stats will get skewed by the 28 today though.

I can take a little consolation in the fact I played the back as match. My partner was about 80 and hit the ball about 150 off the tee. So I basically got to play 2 guys that were problably 11-12 and 16-17. My partner didn't even manage a halve so it really was me vs. 2 balls. I got a quick lead but let it go on 16 and 17. On 18 I was stuck in front of a tree, 15 or so yards off the green. I shut the face bigtime on a 7iron and took a big in to out path swing to avoid hitting the tree. Got it up on the green and drained a 16-17 foot downhill R to L putt for the win. That was a pretty insane up and down.

 

[ezra76]

Had one of those rounds today that makes you consider giving up. Had the two way miss bad. I'd try to hit a cut and it'd slice. All my chip shots were way too long and just couldn't find a ballflight period that I could make work. 95 today for one of my worst scores in the last 2yrs. at Triggs.

 

[millrivermem]

Had one of those rounds today that makes you consider giving up. Had the two way miss bad. I'd try to hit a cut and it'd slice. All my chip shots were way too long and just couldn't find a ballflight period that I could make work. 95 today for one of my worst scores in the last 2yrs. at Triggs.

I generally end up having to get a club reshafted out of necessity after a day like that..lol

 

[ezra76]

Yeah, normally this would be cause for another driver. I hit it well a couple times. In fairness to my driver my swing was off but the wind was also brutal. I had a few that got sent a good 30yds. offline cut into the wind. It was mostly short game anyway. I kept putting myself in bad spots and making terrible chips, way too long or too short. Bunker game was shit as well. Greens were also plugged on the back 9, which didn't help matters.

 

[ezra76]

It's about that time for no driver again anyway. I do this every year it seems.

 

[LyleG]

Had one of those rounds today that makes you consider giving up. Had the two way miss bad. I'd try to hit a cut and it'd slice. All my chip shots were way too long and just couldn't find a ballflight period that I could make work. 95 today for one of my worst scores in the last 2yrs. at Triggs.

I've said it to you before John and I will keep saying over and over until you either listen to me or punch me out

This post to me just stinks of a guy who is trying to do to much unnecessary shit on the course. I play to a 3 and dont attempt to work the ball unless absolutely necessary. Just hit the ball, middle of the fairway, middle of the green. One swing for every shot unless you are in a spot where you have zero other options. Learn to score this way, it will build your confidence, and you will improve far faster than trying to play outside your skill set. And John, you know I mean no offence at all when i say this.

Lyle

 

[SiberianDVM]

God, I hate to agree with Lyle but he's right on this one. Unless you play golf for a living, you're better off just hitting your natural shot and quit trying to work the ball.

With blades, sometimes I can hook the ball around a tree, most times I don't end up with the shot I visualized. With the GI Mizzys, I just try to get back to the fairway.

Playing near-par golf should be easy as long as we are playing from the correct tees. I don't understand why we make it so difficult, but I'm guilty of the same sin.

 

[LyleG]

You know you love it Doc

Honestly though, I have no trouble hitting a variety of shots. I can work the ball left and right, and up and down. The problem is anytime you veer away from your natural shot/swing you increase the margin for error. With 99% of shots this increased risk is unnecessary imo. Unless something is directly in your way there is no reason to hit anything but your natural shot. Into the wind take an extra club or two and make the same swing. No need at all to make this game harder than it already is.

 

[Wi-Golfer]

Lyle is dead nuts on regarding this.I read Ez's posts & have the time I don't have a damn clue what he's even saying, pull blocked this & cut that, etc. What is wrong with just hitting the ball straight ahead?

Mickelson gets away with that stuff most of the time, we don't.

 

[ezra76]

Well a block is simply when a ball goes right that I try to hit straight and a pull is a ball that goes left. This is a "two-way miss". It happens when the club gets inside and stuck. If you just swing, it blocks right, if you try to save it, you usually pull it. If you don't know why you missed shot, how will you ever get better?

My natural shot is a fade. When I talk about hitting a cut, that is my natural shot. I cut everything. If I try to draw a ball or even hit it straight, that's when I run into the most trouble. Hit it a little left, let it cut back, that's my game.

I played crappy on the front today with 2 triples, which get esc'd back to doubles. Both those holes I made a mess of out of bunkers. I need to really work on my bunker game, it's terrible. I took a practice shot out of bunker and almost killed my playing partner. I either hit it way too short or way too long. Fairway bunkers are no problem. I'd actually rather be in a good bunker lie than the fairway as I can spin the crap out of it.

On the back I said the heck with it. Nothing but cuts and play agressive. I hit a driver off the deck on 10 and made birdie. I played even to 16 where I hit nailed a drive but it went too deep, blocking me out. I clipped a limb and made bogey. 17 I blocked the snot out of my drive right then hit a tree and I assume into a pond. I rushed my 4 foot bogie putt and doubled it. Last hole I left a 7i short and didn't get up and down. Gave 4 back in 3holes for a 41. I had the chance to shoot even on the back but +4 is not bad. The front side was just a mess and a shame. I wasn't hitting the ball all that bad overall, just the bad shots ended up in terrible spots. I blew a few strokes on and around the plugged greens as well.

 

[King Par]

I asked him about this a looong time ago.

http://www.shottalk.com/forum/hackers-anonymous/20617-playing-hooky.html#post238744

 

[ezra76]

That's the thing, I don't try to work the ball anymore. I hit it straight and it cuts. Technically, nobody on the planet hits the ball straight, it's impossible not to have sidespin. I just happen to know mine spins right the majority of the time so aim a little left. I've totally stopped trying to draw the ball. I might hit a punch shot with a shut face just to gain a few more yards but that's about it.

 

[SiberianDVM]

Ezra plays golf everyday, sometimes badly , and I'm working 12 hours a day in the chicken plant.

Something is wrong here.

 

[ezra76]

I'd love to say I'd rather be working but... nahhh!! One of these days I'll have to find a real job but in the meantime I live poorly, play lots of golf. I might actually have to quit smoking soon to afford greens fees.

Which is a shame since lung cancer was my retirement plan.