Has it ever felt like you're getting really close?

[Ravenous Bugblatter Beast]

I took a vacation day and played a round. Shot 98, but if my putter had been working that would have dropped along with a couple places where better knowledge about the course would have helped.

Amazingly, I got off to a very fast start. Driver and 9-iron to the first hole, and two putts for par. Second hole a good driver, off a bit into the right rough, then seriously underclubbed on my second shot when I mistook the 150 yard stripe for the 100 yard stripe. But I got my 9-iron solid to around 30 yards from the pin, and I made a terrific chip, then putted for par.

I should have parred the 3rd hole, was on the back of the green in regulation, then 4-putted. That's what I mean about the putter giving away shots. Still, I was happy that I had adjusted some to how I seem to be developing more and more effortless power when swinging. I should have dialed all the way back to the 9-iron for the second shot, but had been smart enough to go back to the 8-iron for it, instead of a 7-iron which I would have been playing for a few weeks prior.

Hole 4, a 201 yard par-3. Put my 4-iron on the green, pin-high. 2 putts and par. I was 2 over par after 4 holes, and it could have been level par if not for that 4-putt.

But anyhow, even though my scores don't always seem to show it now, I'm finding more and more I know what the good swing feels like. I still get off that, obviously, and can't always feel what exactly is off, but now I have that feeling for what the good swing is like. So even during a stretch on the back-9 when I got struggling some, I didn't get so flustered. I knew I could get back to it. And I did.

I just got to work on the putting hard now. I need to find a good consistent stroke with it so I'm not giving away shots like I did today when on the green.

 

[Maverick]

reading your post, it seems it's not your driving or irons but you putting? yeah 3 to 4 putting every hole could be the culprit. I'll trade you my putting for your driving..hehe

 

[Silver]

RBB, I know exactly how you feel.

You'll have rounds where everything will come together...except one thing...and it's never the same thing. I've had days where I couldn't miss a fairway, I think the highest I hit was 11 or 12, but then I could get the ball off the ground in order to get it on the green. I've had days where I hit half the greens, but couldn't get the ball in the hole once I was there. I've had days where I strike the ball so purely...but always from the trees and the rough.

It starts to come together in small doses. I think my best round this year was 85...and I know I left at least 5-10 strokes out there. It could probably have been a 75 if not for some stupidity and just general lack of ability to keep it together in certain instances. I've found that the closer I get, the less like I am to progress in great intervals.

But don't despair...small steps lead to great strides.

 

[IrishGolfer]

But don't despair...small steps lead to great strides.

...'less yo name is 50c...

 

[Tiger Who?]

Now you know how Sergio feels.

 

[GregInOz]

Whenever I'm not on a golf course it feels like I'm close.
Then I get out and play and reality sets in.
Holing short putts and getting long ones close is what makes a score. Unless your swing is really in the toilet.
Poor Sergio, maybe that big-ass ugly putter of his is distracting him from his stroke.

 

[SiberianDVM]

Second the motion by KA: "NO!"

After last evenings' session at the range, I have come to the conclusion that I know nothing about swing mechanics and that I will play all upcoming rounds of golf with nothing longer than a 6 iron.

Ny first shot, after 3 warmup swings, was a 175 yard beauty of a 6 iron. Straight, soaring, felt good, and sounded like a gunshot. I spent rest of the evening trying to duplicate it and never came close.

My driving was pitiful. Some drives were shorter than the 6 iron. Hacksaw to the rescue! I'm cutting my driver and metal woods and hybrids down to 6 iron length!

 

[Ravenous Bugblatter Beast]

This is all very interesting.

I'm just, possibly, noting a difference in things. Before, when I would hit good shots, I liked the feel of the shot. Now, when I hit good shots, I like the feel of the swing, and from the feel of the swing, I can pretty well know if the shot is going to be good.

I'm arguing for a difference in the feel of a good shot that just happens by happy accident, and the having the feel for a good swing which is more likely to produce a solid good shot.

 

[Davebud]

Good Shots

I almost always feel like I have a good swing, however I can tell before I look up and see where its going because of the sound. The sound the ball makes on my club face is clear as a bell when I swing the club right and hit the sweet spot. More often however it is the sound of the finest bell on the planet with a towel wrapped around the end of the pendulum arm and a thunking noise. When I hear the thunk I know its either going nowhere, or going somewhere I did not want it to.

 

[Tiger Who?]

I know what your talking about (person with really long name). I've been playing for about 11 months and feel like I'm so close to Golf nirvana. I shoot in the low 90's and I think my game is there but I just throw away strokes on the green. My putter has been killing me lately and my irons have been decent but not like they should be. My driving has come along and from 120 in i'm almost automatic. When the putting comes and the irons get hot again I should be in the mid-to-low 80's by the end of next season. I can feel what a good swing is all about.

 

[mediaguru]

I had the CLOSE feeling through the middle of the summer. I had rounds where I was 4-5 under with about 5-6 holes to play. I was thinking about how I was going to shoot my first 67, only to lose it. Even shot -5 for 9 holes. The closer you get, the harder it is to keep it together!