I'm a terrible golfer and I need advice

[leekgolf]

Help!

I'm a terrible golfer for a few reasons. A little background:

My HDCP varies from 7-12
I've played for almost 20 years.


The problem:

I have no clue how to ingrain swing concepts that I'm working on.
I have very poor touch around the greens.
I have no speed/distance control when putting.
I tend to play golf swing and during a round, I'm trying swing keys until I find one that helps me keep the ball reasonably online.
When I practice, I tend to do the same- keep trying to find ways that allow me to hit the ball reasonably solidly and reasonably on target.
When I try to practice short game and putting, it's the same story.

I rarely improve, often I get worse. I seem to have the swing thought, chipping thought, putting style of the day.

How do I put together a practice plan that helps me to:

Improve my short game
Find a reliable way to control my speed and direction on the greens.
Ingrain swing changes

Help!!

[upndown1]

one piece of advice that could do wonders for you:

 

The range/clock/chipping green is for working on swing and building muscle memory

 

the course is for playing the game of golf -

 

other than that if you have played for 7-12 years that you state,

you have some fairly ingrained concepts into your swing good or bad so,

Find a GOOD PGA Pro that wants to build say a 10 lesson plan. If lesson 1 takes 3 months work on nothing but it and then go back for lesson 2 etc. - that is how you ingrain good habits

 

You really think some of these teachers know more than the pros they are teaching? some do some don't BUT everyone needs help from someone they trust and can communicate with

[Gxgolfer]

7-12 and you are a terrible golfer? Are you missing a 1 in front of those numbers?

[leekgolf]

7-12 and you are a terrible golfer? Are you missing a 1 in front of those numbers?

 

 

No- My course HDCP fluctuates between 7 and 12. Right now- 10. GHIN Index is 7.6

[Gxgolfer]

7-12 and you are a terrible golfer? Are you missing a 1 in front of those numbers?

 

 

No- My course HDCP fluctuates between 7 and 12. Right now- 10. GHIN Index is 7.6

 

 

What is your highest, lowest, and avg round? Do you blow up on holes? How is your short game 7-W?

[leekgolf]

What is your highest, lowest, and avg round? Do you blow up on holes? How is your short game 7-W?

 

 

By the way, I had a typo. Index is 8.6 at present.

 

Low round EVER? 73

in the last year- 78

 

High in last year- 96

 

Average- low to mid 80s

 

Short game is not great- best way to describe it- rarely pitch or chip close enough to get up n down. probably 90-95% out of bunkers but not usually withing 6 ft. Average putts per round about 32-34.

[Gxgolfer]

80s puts you in the upper tier of skilled golfers. That is very respectable. If you tightened up your short game, your index would drop substantially.

[againstthegrain]

How do I put together a practice plan that helps me to:

 

Improve my short game

Find a reliable way to control my speed and direction on the greens.

Ingrain swing changes

 

Help!!

 

 

Here is what I would do:

 

#1 Get 3 books Pelz short game bible, Pelz putting bible, and the Inner Game of Golf by Timothy Galwey.

 

#2 Read and re-read until you throughly understand all the concepts and techniques. This could take a while there is mountains of info in these 3 books.

 

#3 Take what you learned from the books to the short game practice area and work on your weaknesses.

[leetch]

I see alot of people telling you to work on your short game but there definately could be more problems than that.

 

How often are you having to chip in a round...if it's 10 times or so a round, you are missing on your iron shots. How long is your average putt? If it's 30 feet...you are missingn on your iron shots.

 

Sure you may have to work on your chipping and putting but if you aren't putting yourself in position in the first place, you should look there.

 

I'd go see a pro and get your swing checked out. Track your game to the extent that you know where you are missing the most....

 

1) Drives in the fairway - missed fairways can kill your game (unless you are Tiger)

2) Greens in regulation - (too few of these means you are eithe rin the rough off the tee too often, your irons aren't that great or your course management isn't good)

3) Average putts and distances putting - same as above

4) Course management - missing greens left and right or long and short?

 

You should still work on your pitching and putting and the Pelz books are a great help. You can shave a few strokes by puring this area of your game but you need to make sure you track your game enough to make sure it's isn't another area of concern that is causing your "scoring woes"....by the way, if you are in the 80's most of the time, you are better than most golfers so don't beat yourself up. It's harder to improve from 85 to 75 than it is from 120 - 100 (unless you are Charles Barkley).

[Asleep]

...GHIN Index is 7.6

 

That is not "terrible"....not bad at all.

 

 

This what I did:

 

Find a PGA teaching pro who can golf his ball, someone with a great short game who competes at a high level in his region. Take lessons from him, adopt his short game philosophy. I've found that a pro is best capable of teaching his own style of play around the green. Read golf books, watch the pros play---become a student of the game.

 

Ingrain your swing/shot/putting concepts on the practice grounds. Make a commitment to what you're going to do and stick to it. Don't do the "flavor-of-the-week" chip, etc. Any changes that stick on the golf course will be ingrained on the practice tee---not the other way around.

 

On the course, think less about swing thoughts and more about targets. Choose a specific target for every shot. A tree branch for tee shots, a 12 foot circle for longer irons, 8 foot circle for shorter irons, 4 foot circle for pitches, 1 foot circle for chips, and a particular blade of grass for putts. Playing is all about preshot and target, target, target.

 

On putting, never start a round without making 2 3-footers in a row. Move up to 3, then 4, then 5 3-footers in a row. Never leave the facility after a round before making 10 3-footers in a row. Stay there all night if you have to. Become a master of the 3-foot putt, so much so that there is no discernable rise in your level of anxiety when you have 3-footer left for par. This takes time and commitment, but every golfer has the physical ability to master the 3 footers.

[mikpga]

Haven't researched recently, but my memory tells me that the average 18 hole score is approximately 101 according to the National Golf Foundation...

 

In general, golfers are much harder on themselves than they need to be...

 

I would recommend spending more time around the green...Take short game lessons only...

 

There are a lot of different ways to practice and create structure to your practice...

 

Find a system that keeps you interested and motivated to practice...

[Furrankee]

What is your highest, lowest, and avg round? Do you blow up on holes? How is your short game 7-W?

 

 

By the way, I had a typo. Index is 8.6 at present.

 

Low round EVER? 73

in the last year- 78

 

High in last year- 96

 

Average- low to mid 80s

 

Short game is not great- best way to describe it- rarely pitch or chip close enough to get up n down. probably 90-95% out of bunkers but not usually withing 6 ft. Average putts per round about 32-34.

 

How's your course like? Par 70? Undulating? Flat? What are the wind conditions? Fast fairways? Green conditions?

 

How's your takeaway? Are you hitting off your lead foot? Are you compressing the ball?

 

Do you play well under pressure? Do you play well with family? with strangers? What directions are your divots pointing? What is your usual miss? Do you shank? Ever film yourself?

 

I think if you see the way I practice, you'll think I'm weird. I'm pretty much a grinder. I've read all of Pelz's books, Hogan's Five Fundamentals (like 4 times), Zen Golf, Tour Tempo, Leadbetter's books, Johnny Miller's videos, Faldo's videos, Rules of Golf book. I film myself for swing edification purposes, use this website for reference. I watch "Playing lessons with the Pros" on the Golf channel...greatest show btw.

 

I practice and I play. I grind when I practice. I try to hit shots when I play. I don't worry about score. I visualize.

 

leekgolf, you're probably the kind of golfer that I'd play with...potential to shoot low but always finding ways to improve their swing.

[leekgolf]

See answers below:

 

 

How's your course like? slope of 132

Par 70? Par 71

 

Undulating? Hilly

 

Flat?

 

What are the wind conditions? Wind is moderate

 

Fast fairways? Slow, soft fairways, almost spongy, drive is whatever you carry

 

Green conditions? Greens are meticulous and oftentimes US Open fast. Typical stimpmeter reading is between 11.5 and 13.5

 

How's your takeaway? It can be a problem. Every once in a while, I forget how to take the club back!

 

Are you hitting off your lead foot? I've worked very, very hard on weight shift, and yes I do.

 

Are you compressing the ball? Not sure, but I think so.

 

Do you play well under pressure? That's when I play best. First round under 80 (77) was in a pro-am, in my second year playing the game.

Do you play well with family? Absolutely NOT

 

with strangers? Depends on the strangers. I don't play well with people who are "casual" players, meaning they don't obey the rules, don't follow etiquette or are excruciatingly slow.

 

What directions are your divots pointing? reasonably straight with a little tail to the left (I'm right handed).

What is your usual miss? A push

 

Do you shank? Yes- Sand wedges a few times last year and was easily corrected.

 

Ever film yourself? Yes

 

I think if you see the way I practice, you'll think I'm weird. Why? How do you practice?

 

 

 

I'm pretty much a grinder. I've read all of Pelz's books, Hogan's Five Fundamentals (like 4 times), Zen Golf, Tour Tempo, Leadbetter's books, Johnny Miller's videos, Faldo's videos, Rules of Golf book. I film myself for swing edification purposes, use this website for reference. I watch "Playing lessons with the Pros" on the Golf channel...greatest show btw.

 

I've used Hogan's Five Lessons and Power Golf like a Bible. I also read The Golfing Machine by Homer Kelley. Read two of Leadbetter's books (didn't like), Tom Nieport's book on mental golf, Rotella's books, Coop's books, GD's drill book, I use a European Binder type book for practice ideas and drills. I avoid lesson shows and any lessons in Golf or Golf Digest. I believe the Golf Channel, Golf Digest and Golf Magazine are the surest way to get a very confused swing.

 

I have golf swing software like many teaching pro's use (draw plane lines, swing timing and tempo, comparison to another golfer etc.) I have swings on there by Tiger, Mickelson, Faldo, Price, Els, Couples, Goosen, Garcia, Elkington, Norman, Eva Dahloff, Annika and more. I often use them as guides- Price is the closest body type to mine and my main comparison.

 

I practice and I play. I grind when I practice. I try to hit shots when I play. I don't worry about score. I visualize.

 

I have problems visualizing. I keep trying, yet I am sure I do some sort of subconcious visualization, because my best shots are often trouble shots I have to make up on the spot. It seems like some sort of feel instead of a picture or movie.

 

I try not to pay attention to my score, and most of my best rounds have been when I just focused on hitting one shot at a time, and had no idea what my score was until I was done.

 

leekgolf, you're probably the kind of golfer that I'd play with...potential to shoot low but always finding ways to improve their swing.

 

Is that a compliment or do you mean I would be an easy mark? :friends:

 

[Furrankee]

See answers below:

 

 

How's your course like? slope of 132

Par 70? Par 71

 

Undulating? Hilly

 

Flat?

 

What are the wind conditions? Wind is moderate

 

Fast fairways? Slow, soft fairways, almost spongy, drive is whatever you carry

 

Green conditions? Greens are meticulous and oftentimes US Open fast. Typical stimpmeter reading is between 11.5 and 13.5

 

How's your takeaway? It can be a problem. Every once in a while, I forget how to take the club back!

 

Are you hitting off your lead foot? I've worked very, very hard on weight shift, and yes I do.

 

Are you compressing the ball? Not sure, but I think so.

 

Do you play well under pressure? That's when I play best. First round under 80 (77) was in a pro-am, in my second year playing the game.

Do you play well with family? Absolutely NOT

 

with strangers? Depends on the strangers. I don't play well with people who are "casual" players, meaning they don't obey the rules, don't follow etiquette or are excruciatingly slow.

 

What directions are your divots pointing? reasonably straight with a little tail to the left (I'm right handed).

What is your usual miss? A push

 

Do you shank? Yes- Sand wedges a few times last year and was easily corrected.

 

Ever film yourself? Yes

 

I think if you see the way I practice, you'll think I'm weird. Why? How do you practice?

 

 

 

I'm pretty much a grinder. I've read all of Pelz's books, Hogan's Five Fundamentals (like 4 times), Zen Golf, Tour Tempo, Leadbetter's books, Johnny Miller's videos, Faldo's videos, Rules of Golf book. I film myself for swing edification purposes, use this website for reference. I watch "Playing lessons with the Pros" on the Golf channel...greatest show btw.

 

I've used Hogan's Five Lessons and Power Golf like a Bible. I also read The Golfing Machine by Homer Kelley. Read two of Leadbetter's books (didn't like), Tom Nieport's book on mental golf, Rotella's books, Coop's books, GD's drill book, I use a European Binder type book for practice ideas and drills. I avoid lesson shows and any lessons in Golf or Golf Digest. I believe the Golf Channel, Golf Digest and Golf Magazine are the surest way to get a very confused swing.

 

I have golf swing software like many teaching pro's use (draw plane lines, swing timing and tempo, comparison to another golfer etc.) I have swings on there by Tiger, Mickelson, Faldo, Price, Els, Couples, Goosen, Garcia, Elkington, Norman, Eva Dahloff, Annika and more. I often use them as guides- Price is the closest body type to mine and my main comparison.

 

I practice and I play. I grind when I practice. I try to hit shots when I play. I don't worry about score. I visualize.

 

I have problems visualizing. I keep trying, yet I am sure I do some sort of subconcious visualization, because my best shots are often trouble shots I have to make up on the spot. It seems like some sort of feel instead of a picture or movie.

 

I try not to pay attention to my score, and most of my best rounds have been when I just focused on hitting one shot at a time, and had no idea what my score was until I was done.

 

leekgolf, you're probably the kind of golfer that I'd play with...potential to shoot low but always finding ways to improve their swing.

 

Is that a compliment or do you mean I would be an easy mark? :friends:

 

 

You know I'm just like you except that I don't keep a binder, and my course isn't as difficult as yours. Mine's definitely hilly, fairways are fast, undulating and often confusing greens, but nowhere near the slope rating.

 

You're better than me. There's no question.

 

Why don't you put up a video of your swing? You can find mine at youtube.