re: Getting to a new range of scores: how’d you breakthrough?

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How do I genuinely break through the block? I’m trying to become more attune to the mental side of the game and try to really focus on believing in myself before I address the ball, but at times I get discouraged.

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A lot of the answer depends on your weaknesses. For most, fine tuning course management and developing a good habit routine that you can rely on will break you into the 70s. The good habit routine needs to be practiced like a swing though. When you go to the range, get a small bucket instead of a medium, if you normally get it. Take every shot seriously and do your reshot routine on each. Don't sit out there and fire away just hitting balls, actually practice each shot. My big thing now is I hate to practice and find myself not doing good things when I do.

My old practice routine was hit about 20 balls to stretch out some and then visualize the course I am playing. Pick a target on "number 1's fairway" and hit that club. If you need a driver, hit your driver at the target. Then if you have a 7 iron in to that green, pull your 7 iron and find your target.

There is a youtube guy that has great advice for course management, one of the best I have seen, named Golf Sidekick. He is a bit annoying to listen to but his information is fantastic.

Another level is confidence and lack of fear of scoring well. Some people can't get out of their own way when scoring well. My wall is breaking into the 60s as I would throw away shots on good rounds at the end to avoid it. Now I am back into the mid 70s most of the time, played Farm Links in Sylacauga last weekend and shot 79 with a triple and three doubles. I knocked one in from the sand and hit a 90 yard wedge to a foot for another birdie.

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Another level is confidence and lack of fear of scoring well.

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I decided to play the gold tee yesterday and see if I could just focus on target and breakthrough.

Shot 75.

Today back to the whites where I shot 84 to 86 this week.

I’m going to focus on target. I’m going to be positive.

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1) Know the exact distance you hit every club

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How do you measure this?

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Do you typically play for money?

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We play a very low stakes game.

Today, the big winner won $6.

We grind over a dot on our card.

I shot 39/43 with 9 pars.

I lost $2.

I get enough of gambling in the options market so I don’t need large bets on the golf course.

Anyone else get crazy ranges of scores? I'm probably an 18 handicap, I do a horrible job at tracking rounds and scores because I mostly just recreationally golf with friends when I have time, but as previously mentioned am a bogey golfer on any given day. Randomly, I shot a 79 Friday afternoon which is only the third round I've carded in the 70s in my life. The other two rounds came when I played and practiced much more. Everything from 7 iron down was dialed in, from 6 to driver was slightly better than usual, and putting was a wash. And my next round could likely bounce back to the 90s with me bringing the same swing and approach to the course.

I still can't break through 80 to save my life and its either really energizing me or really frustrating me and making me not want to play (for a day).

Yesterday I lipped out 4, yes 4 par putts. Couldn't get off the tee to save my life and wasn't hitting wedges or short irons anywhere near the pin.

Still shot an 88, avoiding triples and only had 2 doubles.

Seems like something goes to shite every single round. One day I'm putting like a pro, the next day blasting it straight and deep off the tee and the next day throwing darts with all short irons.

Just can't ever do it all in one round or even marginally well across all clubs.

I will say hitting 2nd shot irons on par 5s instead of trying to blast woods off the deck is helping me tremendously in lowering scores. I even generally hit woods pretty well but the 30-40% of the time I don't, it really fricks me. Also shooting at greens instead of flags has been a big boost.

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I still can't break through 80 to save my life and its either really energizing me or really frustrating me and making me not want to play (for a day).

Yesterday I lipped out 4, yes 4 par putts. Couldn't get off the tee to save my life and wasn't hitting wedges or short irons anywhere near the pin.

Still shot an 88, avoiding triples and only had 2 doubles.

Seems like something goes to shite every single round. One day I'm putting like a pro, the next day blasting it straight and deep off the tee and the next day throwing darts with all short irons.

Just can't ever do it all in one round or even marginally well across all clubs.

I will say hitting 2nd shot irons on par 5s instead of trying to blast woods off the deck is helping me tremendously in lowering scores. I even generally hit woods pretty well but the 30-40% of the time I don't, it really fricks me. Also shooting at greens instead of flags has been a big boost.

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I feel you man. I’m a 10 HCP, been trying to shoot that elusive 79 for years and years. I still have no rounds in the 70s. I’ve put up an 80 and an 81 this year, and I shot 85 yesterday. Going from 90s to 80s was not too bad, it was mostly just learning how to course manage. But my god, getting from low 80s to that 79 is just so damn difficult. I just can’t seem to break through. I’ve pretty much figured that I’ll probably need 2-3 birdies in a round and no doubles or worse to do it. I only had one double yesterday but no birdies. Just a bunch of pars and bogeys.

Well fellas, I read this thread this morning and I went out and broke 80 for the first time today. Generally I sit between 85-90 but today I shot a 77. Better yet I was even after two doubles and a bogey in the first four holes

Couple of the things I read that helped alot were dont try any hero shots. I hit the hazard just twice today and usually its probably 6 times because Im trying dumb shite. Also in that regard was aiming towards the middle of the green. I hit probably twice as many greens as I usually do which resulted in 4 birdies.

Another thing a lot of people mentioned was getting a pre shot routine. Between that and chewing gum for the first time while playing I was much more focused than usual. Im big on getting in my head but just keeping it simple makes a huge difference.

Ill probably shoot a 102 next time out but next stop is Under Par

This thread is realistic and useful.

We can all work on setup, grip, aim, stance, and posture so that at least right before we move the club we give ourselves the beast chance to deliver a quality swing.

If we get it wrong before we take the club back, it won’t be consistent no matter how we move the club.