[spiveker]

So here is one thing I discovered about the current state of my game as the year has wound down here in the Northeast. Having come back just this year, once I started playing rounds I still had the benefit of being able to mix in significant practice sessions with rounds. As the weather has gotten colder, there are now fewer daylight hours and fewer facilities that have remained open. As a result I cannot get in the same amount of practice between rounds. As the conditions continue to change with the weather, I simply do not have a consistent enough game yet to go round to round without some practice in between and my scoring falls apart even if I am playing a fair amount of golf. I still need something in between rounds to keep my confidence in my swing high. If there are a number of variables for me to deal with and no time to practice in between rounds I lose the feel for my swing and have a great deal of difficulty getting it back during a round.

I hit the ball better totally drenched about one week ago than I did the last round because I had been able to get in some practice the day before I went out and played in the rain.

I don’t think there is any other solution to this dilemma other than more practice and more play to the point where my game is not so vulnerable. I went out today to get in some practice and had my swing back and was feeling good about it within a fairly short period of time. However I think if I went out to play another round before getting this practice session in I would not have done any better than I did during my last round which was pretty bad. Amazing how knowing what you should be doing still does not translate into doing it if your confidence is really shaken. Mine was totally gone as I hit some shots during my last round that I have never hit before even at my worse many many years ago. I hit a 9 iron that went perpendicular to the intended line of flight, obviously a hosel shot and something I cannot remember ever doing before.

I am curious though. Is it that way for you guys that have played consistently over a number of years? Do you guys need to keep the number of practice sessions in relative balance to the rounds that you play or can you go out and play round after round without the need for much in the way of practice between rounds?

[ChicasCams]

My game is infinitly better when practice is involved. The more rounds I play with out practice the more I feel like I've lost touch with my swing.
On the range is where I get re aquainted with my swing. Example:One of my swing flaws is I take a big back swing. I tend to take the club way past parrallel. On the course it feels like I take a short backswing. On the Range is where I find out if I actually am taking a shorter backswing. Hope that makes sense.

[spiveker]

Boy I really appreciate that Snap Hook. When you have not played for such a long time and come back to the game you question yourself just about every day. If there is one thing that is certain, if your confidence is gone on a given day you are just in a lotta’ trouble.

This is the first time in my life that I have really been devoting enough time to this game to really make a difference but by the same token this is the first time I have been playing through a period where the course conditions and weather are radically different from day to day (welcome to November in New Hampshire). The daylight hours are so short now that when coupled with morning frost, I am basically stripped of the ability to get in any practice around actual rounds. That last round was the straw that broke the camel’s back and I realize that I have to find a way to get in a few cuts between rounds.

Thanks again Snap.

[spiveker]

Got to practice yesterday before playing today. What a difference! Ball striking was much better. Confidence was much better. Swinging much more freely until the temps turned way cold suddenly and I got caught with my own perspiration freezing me to death. It actually turned so cold that it became the first day that had that “it wants to snow feeling” with which all of us that have lived in the colder climates are familiar.

That toughest part of playing this time of year for me is that the variability of conditions both course and weather are all over the map. Since this is the first seasonal change for me relative to golf in so many years it has been a difficult learning experience. At least getting a practice round in give you a chance to reset your swing. At that point you at least have a shot at a decent round. I hit the ball really well up until the temps changed very quickly. I just about froze into a popsicle while walking up to my ball. If I stayed out there any longer they would have had a jnug statue in the middle of course.