[Mynameishappy]

I think I'm being too hard on myself by putting too much pressure on myself. I've been playing since July and I STINK!!! I've been taking weekly lessons and still shoot a 30-40 over par, depending on the day!! However, my best ever (I even beat my BF) was a +22.

How long have you been playing and how long did it take you to lower your handicap?

Since I'm taking lessons, I should be much better right?? I guess this is a slow process HOWEVER, my instructor said that she's noticed a HUGE difference in the way I'm hitting the ball compared to my first few lessons with her. I can actually hit it over 100 yards but can't get a low score


I go through slumps where I just can't hit the ball sometimes and I'll just swing WAY over it and not even touch it...and then I'll have really good days.

But I'd really like to be consistent in everything!! From the tee shot, to the approach shot to the short game. With me, its one that is much better than the other aspects of my game, I just need everything to come together!! But I guess it'll all come together (I'm hoping..)?? And I guess a heck of a lot more practice at the range?

[Anneskobsen]

If this game was easy, everybody would be on tour. It takes years to get good at it, and even then sometimes it is a complete mess. The goal should be more about having fun at any stage.

[Arrecteve]

The thing to pay attention to is what areas are you weakest in. That is where you need to put your primary focus to improve in. I think I have become a better iron player and putter to shoot lower scores but I still need to improve more in those areas to get down in the single digits. I would say driving the ball and being 160 and out is my strongest area. I struggle more the closer to the green I get so that is my focus for 2010. Finishing the hole the way I start it. So analyzing your weaknesses and working on those areas is the best advice I can give for surpassing your goals that you set for yourself.

[fujitsusi]

If you are thinking that at some time in the near future your whole game will come together all at the same time, you are setting your self for a rude awakening. Sure there will be days where you will play better than others, but as far as having your complete game, hitting on all cylinders at the same time, well, you are probably a ways off. Even the big money pros can't do it consistently, every week, and for some, usually not for 4 straight rounds.

Some where on THP ( I think) someone posted average scores for both men, and women, you might look for that thread to see where you actually stand. That +22 you carded is not a bad score, even for most men.

When I was younger it took me about 4 years to get my handicap down to scratch. When I say scratch, I mean I could play most golf courses at par or better. Not just one. I was playing, practicing, and taking lessons all the time. Once there, I found it very hard to keep such a low handicap with out still playing, practicing, and taking lessons....all the time. Over the years my scratch game has all but disappeared because I don't play, practice, or take lessons ....all the time. I still have flashes of yesteryear, but I know shooting par is a thing of the past for me. I have been playing this game well over 40 years now.

Everyone goes through slumps, so that should not be something that bothers you. Slumps are a part of everyones' game. Even Tiger has slumps. I have "Texas Slumps".

At some point, while still wanting to improve, you are going to out grow your present instructor. How long that takes before a change is needed is up to you. At some point, to still improve you are going to have to understand the game, far beyond what any instructor can probably teach you. Course management, equipment management, the ball's lie management, and the cause, and effect of the good, and bad ball flights you are hitting. It's tough to learn all this stuff, and remembering all of it while playing is even tougher. Ever wonder what is in those little books the pros, and their caddys carry? Information about there swing, and the golf course to play better, nothing more. Most higher handicappers don't carry such info.

What's the hardest part of the golf swing to master? From my view point, it is learning to swing easy for maximum distance, with accuracy. Plus I think the game is learned more efficiently from the green, backwards, which does not sit well with most instructors. There is something to be said about learning the easier stuff first, while not getting frustrated, trying to learn the tougher aspects of the swing first.

Then there is the mental side of golf, which a 1000 page book, by the best author probably can't explain for each individual.

All the beginner can do is have fun while in the learning process. Of course once the beginner is no longer a beginner, they will still be in the learning process which to me is a never ending process. Enjoy the game you now have, while enjoying the journey to improve.

[Mynameishappy]

Suprisingly, I actually have one of those books that I carry around with me. I even keep track of my stats (fairways hit, GIR, # of putts, ups/downs). But at this point, everything needs work

[RSAccountssy]

+1 to what james said.

For example, my wife is also a new golfer, with 2 years under her belt at this point, and about at your level. She still thinks most about how she hits balls out in the fairway as to whether or not she plays well. However, we compared scorecards between us (I'm a 14 handicap at present) a few times while tracking shots, and the biggest difference was putting and short game. I usually average in the low thirties for putts/round, and she was 40+. I can usually get my short game shots much closer, giving me a chance at makeable putts.

For myself, I've long held that how I feel about particular round usually depends on how I hit off the tee. How I score depends on how I chip/pitch and putt. Major variables like my occasional rashes or wildness and shots in woods-lakes-OB enter into it of course.

[fujitsusi]

Stats are fine for those who want to keep them. I use to do it myself. Not anymore since I learned that my eventual score pretty much tells me how many of this, or that I hit during a round of golf. Plus i don't want to be reminding myself of the misses during the round. When I speak of information, I'm talking about such things a s ball placement due to a certain type of lie condition. What club I might use for a certain situation, for a given distance. How I might need to set up to work the ball for a certain shot. What the ball will do from different parts of the green to various hole locations. Maybe some info on a course, that I have not played in long time. Probably the most important piece of info for me is the "carry" info I keep for each club/swing. Now I don't use this book all the time, but during an important round, it's in my bag if I need it.

I do keep one stat. That being what my first putt is for. Eagle, birdie, par, bogey, or worse. What ever it may be for, that first putt tells me all I need to know about the previous shots on that hole. For me, keeping too many stats during a round of golf messes with the mental aspect of my game. Plus, I now tend to be lazy on the golf course.

Suprisingly, I actually have one of those books that I carry around with me. I even keep track of my stats (fairways hit, GIR, # of putts, ups/downs). But at this point, everything needs work

[cjOTw7ov]

If this game was easy, everybody would be on tour. It takes years to get good at it, and even then sometimes it is a complete mess. The goal should be more about having fun at any stage.

If you are thinking that at some time in the near future your whole game will come together all at the same time, you are setting your self for a rude awakening. Sure there will be days where you will play better than others, but as far as having your complete game, hitting on all cylinders at the same time, well, you are probably a ways off. Even the big money pros can't do it consistently, every week, and for some, usually not for 4 straight rounds.

Great advice - beginners never seem to understand that though. I often wonder when reality will set in.

Don't forget that if the game was easy, it would take away half the fun. We'd have nothing to talk or complain about.

[t78VPkdO]

Golf is a sport. Golf is a 4 letter word. Golf will help you hone your scores at saying/screaming 4 letter words.

I am in a similar type of place. I am a perfectionist and my game comes and goes, but I am always glad that I am on the course. God invented golf and sex. It is amazing how similar the two are.

[cjOTw7ov]

God invented golf and sex. It is amazing how similar the two are.

Did Harry take you on as his apprentice?

[t78VPkdO]

Did Harry take you on as his apprentice?

haha

Oh yeah, I just saw something interesting diane. A Hello Kitty plane!

[cjOTw7ov]

haha

Oh yeah, I just saw something interesting diane. A Hello Kitty plane!

I've seen that too - it's one of the Japanese airlines. Just think - when you go to Japan - you could fly it.

[agrismhig]

GC:

I'm still waiting for that improvement to kick in!

[Mynameishappy]

GC:

I'm still waiting for that improvement to kick in!

I was hoping you'd have had it for a while now

[ëàìèíàò]

i would say it took me 2 years before i started stringing half a round together.

this was made up of a lesson every 2-4 weeks, practice at the range 1-2 times per week and at least 1 round of golf per week.

i also found i had to take a break from lessons and just work on my game on the course. playing more than i practiced really helped.

im back to taking lessons over winter now to try to break 80, but its a much more precise process now. whereas before fixing one thing just brought another fault to the fore.

good luck with your game, it will all come together soon...

[Katrinsitter]

I understand your frustration. I've been playing seriously for four years and while I have noticed improvement I have been stuck for the past two years. My short game and putting is much better, but I still struggle off the tee (which probably costs me eight strokes a round). Oy vey!

[rassedgesse]

I started playing in '98, quit playing in '00 and started playing again in '08. When I started playing again in '08, I was a 40 handicap and in the past year Ive managed to lower it to a 12.
One thing to remember though is that its not as if I was starting over completely. I still have some residual skill from when I played in the late '90s.
You cant really put a timetable on how quickly you will advance because everyone is different. Some people have different levels of talent, different amounts of time to practice and different levels of intelligence that helps them figure out how to hit the different shots and give them more of less of an ability to feel and know what they are doing wrong.
The biggest thing that helped me improve was focusing on better swing mechanics. That way, when my swing starts going wrong Im more able to diagnose what Im doing wrong and fix my swing. In the past, I didnt really know what I was doing, so I would just keep practicing in the hopes that whatever I was doing wrong would work its way out of my swing.
Dont be so hard on yourself. Just go have fun and dont even worry about your score.

[FoetAgerhot46]

I started playing in '98, quit playing in '00 and started playing again in '08. When I started playing again in '08, I was a 40 handicap and in the past year Ive managed to lower it to a 12..

Very impressive!!!

[jamisi]

There is no timeline for improvment and each individual has different levels of potential that can be achieved...



...the first thing that anyone needs to know about golf is that it isn't fair, and the second is that it's a four letter word...

[reervieltnope]

I've been playing golf for a long time and I shot more than 22 over par today (95), however it was a beautiful day, temp in the 70's, light breeze and I had great companions to enjoy the day with. It's all good.