After a few years of not very skillful playing I quit the habit 16 years ago because I couldn't seem to improve. I let myself get talked into trying it again this summer. I found myself enjoying it a little so I played (if you can call it that) again, then again, and again. Now I'm mired in the rut of putting pressure on myself to improve, at least to the point of not embarrassing myself. Instead of quitting cold turkey again I'm soldiering on, going to the range, planning to take a lesson or three, etc. Got a new driver ordered. Anyone else suffering through this? Any advice?
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After a few years of not very skillful playing I quit the habit 16 years ago because I couldn't seem to improve. I let myself get talked into trying it again this summer. I found myself enjoying it a little so I played (if you can call it that) again, then again, and again. Now I'm mired in the rut of putting pressure on myself to improve, at least to the point of not embarrassing myself. Instead of quitting cold turkey again I'm soldiering on, going to the range, planning to take a lesson or three, etc. Got a new driver ordered. Anyone else suffering through this? Any advice?
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Quit again. My dad started me when I was 7 years old, and I played constantly til I was 19 and had become a 2 handicap. One day I was in the middle of a round and all of a sudden
realized that I hated it. I stopped and haven't started again. I'm not sure what changed, but it seemed pointless and a waste of time. I played twice in the last 30 years for a work outing I was coerced into doing, and hated it still. I took my little boy to the driving range to try him out, and hit a bucket of balls last month and still hated it. Spend your time and money on something more fruitful. No offense meant to anyone who does enjoy it.
realized that I hated it. I stopped and haven't started again. I'm not sure what changed, but it seemed pointless and a waste of time. I played twice in the last 30 years for a work outing I was coerced into doing, and hated it still. I took my little boy to the driving range to try him out, and hit a bucket of balls last month and still hated it. Spend your time and money on something more fruitful. No offense meant to anyone who does enjoy it.
Same deal here. I always had a decent fairway shot and a good putt. Nemesis was getting off the tee and the approach shot. I quit trying to kill the ball off the tee and worked on the wedge and 9 iron, now all is good. Not even close to a scratch golfer, but at this point - don't care. Now, my son and son-in-law, they think they are in tournament play. I go with them, but, for me it's just a day out in the sunshine.
The quickest way to lowering your scores is improving your short game. Take a private lesson or two on chipping and putting. And practice it.
Go see a club fitter and make sure your clubs fit your swing. Don't get caught up in buying what the pro's are using. They're harder to hit consistently for us amateurs. A good set of game improvement irons will help a lot.
Some days you'll just plain suck. Don't let it get to you. When it happens quit keeping score. You'll take all the pressure off yourself and start hitting the ball a lot better.
Find playing partners that don't care how bad you golf. It's more fun than walking around a golf course for 4 hrs with golf snobs that have forgotten they were just like you when they started out.
Go see a club fitter and make sure your clubs fit your swing. Don't get caught up in buying what the pro's are using. They're harder to hit consistently for us amateurs. A good set of game improvement irons will help a lot.
Some days you'll just plain suck. Don't let it get to you. When it happens quit keeping score. You'll take all the pressure off yourself and start hitting the ball a lot better.
Find playing partners that don't care how bad you golf. It's more fun than walking around a golf course for 4 hrs with golf snobs that have forgotten they were just like you when they started out.
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I don't hate it and do enjoy it when I'm playing almost decent. I'd really enjoy it if I could just be a little better. I'm retired so I can pick and choose the time and weather, weekdays only. No way I'll battle the crowds on weekends and evenings. I'm not one to go out in anything less than nice weather and do play on an easy, cheap 9 hole course ($9 for 9 holes with cart on weekday mornings) with a guy that doesn't care how bad I am. He's not that much better himself.
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I am a weekend hacker myself, played since I was a kid, never took a lesson and unless I dedicate more time to the game I will never be better than a bogie golfer, but I am OK with that. I enjoy the game immensely, especially the comradarie with my golfing buddies. We play every Sunday 7AM, rain, frost, heat even hurricanes be damned 
The only time I hit the range is when my swing has strayed and I need to get the feel back. If you want to lower your score Von start at the hole and work your way back to the tee, putting and chipping are the key to a lower score. When my tee shots and fairway shots get ugly, nine times out of ten if I slow my backswing down I start hitting a playable ball again. I don't even have a driver in the bag, in fact my woods are persimmons. I don't beat my clubs on ground when i hit a bad shot, I don't pick up in the middle of a hole. When I hit a good shot I smile, when I hit a bad shot I laugh. It's game afterall.
The only time I hit the range is when my swing has strayed and I need to get the feel back. If you want to lower your score Von start at the hole and work your way back to the tee, putting and chipping are the key to a lower score. When my tee shots and fairway shots get ugly, nine times out of ten if I slow my backswing down I start hitting a playable ball again. I don't even have a driver in the bag, in fact my woods are persimmons. I don't beat my clubs on ground when i hit a bad shot, I don't pick up in the middle of a hole. When I hit a good shot I smile, when I hit a bad shot I laugh. It's game afterall. Have played at a high level since I was 14. Went to college on scholarship and played to a -1 in Memphis afterwards. Always played in the Championship flight . About 10 years ago I just quit as the ranch offered more enjoyment . Tried to play a couple of times since and played so poorly I could not enjoy it. And my equipment had been left behind by technology.
Would like to see some of the youngsters play the set I used for 20 years. 71 Hogan Forged irons, Hogan Persimmon woods, Wilson putter I bought in 71. They would not be able to control a shot.
It is still the greatest game.
Would like to see some of the youngsters play the set I used for 20 years. 71 Hogan Forged irons, Hogan Persimmon woods, Wilson putter I bought in 71. They would not be able to control a shot.
It is still the greatest game.
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Thanks for the invite Curt but I'm already playing tomorrow morning at Friendswood. That's more my speed.
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My grandson-in-law is the manager of a golf course and a golf instructor.
I've never tried to play anything except miniature golf myself but it seems like everyone I've known that does try gets hooked bad and winds up spending every spare hour on the course.
I've never tried to play anything except miniature golf myself
but it seems like everyone I've known that does try gets hooked bad and winds up spending every spare hour on the course.Used to play at least 5 days a week. Got down to a 2 handicap at my best. Haven't played much in the last 5 or 6 years. Ive found that the car hobby is a better "investment" and more productive use of time.
I wish I had saved half the money I've spent on greens fees and golf equipment in the last 30 years!
I wish I had saved half the money I've spent on greens fees and golf equipment in the last 30 years!
I've been playing alot over the past 2 years, progress is so-so. From one outing to the next, sometimes your swing will change. It's worked for me to have one thought as I approach the ball and execute on that thought. Some days it's "keep your head still", other days it's "turn at the hips" or "relax your grip".
I find that if I can execute on that one thought, the rest will fall into place.
I, too, still have a goal of being a bogey golfer.
New driver is a great idea. Technology had come a long way, and it's a good confidence booster to rocket one off the tee.
My wife got me the new Taylormade rbz "rocketballz" driver. Which one did you order?
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I find that if I can execute on that one thought, the rest will fall into place.
I, too, still have a goal of being a bogey golfer.
New driver is a great idea. Technology had come a long way, and it's a good confidence booster to rocket one off the tee.
My wife got me the new Taylormade rbz "rocketballz" driver. Which one did you order?
Sent from my iPhone using Autoguide
This is how I try to approach stuff like this..Even fishing can seem like a drag if you're just fishing and not catching. When I realized that I just can't catch something all the time, I found that it was more just being outside and enjoying the "experience" than it was landing fish. To me, the same would go for golf..When we start making fun stuff like work, the fun stuff doesn't seem so fun anymore! Progressing and getting better is part of the fun too, but it's not like your getting paid to do it. You can do it at your own pace and on your own time.
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Yes there's nothing more satisfying to me than hitting a nice drive straight down the fairway. I couldn't justify the bucks for a new state of the art driver so I'm getting a "pre-owned" Callaway X460. I tried the one my playing buddy has and was very impressed. It has a monster sized head like a kid's toy and I need all the help I can get.
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3,289 Posts
LOL, I grew up playing "Powerbilt" wooden drivers.
Now I have an "illegal" Calloway ERC II driver. I can keep up with most of the longer hitters; it's worth at least 30 yards over those old wood drivers.
It's my secret weapon.
From seeing strugglers on the course, they start talking about getting new drivers? Even though its fun to see that shot straight down the middle, think about how many times a round you use a driver, Maybe 14 times out of your 100+ strokes! Forget the driver, for now, and get some lessons. The money is spent more wisely. When I took a short lesson this spring, in my mind I was doing this, but on a video of my swing, I was doing that. What Im saying is you need a pro to see and correct your flaws. I struggled and struggled, but after 1/2 hour I had the fix, and needed to practice it. It helped me tremendously. Dont get hooked on bad habits and try to get them working for you,like playing a slice. Get to the fix of that slice, and you will never have to worry about it again. The same for any particular problem. Ill bet if you learn to swing properly, you could hit an old ladys driver farther than you could a new driver w/o lessons. Golf is way more enjoyable when you have an idea to what is creating problems. Nothing worse than having your mind wondering all over the place when you are about to try to hit the ball. Get the proper stance, and grip, address the ball, relax your mind, and let it rip.
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You're absoltely right and I totally agree but I'm golfing for fun and hitting a straight drive is fun. I plan to get a lesson or three but for the moment I'm getting a "new" driver.
Now pair that up with these, and Look out Tiger!LOL, I grew up playing "Powerbilt" wooden drivers.
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