Carl, as most things in life, things go up and down. There is no rhyme or reason as to why things happen in golf, but the more you play, the better you will get over time. Time being the operative word. Time being the most expensive but best teacher there is. There is no linear progress. Up or down or sideways. But trust that what you do today will payoff. It may not be tomorrow. It may not be next week. But it will payoff. Don't look at day to day or even shot to shot. Things vary. I love to keep track of my stats and scores. But things we don't keep track of are our energy levels and state of mind on the day. Stay the course, so to speak. But above all the scores and stats and shots, if you don't enjoy the journey, what's the point? Have fun and let things happen. Enjoy!

You are so right. It seems like there was no Spring. Just jumped from Winter to Summer. I am lucky that I can play or practice six out of seven days a week (club closed on Monday) and hit all the balls I want on the range or chipping green. You are right about time as when we are young we have the energy but not the time to play and practice as much as we would like and when we get old we have the time but not the energy. I guess I am in a slump and I know it's due to the heat advisory that I now play in this time of the year. Sometimes I feel like Rocky Balboa, I just want to go the distance and finish. You are also right about just relax and enjoy the game. I have been to hung up on score and need to just take it one shot at a time. Thanks for the realty check !

The major difference to me is (not saying this applies to you or how you practice): When I'm on the range I have to have a purpose and apply the same pressure as if was playing. Most people just bang or think they have a purpose and strictly practice what they intend to, but the truth is they have 100 balls next to them that if they hit one bad shot they just try it again.

If I have my full bag with me at the range I'll generally hit 10 balls with each club practicing what I need to work on with each. Then I'll do a 5 ball drill. Hit one high, one cut, one draw and 1 low. If I don't hit each shot I start the 5 over until I do. It's helped me translate practice to playing better. You also have to remember there are diminishing returns when practicing so pace yourself out.

I wish I had time to practice more. However, I love the feel of just being out there as much as I enjoy playing well. A round after work with some of my employees is just as good as a long day practicing. My priorities are different though than many others. This said, not all my rounds are leisurely strolls building relationships. I also want to play well too as that makes the game fun also. Its a very delicate balance I guess that I havent quite found. Unlike tour pros that play day in and day out with a coach at their side, we must struggle to fit in any chance we can to have a club in our hands. I guess the point of my reply is to say, "good luck" my golfing comrade and if you find that magic balance of practice vs. play, please let me know.

Golf is a mental game! We get on the course in a match or even during a "casual" round and we completely forget what we are doing out there. The need to shoot a lower score or beat our competitor takes over and if we are not mentally prepared, our games go south in an instant. Beating balls for hours cannot, will not, improve our mental state. Each of us has to find that inner comfort zone that we can rely on while we are playing so we can focus on hitting shots, instead of worrying about our scores.

Barry,
Excellent point and completely agree with you. That is probably the biggest part of all our games, the mental side. And thinking about it, many tour pros and other sports pros utilize psychologists just the way they use a swing coach or fitness coach. Amazing how far the game has come and truly a part of my personal game that I need to pay closer attention to.

If I hit a bad shot or two I try to not worry about it. But if I were to keep hitting the same bad shot multiple times i.e skull, shank, duck hook, that would be cause for concern and I would be at the range trying to figure out what's going on or I would go see my golf instructor to see if he sees me doing something different in my swing.
I also agree with Barry B's comments. Golf is also a mental game. You can have the right tools and game plan but you have to also be able to execute.

That has to be one of the most frustrating things about golf. As a good iron player, it always amazes me that the days my driving it at it's best I hit my irons lousy. Thats just the way it goes. As for practice let me offer this suggestion. Don't hit the same shot over and over again until you get it right.

There are, generally speaking, 2 main types of practice, Blocked and Random. In terms of golf, Blocked practice would be where you hit 10 shots with a 7 iron, 10 with a 6, 10 with a 5, ect. Random would be where you hit 1 with a 7, 1 with a driver, 2 with a 5, 1 with 3 wood, ect. Research has shown the best way to build "muscle memory" is with Random practice. Your immediate performance on the range will not be a good at as with Blocked practice at first but over time you will improve much more steadily. So when/if you try it out don't be discouraged by a bad range session. It will pay off in the long run, trust me. And not to mention, Random practice is much more realistic and a better simulation of a regular round, where you hit a club once and then hit a different club. Also there is more pressure on your 1 shot with the 5 iron if you know you won't be hitting 9 more immediately after that bad one.

When I practice I like to warm up first and hit a few shots with a 7 iron just to groove my swing and warm up the muscles then I go into Random mode and change up clubs every swing.

You can also do this with chipping or pitching. Instead of hitting 50 balls from the same spot to the same hole, vary up your distances. Hit 3-4 to the short flag, 3-4 to the back, and change things up often. Hit high pitches, flops, bump and run, ect. You get the point. Change it up as often as possible. It not only makes you better but it makes it more fun.

Good luck,

Greg

I have to practice every shot with serious intentions or I'll find myself just beating balls on the range......it does help me on the course, but maintaining patience and focus for 18 holes is no longer possible....