Seriously! How can you practice 2 to 3 times a week and not drop scores on the course consistently?

[BRDGOLFING 16]

I have been practicing 2 to 3 times a week for a month now. I play 2 rounds on average a week.

 

Why in the world does it seem like nothing is getting better? I will shoot one over on one side and then shoot 5 over on the 2nd side. The scores are different for each side different rounds.

[hckymeyer 6,253]

Welcome to golf!!

 

In all seriousness, I would look at your practice regime.  Are you practicing with a purpose?  Are you practicing the things you truly need to work on?  Lastly are you to the point in your game that you need to bring in some outside council? (aka a teaching pro?)

 

Golf is a weird game, somedays it will just click and everything seems to work.  Other days it's like sprinting full speed into a brick wall.  Best of luck!

[BRDGOLFING 16]

Welcome to golf!!

 

In all seriousness, I would look at your practice regime.  Are you practicing with a purpose?  Are you practicing the things you truly need to work on?  Lastly are you to the point in your game that you need to bring in some outside council? (aka a teaching pro?)

 

Golf is a weird game, somedays it will just click and everything seems to work.  Other days it's like sprinting full speed into a brick wall.  Best of luck!

I struggle with my 50 yards and in game. Along with putting. I practice it like crazy. I might spend 30 minutes on the range and then about an hour with the short game.

 

I am looking into some lessons. I started this to see if anyone had some ideas or knew of a place to watch videos. That will help with the short game. It would be nice to figure some things out before I spend a bunch of money on lessons. Which I will if I have to.

 

Thank you for the reply!

[Mr_Theoo 3,160]

Lessons will always be a better route than trying to learn from a video. Just having a set of eyes that can see flaws in your swing is extremely helpful.

[TIBA_Putt - Kyle 139]

Lessons will always be a better route than trying to learn from a video. Just having a set of eyes that can see flaws in your swing is extremely helpful.

Not only that, but what you perceive the be happening in the golf swing based on a video isn't necessarily what is really happening. I went that route years ago and REALLY screwed up my swing. What I thought guys were doing to get into the positions I saw were totally wrong. I couldn't figure out how to get into those positions in my swing because what I saw didn't match what was really happening.

When I started working with my coach he straightened out my "feel vs real" swing concepts.

[Jmikecpa 12,641]

Lessons are the way to go without a doubt.  I get to hit balls abut three times a week and focus one session on the full swing, one on partial shots and the latter on the short game.  That is something that I have done for a few years now and I went from a 5 or so to back to scratch in six months with that routine.  Played yesterday and hit a lot of nice wedges from 60 yards and in which is just a testament to that routine since I have not been playing all that much so far this season.

[Bogey in The Woods 428]

I find an extended stay at the 19th hole helps me to not be so critical.

[hckymeyer 6,253]

Just a guess, but based on your handicap I'm thinking you are a decent ball striker and generally don't have too much trouble getting around the course.  You say your big trouble is 50yds and in and putting, sounds exactly like my game.

 

Here is your first stop, read this.  http://www.amazon.com/Dave-Pelzs-Short-Game-Bible/dp/0767903447/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1431718088&sr=8-1&keywords=dave+pelz

 

As for the lessons it comes to one question.  Is your trouble technique or execution?  If you have bad technique then a pro can really help you out.  If it's execution then it's all about getting the reps in so when you get on the course it's second nature and you don't have to think about it.

 

Here are a couple tips that have helped me out... 

 

- Take how ever many wedges you have and develop some stock shots.  Take a full swing with a normal grip.  Then grip down to the steel and take the same swing.  Say you have 3 wedges that should give you 6 stock distances that you are comfortable with.  Do the same thing with 1/2 swings and now you have 12 stock distances you are comfortable with.  Try to pick your tee shot or layup to give you the best chance at ending up at one of those distances.

 

- Try to eliminate putting yourself into that trouble zone.  This might mean picking a different club off the tee or laying up to a specific distance (see above) vs trying to hit it as far as you can.

 

- Go get fit for your putter.  I just did that this year and realized I've been trying to play with a putter that I couldn't aim where I thought I was aiming.  One of the best golf investments I've made to date.  MGS did a great article on putter fitting as well.

 

http://www.mygolfspy.com/mgs-labs-fitted-vs-non-fitted-putters/

 

http://www.mygolfspy.com/mgs-labs-fitted-vs-non-fitted-putters-part-ii/

[revkev 22,625]

Bogeyinthewoods wins the prize for best advice given today. . I'm going to take that one to the course. I'm also going to take advantage of my free lesson this week because back to back rounds in the 80s are not my idea of a grand time.

[Jmikecpa 12,641]

Bogeyinthewoods wins the prize for best advice given today. . I'm going to take that one to the course. I'm also going to take advantage of my free lesson this week because back to back rounds in the 80s are not my idea of a grand time.

+1 and to that sentiment I will be in a cabana on the beach with some nice rum drinks for the next day until the wife arrives in the Bahamas.

[Undershooter 4,051]

+1 and to that sentiment I will be in a cabana on the beach with some nice rum drinks for the next day until the wife arrives in the Bahamas.

Rum drinks in a cabana on the beach and getting selected as a Hogan irons tester. That's my kind of day jmikecpa! Lol

[revkev 22,625]

Stop!!!!!!!!!!

 

I hit 3 balls in the water, made double from 100 in the middle of the fairway (not one of the balls in the water), shot 83, didn't get selected and as an added bonus get to sit through a Middle School production of the Little Mermaid for the third night in a row. Oh and I also get to sit through a 21/2 college graduation at 830 tomorrow morning just so I can't possibly get the bad taste f today's round out of my mouth for a few days.

 

Amazingly I'm in a great mood. But you guys are pushing me over the edge.

[Bogey in The Woods 428]

Bogeyinthewoods wins the prize for best advice given today. . I'm going to take that one to the course. I'm also going to take advantage of my free lesson this week because back to back rounds in the 80s are not my idea of a grand time.

 

The sad thing for me is that back to back rounds in the 80's would mean I have improved immensely. Yet I am guessing that NOT being able to shoot back to back 80's is why I am not a tester. I am happy for those who did, but my stay at the 19th might be a bit longer this weekend...

 

IF THIS DAMN RAIN EVER STOPS!

[silver & black 5,649]

Beer?

[Bogey in The Woods 428]

Beer?

as a cause or a solution?

[BIG STU 7,461]

I have my own version of the lesson thing. I go back to basics with the version of the Little Red Book my Dad wrote for me the year before he died. I darn near have it memorized but I will review it from time to time when having problems. My next thing is my lifelong friend that I have known and played golf with for over 40 years. He is a pretty darn good player himself. I was having problems hooking the ball for a couple of weeks and I mean my nasty rope hook from days gone by. My wife helped me do a live video to his daughter's phone and he was on his and him and his daughter spotted it right off. I was rolling my right wrist over at impact and with my outside in cut swing that spells disaster. Stopped the wrist breakdown and the rope hook went away. Also I had started picking the club up with the right hand on the start of the swing and that got me all messed up to start with. Sometimes you need another set of eyes to set you straight

[apprenti23 604]

I like Stu's advice. OP if you haven't read any golf books, do a little research, find one that interests you, and read it. I would stay away from The Golfing Machine unless you're an engineer. One of the first big time golf instructors I worked with (Ron Gring) was a GM nazi and gave me a copy of the book. Three pages in and I felt like I was in HS math all over again!

 

One of my personal favorites is Zen Golf. I don't know if you can check things out at a library anymore, heck they prob don't even have golf books in there, but you could probably find it online for under $25.

 

People such as yourself who already put in time and effort sometimes need a little mental help. You just have to be open to it.

 

Good luck!

[silver & black 5,649]

as a cause or a solution?

Both?

[jkittlesen 351]

I play golf for enjoyment, when that stops so will I.

 

Do I want to score my best and improve, of course.

 

But at 59 years old, I am more interested in fun and friendship, good luck!

[mizuno_lover 546]

Well mate there is a wealth of good advice thus far on the page.  All I would add is are you mapping or keeping stats that will show you where your game is costing you shots and That will tell you where you need to focus your practise.  I can sit down after a game and go through the round hole by hole and pin point exactly what cost me a double or a bogey whether it was a poor chip, bad iron etc.  Failing that lessons.