Tips for Becoming More Consistent

[chriswelch93]

Hey guys,

 

I really struggle with consistency especially when out on the course. While hitting in the range I am a lot better and really have no or very few shanks. Then when I get out on the golf course it is a completely different story. 

 

When I hit good shots, they are really good and when I hit bad shots they are really bad, what I am looking for is to obviously hit the good shots more often, but more importantly completely eliminate the awful shanks that really kill my score and get the remaining bad shots to be closer to my good ones. 

 

Here is what I have been thinking so far. I have been working on my set up, completing the same pre-shot routine. This has helped and I do notice that when I hit a shank I didn't have a good set up/pre-shot routine a lot of the time. Next, is how I am practicing at the range. Rather than just getting a bucket and hitting the same club a million times in a row aiming at nothing I am really trying to mentally put myself on the course. Changing aim points, clubs, and shot shapes based on my imaginary course. It's harder to say if this has helped and since I only started practicing this way in the past couple weeks I am not sure it has had time to improve my game. 

 

Any other advice would be greatly appreciated!

 

Chris

[cnosil]

I think your last paragraph is on point. You need to put pressure on you practice sessions, it isn't about just hitting balls. Understand the purpose and goals for the practice session. Ranges make thinks easy because they are so wide open. Move to the edges and make sure you narrow the range. play the holes on your course with each shot based on the results of the prior shot.

[alfriday101]

https://www.amazon.com/Every-Shot-Must-Have-Purpose-ebook/dp/B000OVLIQ0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1531174146&sr=8-1&keywords=every+shot+must+have+a+purpose

[null]

I am a big believer in the contextual interference effect and how it relates to golf practice.

 

Here is an article on it.  One of the best articles to ever come from Golf Digest

https://www.golfdigest.com/story/youve-been-practicing-golf-all

[Har in the Hat]

same situation I had. You are talking about 2 completely different animals. Practice involves no pressure. I guarantee you are not paying attention to the bad shots because there is no consequence. On the course,the score is the consequence.

and don't fret. This is the main difference between us mere mortals and the pros. They hit it consistently. One thing I do is while I am on the golf course,I just remind myself that I have done this on the driving range. No problem. Piece of cake.

[Gg Owen]

Go see your pro

[GB13]

I would guess that on the course you have different thoughts before a shank and a good shot.

My advice is to isolate what happens on the good shots and try to focus on that every time. This should slowly help you improve your consistency.

[TR1PTIK]

Do you do any sort of warm-up before you play? Anytime you can hit the range or short game area prior to a round will be beneficial. At the very least you can get an idea of which swing followed you to the course and play for your miss. Aside from that, applying more pressure during practice sessions or finding a way to remove a bit of pressure during your rounds will help. Play each shot and don't think about score too much.

[tony@CIC]

On the range it's not about how many balls you hit. Quality over quantity. 

[Charli]

I try to imagine before I hit into our tiny range green there is Water at a particular spot whether in front left behind. Give myself

Something to think about Instead of hitting mindless balls one after another.

[chriswelch93]

Do you do any sort of warm-up before you play? Anytime you can hit the range or short game area prior to a round will be beneficial. At the very least you can get an idea of which swing followed you to the course and play for your miss. Aside from that, applying more pressure during practice sessions or finding a way to remove a bit of pressure during your rounds will help. Play each shot and don't think about score too much.

I like to, unfortunately the course in playing doesn't have a range for warm up. I have just gotten home from an internship in a different city and was play at a course that did have a range and I noticed if I warmed up well (hit a small bucket, chipped for 10 minutes and putted for ten minutes) I would easily score 4-5 strokes better. I'm looking at being a member of a different course that offers green fees and practice balls as part of a membership because a round plus a bucket a few time a week adds up quickly!

[Kenny B]

I like to, unfortunately the course in playing doesn't have a range for warm up. I have just gotten home from an internship in a different city and was play at a course that did have a range and I noticed if I warmed up well (hit a small bucket, chipped for 10 minutes and putted for ten minutes) I would easily score 4-5 strokes better. I'm looking at being a member of a different course that offers green fees and practice balls as part of a membership because a round plus a bucket a few time a week adds up quickly!

A membership to a course with practice facilities will certainly help.  As others have suggested, when hitting on the range, narrow the focus.  When you said you hit good ones, were they good because they went straight or have the shot shape you were looking for, or did the ball go exactly where you were aimed?  The range is wide open; the course is not.  When hitting on the range, pick a specific target and what you feel would not be a good shot at that target.  Focus on getting those balls into that area of the range.  Play different shots, but always keep the ball within your designated target area.  When you get them all in that area, then you need to narrow the area further.  Even though it seems like you hit a good shot, if it's not in that area, its not a good shot.

 

BTW, what course in ABQ are considering?  

[chriswelch93]

A membership to a course with practice facilities will certainly help. As others have suggested, when hitting on the range, narrow the focus. When you said you hit good ones, were they good because they went straight or have the shot shape you were looking for, or did the ball go exactly where you were aimed? The range is wide open; the course is not. When hitting on the range, pick a specific target and what you feel would not be a good shot at that target. Focus on getting those balls into that area of the range. Play different shots, but always keep the ball within your designated target area. When you get them all in that area, then you need to narrow the area further. Even though it seems like you hit a good shot, if it's not in that area, its not a good shot.

 

BTW, what course in ABQ are considering?

Right now I have been focused on making good contact, of the center of the face with a divot after the ball. Prior to me deciding to really start to practice I had very poor contact with my irons, low point was always before the ball and so it was basically a guessing game where my shots would end up. Now that I have become quite decent with that aspect I'm shift towards picking spots and certain shot shapes and that is defining a good shot. Just improving my contact has improved my dispersion alone but think actually thinking about what I want to hit will be the next step like you've said.

 

I was thinking about UNM South. It's a hard course but for 1800 you get unlimited green fees 7 days a week and unlimited range balls. I could also get one through the city but that only covers green fees and no range balls. The city pass costs 1600. UNM North, where I'm currently playing has no range and still costs around 1500.

[808nation]

I do shank at least once every few rounds and I find that it is usually when I have worn out or tired and not focused at what's at hand. I wish my range had grasp to hit off as mats tending to be very forgiving versus hitting off of grass.

 

#PowerToThePlayer

[Kenny B]

Right now I have been focused on making good contact, of the center of the face with a divot after the ball. Prior to me deciding to really start to practice I had very poor contact with my irons, low point was always before the ball and so it was basically a guessing game where my shots would end up. Now that I have become quite decent with that aspect I'm shift towards picking spots and certain shot shapes and that is defining a good shot. Just improving my contact has improved my dispersion alone but think actually thinking about what I want to hit will be the next step like you've said.

 

I was thinking about UNM South. It's a hard course but for 1800 you get unlimited green fees 7 days a week and unlimited range balls. I could also get one through the city but that only covers green fees and no range balls. The city pass costs 1600. UNM North, where I'm currently playing has no range and still costs around 1500.

Best of luck!  Sounds like you are on the right track.

 

UNM South is a good deal.  I like the course a lot.  I have a good friend that used to be a member there, and I played with hime a number of times on my business travel.  Several years ago he moved over to Sandia GC and loves it there, partially because he started dating one of the cart girls!!.  Also very nice, but pricey.  

[TR1PTIK]

I like to, unfortunately the course in playing doesn't have a range for warm up. I have just gotten home from an internship in a different city and was play at a course that did have a range and I noticed if I warmed up well (hit a small bucket, chipped for 10 minutes and putted for ten minutes) I would easily score 4-5 strokes better. I'm looking at being a member of a different course that offers green fees and practice balls as part of a membership because a round plus a bucket a few time a week adds up quickly!

 

That's a bummer. If not warming up your golf game, I still highly recommend warming up your body. Christian Henning has a decent pre-round warm up routine. Google his stuff and see if you can download a PDF (I think you should be able to find it for free). Anything you can do to make sure your body is ready to move will make a big difference. Also, any open space where you can place a target and chip to or something would work. The ball won't react like it would with a green, but all you need to do is get your mind and body focused on what you're about to do out on the course. A little target practice like this should help.

[revkev]

Lots of good advice here - the membership with the range sounds like the way to go.

 

If that course has a good teaching pro striking up a relationship with him and taking a few lessons may just be the best thing that ever happens to your game.

 

Good luck

 

 

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[bluesmandan76]

Address the ball with the toe of your club and use a 3/4 backswing. No shanks and more consistent.

 

 

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[palvord]

What I have done in the past when I am inconsistent on the course is try to recreate the situation at the range in my imagination and then work to execute that shot.

 

The one problem with the range is that you are alway guaranteed a flat/perfect lie where the course is going to put you into situations with the ball below and above your feet, as well as different lengths of grass. The range doesn't alway allow you to deal with those situations. If you find a great practice facility that can allow you to practice a variety of lies that could help translate to more consistency on the course.

 

 

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[Shankster]

I like to share this when I can.

 

I use it for stock drills, but as jlukes article suggests, randomize it.

 

I practice the technique for a bit, then I move to a downhill lie, uphill lie, upslope, downslope. And I especially like to practice in the wind and I make sure to practice a little wedge game when it is lightly raining to get a few for how they'll go in the floor.

 

How many fairways are perfectly flat?

 

Put yourself in your miss spot, and practice from there. For me, around the green my miss is right (deep rough) so I learned the best way to play from the thickets.

 

Anyways, some good tips, drills, and thoughts in the link below.

 

http://melbournegolfcoach.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/30-Golf-Practice-Drills_Peter-Knight.pdf

[cksurfdude]

Time on the course.

 

Keep gaining experience which will start to build up your confidence.

 

And do keep up all that great "practice with a purpose"!

[chriswelch93]

Best of luck!  Sounds like you are on the right track.

 

UNM South is a good deal.  I like the course a lot.  I have a good friend that used to be a member there, and I played with hime a number of times on my business travel.  Several years ago he moved over to Sandia GC and loves it there, partially because he started dating one of the cart girls!!.  Also very nice, but pricey.  

 

That's brilliant! I haven't looked into Sandia too much because of its location and I fear that if it is too far away for me to get to I won't use it as much as I would like. I have played there once before I think and it is an absolutely stunning course, one of the benefits of it not being directly in the middle of the city I guess!