Dlow206's Quest to Break into the 80s

[dlow206 2,059]

My Background

I consider myself an "aspiring golfer", and am finally taking golf seriously. I first started playing golf at the age of 9, and was a pretty good golfer for a kid that age. My best score at that time was 96, which I considered respectable for being 9 years old. However, I only played for about a year or so and then focused on other sports and hobbies.

I then tried to pick up golfing again in my early 20s, but that lasted only for about a year as well. At that time I was shooting in the low 100s, worse than when I was younger. 

I am now 35 and am taking golf seriously. I started taking regular lessons at Golftec since August, but to date have still struggled with certain issues. My miss is low and left (pull and pull hook) and my short game sucks.

My Goal

My long term goal is to regularly shoot below 100 and eventually break into the 90s. I believe better course management and some semblance of a short game will get me into the 90s regularly. Developing more consistency off the tee and from the fairway will get me to finally break 90 someday. I am creating this thread to share my experience and also create accountability for myself.

[dlow206 2,059]

Yesterday, while on vacation, I had a lesson with Monte Scheinblum, who I learned about from Golfwrx and have been following regularly. Although I have been taking lessons at Golftec regularly since August, yesterday's lesson was what made me realize what the true root cause of my swing problems are. Here is a video of before and after swings taking during a single one hour lesson

 

[HardcoreLooper 3,991]

1 hour ago, dlow206 said:

I believe better course management and some semblance of a short game will get me into the 90s regularly. Developing more consistency off the tee and from the fairway will get me to finally break 90 someday.

Good luck to you!  Keep us posted on your progress.  For a great thread on course management, check out this thread:

 

[PlaidJacket 7,703]

which is before and which is after? 

[dlow206 2,059]

42 minutes ago, PlaidJacket said:

which is before and which is after? 

Left is before

[sirchunksalot 6,173]

Thanks for sharing and keep us updated! That video definitely showed your previous out to in swing path and the new swing looks better. Good job!

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[tony@CIC 14,321]

Keep at it - especially with short game practice. As someone who started playing after retirement it seemed like forever to get into the 90's. This past season I finally broke the 90 barrier but still have the occasional stinky round that has kept my handicap up. I practice a lot especially 100 yds in and consider that to be the best part of my game now. The worst part is what's between the ears - I have to figure out how to recover quickly from a bad hole. It seems to take me 2-3 holes to do that.


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[dlow206 2,059]

Most recent swing video, trying to instill what I learned from my recent lesson with Monte

 

[Detonator 24]

I have broken 90 only twice (picked up this stupid game in '12) so I'm no one to give advice but I used Dave Pelz's clock method with short game. I don't have a feel for shots like one of my buddies does. I give him a yardage and he pulls the same club and can knock down a spinner or loft one up into low earth orbit...that's not my game. It's more technical than feel for me and it seems to simplify it. I'm fortunate that I have several wedges that were given to me or I found on the cheap on eBay. 

[dlow206 2,059]

I haven’t had any time to practice since the end of December. It has been a tough start to the new year. My wife was hospitalized with bacterial meningitis, which is a life threatening illness. We are fortunate it was caught early on enough that she was treated and she is on the road to recovery and is now out of the hospital.

[tchat07 901]

Praying for a speedy recovery for your wife!

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[dlow206 2,059]

4 minutes ago, tchat07 said:

Praying for a speedy recovery for your wife!

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Thank you very much

[tony@CIC 14,321]

I haven’t had any time to practice since the end of December. It has been a tough start to the new year. My wife was hospitalized with bacterial meningitis, which is a life threatening illness. We are fortunate it was caught early on enough that she was treated and she is on the road to recovery and is now out of the hospital.

Glad to hear it was caught in time. Hope 2020 brings good health.


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[dlow206 2,059]

21 hours ago, tony@CIC said:

Glad to hear it was caught in time. Hope 2020 brings good health.


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Thank you

[sirchunksalot 6,173]

I haven’t had any time to practice since the end of December. It has been a tough start to the new year. My wife was hospitalized with bacterial meningitis, which is a life threatening illness. We are fortunate it was caught early on enough that she was treated and she is on the road to recovery and is now out of the hospital.

I'm glad to hear you all caught it in the early stages and she's on the road to recovery. I hope and pray she gets better soon.

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[dlow206 2,059]

34 minutes ago, sirchunksalot said:

I'm glad to hear you all caught it in the early stages and she's on the road to recovery. I hope and pray she gets better soon.

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Thank you, appreciate it.

[Kenny B 19,291]

Best wishes for your wife's quick recovery.  Looks like you are the right track.  You have a good coach.  I've been following Monte for most of last year, and in August my wife and I went to Monte's clinic in Snohomish.  He knows what you need to change and he has a no-nonsense way of describing it.  He's improved my swing this year, but I have more to do.

The short game is crucial to reaching your goals.  You can't practice it enough.  I started golf late in life (mid-40's), but my handicap only came down significantly when I worked on chipping, pitching and putting.  As the short game improves, so does your confidence, and that leads to lower scores.

Best of luck on your quest!!  I hope to see Monte again soon.

[dlow206 2,059]

42 minutes ago, Kenny B said:

Best wishes for your wife's quick recovery.  Looks like you are the right track.  You have a good coach.  I've been following Monte for most of last year, and in August my wife and I went to Monte's clinic in Snohomish.  He knows what you need to change and he has a no-nonsense way of describing it.  He's improved my swing this year, but I have more to do.

The short game is crucial to reaching your goals.  You can't practice it enough.  I started golf late in life (mid-40's), but my handicap only came down significantly when I worked on chipping, pitching and putting.  As the short game improves, so does your confidence, and that leads to lower scores.

Best of luck on your quest!!  I hope to see Monte again soon.

Thank you.

Will you be at the Monte clinic this summer in the Seattle area? I'm hoping it is in Snohomish because I live nearby. I am for sure going to attend as long as the dates work.

[Kenny B 19,291]

10 hours ago, dlow206 said:

Thank you.

Will you be at the Monte clinic this summer in the Seattle area? I'm hoping it is in Snohomish because I live nearby. I am for sure going to attend as long as the dates work.

I probably will.  We usually go to Seattle area in the summer to play with friends, so will coordinate that trip.

I am also thinking of going to Monte's course in Irvine, CA: less people, more 1 on 1 time.

[dlow206 2,059]

Update as of 1/12/20

Give my wife’s medical situation, i haven’t gotten a chance to go to the driving range. I have been focused on putting at home. I have one of those 12 foot Birdie putting greens that i practice on everyday.

I am also going to start the Fit For Golf 101 program this week. I would like to improve my overall fitness and lose about 10 pounds.