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Old 09-12-2016, 06:50 AM   #61
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.....Keep your eye on the ball. I can't stress than enough. We all think we're watching the ball, but I mean really keep your eye on the ball. Watch the club hit the ball. Again, most of the time, I still think I'm watching the ball, but when I really focus on watching the ball and keep my head still until I see the club hit the ball, my game changes significantly. ...
+1 One thing I eventually figured out is that with the rhythm of my backswing, at the top of my backswing I was actually partially losing sight of the ball for the blink of an eye.... I slowed down my backswing and that allowed me to focus on keeping my eye on the ball and improved my consistency of shots and scores dramatically.

That said, there are some good blind golfers out there so I wonder how they do it.
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Old 09-12-2016, 07:35 AM   #62
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Yes, keep your eye on the ball but just as important, keep your head still, as much as is possible. Slow back swing and keep my head still are two of my most important swing thoughts when I start to get a little wild.
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Old 09-12-2016, 08:24 AM   #63
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Something is def off if you've been playing 16 years and still shoot a 140. How often do you play? If its once every 2 months then I may understand.

First thing is you need to stop going to the course and head to the range a couple times a week. Anyone that shoots around a 140 doesnt belong on a par 72 course. Even a small par 3 course is questionable. Go to the range and hit hundreds of balls each week until you can produce similar results on each shot...whether you slice it or hook it...doesnt matter. If you can do one or the other consistently you can start to tweak things. If you're just spraying the ball in every direction...forget it.

Some users here recommended you change your swing. I couldnt disagree more. No one understands what it takes to completely change your swing. Let me give you an example. When Tiger first changed his swing it took him almost 2 years to rebound and start winning consistently again. This is someone who hits thousands of balls a week and has access to the most high tech swing analyzers. He probably had to hit at a minimum 300,000 balls before he was comfortable with his swing change. Weekend warrior golfers will not do this. Any good teacher will take an amateur and work with what they already have...very minor tweaks. A complete swing overhaul...good luck.

I think you posted that you do play fast. Thats great to hear. Golf is almost unbearable anymore to play. I live in the DC area and unless you're one of the first groups out you're looking at a 5 hour round. This is on a public course. I pretty much only play when I head back to PA to visit family now. At least there you can get a round in under 4 hours but usually around 3.5 hours.

Im not pointing the finger at you but hackers are one of the major reasons why golf is so slow and imo have ruined the fun of the game. Most people struggle to break 100. Even if you are a "fast" player having to walk/drive from one side of the fairway to the other all day...along with hitting 40 yard ground balls...hoping back in cart, getting to ball, pulling different club, etc etc...brings the game to a crawl...no wonder people are leaving the game. Money is another factor though.

The only thing I would say is stay on the range...hit a lot of balls...if you do not become more consistent after a month I think its time to give up the game.
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Old 09-12-2016, 08:37 AM   #64
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I'm in the same boat as you. My lowest index was a 2 but mostly played to a 5 to 7. Even though I loved golf and gave it my best for many years, I just didn't get better.

So I'll occasionally go play with friends, but it's certainly not a passion anymore. What's funny though is with zero practice, every now and then I'll shoot under par.
Same boat? The OP is at sea on the sinking Titanic while you're out sipping martinis on the Regent Seven Seas.
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Old 09-12-2016, 08:55 AM   #65
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Some users here recommended you change your swing. I couldnt disagree more. No one understands what it takes to completely change your swing.
I changed mine - took about a year but well worth it
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Old 09-12-2016, 11:05 AM   #66
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I changed mine - took about a year but well worth it
Sure...it can be worth it...but like I said...very people can devote enough time to make it worth their while...and very few people have the mindset to make the change.

My FIL is a certified instructor. He always talks about how he can get anyone to hit the ball well with a few minor tweaks on the range. After that its up to them if they want to keep practicing with the tweaks he presents. 99% of them go back to old habits. They get on the course, hit a few bad shots and go right back to what they're comfortable with whether or not they're hitting poor shots or not. Like the saying goes "old habits die hard."

Look at Spieth. Why isnt he winning? Butch has him so messed up because everyone convinced him he needed to get longer. He struggles off the tee now and he's not pin hunting like he used to. Hitting the ball far will do you no good unless you keep it in play.
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Old 09-28-2016, 03:22 PM   #67
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Played 2-3 times a year for 20+ years and have never kept score. Don't plan on it going forward. I enjoy golf somewhat and my motto is "No expectations, no disappointments."
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Old 09-28-2016, 03:29 PM   #68
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ZMAN, how are things going?
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Old 09-28-2016, 07:09 PM   #69
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Should probably just drink more on the course.
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Old 09-29-2016, 06:33 AM   #70
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Pb: thanks for asking and all others thanks for your input.

After the round with led to the original post, I got back out there on, of all things, a 2 day golf vacation with DW and friends. I played more to my normal 110-120 with some better contact and better short game. I also played on my home course with a 59 on 9 which for me is not too bad.

I think the problem, as one suggested, is that I do not practice. With my frozen shoulder (due to arthritis - so not going to get better without a replacement which I will not do) I am hesitant to practice. But of course I could at least practice putting which would take at least 5 strokes off my "game". The other thing I could do is just practice more with say a 7 iron and see if I can groove a simple and easy same swing plane to up my chances of getting cleanly back to the ball. I plan to go to the Dome this winter and study using some of the Kirk Junge (Moe Norman) method. A few of my friends in my age group use that type of swing with great results.

Finally I love to drink beer on the course but it does make me even worse.
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Old 09-29-2016, 06:46 AM   #71
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Pb: thanks for asking and all others thanks for your input.

After the round with led to the original post, I got back out there on, of all things, a 2 day golf vacation with DW and friends. I played more to my normal 110-120 with some better contact and better short game. I also played on my home course with a 59 on 9 which for me is not too bad.

I think the problem, as one suggested, is that I do not practice. With my frozen shoulder (due to arthritis - so not going to get better without a replacement which I will not do) I am hesitant to practice. But of course I could at least practice putting which would take at least 5 strokes off my "game". The other thing I could do is just practice more with say a 7 iron and see if I can groove a simple and easy same swing plane to up my chances of getting cleanly back to the ball. I plan to go to the Dome this winter and study using some of the Kirk Junge (Moe Norman) method. A few of my friends in my age group use that type of swing with great results.

Finally I love to drink beer on the course but it does make me even worse.
Ask yourself 2 questions:

1. Do I enjoy playing golf?
2. Do the people I play with enjoy playing golf with me?

If the answer to both of those questions is "yes", then don't worry about the score.
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Old 09-29-2016, 08:21 AM   #72
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Finally I love to drink beer on the course but it does make me even worse.
swing fluid is critical to my game, of course there is a serious diminishing marginal utility

but seriously, yes just practice chipping and putting. neither of those strokes require a full shoulder turn and have minimal arm movement

if you can get up and down, or up and up and down every time you miss a green you will break 100 fairly easily, sans penalty strokes
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Old 09-29-2016, 08:51 AM   #73
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swing fluid is critical to my game, of course there is a serious diminishing marginal utility

but seriously, yes just practice chipping and putting. neither of those strokes require a full shoulder turn and have minimal arm movement

if you can get up and down, or up and up and down every time you miss a green you will break 100 fairly easily, sans penalty strokes
+1

Putting is likely 1/3 of your strokes, and short game (<100 yds) likely another 1/3. So, practicing those should easily get you below 100. And, when you get there, be sure to celebrate & then come back here and tell us about it.
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Old 10-04-2016, 08:20 PM   #74
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I've been playing golf for over 30 years, though very infrequently until two years ago. I'm the worst player in my group. However, with regular play and practice I have begun to improve. Today I received the "most improved player" award for 2016. So don't give up!
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Old 10-05-2016, 05:57 AM   #75
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played 9 hoes last evening after w*rk.. a few pars and a birdie
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Old 10-05-2016, 06:23 AM   #76
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swing fluid is critical to my game, of course there is a serious diminishing marginal utility

but seriously, yes just practice chipping and putting. neither of those strokes require a full shoulder turn and have minimal arm movement

if you can get up and down, or up and up and down every time you miss a green you will break 100 fairly easily, sans penalty strokes
Good tempo is critical for most. I always think 'slow take away' to get me started. Some people are fast walkers, fast talkers and their golf swing matches their personality.....speedy back swing. It works for some, but I still believe a slower take away will promote good tempo which is better for most. That's what I recommend for zman and work on the short game as you suggest.
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Old 10-05-2016, 06:26 AM   #77
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regarding tempo, I think a quick downswing with the hands is a killer - this fixed it

https://www.tempomaster.com/

I have the driver, 3wood, 5i and pw
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Old 10-05-2016, 08:00 AM   #78
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played 9 hoes last evening after w*rk.. a few pars and a birdie

Viagra? 😜
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Old 10-05-2016, 08:20 AM   #79
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oops sorry I thought this was teh gof talk thread
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Old 10-05-2016, 10:00 AM   #80
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A really good book for learning the proper turn and weight shift sequence is "The Keys to the Effortless Golf Swing: Curing Your Hit Impulse in Seven Simple Lessons: Michael McTeique". He starts out with drills you can do at home without a golf club to get the proper sequence ingrained. Simple to understand and effective.
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