How many %*@3&$#@$%# shots do you average a round?

[Bigvivec]

How many %*@3&$#@$%# shots do you average a round?

I was thinking about this the other day after topping a fairway wood… How many awful shots do you average a round? I don’t mean hooks or slices, coming up short or flying the green, slightly thinned or fatted shots that hold the line and get to the general target area, shots that find hazards or OB, bad kicks, pushes or pulls…I’m talking about crowned driver shots, bladed chips, sand shots that go 1 foot, topped shots off the fairway, fat wedge shots that feel like you broke your wrists as you turned the fairway over for spring planting…I’m talking about the shots that make you want to throw your clubs in the lake and take up crocheting…I used to think that guys who shot in the 70s hit every shot clean, only that the ball didn’t go exactly where they wanted it to all the time or they hit a chip a little long, or came up short on a putt…now that I am one of “those” guys, I’ve discovered the truth…while I no longer fear popping a tee shot off the top edge of the driver, I can and do still hit every duff known to golfing kind…much less frequency than before but still occur from time to time…I used to be able to count on one every other hole when I first started playing, and the teebox was akin to stepping up for my turn to spin the barrel, wondering if I’d come up empty chamber lucky and hit a clean pull slice that I used to exclusively play with the driver…I’ve improved, but still can count on one shot every other round that I’d like a do over on…more than that if I am experimenting and working on an issue…this is one of the ways that I measure how well I played in determining how bad my worst shot was, and it still can be UGLY sometimes…

Ought to start a support group here and sticky a thread to the “What was your best shot of the round?” thread for the stinkers that we attempt to deliver as golf shots…

Also reminds me of a guy that I played with a year ago from the States that had a curious habit (form TV…seems like I heard it somewhere before) of shouting “GOLF SHOT!!!” whenever someone in our group hit a good one…I’ve got the shouting covered for the less than great ones, enough to make a sailor blush…

[JungleJ]

Yeah I'm always good for three or four of these per round. It's pretty frustrating because although I don't shoot in the 70s (or even the 80s much these days) I try to act like I do. So often I start off, especially with guys I don't know, looking like I know what I am doing and then I roto-till a 7 iron... or I do a massive decel on a short chip...

[C-Tech]

Originally Posted by JungleJ

Yeah I'm always good for three or four of these per round. It's pretty frustrating because although I don't shoot in the 70s (or even the 80s much these days) I try to act like I do. So often I start off, especially with guys I don't know, looking like I know what I am doing and then I roto-till a 7 iron... or I do a massive decel on a short chip...

Haven't heard the term "roto-till" since I left the farm. My most exasperating mistake is the decel chip! Just makes me crazy. Hit two good shots to get within 10 yards of paydirt and chunk a chip to cost an extra stroke...arrrggghhh! Fortunately, I only do those once or twice a round.

[jwaldrop]

A couple ! Had one yesterday as a matter of fact. I was playing ok...but scoring well...and getting more and more accurate as the 9 went on, even par through 8. I hit a really nice tee shot into the wind about 270 down the middle on #9, and left myself 160 to the flag on a good lie. And promptly cold-topped a 6 iron into the pond right in front of me. The followup hit in the fringe just right of the flag, kicked hard right into the deep greenside bunker. I hit the sandwedge stiff and made the putt for a solid 6.

[halk]

Two-three, Saturday was a good example playing a nice course over in Mississippi made the turn. Tee shot off 10 was OK had easy lay-up with three wood to green. Water between me and the green pull out the 3 wood topped the in the water there goes a great round. Story of my life if I have a good round going it's seems to happen everytime.

[CristieKerr]

It's gone down over the years, but I don't know if it is that I'm better or I'm just getting used to it!

I'd say 2-4, but really, really bad ones is probably closer to 1 or 2 and then a couple more where I just make a really dumb mental mistake that makes me mad at myself, not really the shot, but results in some .

[JPsuff]

.


They don't happen all that often in a round, but when they do, they always seem to happen at the worst possible moment and end up costing me far more strokes than they ought to.

On the other hand, I know I'm getting better because instead of having an "event" on almost every hole, I can now cruise along for many holes shooting routine pars and even an occasional birdie. But then, as if out of the clear blue sky, I have a "Kramer Moment" and it's as if I stepped on a land mine. Afterwards I have that look on my face like disaster survivors have - that bewildered, "what the $&*%^# just happened?", look and then I can play the next hole just fine and stay that way until the next "event".



It's really weird.


And frustrating.


*sniff*



-JP

[PA PLAYA]

I'm usually good for one really awful shot every other round. And it generally happens after a great tee ball, in perfect approach position, leading to a double bogey.

[Leaguegolf]

Originally Posted by PA PLAYA

I'm usually good for one really awful shot every other round. And it generally happens after a great tee ball, in perfect approach position, leading to a double bogey.

I feel your pain PA PLAYA. I feel your pain.

[Dormie]

At the moment, at a 6-7 handicap, I don't have many AWFUL shots a round. However, it really depends on where your standards are at.

This is an interesting thread topic though. I often try to count my bad shots on the way home from the course. Usually they are qualified as BAD because they were unforced and cost me strokes.

But I'll answer the thread question like this:

Number shots per round that would make people think I am playing for the first time if that was the only shot they saw: 0-1
Example - a worm burner tee shot or skull over the green from 25 yards

Number of shots that I consider awful and unforced that end up costing me an unnecessary shot or 2: 2-3
Example - Chunking a shot from 110 yards in the center of the fairway that misses the green short or not taking enough off a PW for an in-between shot and flying the green.

Number of shots that I consider poor that a 12-15 handicap would be pleased with: 5-8
Example - A reasonable struck drive that goes lower than usual (a bullet) but still goes about 230 or a slightly thinned 9-iron that has a 6-iron trajectory that still hits the green.

[Golfaddict]

I probably average about 2 bad shots a round. It's usually if I'm trying to stretch a fairway wood to it's upper distances or trying to hit an easy iron while I'm inbetween clubs.

Those types of shots will come during around, we just have to accept it and try to rescue a par or bogey when they appear.

[ringin]

I probably have about 2 shots per round that I consider completely botched. Usually it's a wayward drive or a lousy approach. Those are the 2 shots I look back after the round and kick myself in the butt over. I guess that's why it's so darn difficult to get down to scratch.

[deronsizemore]

Originally Posted by Bigvivec

I’m talking about crowned driver shots, bladed chips, sand shots that go 1 foot, topped shots off the fairway, fat wedge shots that feel like you broke your wrists as you turned the fairway over for spring planting…I’m talking about the shots that make you want to throw your clubs in the lake and take up crocheting…I used to think that guys who shot in the 70s hit every shot clean, only that the ball didn’t go exactly where they wanted it to all the time or they hit a chip a little long, or came up short on a putt…now that I am one of “those” guys, I’ve discovered the truth…

70's shooters definitely have their share of bad shots. For me, I've had one really bad shot this year. I topped a drive (with a driver) on a par 5. I've not topped a shot for years, but it happens. For me, I don't normally have any really bad shots like the bladed chips, crowned drivers, etc. I just have mental breakdowns, that's my downfall. I usually have one big mental breakdown a round and it keeps me from getting over the "breaking 70" hump.

To be a 70's shooter though is more about how you manage your game and your short game. Sure you have to be able to hit a lot of shots well, but if you're long game is just average but you can putt decent and think your way around the course, you'll shoot in the 70's.

[ringin]

Deron nailed it. Players who shoot in the 70's regularly, still hit lousy shots, but most have the skills (usually short game) to recover and make par or at worst bogey. That's how they can salvage a round after a mental lapse. It really is amazing how having a good 60 yard and in game can save you out there.

[C-Tech]

Originally Posted by JPsuff

.


They don't happen all that often in a round, but when they do, they always seem to happen at the worst possible moment and end up costing me far more strokes than they ought to.

On the other hand, I know I'm getting better because instead of having an "event" on almost every hole, I can now cruise along for many holes shooting routine pars and even an occasional birdie. But then, as if out of the clear blue sky, I have a "Kramer Moment" and it's as if I stepped on a land mine. Afterwards I have that look on my face like disaster survivors have - that bewildered, "what the $&*%^# just happened?", look and then I can play the next hole just fine and stay that way until the next "event".



It's really weird.


And frustrating.


*sniff*



-JP

I don't think I have ever seen that phenomenon explained so succinctly. It does happen to me as well.

[C-Tech]

I have a mental problem that strikes me in almost every round... and it leads to that one bad shot that gives me a score headache... Earlier this week, I had a poor lie in some deep rough around 160 out from the green. I pulled a 6 iron and figured I should be able to at least put it on the front edge. Now I had already hit out of this stuff a couple of times and I knew better, but I had a mental lapse and the following shot cost me dearly. I landed in 8 inch deep rough fronting the green and took a boatload of strokes to get out of the hole. In retrospect, I knew better, I just turned off all the warning signs, threw caution to the wind and went temporarily insane. If I could stop that, I might never shoot a round over 80 again.

[deronsizemore]

Originally Posted by ringin

Deron nailed it. Players who shoot in the 70's regularly, still hit lousy shots, but most have the skills (usually short game) to recover and make par or at worst bogey. That's how they can salvage a round after a mental lapse. It really is amazing how having a good 60 yard and in game can save you out there.

Yeah, it really comes down to being honest with yourself and not allowing the ego to take over. You have to say, "ok, I've hit a bad shot, where can I hit this next shot so that at the worst I get a bogey but give myself a chance at par." That's what better players do. They don't let one bad shot snowball into three more bad shots before they regain their composure but after they've made a triple. The higher handicappers I've played with are too wrapped up in how far they are hitting the ball (with every club... not just driver) to worry about playing the game of golf which means getting the lowest score possible. If you can just not be stupid after a bad shot and turn a bogey hole into a double or triple bogey hole, you're on your way to a bunch of rounds in the 70's.

[carolinagolfer]

I don't have that many bad shots from the box, fairway or around the green....however....when I get on the green is when the four letter colored words start flying! My 2 goals for this year are to break 80 and to have a single digit handicap. The other day I shot an 80 with 38 putts....it is KILLING me. I practice putting almost every day but to no avail. I guess some lessons are looming.

[deronsizemore]

Originally Posted by carolinagolfer

I don't have that many bad shots from the box, fairway or around the green....however....when I get on the green is when the four letter colored words start flying! My 2 goals for this year are to break 80 and to have a single digit handicap. The other day I shot an 80 with 38 putts....it is KILLING me. I practice putting almost every day but to no avail. I guess some lessons are looming.

How do you practice putting? I think it was Einstein that said doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results is the definition of insanity.

When you practice putting, do you practice like you play? Do you simply take one ball and practice as if you were playing on the course, lining it up, going through your routine, etc.? If not, I would suggest trying that for starters. Most people take four or five balls and just start putting them around. That wont' help you on the course in a real playing situation where you're putting more pressure on yourself. Another thing I would suggest if you do want to work on your stroke, find a short putt no longer than 4 feet and take four or five balls and just practice your stroke. If it's straight in, you'll know instantly if you're not aimed right or if you miss hit the putt.

I also have found that trying to make any putts when practicing that are outside of 5 feet is worthless. Anything outside of that 5 foot range, most people have about a 50/50 chance at making it anyway, and standing on the practice green practicing the same putt over and over again and missing won't help you in becoming better at putting. I don't ever practice anything over 4 feet and when I do practice lag putting I always putt to a headcover rather than the hole. When putting to a headcover I'm only concentrating on the right speed and not the direction or making the putt like I would be if I were putting to a hole. So in a sense, I'm not training my brain to miss putts constantly.

Hope that helps... it's worked for me.

Sorry to hijack the thread.