Midseason assessment: What are you working on?

[JimSomebody]

For many of us, it's about the midway point in the season. So... what part(s) of your game are you working on?

My next two scores will bump my current low score (80) off my handicap card, which will drive up my GHIN, so if I want to keep the hdcp under 15 (it is what it is), I better find ways to take some strokes off my game.

I'm working on 3 things: driving, pitching, putting. My new (in Fall 2007) King Cobra Speed LD (460 cc) gives me about 225 or 230 (again, it is what it is), which I can live with if it's straight. But it ain't always as straight as my previous driver (Cleveland Launcher 330 cc; gave me about 215). So I'm working on consistency. That may be the focus of my lesson next week.

At the range, I spend a fair amount of time on wedges. I try not to hit at the same target every time (e.g., 60 yards), but to vary target distances with each shot. Trying to develop some feel. Also trying to identify how far a 1/2-sand wedge goes, how far a 3/4 goes, etc.

A putting lesson has helped me with my set up. I'm now confident that I can get the ball started on the intended line. But I'm still wimping out on some putts: hitting them on line but watching them come up short. During a lesson, after I'd set up properly, my teacher said, "OK, now a nice, confident putt." That's the swing thought that I'm trying to adopt right before I take the putter back.

How about you? Now that you've played some golf this year, what have you identified to work on?

[Golfaddict]

Ball striking and staying focused throughout the round are the two major things I need to work. Every portion of my game could use improvement but ball striking, especially with my irons needs to improve to take me to the next level. I also think I lose a few shots every round because I just lose focus.

[PA PLAYA]

Bunker play. My fairway bunker play is good, but my greenside bunker play isn't representative of a player of my abilities. It's the biggest weakness in my game. I have this uncanny ability to hit my SW 150 yards when I find myself in a greenside bunker sometimes. LOL....

I hit a small slump about a month ago, worked on a few things diligently, and the worst round I've fired the past five rounds has been 75. Just gotta focus on the process and less on the results -- I play well when I do that. Would love to get to scratch by the end of the season, but that's a pretty tall order.

[Bigvivec]

Everything...currently salvaging my game from the toilet...slowly coming back but there isn't any area that I am satisfied with currently...

[Sinsation]

i'm taking a step back and still working on a more compact swing. My backswing was too long, and i thought i had fixed it, but i guess i got lazy and it has crept back in un-noticed. This in turn is making EVERYTHING better. Cleaner contact, more consistent, even better distance. In my old swing, going so far back and coiling made me sway my hips instead of turn them. I'm more aware of this now with my short swing and its making me a more efficient golfer. Can't wait to take this swing to the course.

[Darth Fader]

I have been spending a lot of time on my putting,i am starting to see some improvement but it could still be better.

[BunkerBound21]

I am working on correcting my slice, my footwork, my putting and keeping my head in the game after a bad hole. Too many times i have let me mind go and become very irriated / angry and do horrible the rest of the day.

[straightshooter]

During the next 2 months I will work on the following:

I need to work on chipping, as my lack of ability in this area is costing me strokes: I seem to have lost my feel for where the ball will land, and how far it will roll. I have been using a wide selection of clubs so far this season, and this has gotten me nowhere, so I will stick with a 9-iron for the rest of the season for chip-shots.

I want to work on greenside bunker-shots. I have been doing well with them so far this season, and I think I can become positively good at this before the season is over.

I want to work on my swing. The swing I have been taking out on the course is useable, but the swing is shortish, and the ball lands shortish. It may not matter much, but I know there's something more graceful and more powerful hiding in there somewhere!

JimSomebody: Thanks for starting this thread. I was due for a mid-season assessment and you made me think about it, and write it down!

[JustPlainWill]

I am working on (1) accuracy off the tee; (2) chipping and (3) putting. I am trying to simplify my game all the way around. This is my third full season of play and I think that I have made the game a little more complicated than it needs to be...at least stage of my game development. I have substituted my 3 wood for driver on most holes and am using my 5-wood instead of of say 4i or 5i. On a number of the courses that I play, the areas around the greens are closely cropped, I am learning to make long chips and have temporarily at least taken my 60* wedge out of the bag. My goal of breaking 90 by seasons-end is still realistic. I think anyway.

[TwillDog]

Turning away from the ball and target. My backswing shoulder turn tends to be short, while my arms continue back. My goal by the end of the summer is to have the turn ingrained, and have what I feel is a short backswing ingrained as my full swing.

[jwaldrop]

I took a "major tuneup" lesson a couple of months ago, and I'm still working on making a full turn. I was hardly turning my hips or shoulders and hitting lots of pull hooks.

It is paying off mightily with increased distance and accuracy not to mention better scores.

[essurfer]

My short game always needs work but, I really have been working on my swing this year. Getting better tempo. Ive been using the heavy club and the meidicus to keep my self on plane and to keep from rushing.

[nachos]

I am working on getting out to play more often. You can't really gauge any improvements when you aren't making any due to lack of time on the course.

[Diane]

Originally Posted by nachos

I am working on getting out to play more often. You can't really gauge any improvements when you aren't making any due to lack of time on the course.

Uh - Nachos - weren't you busy getting married?

[nachos]

Originally Posted by Diane

Uh - Nachos - weren't you busy getting married?

That is no excuse for a three week hiatus from the game.

[Diane]

Originally Posted by nachos

That is no excuse for a three week hiatus from the game.

No, of course not and I'm guessing your new wife doesn't read your posts here either.

[nachos]

Originally Posted by Diane

No, of course not and I'm guessing your new wife doesn't read your posts here either.

She to busy doing my laundry and cooking my dinner.








Yeah right....I do both of those chores. Just acting tough.

[Diane]

Originally Posted by nachos

Yeah right....I do both of those chores. Just acting tough.

Yes, we know, but we'll give you your little fantasy.

[alangbaker]

Originally Posted by nachos

That is no excuse for a three week hiatus from the game.

When my brother got married, part of the wedding day was a round of golf with me (the best man) and another of his close friends.

The point being that Chris was marrying the right woman for him: a woman who would understand the importance of his guy activities.