Question:
I would like to hear from people who have found success after having great trouble finding consistency (especially those who seem to keep making the same mistakes over and over) for two reasons. One, I would like to know that it can be done, and two, I would like to know what you did, either mental, or physical to help you achieve consistency. Andy
Andy, Your posting was interesting since after shooting a 97 I (and undoubtedly countless other golfers) was ponding the same things you wrote about. On the range I am hitting straight 250 yd drives but on the course I was lucky to get 200 yds; similar results for fairway woods. My irons were somewhat better but the ball didn’t "explode" off the club like I had been seeing. Plus there were too many duffed shots, which I hardly ever do while practicing. One problem is that on the range you are able to immediately correct any technical quirks that arise and establish a rhythym; on the course you hit your shot and then might have to wait 5 minutes or more before you can shoot again…all that time to think about what you did wrong and come up with some adjustment that might or (probably) might not work. Add the fact that you have 2 or 3 other people watching you, as well as having to aim at a rather small target and it is no wonder you start reverting to your old "safe" stroke or tense up just enough to throw your stroke off. Also, let’s admit it, how many amateur golfers with limited time spend it perfecting their short game? Even two mediocre shots on a par 4 can get you to within mid- to short iron or wedge range, but it doesn’t do any good if you shank or dump your approach shot into a bunker. Fortunately, your short game is good, so you’re picking up a few strokes there. But I know that to get to 90 and below I am going to have to have the distance I see at the range. At least I have had enough lessons to prevent any truly disasterous rounds and to be able to diagnose what I am doing wrong. I know that I am not completely releasing on my shots, but don’t have the luxury of having a bucket of balls to hit over and over again while actually playing. One thing that I believe is important to transferring your practice swing to the course is to have one or two "keys" that remind your mind and body what it is you want to do. For example, I had a tendency to sway my legs back and forth, which caused all sorts of inaccurate and weak shots. I am trying to focus in on maintaining the position of my knees throughout the swing. This does not mean you should be thinking while swinging, just a reminder before hitting to get the correct "feel" while swinging. Hopefully, with enough repetition on the course this cue will become integrated into the swing. Finally, while in most other sports you react to a situation (e.g., like a tennis ball being hit to you or a ball being pitched), in golf you have the luxury or misfortune to be standing above a stationary target with the luxury or misfortune of a long period of time to ponder your strategy. This aspect of the sport makes it that much more difficult to master. I would also be interested in hearing how others have overcome the mental/physical barrier so many players experience.
Response:
I have been playing golf … I would like to hear from people who have found success after having great trouble finding consistency (especially those who seem to keep making the same mistakes over and over) for two reasons. One, I would like to know that it can be done, and two, I would like to know what you did, either mental, or physical to help you achieve consistency.
I can identify with your problem and I am sure every person who plays golf experiences the same kind of frustration. A factoid which has provided me some perspective and may at least console you—Scott Simpson, former US Open champion says his game is in good shape entering the Open (at Pebble Beach I think). He proceeds to shoot successive rounds of 68, 88. I am certainly not as consistent as I want to be, either shot-to-shot or round-to-round but my handicap has improved from 9 to 3 this year playing once or twice a week with one serious 2 hour practice session. Suggest you consider a three stage approach: 1. Spend some time determining how far, on average, you hit your woods and irons. Leave your ego in the locker room and always take enough club based on the conditions and your average distance – not your career best. This will lessen the ‘hit’ instinct and reduce tension since you won’t have to hit your absolute best shot. 2. Establish a preshot routine, refine it, and stick to it. For example, pick a spot between your ball and a small, specific target to assist in lining up, sight down that line, place the clubhead on that line and position your body parallel to that line, waggle, look at the ball and down the line to your target, make any adjustments and fire. This gets your mind off swing mechanics and on to moving the ball from where it is to the target. Keep the routine brief so that your mind doesn’t get cluttered and the yahoo rabbits behind you don’t get POed. (I hit about 15 seconds after it becomes my turn.) 3. Add some realism to your practice session by playing an imaginary round. We hit so many good shots on the range is because there is no penalty for our misses; we just reload and fire again. By pretending to play a familiar or favorite course, we narrow our focus to a specific target, induce a little tension, and become more outcome oriented. Pick features on the range to serve as fairways, greens, hazards, troublespots, etc. Attempt to get a very clear mental picture of the shot you are about to play (distance, terrain, where you want the ball to land, how you want the ball to bounce, where you want the ball to come to rest) and the ball flight necessary to achieve a good result. Tee it up, go through your routine, focus on the smallest target possible, fire, evaluate the shot, select the appropriate club for the next shot. Earn a score. Apologize for the length but books are written on this subject. Be interested to know if this helps you. Good luck! — W. Smith
Response:
I have been playing golf in some form for about seven years now. About 2 years ago, I got a better job that allowed me to play more and started taking a few lessons and hitting a lot of balls at the range. Due mostly to a pretty good short game, I managed to score consistently in the mid to low 90’s. I basically couldn’t hit the ball with any consistency at all, particularly with regards to direction. I got so frustrated with my lack of progress that I more or less quit, playing only a couple of times last year, and only once or twice this spring. This summer, I was given a trip to a local golf resort as a gift, so I off I went, sticks in hand. After playing two rounds, neither good nor terrible, the bug had bit me again. So I started playing more again, as well as resuming lessons and going to the range. My game has basically picked up where it left off two years ago. Due in large part to a decent short game, I am again scoring in the mid to low 90’s. The one area that I certainly have improved is in my mental make-up. I am not nearly as frustrated as I was, and don’t take a bad round or driving range session home with me, even though my desire to succeed is just as strong. I am not looking for a cure to my particular swing problem (which is once again resulting in a consistent push, push/slice), as I will take another lesson to deal with that, but rather, help on getting over this hump. After my last lesson, I hit another bucket of balls at the range, and was striking the ball about as well as I have ever hit it. I was jumping from club to club and hitting everything more or less straight and far (relatively speaking). However, the next time that I hit, this time on the course, that consistency was gone. I would hit several bad shots for each good shot. This is basically my problem. I take a lesson, he fixes something and I hit the ball well, and then almost immediately after the lesson is over, something else goes wrong and I am no longer striking the ball well. (When I say not well, I often mean terribly!) It is almost as if my muscle memory is going senile. 
I would like to hear from people who have found success after having great trouble finding consistency (especially those who seem to keep making the same mistakes over and over) for two reasons. One, I would like to know that it can be done, and two, I would like to know what you did, either mental, or physical to help you achieve consistency. Thank you for taking the time to read this, and great thanks to those who reply (as long as they don’t say to quit!) I enjoy playing this game all of the time, and love it when I am playing even decently. I am certainly willing to put in the time that it will take to make decent a consistent reality. Andy