[Virosponna]

You are more than welcome to join, I did The more the merrier!! I wish for that day where I'd break 100 as well!! Its in the far far future though

I fear it is in the far future for me too. It's my own fault for not going out and practicing more. I have been practicing on the putting green we have in the living room now and ever since we got it I have very very rarely had a 3 putt. That is saving me a lot of strokes because I used to be a 4 putt queen for a while. This has really helped me with speed control.

I also used to top a lot of my shots but now I am hitting them fat. I think that means I am finally starting to ground my club more which I think is good and now I just need to find the true bottom of my swing. Once I have that I think that will be a huge breakthrough for me. I am doing this in baby steps and just enjoying the good shots and trying to work on the bad.

[Lymneterfeiff]

Here's some advice about breaking 100 . . .

First, give yourself the freedom to stop thinking about 100 and concentrate on one shot at a time. Golf is hard enough without worrying about how your ball got where it is or thinking about what you need to do on the next four holes. Put another way, you cannot be standing in the middle of the 14th fairway thinking about the four pars and bogey you need to break 100. You have to stand there thinking about nothing other than the safest way to get your ball on the middle of the 14th green. If you are thinking/worrying about what you've already done or what you need to do on the next hole, by definition you are not concentrating on the shot in front of you.

Second, track your performance after the round so you can figure out where you need to improve. Chances are good that any 100-shooter can save at least 10 shots (probably 15 or more) on or around the green, but nothing will convince you like seeing on paper just how many "easy" shots you're wasting. Spend 1/2-hour chipping and putting before and after every round and you will save a lot of those shots.

Third, it you really want to break 100, go to the course with only 4 or 5 clubs, nothing longer than a 5-iron, e.g., 5i, 7i, 9i, PW, putter. Bogey golf is easier than you think if you don't try to do too much with any one swing. You may end up laying up on every hole except the short par 3s, but you'll probably learn more about course management by limiting your options than you will any other way. Also, if you can't reach an average par four with two 5-irons and a pitching wedge, you're probably playing from the wrong tee.

[Sxedlawb]

Here's some advice about breaking 100 . . .

First, give yourself the freedom to stop thinking about 100 and concentrate on one shot at a time. Golf is hard enough without worrying about how your ball got where it is or thinking about what you need to do on the next four holes. Put another way, you cannot be standing in the middle of the 14th fairway thinking about the four pars and bogey you need to break 100. You have to stand there thinking about nothing other than the safest way to get your ball on the middle of the 14th green. If you are thinking/worrying about what you've already done or what you need to do on the next hole, by definition you are not concentrating on the shot in front of you.

Second, track your performance after the round so you can figure out where you need to improve. Chances are good that any 100-shooter can save at least 10 shots (probably 15 or more) on or around the green, but nothing will convince you like seeing on paper just how many "easy" shots you're wasting. Spend 1/2-hour chipping and putting before and after every round and you will save a lot of those shots.

Third, it you really want to break 100, go to the course with only 4 or 5 clubs, nothing longer than a 5-iron, e.g., 5i, 7i, 9i, PW, putter. Bogey golf is easier than you think if you don't try to do too much with any one swing. You may end up laying up on every hole except the short par 3s, but you'll probably learn more about course management by limiting your options than you will any other way. Also, if you can't reach an average par four with two 5-irons and a pitching wedge, you're probably playing from the wrong tee.

Some great words of wisdom there

I know for me, its hard to shut out my thoughts when I'm about to tee off. Going with just a few clubs?? Hmmm...

[giftbestcom]

sigh...unfortunately I need to join your club too. Last year I was playing on average 2 times a week and practicing 4-5 times. I was breaking 100 approx. half the time and usually shot under 105 when I didn't. Then I didn't pick up a club for over 6 months. I have only played a full 18 twice this year so far with a pathetic 108 being my best. I have always struggled off the tee and just got my new driver so hopefully after a few range sessions my scores will be lower.

I try to practice in the yard on wedge shots every day. I have a big yard so I can hit a full sand wedge. But I think just getting out on the course as much as possible is the most important aspect of staying consistent. I started using golfshot gps and keeping stats to see where I need the most improvement.

The main thing that always baffles me is I can hit shot after shot pure and perfect in the yard or range yet when I'm on the course I cannot. I need to somehow find the sense of relaxation I have when practicing and transfer it to the course.

[Carol]

Nice to know I'm not alone in this...I, like Spank818, just picked up the game in August of '09, so this too will be my first full season this year. My work schedule as of late only allows for me to play only 9 holes about twice a week (haven't had a day off since Good Friday). I'm still struggling to break 50 (100 for 18); I seem to be stuck at about 52-55 (104-110), about the same as I was toward the end of last year. I have made two big noticeable improvements, however:
-Driving. No longer slicing as bad as I used to. Hitting consistently about 200-225 straight, sometimes slightly to the left.
-Putting. Picked up a few things from Phil Mickelson's "Short Game" DVD, and they seem to be working for me. I've been keeping track of my putts per hole, and I've improved to 19-22 putts for 9 holes (2.1-2.4 PPH avg.). Chipping has also improved too; put the lob wedge away so no more bladed shots (anyone want to buy it?)

My biggest problem lately has been my irons. Ever since I got them last November they have just never felt right. Both that set and my cheap "starter" irons are cavity-back, but the cheaper ones have a solid bottom as opposed to the hollow bottom of the Adams set I have. Haven't been able to prove my theory on them yet, but I've put them away for now and put my cheap "starter" irons back in my bag. If all goes well, then the Adams irons are soon to find their way onto eBay while I look for a better set with solid bottoms.

Someone had once said that as you learn to do things the right way, you're going to get worse before you can get better. That thought has helped me not to get discouraged when I do poorly and struggle to break into the "100 Club". In the beginning, it was all about "getting me some clubs and heading out to play". Now it's about where I stand with my strengths and weaknesses. Make the necessary changes to improve the weaknesses, whether through lots of practice and/or better equipment, and keep improving on the strengths too. The season is still young, I'm still making corrections and trying to stay positive. I'm confident I'll be able to break 100 by year's end, and I wish everyone else with the same problem the best of luck in their goal as well.

[jeraveike]

NFender, I like and agree with your last post where you mention limiting the numbr of clubs in the bag. I hear ya and understand completely and am going to try smething simlar next time I play. I will keep all posted.

[rassedgesse]

August of 09?? Same with the BF and I Actually, it was July 4th weekend

Tis true!! My game is going horribly wrong lately, but that's because I've been working on my swing and trying to find tune it. So I've heard as well, your game will get worse before it gets better!

Nice to know I'm not alone in this...I, like Spank818, just picked up the game in August of '09, so this too will be my first full season this year.

[Arbinknit]

You all are giving me the confidence to go out and practice more. As I said I probably won't be good enough to break a 100 but a girl can dream.

[#[SoftAzerZx]]

You will do it GG.. I know you will. Dont let the game beat you!!!! Go have fun with it. And if you dont hit the ball 300 yards with your driver but only hit it 100 yards then hit it 100 yards straight and take another club and hit the ball another 100 yards and you will be at or near most greens in 3 or 4 shots, then chip and putt and then go on to the next hole and do the same. If you did that for 18 holes you might be suprised what you scored.. and even if it was 135, who realy cares????? I am know at the end of the day golf is just a game and you have a great man who loves you at home and a cute puppy that will sit by you even if you shoot a 8 or higher on every hole. ( JB might not but Eliie will for sure) And never worry about what people think, never let it bother you!!! You are entitled to have fun with this game just like everyone else!!!

[yazetaw]

You will do it GG.. I know you will. Dont let the game beat you!!!! Go have fun with it. And if you dont hit the ball 300 yards with your driver but only hit it 100 yards then hit it 100 yards straight and take another club and hit the ball another 100 yards and you will be at or near most greens in 3 or 4 shots, then chip and putt and then go on to the next hole and do the same. If you did that for 18 holes you might be suprised what you scored.. and even if it was 135, who realy cares????? I am know at the end of the day golf is just a game and you have a great man who loves you at home and a cute puppy that will sit by you even if you shoot a 8 or higher on every hole. ( JB might not but Eliie will for sure) And never worry about what people think, never let it bother you!!! You are entitled to have fun with this game just like everyone else!!!

Well put...I think I need to start changing my thinking as well