My scores haven't changed massively since I started playing this year.  They've come down a bit, but not as much as I would have liked, but, that's not really my major concern.

I feel like I've improved, without my score reflecting it, if that remotely makes any sense in a score oriented sport.  The issue is consistency, and I imagine that is the biggest problem for most if not all high handicappers.

On Friday I played at a beautiful golf course, Burgham Park, first time I'd been there, and carded 3 pars and an eagle of all things (nice drive, nice 3 wood, even nicer bounce and roll) but I also carded a 9 and a 10 in the round, resulting in a 105 round.  The par 3 immediately after the par 5 I eagled, I managed to totally mishit off the tee, and took 3 or 4 just to get to the green.

So I'm stuck in a sort of quandry.  The way I see it I have two options.

First is I can continue with the trend I have so far, which is try to not be scared of playing 'properly', and attempting to reach greens by playing big shots etc. which, when I play well, come off nicely, and when I don't they cost me multiple shots

or

Second is I can do things like leave my woods at home and just play iron shots.  Accept that I'm going to always take at least 3 shots to get to a par 4 green, and work from there.

I can see the advantage in both and equally a disadvantage in both.

Any opinions?

Try and strike a balance Jamie, use woods on some holes and Irons on others, also think from the green to the tee not the other way round. ie if you know on average your wedge shots go 100yds and your comfortable with that range then on a Par 4 335yd hole use a 3 wood and your wedge into the middle of the green or a 289yd par 4 use a 4 iron then the wedge.

I constantly thought of that process when I played my medal comp last weekend and although I still hit some rough shots I shot an 88 on a hard course so I'm hoping that if I've got my thought process right I should be around that area everytime now (save differing weather conditions)

I guess I'm in a similar boat to you. I've not shifted my handicap down in the last 18 months. Scores remain pretty much the same, though my last three outings I've had rounds of 94, 96 and now a 98.

I've been having lessons on a fortnighly basis for the past year. Can't see why I'm not setting the scoreboards on fire.

Talking with my Boss (A PGA Professional) today he thinks maybe I need to maybe see a different Coach, as maybe the one I'm currently seeing isn't seeing what my faults are and trying to correct those.

At the same time I'm booked to have a Club Fitting later this month as I need to know whether the clubs and probably more to the point the shafts within them are working for me or against me.

On course in the recent weeks I've changed my Putter, going back to my Long Handled One and have found straight away I'm putting better. I think on the Greens being Physically Comfortable is a good step in the right direction and therefore I can be more positive with the putter.

Jamie.  Why are you worrying about the right or wrong way to play a shot?  If you are confident about a booming shot to the green then do it, if you feel that 3 bump and runs will guarantee you getting a bogey then that's OK too.   After all, if you play 1 over on every hole you're handicap will drop anyway.  Do what I do now - look at your stats and re-run the round in your head - I will guarantee that you'll identify at least 10 completely duff shots.  Mine were, and still are, generally around the 30 to 50 yd mark - leaving ridiculously long putts for bogey or not even getting on the green!  Concentrate on getting rid of these will help.  Of course I still do a few 3 off the tee's, but they don't have so much of an effect as I thought.

As a 'frinstance, the first at the last golfshake comp I pulled my drive 30 yds left onto the practice ground.  Second shot was a 4 iron stinger under the trees that went about 80 yds.  3rd was a pitching wedge bump and run using a putting stroke and then a putt for par!  How standard was that? 

I played with Tim on that round.  His second was a great shot from a difficult position. 

Played my normal threeball yesterday and one of the lads found his chipping from 10 to 40 yards was on song and was generally within six feet of the pin.  After two holes he started deliberately taking a club less than he needed to leave himself a chip which then meant a chip and one putt.  Result - he won by six shots. 

Moral of the story - there's no right or wrong way to play golf, just the right way to get the best out of your game. 

I really wanted to get some lessons by this stage, but a combination of finance, time and an ever complicating life, I haven't got round to it.

It obviously causes frustration when I can play shots well, but struggle to string them together.

Putting is another area.  the last 3 rounds or so, I'd say I've made 80% of my putts from 6 feet or less.  But once the ball is 12 feet away from the hole I leave 80% of my putts about 6 feet away.  Totally in the head about not wanting to knock it way past the hole, but I do it every time.

You're right about counting back and looking at my duff shots.  The last round, just two holes with a 9 and a 10, I could have taken 6-8 shots off easily, and then I'm sub 100 straight away.

I'm really loathed to playing negatively though, and I think that handicaps my score more than my game.  My regular playing partner often says I should take a 4 iron off the tee rather than drive, therefore keeping it safe.  Dunno, I guess I just think that if  quality player is playing a wood, then it's the 'right' club, and I'm better off using the 'right' club, even if it does cost me shots in the short to medium term.

Thing is, I'm not sure how I'd feel if I shot a best ever round by playing safe like that.  I think I'd feel I lost some of the achievement.

Dunno, I guess I just think that if  quality player is playing a wood, then it's the 'right' club, and I'm better off using the 'right' club, even if it does cost me shots in the short to medium term. Thing is, I'm not sure how I'd feel if I shot a best ever round by playing safe like that.  I think I'd feel I lost some of the achievement.

Don't buy that Jamie. The right club is what's right for you. My best ever round (79) was with nothing but irons (and I can hit my woods okay). I would experiment with your second option, leaving the woods at home. Not only will you keep the ball in play, you will also get more feel for the irons as the round goes on, and will probably hit better shots into the greens on par-4s and par-5s, and better tee shots on the par-3s, simply through using your irons more.

Sympathise with your putting problems though!

Jamie, I bet Tiger didn't feel a lack of achievment when he won the Open a few years ago without using a driver while everyone else did. There is more than one way to skin a cat so go with what works for you.

I'm in a similar boat to you in that I feel I'm playing much better but generally my scores don't reflect it, with a couple of exceptions, however I do probably play more conservatively than I did this time last year and I think with continue practice my scoring will become more consistent.

Had my first game today after my five week lay-off because of knee surgery.

I might as well not have bothered. A miserable 28 points with all departments having to share the blame. Three very poor drives of at least forty yards, three putted four times and the first putts were not even close, chipping was pathetic, talk about lost my touch.

Not blaming the knee even though it is still hurting like hell. I feel shattered and my whole body is aching. Hopefully thursday will bring a better performance. 

Jamie use the clubs you hit straight, a friend of mine would never hit a club longer than a 7 iron, but he was usually on most greens in 3 shots, he was shooting from the fairway while we were in the long stuff, I know that is a little bit overkill but it worked for him.

You could maybe try that sort of course management for a while untill you have time to work on the swing....  

Don't over stretch yourself John, the repair could take longer to heal, hopefully you'll be almost back to normal by the 22nd.

Wayne, I will never make any excuses for my poor scores and you are right, of course, I maybe am expecting too much in respect of healing time. Looking forward to South Winchester, a great course and I am sure you will enjoy it. It is rather long for me but it will be nic to catch up with you again.

Your putter was awful yesterday. I am supposed to blame the tool aren't I.

No i won't take it back

I will have it working again by South Winchester, you'll see.

Sorry to hear you are below par John. I recently had a very painful elbow and tried to play through the pain for a few weeks. It was not until I took a sustained period off (included a two week Med cruise)and really gave it chance to heal, that I felt improvement. Things are much better, but I still wear an elbow support for the psychological side. Perhaps you are going to have to bite the bullet and rest up for a bit longer. Best wishes whatever.

Thanks, Michael, only wish I could get below par, or even a par. I bet the Med cruise was lovely, wouldn't mind some of that myself, seems to have been no sun at all this year.

With the knee I just think it is a question of hanging in there and one day waking up and being able to walk on it without pain.

Have you thought about a bit of physio John? You must take care and rehabilitate the knee correctly. Your poorer than normal scores may be down to your body saying -Whoa John I need a little time to get back to normal. You will get there John but not to be indelicate you are like me -not a spring chicken any more and we take a bit longer to heal. However you will get better and be ripping it up the fairways and softlly lobbing onto the greens and one putting soon. Get well soon John.

Not indelicate at all, David, I know I am an old fart. Just come back from playing my semi-final pairs match. Lost 2 and 1.

I am sure I will get better but I doubt I will be ripping it up the fairways, that is not the way I usually play. Chipping and putting was still poor today, no feel at all.

Still playing again tomorrow at Traditions G.C. todays round is now history.