Are You Ever Supposed to Feel Like You're "Good"?

[knockdstiff]

Will you ever be satisfied with your play? Should you be?

 

My results are waaaay better than they were 7 or 8 years ago, I still feel like my relationship with my swing is a delicate one at the best of times. Despite all the hours and energy and thought I've put into it....at any moment, it may bolt, may spook - may abandon me completely!

 

If you've broken par more than a few times....you're at a a level that a lot of golfers literally dream about. But it doesn't feel like a dream once you're there.

 

It's like superman not being able to enjoy having powers - most everyone you meet is like 'woah!' but inside you're still frustrated you can't fly any faster. What do you do about this? How do you get perspective?

 

Is being satisfied the end of getting better?

[BTP]

Lets get something straight: You ARE good. Some days you are not your best. I've always felt that your true potential -- your best score on each hole hitting two balls -- is the best possible you can do any given hole. That is your truest high potential. No matter what, golf is a game of misses and it takes a shot at a time no matter where you are, so hitting the best shot you can each time is what it takes to score as well as you can. That unfortunately will very likely never happen each time you go out, but you can strive for it. Ask any pro and they will tell you that they may hit a handful of shots exactly how they wanted. It comes down to how you play and what your perspective is on any given shot. This game is too humbling to expect anything more. It is not a dream once you're THERE, as you say, because you're living it. Just make the most off every opportunity and don't ever let up. If you lack confidence, your game will reflect that. Stay humble and stay driven and do not put too much pressure on yourself. The game comes easy when you maintain that perspective. Sometime you'll feel stuck, but you need to go through that to eventually break through. That is when you keep grinding and never let up. That is what separates those that are good to really good. Good luck and always have fun out there because ultimately that is what it is all about!

[Kuuuch]

Great post OP. I think I'm honestly more proud of my game now and dissatisfied more often on the golf course than before. A weird combo yes but as a 2 hdcp as of right now, I've broken par twice this year and when I shoot over +2 I could go back to where I lost strokes and place a bet I could make that shot 9/10 times.

For instance, I was -2 after 9 today, one of my best rounds if not the best after 9, I get to hole 10 123 yards out on a dogleg par 4, thin it over the green and make bogey. My other bogey was on the last hole when I was -1 and bogied from 93 yards out...

But to your point, I'll never be satisfied. I'll be happy when I can consistently shoot even or under par.

[BTP]

Hell just the other day I got my first ever hole-in-one, but I ended up shooting a 76. I've shot better than that more times than I can count, but I will never forget it because of that and I chipped in for birdie later on that front 9. I've shot par or better more than 99% of golfers, as have you. You can't tell me that 99% of golfers wouldn't be so happy let alone breaking 80 and getting a hole-in-one in one round.

Analyze where you're weakest and grind, grind, grind at getting better in that department(s).

[starsail85]

I am plus two and I bet I feel worse about my game than most on here. I will be happy when I start to consistently play with the quality I know I can , but that day may be a while off yet , I don't believe that anybody is as good as they can be

[vman]

Golf's the most frustrating of games,it's a game you can't master and one where you have to constantly accept failure..as hard as that is.Golf should come with a mental health warning.

[Tanner25]

[quote name='Kuchhhhhh' timestamp='1441485448' post='12268808']
Great post OP. I think I'm honestly more proud of my game now and dissatisfied more often on the golf course than before. A weird combo yes but as a 2 hdcp as of right now, I've broken par twice this year and when I shoot over +2 I could go back to where I lost strokes and place a bet I could make that shot 9/10 times.

For instance, I was -2 after 9 today, one of my best rounds if not the best after 9, I get to hole 10 123 yards out on a dogleg par 4, thin it over the green and make bogey. My other bogey was on the last hole when I was -1 and bogied from 93 yards out...

But to your point, I'll never be satisfied. I'll be happy when I can consistently shoot even or under par.
[/quote]

Kuchhhhhh, What makes you better than your higher handicap friends? Do you just have it? Work harder, you understand sequence better? Tanner

[NoTalentLefty]

No problem with that, just as long as you don't get insensitive to others with less skill.

[TheCityGame]

There's a saying in bike racing that goes, "it never gets easier. You just get faster."

If you're the type of person who gets to scratch or something in that zome, you're going to be the kind of person who wants to get even better, right?

It's not about just getting to a number. It's always about just getting better. So, no, you're not supposed to feel like you're good. At least not until you make a living at the game.

[pingfool]

feel like your good?

nah - someone somewhere always better

have "good" day once in awhile?

sure - you can have a "good" day

guys that think they're good - probably not as good as they think

someone somewhere always better

[Kuuuch]

[quote name='Tanner25' timestamp='1441487413' post='12268946']
[quote name='Kuchhhhhh' timestamp='1441485448' post='12268808']
Great post OP. I think I'm honestly more proud of my game now and dissatisfied more often on the golf course than before. A weird combo yes but as a 2 hdcp as of right now, I've broken par twice this year and when I shoot over +2 I could go back to where I lost strokes and place a bet I could make that shot 9/10 times.

For instance, I was -2 after 9 today, one of my best rounds if not the best after 9, I get to hole 10 123 yards out on a dogleg par 4, thin it over the green and make bogey. My other bogey was on the last hole when I was -1 and bogied from 93 yards out...

But to your point, I'll never be satisfied. I'll be happy when I can consistently shoot even or under par.
[/quote]

Kuchhhhhh, What makes you better than your higher handicap friends? Do you just have it? Work harder, you understand sequence better? Tanner
[/quote]

Hmm I'd say two things. Number one is I'm blessed with distance. I carry my driver right between 290-300. Second, I don't make very many "big" mistakes and I think that comes with how much I practice. My driver and my 2 iron are my favorite clubs in the bag and I practice them the most, makes golf less stressful when you're in the fairway. Like today, I didn't have any penalty shots and only made two bogies.

I also grew up on a small golf course in the mountains that my grandfather owned, learned a lot about course management there that certainly goes a long way.

[airjammer]

For me it is all relative...when I first started I was trying to break 100, then 90 then 80, then par. When I broke par the first time I believe that was the best feeling on the golf course. Now, sometimes I don't even feel anything about a under par round. Great and bad thing about golf is there is always room for improvement. My swing has been a work in progress since I have started playing...honestly I'm tired of working on it.

Sounds like you personality is like mine if so...you will never consider yourself "good"

[RRFireblade]

I think at any level you can come off the course feeling like you did the best you could that day.

Being satisfied at the end of a round doesn't mean you dont want to improve on it the next time out.

It's never really about the score for me. I've.shot some of my best scores and felt like craps afterwards and vice versa. It's more about setting realistic goals, going out and trying to achieve them. Do that every time and I believe anyone can get there.

[Hawkeye77]

Way too philosophical, with golfers it's "I stink therefore I am."

See the doughnut, not the hole and allow yourself to feel satisfied and lose the angst.

[parmark]

Great post OP. same boat - game has improved a great deal over past 10 years. I just wish I was playing like this 10-20 years ago, but I figure better late than never!!

I've always said what a crazy game, you can sit outside many courses and watch folks coming off 18th hole - and just watch how many people walk off looking beat up - not too many people walk off smiling and seem pleased with how they just spent the past few hours of their lives.

As my game has improved (due in large part to one M Scheinblum and other folks who chime in on this site) - I've never enjoyed playing, nor have I played as well. Just last night at dinner I was getting some grief from wife and neighbor dinner guests for having four rounds scheduled over the holiday weekend that began yesterday morning. I told them it would be a crime for me NOT to play given how well - for me - I was playing!! (see what I did there!)

A little confidence is fun. In the past I always I was almost scared to see if I could play just decently and not embarrass myself, and just waited for my game to fall apart. Now - it's just solid. And nice to hear my partners make mention noticing the improvement. Not sure what came first - improved play has allowed me to enjoy the game more, or I'm enjoying the game more because of my improvement. But in my case - a big part of it is due to the time I have put in, I don't call it work because I enjoy it - but back yard net, short game, and driving range 2-3 nights a week when I am out of town and have arrangement with a near by club, makes the results very fulfilling.

Two weeks ago I had three rounds- Fri-Sat-Sun - breaking 80 all three rounds on three different courses - still smiling about that accomplishment.

[OTTgolf]

It's all about enjoying the journey! Corny but true

Happy grinding

[petter7]

No matter how good I've been over the years, there always has been plenty of guys better than me and I've used that to motivate and push myself to improve.

[MrSurly]

[quote name='mizunostaffer' timestamp='1441486232' post='12268874']
I am plus two and I bet I feel worse about my game than most on here. I will be happy when I start to consistently play with the quality I know I can , but that day may be a while off yet , I don't believe that anybody is as good as they can be
[/quote]

I have said this for a long time, that being really good (low single digit to scratch+) can be a blessing and a curse. When you are an 18 HC you will have your good days shooting your HC or below, and your bad days can usually just be chalked up to "well I am an 18 HC, I can't always shoot bogey golf." But when you are a low HC, you kind of expect yourself to shoot low. Always. Having one bad round every so often isn't going to hurt you, but it's when you put together a string of high 80s, low 90s etc that the wheels start to come off. You have the knowledge on how to shoot low, but for some reason you cannot execute it.

[MrSurly]

[quote name='petter7' timestamp='1441505562' post='12270150']
No matter how good I've been over the years, there always has been plenty of guys better than me and I've used that to motivate and push myself to improve.
[/quote]

+1 on this. It's kind of like all walks of life. Seeing people with fat bank accounts, nice houses and expensive cars makes me want to work that much harder to be there. I don't say "that's unfair!" I strive to better myself so I can have those things.

[northgolf]

Feel like I'm good?

Never going to happen: I'm an Episcopalian, that means they baptized me young which gave me a chance to go to hell and along about 8th grade they confirmed it. I'll never be good.

[knockdstiff]

[quote name='Kuchhhhhh' timestamp='1441485448' post='12268808']
Great post OP. I think I'm honestly more proud of my game now and dissatisfied more often on the golf course than before. A weird combo yes but as a 2 hdcp as of right now, I've broken par twice this year and when I shoot over +2 I could go back to where I lost strokes and place a bet I could make that shot 9/10 times.

[/quote]

Indeed - I can't remember a round where I wasn't thinking I needed to have a few shots back. I think it's really the expectations that both 1) keep you improving and 2) get you frustrated.

I'll never feel happy with a 74 again - unless it's like a tournament round in brutal conditions or something. But.....that's why I can shoot 74 all the time. Say I get to a place where I can shoot 68 all the time.....I'm just gonna wonder why I can't break 65.

A good shot is no longer like 'wow - that was great!'. It's not a pleasant surprise anymore or a glimpse at something better. It's more like 'Why don't I do that all the time?'

But....I guess that is how it's supposed to be. That is the allure of the game. It would be get boring if it didn't feel challenging anymore.

[skraly]

[quote name='knockdstiff' timestamp='1441483936' post='12268686']
Will you ever be satisfied with your play? Should you be?

My results are waaaay better than they were 7 or 8 years ago, I still feel like my relationship with my swing is a delicate one at the best of times. Despite all the hours and energy and thought I've put into it....at any moment, it may bolt, may spook - may abandon me completely!

If you've broken par more than a few times....you're at a a level that a lot of golfers literally dream about. But it doesn't feel like a dream once you're there.

It's like superman not being able to enjoy having powers - most everyone you meet is like 'woah!' but inside you're still frustrated you can't fly any faster. What do you do about this? How do you get perspective?

Is being satisfied the end of getting better?
[/quote]
Being satisfied is not the end of getting better. But perhaps a realization that you are not going to shoot your best round each time out. I shoot under par 7-8 times a year and pretty consistently shoot in the low to mid-70's. But I also have the occasional round in the upper 70's or low 80's. It just happens. No matter who you are. If you are never happy unless you are shooting your best round you will spend most of your time playing golf very unhappy. What is the point in that. Continue to work on the weakest part of your game and improvement will come. But realize you will never play your best every time out. That is one of the challenges of golf, to try and card a decent score even on those days your game is off. Just remember and accept the fact that some days you get the bear and some days the bear gets you, and that is just the way it is.

[skraly]

[quote name='northgolf' timestamp='1441506629' post='12270238']
Feel like I'm good?

Never going to happen: I'm an Episcopalian, that means they baptized me young which gave me a chance to go to hell and along about 8th grade they confirmed it. I'll never be good.
[/quote]
You sound more like a Calvinist than an Episcopalian : )

[AzDesertGolfer]

Just a couple weeks ago I went 84-66-76 over the course of a week. I CAN be good and have moments where I am...but I will never be as good (re:consistent) as I'd like to be. That's the beauty of this game, always a goal to be reached.

[kadey]

As with most things in life, it's not the destination, but the journey.

[AMH58]

Personally, I think that's what's beautiful about the game of golf. You can tailor your expectations to any degree of skill and it's a constant pursuit of perfection. It's fun to always have something to work on. I'm a long snapper for an SEC football team and its so boring and monotonous because there's nothing to really work on. Sure you may have a day where your snaps are a little high or low but nothing dramatic. You can always be better at golf and that's why I look forward to playing for years to come. Keep working, man.