How to get better as an old b@st#d

[Mungbean]

Hey guys!  I haven’t posted on a golf forum since 2009 evidently. I’m about to be 55 and I want to break par a few times before I assume room temperature. Had to quit golf around 2009… kids at least the ones I claimed on my tax return…Made a come back around 5 years ago…was steady progressing and busted my @ss in gas station parking lot and had to quit again for 6 months L5 S1. Better now and back at it for the last episode.

 

Game stuff…

Hit it like a girl about 240-250

Swing speed around 90-95

I’ll peg it 6,300 to 6,600 where I will shoot 82 to 76 typically 

I shot par twice pre-back injury and low since was 75

I know my swing and can manage it around decent so not looking to over haul it

Decade stuff has help tremendously…used to play golf swing now learning to play golf…may buy the app

Don’t have to get to scratch but would like to get better 

 

I’m all ears on suggestions criticism whatever 

 

Don’t have many stats right this minute but have about 3 rounds I could post. Just not sure what to track?  
 

Willing to practice a couple times a week and play 2 times a week. Just want to be efficient. 

Would welcome any feedback even if it’s take up pickle ball or lock yourself in your garage with the car running. 
 

thanks!

 

Bean aka 12piecebucket 

 

 

[DLiver]

LOL you're not old!

[sundaypins]

16 minutes ago, Mungbean said:

Just want to be efficient. 

 

Bean aka 12piecebucket 

 

 

Welcome back to the saddle MungBucket.  Just play more and efficiency will find you.  Have fun 'cuz the only option left is corn hole.

[596]

11 minutes ago, DLiver said:

LOL you're not old!

55 ain't even close to old.

[Hawkeye77]

Not sure “hit it like a girl” is necessary. 

Not sure what the question is, your post sounds like everything is great and under control. Really no information provided that would lead to realistic suggestions other than get out and play and enjoy yourself. 

 

What is it you want to get better at and why?
 

 

 

[TheDeanAbides]

Apart from the obvious of looking at your stats to see where your weaknesses are, I'm afraid the answer is nearly always that your swing is the limiter. If you're not willing to change it to address that limit you're gonna have to resort to cheating. 

[ShortGolfer]

How is your short game?  Dan Grieve's 3 releases has helped me learn more options around the green that just lobbing it close to the hole.

Sometimes I'm in the rough and the lob shots can be a poor option if I have a clear path for a bump and run.  I can shorten the rollout for a short sided pin by choosing a higher lofted club for my bump and runs.

 

I've always had a good bunker game but now that I have access to a private club with nicely maintained bunkers I'm looking to learn ways of getting the ball close to the hole for an easy up and down.  

I make it a point to rake the entire bunker every time I use it to keep it in better shape than I found it.  I'm also learning to play for speed rather than score, so I can do stuff like raking bunkers and keep up the proper pace of play.  Duff a shot off the fairway into the trees? Take a stroke and distance penalty and try again.  Nobody cares how many strokes I take as long as I play fast.

OTOH, I will airmail a wedge across the green and twice and bump and run the ball to hole.  Why not?  It gives me an opportunity to see how far my wedges go under course conditions.

Much better in my opinion than those guys who drop three balls and hit them from the same lie.  It looks bad if someone is waiting behind you, even if you are stuck behind a slow group.

 

Sort of like racing. What behind you doesn't matter.  I can't play any faster than the group in front of me.  Watching the guys behind me is too much of a distraction with zero benefit to my game.

Often someone will play a few holes quickly, then get into trouble when I decide to let them play through.  Need to simplify the game.  Clear the head space.

 

Edited July 27 by ShortGolfer

[sheepdawg]

Find the fountain of youth. Golf at 70 can be rough on the old ego.

[Mungbean]

2 hours ago, DLiver said:

LOL you're not old!

I ain’t pretty or too smart either so I got that going for me 

[Mungbean]

2 hours ago, sundaypins said:

 

Welcome back to the saddle MungBucket.  Just play more and efficiency will find you.  Have fun 'cuz the only option left is corn hole.

Are you speaking in code?  butt in my neck of the woods can get “sus” quickly if you turn up in the wrong “community”…🤪

[Mungbean]

2 hours ago, Hawkeye77 said:

Not sure “hit it like a girl” is necessary. 

Not sure what the question is, your post sounds like everything is great and under control. Really no information provided that would lead to realistic suggestions other than get out and play and enjoy yourself. 

 

What is it you want to get better at and why?
 

 

 

Well I have this buddy that caddied on tour and he told me “you hit it about like a really good girl”…so I just ran with it

 

hit about 9 to 10 greens. So probably need to tighten that up. Short game is streaky. Putting has been weird to say the least…I literally used to get the shakes putting shorties…my buddies were like “dayum bro you got the palsy it’s like playing with Mohammed Ali”. So I started looking at the hole and the shaking up and left. So now all putts looking at the hole. That’s sorta streaky too. Got way better on speed but 7 foot and in is an adventure at times. 
 

I’d like to break par 2 times before taking the ole dirt nap. 

Edited July 27 by Mungbean
Forgot something

[vegasandre]

I had a super long lay off as well -20 ish years and am a few years older. 
The fountain of youth can exist...

Sounds like you have the game and know your swing (which is more than most)
the 4 things I would focus on:
get more speed
get more speed
get more speed
and then short game. 

and then you may attain your goals with hard work

Absolutely ZERO reason your swing speed (or anyone for that matter) can't be over 100 

 

[joedizzy1978]

If youre carrying any irons lower lofted than a 7 iron, replace them with hybrids.  Will save shots on "longer" par 3's and 4's.  At your swing speed, its unlikely you have the correct ball speed differentials to provide proper gapping for this part of the bag. 

[otto6457]

No matter your age, if you want to get better, identify your weaknesses and put in the time to improve them.  That's pretty much the scoring part of DECADE.

 

Track your Tiger 5 mistakes as they are much easier and faster to enter, and track, than your full Strokes Gained stats.  And the Tiger 5 stats will give you the exact same areas you need to work. on. 

 

Eliminate penalty strokes.  That's the first, lowest hanging fruit to fix.  Penalty strokes off the tee are especially damaging to your score.

 

Your full swing will usually define your average scoring ceiling.  Your short game and putting will usually define your average scoring floor.  That's not a hard and fast rule but it's pretty accurate over the long haul.  So short game as well as long game practice should get nearly equal attention and time.

 

Other than that, play as much golf as you can and get more comfortable on the course with your routines and mental game.  Keep a mental scorecard also if you can.  In a perfect world you could keep a journal where you deconstruct your rounds/stats and make note of the mental mistakes and the obvious swing flaws that keep derailing your rounds. Then get to work and improve them.

 

 

And as others have said, 55 ain't old.  It's "seasoned".

 

[biker74]

With those stats you can still play any course under 7000 yards somewhat comfortably. Learn what your miss is, focus on 150 and in 

[DaveLeeNC]

I was you (20some years ago). I played as a kid and a couple years after college and then left the game (life got in the way) until I retired around age 54. I started playing again and in a year or two got down to a 5'ish index (my distances were similar to yours). That index bounced around in the 4.5 to 6.5 range for a decade or so.

 

I half way stopped playing around age 65 for a couple years (played a couple times a month). In the last 3 or so years I have started back in earnest (DOB 1949). I have lost a solid 40 yards off the tee since my early 60's. I now struggle to maintain an index under 10 (but with some work and help am currently at 8.9). 

 

In looking back 

• I got some helpful coaching on coming back to golf (also some unhelpful, to me, coaching as well). I ended up just learning to manage my swing myself. But the helpful coaching was quite helpful 
• Rather than focus on my weaknesses I focused on 'what would respond to effort'. And I was a stats nerd and probably had more detailed stats than 99.9% of the golfing world (at least back then)  
• I am a slow learner and don't blame my lack of progress from coaching necessarily on the coaches. But you need to pick carefully and I have no idea how to make that judgement in the general case. 

 

More recently I have utilized @MonteScheinblum online help and that was meaningful (but I am still painfully slow in making changes). FYI, things really had gone badly downhill (even on an age adjusted basis).  Had I a chance for a do-over here, I would ask the question "Monte, where were you in 2005". Other than that - no regrets. 

 

dave

Edited July 27 by DaveLeeNC

[PJE]

Stretch, particularly in the hips, trunk, and shoulders. There are a lot of golf stretching specific programs you can find for free on the internet. Or just do yoga which stretches your hip, core, and promotes posture.  It will do wonders for your speed. 

 

Do planks. You don’t have to do a lot but do 3-5 minutes daily, or most days. It helps.  

Swing Speed Sticks or a similar product regularly. You’ll gain some speed even if you don’t strictly adhere to the program. It’s best to follow the program but it’s still marginally effective just casually using these things. 

The rest will fall into place with practice or playing. 
 

[jonsnow]

I remember when I was 55…barely.

[MonteScheinblum]

13 hours ago, Mungbean said:

Hey guys!  I haven’t posted on a golf forum since 2009 evidently. I’m about to be 55 and I want to break par a few times before I assume room temperature. Had to quit golf around 2009… kids at least the ones I claimed on my tax return…Made a come back around 5 years ago…was steady progressing and busted my @ss in gas station parking lot and had to quit again for 6 months L5 S1. Better now and back at it for the last episode.

 

Game stuff…

Hit it like a girl about 240-250

Swing speed around 90-95

I’ll peg it 6,300 to 6,600 where I will shoot 82 to 76 typically 

I shot par twice pre-back injury and low since was 75

I know my swing and can manage it around decent so not looking to over haul it

Decade stuff has help tremendously…used to play golf swing now learning to play golf…may buy the app

Don’t have to get to scratch but would like to get better 

 

I’m all ears on suggestions criticism whatever 

 

Don’t have many stats right this minute but have about 3 rounds I could post. Just not sure what to track?  
 

Willing to practice a couple times a week and play 2 times a week. Just want to be efficient. 

Would welcome any feedback even if it’s take up pickle ball or lock yourself in your garage with the car running. 
 

thanks!

 

Bean aka 12piecebucket 

 

 

Age doesn’t matter.  You eliminate poor and excess movement.  The older you are, the more important that is.

[ScooterMcTavish]

On 7/27/2025 at 10:26 AM, Mungbean said:

Well I have this buddy that caddied on tour and he told me “you hit it about like a really good girl”…so I just ran with it

 

hit about 9 to 10 greens. So probably need to tighten that up. Short game is streaky. Putting has been weird to say the least…I literally used to get the shakes putting shorties…my buddies were like “dayum bro you got the palsy it’s like playing with Mohammed Ali”. So I started looking at the hole and the shaking up and left. So now all putts looking at the hole. That’s sorta streaky too. Got way better on speed but 7 foot and in is an adventure at times. 
 

I’d like to break par 2 times before taking the ole dirt nap. 

 

You sound like an original, @Mungbean.  Though I'd likely get permabanned if I reprinted what my buddies say when we golf together.

I am happy to be hitting 240 at 55, and I am doing so consistently.  I've shot +1 about a half-dozen times on my home 9, and also want to shoot par before the old dirt nap as well.

 

The first number to consider is your scrambling.  Even if you get up and down in two 50% of the time (a good %) this will still leave you +4 or +5.  Let's also assume 2 3-jacks, offset by 2 birdies, still leaving you at +4 or +5.

 

Only logical solutions I see here are:

- Remove all 3-jacks, which likely requires better approaches (so practice 7i-W)

- Get more birdies, which requires very good putting, and/or better approaches (so also practice putting and the irons above)

 

If you combine a tighter approach game with solid putting, you may be able to sneak 2-3 birdies per 9.  This then takes the pressure off the scrambling, which often makes it better.

 

I also find early birdies help, as these are "shots in the bank" for when the inevitable bogey shows up.  Shooting a bunch of bogies before making a birdie is like having an overdrawn bank account.

 

Also, with physical changes, it may be worth looking at your club setup.  Back injuries can be especially problematic, and possibly some irons/wedges with a lower static weight may be helpful.  Or even a lighter shaft in driver/hybrids.  May be worth a visit to your local big box or club fitter.

 

 

[KD1]

On 7/27/2025 at 8:23 AM, TheDeanAbides said:

If you're not willing to change it to address that limit you're gonna have to resort to cheating. 

 

Wait a sec... THAT IS AN OPTION?!?

[Pepperturbo]

At 74, I can assure the OP, he's NOT old. If I were 55, I'd be hitting every club longer.  This weekend got the juices flowing swinging rather well.  Felt like I was getting max out of my shafts over 6400yds. Hit many solid shots and GIR; wedges worked too. I was happy. 

 

Unfortunatly, with age, it takes a bit to get the juicies flowing.  Thus, first hole I was swinging like a hack, I doubled #1, finally started swinging at 3, but pooped out on the last 3 holes, so walked off with 79. Two weeks back it was hot out, so I was swinging freely and finished with 76.  Plus I was playing a course I really like. Though that was respectable, I want to shoot my age.

 

If you want to get better, consider regular exercise, practice as often as you can, and play as often as possible, and stay patient.

[Mungbean]

On 7/27/2025 at 9:37 AM, vegasandre said:

I had a super long lay off as well -20 ish years and am a few years older. 
The fountain of youth can exist...

Sounds like you have the game and know your swing (which is more than most)
the 4 things I would focus on:
get more speed
get more speed
get more speed
and then short game. 

and then you may attain your goals with hard work

Absolutely ZERO reason your swing speed (or anyone for that matter) can't be over 100 

 

Appreciate the help!  What did you do on speed?  I'm trying to be sure I don't mess up my back again in the process!

[Mungbean]

On 7/27/2025 at 11:19 AM, DaveLeeNC said:

I was you (20some years ago). I played as a kid and a couple years after college and then left the game (life got in the way) until I retired around age 54. I started playing again and in a year or two got down to a 5'ish index (my distances were similar to yours). That index bounced around in the 4.5 to 6.5 range for a decade or so.

 

I half way stopped playing around age 65 for a couple years (played a couple times a month). In the last 3 or so years I have started back in earnest (DOB 1949). I have lost a solid 40 yards off the tee since my early 60's. I now struggle to maintain an index under 10 (but with some work and help am currently at 8.9). 

 

In looking back 

• I got some helpful coaching on coming back to golf (also some unhelpful, to me, coaching as well). I ended up just learning to manage my swing myself. But the helpful coaching was quite helpful 
• Rather than focus on my weaknesses I focused on 'what would respond to effort'. And I was a stats nerd and probably had more detailed stats than 99.9% of the golfing world (at least back then)  
• I am a slow learner and don't blame my lack of progress from coaching necessarily on the coaches. But you need to pick carefully and I have no idea how to make that judgement in the general case. 

 

More recently I have utilized @MonteScheinblum online help and that was meaningful (but I am still painfully slow in making changes). FYI, things really had gone badly downhill (even on an age adjusted basis).  Had I a chance for a do-over here, I would ask the question "Monte, where were you in 2005". Other than that - no regrets. 

 

dave

Nice!  Hope you get there big cat!

[Mungbean]

5 hours ago, ScooterMcTavish said:

 

You sound like an original, @Mungbean.  Though I'd likely get permabanned if I reprinted what my buddies say when we golf together.

I am happy to be hitting 240 at 55, and I am doing so consistently.  I've shot +1 about a half-dozen times on my home 9, and also want to shoot par before the old dirt nap as well.

 

The first number to consider is your scrambling.  Even if you get up and down in two 50% of the time (a good %) this will still leave you +4 or +5.  Let's also assume 2 3-jacks, offset by 2 birdies, still leaving you at +4 or +5.

 

Only logical solutions I see here are:

- Remove all 3-jacks, which likely requires better approaches (so practice 7i-W)

- Get more birdies, which requires very good putting, and/or better approaches (so also practice putting and the irons above)

 

If you combine a tighter approach game with solid putting, you may be able to sneak 2-3 birdies per 9.  This then takes the pressure off the scrambling, which often makes it better.

 

I also find early birdies help, as these are "shots in the bank" for when the inevitable bogey shows up.  Shooting a bunch of bogies before making a birdie is like having an overdrawn bank account.

 

Also, with physical changes, it may be worth looking at your club setup.  Back injuries can be especially problematic, and possibly some irons/wedges with a lower static weight may be helpful.  Or even a lighter shaft in driver/hybrids.  May be worth a visit to your local big box or club fitter.

 

 

Thanks Killer!  I'm certainly an original...original D.A.!  The above makes a ton of sense.  For whatever reason, I got on this line of thought and you really can't make no mistakes if you want to shoot par or better! 

 

I got a bag full of headcovers.  Longest iron is a 7 iron and I also carry 5 wedges!  Figure that one out.  I found this old Titleist 215 (I think that's right) driver in the used bucket.  It had a 45 gram stiff shaft in it...mitsubishi fubuki (hell I thought fubuki was a wrassler from back in the 80's).  But it changed my driving completely.  Cut every ball and pretty much drive it where I'm looking for the most part.  I told my buddies if I ever try to trade that driver..kick me slap in the ballz.  

 

I started tracking some stats.  I think what I'm learning is...I thought I was a decent wedge player...but I actually ain't too good.  I felt like I was good prior to the quitting, but right now the drummer from Def Leopard could take me to the hoop on wedge game.  I'm hitting them solid, but over greens....which is stoopid for a dude with 5 wedges in the bag.

 

Appreciate you taking the time to respond!  Good stuff mang!

[Mungbean]

4 hours ago, Pepperturbo said:

At 74, I can assure the OP, he's NOT old. If I were 55, I'd be hitting every club longer.  This weekend got the juices flowing swinging rather well.  Felt like I was getting max out of my shafts over 6400yds. Hit many solid shots and GIR; wedges worked too. I was happy. 

 

Unfortunatly, with age, it takes a bit to get the juicies flowing.  Thus, first hole I was swinging like a hack, I doubled #1, finally started swinging at 3, but pooped out on the last 3 holes, so walked off with 79. Two weeks back it was hot out, so I was swinging freely and finished with 76.  Plus I was playing a course I really like. Though that was respectable, I want to shoot my age.

 

If you want to get better, consider regular exercise, practice as often as you can, and play as often as possible, and stay patient.

Dayum Cowboy!  That's impressive!  Sounds like shooting your age is fixin' to happen!  The only "regular exercise" I get could make me go blind :)

[Mungbean]

On 7/27/2025 at 8:24 PM, MonteScheinblum said:

Age doesn’t matter.  You eliminate poor and excess movement.  The older you are, the more important that is.

I'm good for an "excessive movement" at about 6:30 am and after lunch everydayumday!  I hear you though seriously.  Watched you at the Senior Open...you achieved golf hero status in my book!  Big Baller!

[MonteScheinblum]

6 minutes ago, Mungbean said:

I'm good for an "excessive movement" at about 6:30 am and after lunch everydayumday!  I hear you though seriously.  Watched you at the Senior Open...you achieved golf hero status in my book!  Big Baller!

You mean braving 90* heat while throwing up in the bushes between shots……lol

 

Peter Jacobson said, “Go to the emergency room you fool.”

[TheDeanAbides]

8 hours ago, KD1 said:

 

Wait a sec... THAT IS AN OPTION?!?

Have you not seen the news? ;-)

[ShortGolfer]

On 7/27/2025 at 10:24 PM, MonteScheinblum said:

Age doesn’t matter.  You eliminate poor and excess movement.  The older you are, the more important that is.

I just did this by learning a new swing for driver and fairway woods. A somewhat complicated setup but a simpler swing that is more intuitive to my thinking. 

I understand all the setup pieces so I can adjust when things go wrong as well as know what I forgot in a senior moment.

I did twenty practice sessions and three rounds of golf in one week to learn a new driver swing.

 

I practice efficiently with lots of very short practice sessions in my back yard with foam balls to watch the ball flight. 

 

I have two courses to practice.  The Flat Nine for driver.  $14 for nine holes. Public golf course. No bunkers but ball eating high grassy areas around wide fairways.   

Some holes share a common rough. Logically the player who is ahead should go first to keep up the pace of play.

More efficient use of time than hitting on the range with lousy range balls.  I can practice all my clubs under course conditions and learn the distances for all of them.

I can swing a 60 but the ball simply doesn't go far enough with a good strike for a place in my bag.  58 is the highest loft in my bag.

 

Another is Private course with fast greens.  I'm surprised how far the fall will roll through certain areas of rough.  Beautifully maintained bunkers for wedge practice.

Very punishing hazards.  Especially the back of greens.  The course is up against a busy street so they want to discourage "flying the green" all the time.

They had me go out as a single to learn the game.  I think they gave me a vote of confidence by pairing me with a fast twosome yesterday.  The lady has been playing twenty years and she was teaching a young fella how she hits approach shots around the complicated green complexes.  I think they only thing the two had in common was their love of golf.

 

Play with players as good as you aspire to be.  

Edited July 29 by ShortGolfer