My Game Is Not Thriving

Through 5 ½ rounds this year, my handicap has climbed a full stroke. That’s good for the side games, bad for goal to get to scratch.

It is, however, nothing to worry about yet. I have not been playing my best (to say the least), and of those five complete rounds I’ve knocked out of my last 20 scores, some were decent, so the handicap climb was expected.

What was not expected, however, is the way I’ve been playing.

I only started the Fit For Golf program two weeks ago, and it’s been going well. I feel good. The swing feels faster. (I should have done a baseline swing speed before I started everything, but it’s too late for that. I’ll get a baseline before I start the SuperSpeed program.)

That hasn’t helped my putting. It has been abysmal. Over-playing and under-playing break, coupled with a stroke that inspired no confidence, left me mentally prepared to miss every putt I attempted. I put a new/old stance in play before yesterday’s 82 the hard way (13-over after 12. 3-under for the last 6.) The stroke was better, and after burning so many edges to start the round, I adjusted my speed more than anything and obviously more putts dropped toward the end of the round.

So it was good to end the round on a high note, but still, I need to play like that for an entire round.