Re: Do we need to be talented or just needed more practice to play well ?

Dear All.

For those whom know me and for those whom do not. I would like to share my though here and hoping someone can enlighten me on this game of golf.

I am an late starter in golf. Actually 3 years 3 months as of now. I have won numbers of tournament during these years when I am a high HCP. Achieveing the the best improved golfer aware from my local society club last year 2010 was an great monivtation at that time but not any more.

Some might says " 3 over years golfer already very good, so what do you want ? '

Well, my question is " do we need to be talented or just need more practice to play well ? "

I have been playing low 90 to high 80s in begining of this year. I played at least min 8 rounds in a month. In 2nd qtr of this year, playing mid to low 80s. I though I am there. I though the more you played, you will get better eventully !

No, it is not that easy at all.. in mid of this year.. I went to play back in my mid 90s and even played 2 rounds at 100s .. The last 2 months were low 90 to high 80s.

Some might suggest to get a coach (I have), custom fit your clubs (I did), practice more (I do), know your stats ( I knew )

Some of my golf buddies told me not to lost my cool if I do hit a bad shot ( I tried ). My coach ever told me " Too high expectation before the round, will give you too much pressure to perform ( I understood ).

So, does the rule of this golf game is suppose to be like an "roller coster" .. up and down and up and down !

Do we really need to be talented to play well in this game. If not, I saw a freind that do not play for a month or 2 but still managed to play just as good. Another friend whom is only a 2 years golfer. His swing look funny as he did not go for proper lessons at all only some on and off golf lesson but for him to play mid 80s, easy. Are they more talented then other ?

What do you want to play golf ? just enjoy hanging out with your best friends and just have hell of a laugh if you keep hitting bad shots ?

I do sound stress don't I ? Do pradon me if I do offered anybody.

talent doesnt help much, all down to practice and find out what your strength is , then make the most out of it

of course talent helps.

To be world champion you need both Talent and hard work.

To play decent golf, either one will one.

To Enjoy playing golf, you only need good kakis.

Hi, Slicer51. I don't think I know you and I am also not a better golfer than you. So, hope you don't mind listening to my thought.

I think playing more will get you better but only to certain level. Drawing from my better sports (table tennis), I see many people who plays almost everyday but still play at the same level. It is the drill that we do which eventually brings us to another level.

For me, I believe playing more will help cos I play only once a month. I also only go driving range oncebor twice a month. But for you, it may improve your game more if you replace 4 out of your 8 games a month to drills and 9 holes.
For example
1. Chip 1 hr, sand 1 hr, play 9 hole, putt 1 hr.
2. Play 18 holes
3. Chip 1 hr, pitch 1 hr, play 9 hole, putt 1 hr
4. Play 18 holes.
Repeat 1 to 4

Just my 2 cents.

External
- physics
- environmental elements

Internal
- bio-mechanics
- the body
- the mind

This sounds so familiar..... wait, are you talking about me?

Bro Slicer51,

Don't be discourage, I believe those tour players also went through up and down before they turn pro.

It's good to set goals and it always good to challenge yourself.

So just enjoy the game, scenery, ice cold beer and your kakis...

Cheers

Sometimes I just find that this is the most difficult sport to play well or master.

my dear shi-xiong,

when i 1st started out, i was playing in the 100s...

took me about a year to break 100....

took me less than a year to break 90...

however took me a couple of years after that to break 85....

then it took me a couple of years after those couple of years to finally break 80....

as it gets lower, it will become more difficult, it is like a S curve....

u need to have a certain level of consistency (practise), u need to understand your swing mechanics (troubleshoot), u need to have course experience (knowledge)....

be patient, u will progress through time.....

if i say to u playing 85 is basically just getting 5 pars n 13 bogeys... do u think u can get 5 pars in a round?? i think u can, but how to get 15 bogeys..... that means u cant afford to blow holes

that will require u to play smart golf.... index 1-13, u play safe, par 3 play like par 4, par 4 play like par 5, with this expectation, u will approach your game differently from the tee-box

however, u need to control the ego in u...... try playing a round with this mindset, see what it brings u

btw, playing 85 is a 13HC

my game started to get better before i turned pro in 2009 is when i discover i can play like other people..so i pay attention to my stats and see whats the consistent game strength and work hard on that to be my main scoring tools..and at the same time i work on the weaker parts to catch up on the stats..thats how u will see ur scores start to improve gradually..after these 2 years on tour..i see most of us out there play base on our own strength..and everyone make the most of out it regardless whether its putting, chipping or iron play..but yea at the same time rest of their game are pretty good too but its 1 part of it that they rely on the most to put up a scores..and no 2 players are identical..so hope this will explain further on what i said earlier..hope it will help u out!

i cant play like other ppl* sorry had a typo in the beginning..

Thank you all for taking the time to response to this post. I sincerely thank you for all comments. I felt much better now this morning and a game is on at 12.30 pm today.

@ Pro Shawnnie .. " work on my weaker parts to catch on the my stats ". My coach always say "Identify, Understand, Enable" and I have forgot all about it. My bad

@nrafee .. I guess with slight talent will made me improve faster together with hard works. Thx

@ Lee .. It is always difficult to understand what you are trying to teach me ever since i know you many years. What external and internal ? You knew I am not smart enough to understand that Hehehehe Thanks bro

@ Sandkie .. I saw your name in this forum many times. Perhaps, you can join in SNN in one of the night (when I am back in Singapore) and we can share some though on golf. Play less but train more .. good suggestion. Thx

@eiji .. so you also agreed that practice more if I need to improve to play more consistent. Thx

@sagiteric .. Thank you for the encouragement

@ Last thanks my dear shi-xiong Slinger. Your comments gave me a totally different prospective on how I should approach my round every time. It is a deep though indeed. I still remember I use to tell my golf buddies " All you need is just bogey every hole. You will play 90 ".

You are so correct, i lost my control over my ego. It is always attack the pin every time and trying to force my swings into it and land myself in more trouble. I am knew how to play wiser and safer but always wanted to be the hero. Especially, when I still need to work on my consistency swing level.

Thank you all.

talent is misunderstood....

talent is physical body + training + mental

physical u are born..can train to improve but a lot depend on the genes

training and mental = really depends on your financial/life situation... If have comfortable, higher paying job....less familiy/or no obligations...lots of golf kaki etc. Also the love for the game......

First of all, Nice topic.

I think we should be reminded always that to be a Good Golfer

#1) It is a required skill. Just like a Japanese katana. The art of sword making required high technical knowledge, great patience, persistence and a true religious devotion. The greatest Japanese sword smiths led a religious form of life, abstaining from all excesses, and accompanying each step of the work with prayer and ritual.

Tiger Wood in the past did those, his mother taught him to meditate and abstain from "temptations" and when he stopped. His game dip down.

#2) There are a lot of Good Young golfers in my country, but their talent cannot make them win. Becoz they are "weak" in some areas....

Like their mental state ....they easily cracked and they do not practiced. They think Golfers who win...are "Just lucky"

Thats why my golfing friends would say..."such a waste of talent." Becoz talent alone cannot win.

Brother, if you reallly want to be Good. You have to set a "Goal"

You have to master the following:
The Full Swing
Wedge Distance Shot Play
Putting
Course Management
Bunker Play
Chipping/Pitching
Trouble Shots

Lastly, Never Give Up On Your Dream and Never Let Anyone ElseTrash It

Believe me when I tell you that you will get distracted. Some people you know will never understand your goal and because they don’t have something as exciting as you to strive for they might try to talk you out of yours. Don’t let them! Stick to your goal like glue and build efficient processes that move you towards it every day.

Practice make perfect though there's a saying NOthing is perfect. Imo,Just enjoy your game. Forget about the last poor hit, move ahead to hit a good one...Don't pressure yourself to go for a birdie.. a bogey for every hole will do..

Buaya talent can?

i will say u need the talent...becuz personally...i practice a lot of mind golf especially at nite........but still cant improve.......

Actually u need good wife to improve golf... ha ha ha...

Good wife give more free time to practise on the green to improve...