Maintaining Consistency

Question
As an older golfer (61, but reasonably fit) who was never brilliant (best handicap 16/17); I am finding it increasing difficult to maintain consistency in my game. I can play a number of holes as if I am a 15 handicaper; then, I suddenly find myself playing as if I had never played at all. Chipping and putting is not really a problem. What is happening?  

Answer
Ralph:  There are two aspects to this game; both of which may be playing a role in your inconsistency.

Physical:  As we age, our reflexes diminish and become slower.  So those minute compensations we were able to make as a young golfer become less effective.  Plus, even though you are reasonably fit; at 61, the chances are slim of you being in the same physical condition late in the round as you were at the beginning.  So you may start the round full of energy, addressing the ball with great posture and balance; but towards the end, begin slouching a bit.  Any change in your setup will cause your body to move differently.  And because your reflexes aren't quite as sharp as they once were, those changes will make more of a difference.

Mental:  People usually live up to their own expectations and rarely feel comfortable straying too far.  This is also known as "The Comfort Zone".  It's really uncanny how a golfer can start out like a ball of fire and then end up playing much worse, only to have his score end up in that zone.  The opposite is true as well where one starts out poorly and towards the end, seems to suddenly transform into a different player; once again end up in his scoring comfort zone.

And there's the issue of focus.  A player can start out scoring well, hitting the ball like a champ; not realizing that he is merely playing the game shot by shot, hole by hole.  Suddenly he comes to the realization that he is playing great and will unwittingly switch his focus on what he can do to maintain this great play.  Often times he will begin to analize what he's doing so he can continue.  So when the first poor shot occurs, he totally immerses himself into the mechanics of the swing, searching for what he had at the beginning.

What to do?  1.  Approach the game as a series of problems to be solved, beginning with the first tee shot.  Go on to the next and solve that problem.  In other words, stay in the present, stay focused on one shot at a time without dwelling on the last shot or what the outcome of the hole or round may be.  The outcome will happen no matter what.  All you can really do is solve one problem at a time.
2.  Start walking the walk and talking the talk to yourself.  In order to be a better player, ie. score better, you have to feel comfortable doing so. The more you think of yourself as a better player, the more apt you are to allow yourself to become one.

Hope you find this helpful Ralph.  Let me know how you progress.

Fairways and Greens,

John
www.golfnutts.com