How to get better and score worse?

I’ve just gone over in 18 over, my worse score for about a year, and I’m absolutely delighted. If still bemused.

It doesn’t seem to make sense. I’m striking the ball much, much better, and scoring much worse. Make sense of that if you can.

I was playing with Brother Roger and, in blissfully perfect conditions and on my own, easy, straightforward club course. Afterwards, I did not know how to feel – it was not good, but it felt great. After all, thanks to my new Knightsbridge swing, I’m clearly hitting straighter and with much more compression. But I’m gaining nothing.

My theories, for what they are worth:

a)     Previously, I cut-sliced the ball from left to right. So I aimed down the left and it worked – I hit a lot of fairways sliding back round. Now, for about 70% of the time, I hit straight. So I aim straight. Then, though, the ugly cut-slice returns and my ball flies off into the right rough, or worse. I used to be consistently mediocre as a ball striker. I’m now inconsistently good. Which means I’m less sure where the ball’s going. I OBd twice yesterday, the first time for ages. Result?  Dropped shots.

b)      Before, I knew my distances. Now, sporadically, I hit a much longer ball. Yesterday, that translated into missing four greens through the back. Again, dropped shots. So I panic, I cut back, and I started falling short. Dropped shots.

c)      Because I’m hitting straighter and longer, the greenside bunkers are coming into play for the first time. And I’m hopeless at bunkers.

d)     Having not played much recently, my chipping and pitching is not great. I practise a bit, but never from bad lies. I’ve been bumping and running all summer. Now that’s no longer working.

So there you have it – I’ve got better and I’m scoring worse.

Which feels very odd indeed. It’s a new sensation. But boy, I’m enjoying my long game, enjoying it more than ever! At my best, I’m hitting the ball square at impact, rather than giving it a glancing blow.

If I'm right about all this, rather than just trying to find a new way of excusing my 18-over, then it just may mean I’m going to score badly for a while, until I get used to the new way of things. Which does not bode too well for Saturday.