Everybody gets there at some point in time; even the pros.  That's why they have their own trainers and instructors.

Everybody's problems or "plateaus" come from different causes.  Some are from swing flaws and techniques, while others are mental blocks or a combination of both.  From personal experiences, I've hit plateaus from both sources at one time or another. 

Several years ago I was in the same boat and decided to get lessons from a PGA instructor.  I paid for a package deal which included six lessons.  He had me straightened out in three lessons and I never took the remaining three.  A few tweaks and he had me playing the best golf I had ever played.

Then I fell into the death trap that so many golfers do.  I got to thinking too much!  Instead of being satisfied with my best golf, I thought that if I changed a few things with my swing, maybe I could be better yet!   WRONG!!!!  I was searching for the Holy Grail of golf when I probably aIready had it, but didn't realize it.   Should have left well enough alone.

Then one day I realized that most of my problems wasn't with my swing, but with my mental approach to the game.  Poor decisions on the course; poor course management. Negativity. Not staying focused. Too much tension; mental and physical. 

I would advise you to de-stress about your golf game.  Work on the mental aspect of the game.  Seek an instructor if necessary.  We are amatuers who will bring a different swing and mindset to the course everytime we go out.  Loosen up and enjoy the game.

A good read for the mental aspect of the game is " Zen Golf".  Do a search at Amazon.com or similar website and check it out.  It will help you change your way of thinking on the golf course. (and on the "course of life" as well)     Good luck!

i am currently on a very big plateau right now. i have shot 42 8 rounds in a row and haven't broke 40 since last season. that is not very good for me. my goal right now is to just shoot 42!!!!

Andrew S:  I've been on a plateau for about a year now.  About 3 or 4 months ago I decided to really bear down on my short game and putter.  I still play a lot and work on the game as a whole, but I spend 60 to 70 per cent of my practice time with the wedge or the putter.  On certain practice sessions the only clubs I take out of the trunk are my wedges and putter.  That keeps me from being tempted to hit the sexy big clubs.

I'm a 10 hdcp.  My goal is to get that to a 7 or 8 this year.  My goal is to get from an avg of 33 putts per round to 28 or 29.  It's starting to make a difference.  I'm starting to feel very comfortable over the wedge and putter.  

You may already be a good putter, but we can all improve.  So take some time and track your stats.  Esp up and downs and putts.  You may be surprised with what you find. 

Good luck and remember to enjoy the journey!!

Since it seems that your ball striking is good, and your short game must be more than decent if your are shooting in the high 70s or low 80s, I think that you should work on your course management  - making better choices off the tee, knowing when to attack and when to play for par, when to shoot for a tight pin, or the middle of the green - things of this nature.

I have been a 14 hdc for 2 years now - just shot 83, 81 on my last two rounds (with a putt for a 79 on 18, 3 putted for the 81) - so I'm improving, but I am realizing that all of the practice I have put in over the last few years is only starting to show results now - so that means more practicing and accepting that this is a long process - def a marathon, not a sprint.  I have also realized that I am losing 99% of my strokes to par because of my short game, which I am now working on, like you, almost exclusively.

Like another person said in this thread - enjoy the game, don't get bogged down in mechanics and in the words of Harvey Penick - "TAKE DEAD AIM".

Jason

If you want it bad enough it will come.  It will be when you get out of your own mental way.  You will need to get to a point where there is no emotional tie to the results or outcome.  It just happens.