Question:
Driving accuracy is the make or break for me.
I used to think differently. Nowadays, I agree. — Cheers Nuno Souto
Response:
Driving accuracy is the make or break for me. I used to think differently. Nowadays, I agree.
Interesting — I find exactly the opposite to be true. Driving "survival" is important, but driving accuracy — hitting the fairway rather than the rough — is almost totally meaningless to my score. I’ve hit 12 of 13 fairways and shot 91; I’ve hit 4 of 13 fairways and shot 80. Even GIR is of de-emphasized importance for me: I shot 81-80 on a weekend with a *total* of 7 GIR. As long as I can get *near* the green, I’m not likely to do worse than par or bogey and I’ll end the day with a happy score. I think that penalty strokes are the killer for me — if I don’t lose a ball, I’m going to be in the low 80s; if I lose a few, I’m going to have trouble breaking 90. I just can’t make up for those lost strokes — I only average half a birdie per round, so those penalty strokes are basically permanent. The other thing is luck: some days, I’m going to make a few putts and stick a few approaches close; other days I won’t — and I have no control over which one it’s going to be. I think I can play exactly the same way and still have +/- 5 strokes in my game. If I can get off the tee and keep the ball on the planet, then get around the green in regulation, my short game is good enough to get me around 80. I might have a really good day and shoot 75, but I’m just kidding myself if I think that’s more skill than luck. But if I’m taking penalty strokes, I can’t go low. Doug — ___, Doug Massey, ASIC Digital Logic Designer o IBM Microelectronics Division, Burlington, Vermont | | Phone: (802)769-7095 t/l: 446-7095 fax: x6752 | / | . My homepage: http://doug.obscurestuff.com (|)
Response:
I think that penalty strokes are the killer for me — if I don’t lose a ball, I’m going to be in the low 80s; if I lose a few, I’m going to have trouble breaking 90.
same here. But I find it easier to avoid them with accuracy off the tee. Most of my penalty shots end up being lateral water hazard or OOB, after a drive. If I keep the driver under control and reasonably accurate, everything else falls into place automatically. — Cheers Nuno Souto
Response:
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Driving accuracy is the make or break for me. I used to think differently. Nowadays, I agree. Interesting — I find exactly the opposite to be true. Driving "survival" is important, but driving accuracy — hitting the fairway rather than the rough — is almost totally meaningless to my score. I’ve hit 12 of 13 fairways and shot 91; I’ve hit 4 of 13 fairways and shot 80. Even GIR is of de-emphasized importance for me: I shot 81-80 on a weekend with a *total* of 7 GIR. As long as I can get *near* the green, I’m not likely to do worse than par or bogey and I’ll end the day with a happy score.
Which I think tends to demonstrate 2 things. 1) That what will create improvement is partially a function of what the over all goal is to begin with. I suspect GIR and FIR is more important for someone trying to break par than 90. 2) With all the different cuts around fairways and greens, technically being on the green or fairway isn’t necessarily a good measure. For a tight pin I’d rather be 8 ft from the pin, technically off the green on the second cut/fringe than 70 feet away on the other side of the green having to putt a double breaker across a ridge. Same way with fairways. You want to be in a position where you can shoot at the green with a favorable club. Better just off the fairway in short rough or second cut and have a wide open look at the green with a 7 iron in your hand than trying to stretch an 8 iron over a tree past the bunkers from technically on but the wrong side of the fairway. I think that penalty strokes are the killer for me — if I don’t lose a ball, I’m going to be in the low 80s; if I lose a few, I’m going to have trouble breaking 90. I just can’t make up for those lost strokes — I only average half a birdie per round, so those penalty strokes are basically permanent.
Breaking 90 means bogey golf basically. Par is "birdie" in that sense. You "make up" strokes by making a few pars. Birdies are like eagles! The other thing is luck: some days, I’m going to make a few putts and stick a few approaches close; other days I won’t — and I have no control over which one it’s going to be. I think I can play exactly the same way and still have +/- 5 strokes in my game.
My best games are ALWAYS my better putting days. If I can get off the tee and keep the ball on the planet, then get around the green in regulation, my short game is good enough to get me around 80. I might have a really good day and shoot 75, but I’m just kidding myself if I think that’s more skill than luck. But if I’m taking penalty strokes, I can’t go low.
No doubt that penalty strokes stink. Many of them qualify as 2 lost strokes becuase you have the penalty stroke itself, plus you may either have a lousy place to drop, or not be anywhere near where you should be anyway (way off to the side, well short of the green, trees etc. in the way). OB is just flat out draconian.
Response:
Interesting — I find exactly the opposite to be true. Driving "survival" is important, but driving accuracy — hitting the fairway rather than the rough — is almost totally meaningless to my score. I’ve hit 12 of 13 fairways and shot 91; I’ve hit 4 of 13 fairways and shot 80.
This all depends on the rough, or even first cut. When the ball is deep in the grass, it costs me. I think that penalty strokes are the killer for me — if I don’t lose a ball, I’m going to be in the low 80s; if I lose a few, I’m going to have trouble breaking 90.
This is where driving accuracy is most important to me. I need to cut down on my penalty strokes. My high amount of lost balls is while I say driving accuracy is my biggest need.
Response:
What has (seriously or humorously) caused the biggest improvement/s in your golf handicap to date ? Or cite the wittiest comment anyone’s made on this topic, that you read or heard.
An eraser?
Response:
What has (seriously or humorously) caused the biggest improvement/s in your golf handicap to date ? Or cite the wittiest comment anyone’s made on this topic, that you read or heard.
Without a doubt, having my ball retriever regripped. — Jim Sabatke Hire Me!! – See my resume at http://my.execpc.com/~jsabatke Do not meddle in the affairs of Dragons, for you are crunchy and good with ketchup.
Response:
What has (seriously or humorously) caused the biggest improvement/s in your golf handicap to date ?
It’s called ESC!! Dave Clary/Corpus Christi, Tx Home: http://home.stx.rr.com/dclary RSG Roll Call http://www.rec-sport-golf.com/members/?rollcall=claryd
Response:
What has (seriously or humorously) caused the biggest improvement/s in your golf handicap to date ? Or cite the wittiest comment anyone’s made on this topic, that you read or heard.
Driving accuracy without a doubt. I would alwyas be between the trees or someplace nasty after a sliced tee shot, so I would always be struggeling to get up and down. I relied on my short game to keep my scores under 100. My short game saved my ass and has always been strong. BUT, when I did start hitting fairways, I saw my score plummet. by having a clean approach to the green, it made all the difference in the world to me. With a bad tee shot, youre starting the hole in a shitty spot, you play catch up the rest of the time, get nervous get frustrated. When you start off with a good tee shot, you have confidence and are more relaxed. Driving accuracy is the make or break for me.
Response:
What has (seriously or humorously) caused the biggest improvement/s in your golf handicap to date ? Or cite the wittiest comment anyone’s made on this topic, that you read or heard.
Despite a gut feeling that you’re a troll….. 1. Bigger driver 2. Smoother swing 3. Lessons* *=my son got the lessons, I tagged along and learned as much or more than he did. — Bob Andrews
Response:
What has (seriously or humorously) caused the biggest improvement/s in your golf handicap to date ? Or cite the wittiest comment anyone’s made on this topic, that you read or heard.
Lessons, but specifically, going from a big slice to a slight draw, and just hitting the ball closer to the sweet spot more often. The bad shots aren’t as bad as they used to be. Went from a 14 to about an 10-11, and stayed there for 3 years. My iron play was the biggest improvement because of this. Instead of hitting a 6 iron 155-160, I’m hitting an 8-iron 150. Much easier to hit the ball close to the hole with shorter clubs. Then this year, have gone down to 6.7. Last year I worked extensively on my short game, but stay at a 10-11 because of very poor driving, but this year the driving finally came around, and my short game stayed. I think the driving came around (and even better long iron play) because I began to exercise and stretch. The odd part is, I didn’t practice as much this year as in the past, hence I haven’t gotten burned out on golf. The last few years, I spent so much time at the range, that by the time Sept 1 came around, I was bored with it. Now I go to the range perhaps once a week, and I’m having a blast. I think I’ll be dropping even more because now my putting is coming around after some instruction and a better routine and alignment (mainly the alignment). There has always been 2 or 3 shots thrown away with 3 putts here or there. Eliminate those, as well as make a few more 1 putts, and I should be around a 2-3 handicap. Finally, I’m getting older (34 now) and being smarter and having a better imagination when playing, instead of just getting up there and hitting without thinking, saves many strokes. No longer do I try to hit the miracle through the woods (unless I’m playing match play and need to make something happen), but I take my medicine, punch out, and at worst make bogey. But both the improvement in iron play, as well as the short game, give me the confidence that I have probably a 35% chance of getting up/down from 100 yards in.
Response:
Being farther from the ball after I hit it.
That hasn’t helped my handicap significantly.
Response:
What has (seriously or humorously) caused the biggest improvement/s in your golf handicap to date ? Or cite the wittiest comment anyone’s made on this topic, that you read or heard.
Response:
What has (seriously or humorously) caused the biggest improvement/s in your golf handicap to date ? Or cite the wittiest comment anyone’s made on this topic, that you read or heard.
The biggest single factor in my handicap dropping has been that it takes me fewer strokes to get around 18 holes. And if you can manage that, I think your handicap will drop more too! Mike — Mike Dalecki GCA Accredited Clubmaker http://clubdoctor.com RSG-Wisconsin 2003 Information: http://dalecki.net/rsgwis2003 RSG Roll Call: http://rec-sport-golf.com/members/?rollcall=daleckim I do not patronize spammers. Help keep RSG clean!
Response:
What has (seriously or humorously) caused the biggest improvement/s in your golf handicap to date ?
Sorry but I can’t answer that question because it might be considered spamming by some mental midgets on this board. www.targetputting.com
Response:
What has (seriously or humorously) caused the biggest improvement/s in your golf handicap to date ? Sorry but I can’t answer that question because it might be considered spamming by some mental midgets on this board.
It won’t be spam if you tell us. Go on–it won’t hurt a bit. Mike Mike Dalecki GCA Accredited Clubmaker http://clubdoctor.com RSG-Wisconsin 2003 Information: http://dalecki.net/rsgwis2003 RSG Roll Call: http://rec-sport-golf.com/members/?rollcall=daleckim I do not patronize spammers. Help keep RSG clean!
Response:
What has (seriously or humorously) caused the biggest improvement/s in your golf handicap to date ? Or cite the wittiest comment anyone’s made on this topic, that you read or heard.
Improvement in my golf game. — RSG Masters 2004 pre-preliminary format http://home.att.net/~frostback2002 RSG Roll Call: http://rec-sport-golf.com/?rc=frostback "The privilege of a lifetime is being who you are" Joseph Campbell
Response:
What has (seriously or humorously) caused the biggest improvement/s in your golf handicap to date ? Sorry but I can’t answer that question because it might be considered spamming by some mental midgets on this board.
Speaking of "mental midgets", this is not a "board" it’s a fricken newsgroup on Usenet. Learn the difference, ok? me
Response:
What has (seriously or humorously) caused the biggest improvement/s in your golf handicap to date ? Or cite the wittiest comment anyone’s made on this topic, that you read or heard.
Being farther from the ball after I hit it. KT
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The best improvement to my handicap? I’d have to say going from a manual wheelchair to the motorized one.
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When dropping my hcap from 26 to 18, playing more + a better short game. When dropping it from 18 to 15, better tempo on tee shots + more relaxed putting. This was harder than the previous step. When dropping it from 15 to 11, more consistent and accurate irons. By far the hardest part of the game to improve. Was on my way to single digits when I had a career change and began playing less than once a week. My assumption is that getting to the next step would take irons, irons, and irons…..
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