2 to Scratch?

[Spear-Chucker]

FD - I'm going through this exact process myself and am making some decent inroads. It's fun, difficult and requires quite a personal commitment but that process can be really enjoyable. Two weeks ago I got to validate what I've understood with a three time Walker cup winner and above all else listen to what he had to say on the subject - long winded PM coming your way...

 

[Junior]

Do you keep statistics ? FIR, GIR, Birdies per round ? Putts Per green in reg etc etc. Using data to understand where those additional 2 strokes can be gained from over the course of a season may help. Perhaps 'Game Golf' or something like that could help ? Most will say practise your short game, 100 yards and in etc etc, but if your missing 3/4 greens per round to the right from 150 yards, then fixing this and putting for birdie will be better than trying to chip and putt for par. Good luck !

 

[FairwayDodger]

FD - I'm going through this exact process myself and am making some decent inroads. It's fun, difficult and requires quite a personal commitment but that process can be really enjoyable. Two weeks ago I got to validate what I've understood with a three time Walker cup winner and above all else listen to what he had to say on the subject - long winded PM coming your way...

You're one of the ones I was thinking about when I posted, will be useful to get your insights. Awaiting pm with interest!

 

[FairwayDodger]

Do you keep statistics ? FIR, GIR, Birdies per round ? Putts Per green in reg etc etc. Using data to understand where those additional 2 strokes can be gained from over the course of a season may help. Perhaps 'Game Golf' or something like that could help ? Most will say practise your short game, 100 yards and in etc etc, but if your missing 3/4 greens per round to the right from 150 yards, then fixing this and putting for birdie will be better than trying to chip and putt for par. Good luck !

I only keep fairly rudimentary stats at the moment. I have game golf but slipped out of the habit of using it after my laptop died! To be honest I found it interesting rather than particularly useful.

However I got similar comments at a recent coaching session so am planning to try and keep better stats. Currently thinking about what I actually need to know and going to build either a database or spreadsheet depending on how detailed it ends up!

 

[bobmac]

Some people shoot level par with 5 birdies and 5 bogies while others have 18 pars.
I suspect you are more like the latter Karen.

As you mentioned, consistency is key, knowing your swing inside out and back to front. That way if you hit a bad shot, you know why and how to fix it.
Turning 3 into 2 always helps the scorecard
Don't think like a 2 h/cap trying to get to scratch, think like a scratch golfer trying to get to +2
If someone describes your game as boring, that's the best compliment you can get. Fairways and greens.
Finally, avoid spicey foods and too many fish suppers

 

[Scratch lefty]

Keep doing what your doing, your only a few good rounds away.

Perhaps choose more carefully when you want to play, also no point playing if you know your form is terrible.

Fairways and greens are a given but I know my good rounds are always on how well I am putting. If I cant roll the flat stick then it's tatties.

Stay aggressive, be greedy for birdies and the scoring will take of the handicap.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

I really don't think you need to change much in your approach Karen

You are clearly good enough and play with the right attitude and the scores will happen to get you to Scratch

Try not at times to be too hard on yourself when you have a bad round

And also don't let it become obsessive- play the way you are , add in more opens and I have no doubts within a year you will make .4

 

[mikeb4]

Slightly reluctant to post this but I'm starting to think in terms of trying to get down to scratch. My good golf is good enough, I've got a few sub-par rounds to my name. My last round of the season felt like a bit of a milestone - breaking par in a bigish competition on a course I'd never played before.

Getting more consistency into my game and shooting par or better more often is needed now!

I've got a glitch with my driving at the moment (been battling it all year) I need to sort out and then my plan is to work hard on the short game over the winter while keeping everything else ticking over. I'm striping my irons at the moment, though, and word from my pro after tonight's lesson is that it's definitely a realistic goal for next year....

Certainly won't be easy though! I know there are a few low handicappers on here - what are your experiences at this stage? What makes the difference to continuing to improve?

not there, dont know if i ever will, but i will try.
My advice is keep practising the right things, i use golf in the winter as my pre season, it will take just one or two good rounds for you to reach your next goal, Good luck !

 

[jmf1488]

Playing partner plays off +2. He told me getting from 4 to 0 was harder than getting to 4. The biggest factor in his game that helped cut them last couple shots was his ability to not let bad shots bother hiim.

 

[FairwayDodger]

Some people shoot level par with 5 birdies and 5 bogies while others have 18 pars.
I suspect you are more like the latter Karen.

Never had a bogey free round bob. But yes, I tend to average 2 birdies a round and make scores by minimising the bogeys. I *was* once 5 under after 7 holes.... finished about 5 over!

 

[Garush34]

I only keep fairly rudimentary stats at the moment. I have game golf but slipped out of the habit of using it after my laptop died! To be honest I found it interesting rather than particularly useful.

However I got similar comments at a recent coaching session so am planning to try and keep better stats. Currently thinking about what I actually need to know and going to build either a database or spreadsheet depending on how detailed it ends up!

I'm no where near you guys in terms of handicap, but on the stats front I am currently reading every shot counts which is an interesting way at looking at stats. I'm not finished it yet so don't know exactly how it says to record stats, but the putting section where it states that the conventional wisdom of tracking number of putts is useless in terms of improvement is interesting.

It might be worth a read, and can certainly adjust your thinking on missed shots/putts in comparison to the pros etc as it gives all the %'s on different distances of putts/shots for pro's, low handicappers and 90 shooters.

 

[FairwayDodger]

Playing partner plays off +2. He told me getting from 4 to 0 was harder than getting to 4. The biggest factor in his game that helped cut them last couple shots was his ability to not let bad shots bother hiim.

4 to 3 wasn't too bad but it took me a long time to get a cut playing off 3. I yoyoed between the two for ages. Definitely no formality to keep going lower at this level.

 

[Spear-Chucker]

Some people shoot level par with 5 birdies and 5 bogies while others have 18 pars.
I suspect you are more like the latter Karen.

As you mentioned, consistency is key, knowing your swing inside out and back to front. That way if you hit a bad shot, you know why and how to fix it.
Turning 3 into 2 always helps the scorecard
Don't think like a 2 h/cap trying to get to scratch, think like a scratch golfer trying to get to +2
If someone describes your game as boring, that's the best compliment you can get. Fairways and greens.
Finally, avoid spicey foods and too many fish suppers

Gold.

 

[pokerjoke]

I would maybe look at your game and the courses you play and see what is required.

Whats the point of practicing 125 yards and in if most of your 2nd shots are 150+ or only 100 yards and under,so I would say practice what 2nd shot you would require most.

Obviously don't neglect other areas.

The obvious solution is hole more putts so getting those wedges closer to make shorter putts thus more birdie chances.

Good luck you can do it

 

[hovis]

all but one of my playing partners are plus handicappers. they all agree that maintaining and improving at that level is all about your driver and putter. thats all they practise!! 3 #

 

[Robobum]

Never had a bogey free round bob. But yes, I tend to average 2 birdies a round and make scores by minimising the bogeys. I *was* once 5 under after 7 holes.... finished about 5 over!

I think this should be your focus. 2 birdies a round ain't enough.

There's 2 things that never last - dogs that chase cars and golfers that putt for pars!

Look at why your birdie numbers are so low - is it poor putting or proximity to hole etc etc.

Need more birdies, it's too much of a strain on your score to be up and downing for pars all the time

 

[Deleted member 1147]

Are you a stats keeping type of person Karen - can you immediately identify any particular areas of strength & weakness?

Do you know your averages for par 3's, 4's & 5's, for example, I reckon you should be sub-par for par 5's. Like Robobum says, you should be having more birdies.

Do you know an approximate average proximity to the hole on approach shots for each par 3, 4 & 5?

If it's of any assistance one of my local pro's keeps the following stats and his averages (which he put on twitter) were for 2016 season:

Fairway - 9.12
Left - 2.7
Right - 2.21
Greens - 65.5%
Putts - 28.56
Putts per GIR - 1.71
Sand saves -61.36%
Up & Down - 62.41%
Score - 70.05
Par - 71.14
Under par - 1.09
Par 3s - 0.07 over par
Par 4s - 0.12 under par
Par 5s - 1.09 under par

 

[MendieGK]

Are you a stats keeping type of person Karen - can you immediately identify any particular areas of strength & weakness?

Do you know your averages for par 3's, 4's & 5's, for example, I reckon you should be sub-par for par 5's. Like Robobum says, you should be having more birdies.

Do you know an approximate average proximity to the hole on approach shots for each par 3, 4 & 5?

If it's of any assistance one of my local pro's keeps the following stats and his averages (which he put on twitter) were for 2016 season:

Fairway - 9.12
Left - 2.7
Right - 2.21
Greens - 65.5%
Putts - 28.56
Putts per GIR - 1.71
Sand saves -61.36%
Up & Down - 62.41%
Score - 70.05
Par - 71.14
Under par - 1.09
Par 3s - 0.07 over par
Par 4s - 0.12 under par
Par 5s - 1.09 under par

3.94 average on par 5s? the PGA tours best last season (Rory) was 4.46!

 

[AmandaJR]

No advice Karen - just words of encouragement! You go for it girl - I admire your determination and commitment. I've got to 5 and lost a bit of both as no real desire to get lower as such rather than just keep trying to improve.

I have no doubt you can do it as you clearly have the game and mindset :thup:

 

[Deleted member 1147]

3.94 average on par 5s? the PGA tours best last season (Rory) was 4.46!

That's what is written (just double checked).