Advice needed...what to focus on as a beginner?

[barrybridges]

As I've probably mentioned before, I'm just getting back into golf and I'm still not that great. I've finally broken 100 and the last 3 rounds have been 99, 96 and 97, but when I played yesterday I had a disappointing score even though I felt I 'played better' overall.

After every round I crunch the numbers to see where I should be focussing my attention. There are some obvious ones: my putting is appalling and I'm averaging 40 putts per round.

If anyone's interested, here's my XLS with the stats:

http://bit.ly/eDsraU

Other than that though, I don't have any 'duff' shots any more and I'm generally hitting the ball well.

However, one area where I'm really struggling is distance. On a number of par 4s yesterday (in fact, all but 2), I actually struggled to get onto the green in less than 3 or 4, even though the shots I hit were generally hit well. There were a number of double-bogeys where I walked off the hole thinking 'I don't think I actually could have played that any differently' which is what's bothering me. It's not as if I'm playing badly

I'm starting to feel that if I can get some extra distance in my game then I'll start seeing a bigger drop in my scores than if I work on accuracy.

Some stats for my last round might show you what I mean:

Gross: 99 (+28)
FIR: 86%
GIR: 11.1%
Av putts: 2.33

What I then typically do is deduct the number of putts in total from my total score and then divide the course yardage by that to get my 'average yards per stroke' figure.

Yesterday it was 106.61, which seems rubbish! This is actually pretty normal for me though!

What am I doing wrong though? On most of the par 4s I just can't reach them in 2, so I end up with a PW to the green which is either well hit (and I can 2 putt) or ends up a distance away on the green with a 3 putt to follow.

I don't know where to focus my attention? Should I be working on my long irons to try and get on the green in fewer? Or should I tighten up my PW game to get closer to the pin on my third shot? Or should I focus on my putting to ensure I'm never taking more than 2 putts?

I know it's a combination of the above, but it's so frustrating as I reckon I'm 75% there on it all, but not having quite enough distance and not being too accurate means I'm probably losing 2 shots a hole which is the difference between scoring well and scoring badly.

 

[Up_Point_1]

Personally if I were you i'd have a few lessons just to ensure that the 'basics' are in check i.e grip, stance, posture, alignment etc. Without getting those right you're wasting your time to be honest.

You might as well start on your quest to reduce your handicap with the fundamentals in place rather than try and do it with inherant swing faults, if of course you have any

UP1.

 

[StrangelyBrown]

Personally if I were you i'd have a few lessons just to ensure that the 'basics' are in check i.e grip, stance, posture, alignment etc. Without getting those right you're wasting your time to be honest.

You might as well start on your quest to reduce your handicap with the fundamentals in place rather than try and do it with inherant swing faults, if of course you have any

UP1.

This, absolutely.

Although, from your stats you mention that you've been fatting the irons off of a soggy lie. If this is the case I wouldn't worry too much but a lesson or two can't hurt.

Also, short game practice. If you're wedging it in from 100 yards and still 3 putting, then your short game is letting you down, not your putting. Unless you're 3 putting from 8 feet

 

[barrybridges]

I'm sure I have plenty of faults!

I've started lessons (have only had 1 so far mind, next one tomorrow) and these are really helping. I guess what's frustrating is that I feel that I am playing to the best of my ability. It's not like I walk off the course thinking 'geesh, what a stinker' with 101 things I can think of to work on.

I'm not very good at all - far from it - but the point is I'm struggling to see where to focus my attention to improve. I'd feel better finishing a round and thinking 'I played crap', but I feel like I am playing well even though the score says otherwise!

 

[Lawrence22]

I'm in a similar sort of position at the moment having recently started, but I have yet to break 100. This is usually due to a couple of nightmare holes where I run up double figures. To keep the ball on the short stuff I am often driving with my 3 hybrid and the result is that I am out of range in 2 on the longer par 4s. At the moment I just try and get on board in 3. I figure I'll try and sort that out before I take the driver or woods back out. I feel I am improving week after week but it has yet to come together well enough for me to break 100. Hopefully it will soon.

 

[barrybridges]

It's a difficult one isn't it. I now feel that I'm comfortable in breaking 100, but not much more than that.

On a typical par 3, I know it's distance that's letting me down. I'm normally reaching for a 4 or 5 iron off the tee (obviously depends a lot on the length of the hole!) but I feel that says a lot about my ability to gain distance if I'm choosing such a long club when others are playing 7,8,9s.

On a typical par 4, assuming a decent enough drive, my second shot will almost always end up short of the green and I'll be taking the PW from around 50 - 100 yards to get me near the pin. Then I'll be looking at a bogey at best assuming 2 putts, with a +2 the punishment for poor putting.

Par 5s are a bit easier for me. I'm generally on the green in 4 and then 2 putt for a bogey or +2 if the putting's bad.

Where my putting is letting me down is on the long putts. Rarely will I get my PW close enough to the pin to have a pop for a 1 putt; normally I'll be 20 ft away. I'm not yet good enough at putting to get my first putt close enough for a tap-in; most of the time I'll get the distance round and leave myself an awkward second putt.

 

[Doh]

Barry you say you have had one lesson and another today? and you talk about feeling you have played crap when you come off the course.
When do you ever practice? that is the time to concentrate on one area of you game at a time,more short game than long game and that goes for everyone.

Or do you see your round as practice?

 

[barrybridges]

I practice at the range; normally I play at the range twice a week and then aim to get 2 - 3 rounds in a month. Given I'm still quite new to it though I've only played around 10 rounds in total, so it's early days!

This goes back to one of my earlier posts though; I don't feel that I'm necessarily improving when I'm on the range. The first lesson I had made a big difference I think - I'm no longer duffing shots and I'm hitting the ball ok generally - and I feel I use the range to 'bed in' what I've learnt.

I feel I'd be better spending time on the couse not the range, but I just don't have time to play other than weekends at the moment.

 

[barrybridges]

Barry you say you have had one lesson and another today? and you talk about feeling you have played crap when you come off the course.

Sorry, just wanted to say that actually it's almost the exact opposite. I come off the course feeling that I've played well - or at least to the best of my abilities.

When I look back at any of my past three rounds I can't say that there have been any 'bad' shots as such; I haven't duffed things, topped balls or lost any with wayward strikes. Where I've fallen down is a) putting (which can be worked on quite readily enough) and otherwise just being 90% with everything, and not 100%. By that what I mean is that my distances are always 'not quite right'. My accuracy is generally 'ok' but not good, if you see what I mean.

Or to put it another way, I feel my 'average shot' has got better', but I'm not able to pull off the 'good shots' when I need to.

 

[USER1999]

Definitely sounds like you are a bit short. I know accuracy is a good thing, but any one can be laser accurate down the fairway if they aren't hitting the ball hard enough to get any distance.

You don't state how far you hit the ball, but you should be looking at 135 minimum for a 7i, and that's still way shorter than most.

Again I don't know if you are carrying a driver, but my 78 year old Dad hits about 200 with next to no shoulder turn. If you are hitting 200+ off the tee, you should be within range of most par 4s.

 

[Doh]

Yes I would agree with you about spending time on the course.I dont like the range at all but then I can practice at the club as well which has a great advantage.
The next time your going for a game try to get there an hour before and practice your short game chipping and putting if they have a net have a few swings concentrating on your rhythm and timing.

 

[barrybridges]

My driver off the tee is actually ok; I've played with others from the forums and I've been the further hitter against much lower handicappers, which is the odd thing.

Here's my stats on average distance - all distances don't include roll and are obviously based on my local range which might not be 100% accurate.

Driver: 190
3wd: 175
5wd: 155
4 iron: 145
5 iron: 140
6 iron: 135
7 iron: 130
8 iron: 125
9 iron: 115
PW: 105
SW: 75

All the above is 'average' distance; e.g. I might occasionally hit a sweet drive 210 yards but generally these are what I can comfortably hit.

 

[USER1999]

You should be looking more like 10 yards distance per club. Your PW at 105 is fine, but a 4i from 145 is way too short.

I'm guessing that hitting comfortably isn't really hitting at all.

 

[Macster]

Barry - you need to do some work on your length, and lessons will hopefully help.

10yds between each club would be a good guideline......and I would think a PW would be an average carry of about 115/120yds for most guys under 20 Handicap perhaps.
8i 145yds........5i 175yds.......
However, that will come as you improve.

 

[znuffzz]

I've been the further hitter against much lower handicappers, which is the odd thing.

not really chap, the 2 are mutually exclusive i think

 

[chrisd]

It seems to me Barry that length off the tee is going to be an issue for you. If you hit 190yds on, say, a 400yd par 4, then your next shot means that you cant get on with your 3 wood. I am a fairly average hitter and would reckon to drive on average 250 and would leave 150 into the green, which would be in the summer, an 8 iron (7 in winter) given nothing needs allowing for in the shot (gradient, wind etc)

It looks as though you need to find better length and, without seeing your swing, that could be from, technique, different equipment and probably a lesson or two or a combination of all those things


Chris

 

[Losttheplot]

Barry you seem like a genuine guy and it's good to read about you and your targets and wanting to develop your game. It's a breath of fresh air to be honest instead of reading about how someone smashes it 300yards and can hit a 7 iron 180yards!! Enough of the friendly chat...

Well....

When I first started playing 4 years ago it took me 20 rounds (roughly) to break 100. You've done that in less than half the time.
You can hit a 7 iron 130 yards. I only hit mine 145 at the moment until the weather picks up. Your not doing too badly for a beginner but I agree you could get more distance.
When I first started playing I was told to forget about trying to shoot as low as you can every round and just focus on striking the ball well with whatever club you have in your hand. Until you learn the basics and have them ingrained into a swing then your not really going to move onwards.

When you have the basics in motion then you will probably find your distance naturally increases and automatically without knowing, you will start to see a drop in your scores.
That's what happened for me anyway.
I went from a 28 to a 17 handicap within 12 months, and it took another 12 months and I was down to 8.
You need the basics right before moving on. So have one lesson a month to get the basics right and keep practising on the range as much as you can.

I could go on for ages about what I did to improve quickly but I'm not going to bore myself or anyone else with that...

Good luck Barry!

 

[evahakool]

Imo you shouldnt worry to much about distance at this stage of your game, with lessons and time this will improve.

Dont worry if you hit a p/w 20 yards from the pin just try and hit the green,again with time this will improve.

What i would suggest you focus on is your putting if you can get better at your long putts and try and cut out the 3 putts you should see your scores coming down by 4/5/6 shots per round and score in the low 90s instead of the high 90s.Good luck.

 

[Tiger]

I'm with the others on short game. However, one question for you. When you hit your irons do you get a lot of height? It might be ball flight that is killing your distance if it isn't penetrating.

 

[One Planer]

My honest opinion. If you're a beginner (as I am), everything needs focus. If you focus on a particular segment of your game, something else may suffer.

My advice woiuld be to get used to your own game. Then start analizing where you can improve.

The attitude I take is "Rome wasn't built in a day" and neither will my game.