All the gear no idea...

[PaulE]

Ah but what happens when you leave your approach shot off to the side of the green on the opposite side to the next tee?

Do you leave your bag on the tee side, walk across the green and chip, back to bag to fetch putter, hole out. Or take your bag with you, chip and then switch for the putter straight away, hole out but then your bag is on the wrong side.

I've always wondered the best strategy...

What you should do is leave your bag between the green & the next tee, take your wedge and your putter to your ball, chip onto the green and then putt out.
Place your putter back in your bag and go to the nex tee.
Then, 3 holes later, realise that you left your wedge next to the earlier green and go all the way back for it.:angry:
Or, to save going back for it, when the flag is taken out and laid down, put your wedge on it so that someone has to pick it up to put the flag back. Hey presto, you don't forget your wedge.

 

[Region3]

Ah but what happens when you leave your approach shot off to the side of the green on the opposite side to the next tee?

Do you leave your bag on the tee side, walk across the green and chip, back to bag to fetch putter, hole out. Or take your bag with you, chip and then switch for the putter straight away, hole out but then your bag is on the wrong side.

I've always wondered the best strategy...

If I can see the ball and know the shot I want to play I'll take that club and putter and leave the bag on the side near the next tee.
If I can't see the shot I'll take my bag over then hopefully be able to get back to it before everyone has putted out or if I put the chip close I'll move my bag while everyone else is putting.

Where it slows up play imo is when the bag is left on the wrong side of the green AND the player faffs about on the green or waits until everyione else is finished.

 

[ArnoldArmChewer]

Ah but what happens when you leave your approach shot off to the side of the green on the opposite side to the next tee?

Do you leave your bag on the tee side, walk across the green and chip, back to bag to fetch putter, hole out. Or take your bag with you, chip and then switch for the putter straight away, hole out but then your bag is on the wrong side.

I've always wondered the best strategy...

Leave your bag where it is, take a couple of clubs + putter with you, play chip, place clubs over pin (when laying flat) so you can't forget them, putt out and move on to next hole.

 

[Oddsocks]

dont miss the green in the first place.

 

[Billysboots]

I made the point about range finders contributing towards slow play in another recent thread and the majority disagreed with me. But this sums up what I was trying to say perfectly.

There are far too many mid to high handicap golfers who fanny around with GPS/laser devices for ages before playing, and they either have no idea how far they can hit their clubs or are too inconsistent for it to really matter if they know how far from the green they are or not.

Sorry, but there is a handicap above which these devices are just expensive, unnecessary gimmicks.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Sorry, but there is a handicap above which these devices are just expensive, unnecessary gimmicks.

So where do you draw that line. I am a 13 handicapper regularly playing to 18 but I know how far I hit my clubs. Because I'm hitting or just missing buffer zones would that make it unwise to use one? I can see where you are coming from though

 

[Billysboots]

So where do you draw that line. I am a 13 handicapper regularly playing to 18 but I know how far I hit my clubs. Because I'm hitting or just missing buffer zones would that make it unwise to use one? I can see where you are coming from though

It depends entirely on the player, which is why I did not suggest a figure!

There may be mid teen handicap golfers out there who are as consistent as any Cat 1 player tee to green but are lacking in length and have a crap short game. If they hit their irons consistently and know their yardages then they will benefit.

To be fair I was perhaps wrong to refer to handicap explicitly - but every golfer knows in their own mind if these devices will really bring something to their game, and I suspect they are a waste of money for the vast majority who own them.

 

[Pants]

Well, this is a forum and we are all entitled to express our opinions - however misguided they may be.

 

[leaney]

I certainly put myself in the 'All the gear, no idea' bracket. But only when it comes to having the best the clubs and clothes. Even though I know that much cheaper clubs, will do the same job for an 18 handicapper.

But...I don't have any of these GPS toys. Surely part of the fun it to work out your distances on your own?

 

[patricks148]

The whole all the gear no idea thing can be avoided, learn to play half reasonably before splashing out on a load of kit that’s meant for the bag of single fig handicap at least.

A good example,

I was at a course a couple of months ago talking to a couple of guys I know while waiting for my playing partners to turn up. And this guy breezes up head to toe in Oscar Jacobson, full TM tour bag all TM clubs electric trolley the works, has I guy with him who looks like it could be his coach or something. There are a few people standing around now watching. He takes a few practice swings and a few stretches, waggles the club about for 2-3 mins and takes an age over the ball, then tops it, almost makes the fairway, same again. If he had just turned up with an old set in a carry bag no one would have even noticed.

I don’t have a problem with anyone using GPS or a range finder, just be ready to play when its your turn and don’t stand 20 yards from the green checking the distance

 

[Bikky73]

great reading from the start,,my frame of mind is to play the part before looking the part, still over the top though with all the gear,if that sort of play Carry's on he will get less than half the price he payed for is gear on fleeeebay (ebay)

True, I've only had 2 sets of clubs.... One 15 years ago which were leather hand gripped, cast irons, wooden woods, an old hard leather bag. I enjoyed it, and I wasn't bad for someone who'd spent £25 on gear and never played before in my life. Now I've got a set of Titleist Irons, and can't remember woods with graphite shaft, and a trolley. Nothing posh, and I play alright. Keep thinking of a new bag but more for the slot and pocket convenience. Then I think of a lesson..... hmmm no comp. I'd rather turn up with cheap shoddy stuff and play like a low HCer than spend a fortune and look a tool.

I do actually see where you're coming from. ie Them who have all the gear and no idea..... about course management. If you've stuffed it just a hundred yards in totally the wrong direction, then you should be walking to the ball, pulling out a club and quickly putting the ball back somewhere in play. Then worry about the green. Ok there are those who could have had an aberration off the tee and could be capable of putting it onto the green - and so should weigh up their shot carefully. But the op made clear this wasn't one of those - as good players don't have several aberrations on the trot (?)

In that case I'd see what club i'd need to get the ball there from where I am, then take the next one up, and shove it back into play but further down the fairway. Having left my bag at the edge of my fairway direct opposite. Then nip back to collect it. Much quicker.

What you should do is leave your bag between the green & the next tee, take your wedge and your putter to your ball, chip onto the green and then putt out.
Place your putter back in your bag and go to the nex tee.
Then, 3 holes later, realise that you left your wedge next to the earlier green and go all the way back for it.:angry:
Or, to save going back for it, when the flag is taken out and laid down, put your wedge on it so that someone has to pick it up to put the flag back. Hey presto, you don't forget your wedge.

I do this, take the trolley to the next tee side on approach and carry wedge/putter.... UNLESS my approach shot was straight and I stayed on the same side. Then i'll take the bag, chip it, then move round while compadre's putt.

 

[steve_wood]

But...I don't have any of these GPS toys. Surely part of the fun it to work out your distances on your own?

I agree. Makes no difference to me what the yardage is to a)ditch b)green c)pin. Walk up to ball, make a decision, get club and hit it. I kind of know just by looking ati what club I should hit to get to where I want it be. Doesn't always work out like but thats part of the fun

 

[Neddy]

To be honest, even if someone can't hit the ball, if they want to spend hundreds of pounds on the best gear surely that is their choice and they shouldn't be judged for doing so? Is it not the same as say, having a nice new car when you could have got one which does the same job for a quarter of the price?

His behaviour with the range finder was a bit poor given he was never ever going to get there. I personally don't see why anyone needs one. Judging distance really isn't that hard if you've been playing for a while. I find hitting the ball far harder!

 

[Billysboots]

Well, this is a forum and we are all entitled to express our opinions - however misguided they may be.

Exactly. So kindly allow me to express mine.

 

[DaveM]

Dont have a range finder. But do have an ap on the phone. Tried it on a few holes, never used it since. Cant really see the point. Have played for 30yrs without one.

 

[Bikky73]

I've got the most hi-tec range finder going....... my eyes.ok my eyesight isnt great due to a lazy eye, but as I don't actually know how far I can hit any club, I know if it looks about that i'll use a 7wood, if its about that i'll use an 8iron, if its in long stuff i'll use no more than a 7 iron to recover it......

and as i keep saying i'm completely poo at golf.