Am i being too technical?

[kid2]

Iv spent the past 2 nights making my own yardage guide for my home course which i play every week. Iv been doing this with google earth.....
Its pretty accurate maybe to within 2 or 3 yards but iv been wondering am i being too technical in my ways to reach single figures... My playing partners think im nuts but i see it as a new challange....I feel that if i can map my way round the course a bit better then surely things will fall into place.....The only worry i have though is will the fun factor go out of the game for me by making it too TEXTBOOK.
Lately iv found myself trying to leave 100m to the centre of the green on most of the par 4's and 5's and its been pretty interesting to the point that my driver is rarely showing a face on the course....

 

[brendy]

Did google earth tell you the temperature, windspeed and direction?
Course you are being technical, only you can say for sure if you are being OTT. With the best will in the world, will you be able to hit your marked or measured targets?
With pin positions, gradients, lies and weather conditions there is no way it will be a revelation. Try it, nothing ventured nothing gained however I am on the cynical side of the fence.

 

[Region3]

The only worry i have though is will the fun factor go out of the game

Where's the fun in not knowing how far to go?

Sounds like a good idea to me if you're not going gps and there isn't a strokesaver for your course.

 

[Cookiesdaughtersdad]

No I think that is a good idea and will save you shots.
But as far as your swing is concerned, just leave the technical stuff at the range, being over technical here while you play can cause as they say “paralysis by analysis”
You are in effect becoming your own caddy.

Cookie

 

[USER1999]

Yes, way too technical.

Buy a dmd, and have done with it.

No good being off scratch at your home track, with all the info, and off 28 every where else.

 

[Losttheplot]

It sounds like a good idea and I'm looking forward to hearing what your results are. I agree though that it might be a negative for when you play other courses that aren't mapped out.
Keep us all informed of your results and good luck!

 

[JustOne]

Yes too technical for 19 h/cap. Just go out and play. Play for fun. Play because you want to be there with your mates. Just try and hit the ball your best each shot.

Where are the weaknesses in your game? Can you hit the ball far enough?

 

[HomerJSimpson]

As a self confessed practice freak who is the epitomy of paralysis by analysis in the past I'm taking a more relaxed approach this year and focussing more on playing than hitting balls in search of a textbook swing. As long as what I have repeats more often than not that'll do for me and I'll be working on the short game side to get down to single figures. I'm limiting myself to 100 range balls per week from Easter to work on the long swing

 

[Macster]

I remember being exactly the same when I was off 19/20, ie trying soooooo hard to get my handicap down, practice, practice, practice, analysis, analysis etc etc.
The game just frustrated me, and annoyed me when my H/C didnt tumble.....

Then one day, I simply said 'enough', stop worrying about it.......and low and behold, I dropped to 12 before I knew it.

A lesson every now and again would be good perhaps, otherwise, just play and enjoy......and it will happen.

 

[TRS30]

Not a totally mad idea Kid, but I would say it needs to be done in conjunction with knowing exactly how far you hit each club, i.e how far on the fly, how far it rolls, distances when it is cold, hot etc.

 

[Tiger]

Hi Kid,

I'm in exactly the same boat.

• Originally I thought who needs a DMD I'll judge by eye and thorough preparation using tools such as Google Earth;
  Then I realised that depends on actually nailing shots the required distance each time to fit into my plan;
  I started to appreciate I needed contingencies (replan) for a whole manner of things that could happen on the course (wind, ground conditions, my ball striking);
  Then I thought actually a laser rangefinder will help me when I practice and then I can know exact distances to the flag when I play;
  Then I realised that I don't follow the logical route on most holes because my ball striking wasn't up to it;
  At the same time I tried Freecaddie on my iPhone and was really impressed with how much freedom I felt and how relaxed I was when choosing clubs;
  Now I think everybody on here was right and I should get a GPS;

I'm 100% in the JustOne camp now. I'm saving for a GPS to help take out the guess work and learn my distances and just focussing on having fun when I play & practice. I hope that by doing this my handicap will naturally start to drop.

Whatever you decide to do I commend you on wanting to improve your game and looking at ways you can improve your course management. Good luck and let us know how you get on.

 

[drawboy]

I see nothing wrong at all in wanting to know how far you are from the green or to a bunker etc. If you know the distance it at the very least gives you more knowledge then just making a wild stab and a better chance of hitting the right iron. Pro's don't just use caddies for carrying their gear, they want to know the yardage. If your playing mates extract the urine, just remember when they ask you "How far is it from here Kid?" and tell them to pace it out for themselves.

 

[Tiger]

If your playing mates extract the urine, just remember when they ask you "How far is it from here Kid?" and tell them to pace it out for themselves.

Genius!

 

[Mike_j_golf]

Hi,
I can see what you are doing could help but can't see why u would be laying up to 100 on a par 4 when u would prob have a better chance to get up and down from 10/20 yards, what if u don't hit it to the 100 would that upset u on the course or are u as good from 120 or 80 yards.
Mike

 

[Fyldewhite]

I did exactly the same for my course. Threw in a few "route B" distances too. Find it very useful as it's tailored around how I play the course and how I elect to get out of trouble when I find it. Obviously it's not as good as a GPS but only took an hour or so to produce and it's free.

I always have it in the bag. Google earth distance tool is very accurate and certainly as good as any GPS providing your course is in a high resolution area (not everywhere is in UK). Go for it.

 

[ant2611]

hasn't your course got a course planner there only about £3 and will save you alot of time and will probably be more accurate

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I did use my SC to mark more specific distances on my club strokesaver when they were deliberating on whether to allow DMD's and carried that for a while. Whilst it was better than the original it still wasn't ideal and SC is way easier

 

[Parmo]

I have done the Google earth thingy before (can't now on Vista), its great for working out your great drives, things like irons distances is a different kettle of fish. This time of year you will be still taking extra irons on shots, as mentioned it doesn't take into fact wind, temp and general conditions like incline or decline. I find the best way to know your distances is by feel and general awareness of distance, some say (the anti-DMD chaps) that is a skill, something I disagreed with but now agree even though I have a DMD.

 

[Smiffy]

Went for a week-end down to Old Thorns in Hampshire. Mate of mine (Ray) was desperate to win so he bought a strokesaver, sat down at the end of the first round with the starter and was picking his brains on the best way to play each hole. Starter pointed out to him on the strokesaver where the best places to put his drives were and Ray duly marked little crosses on each hole to guide himself round.
I think he came last out of the 8 of us

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I bet it was nothing like the strokesaver from Lydd. The thing was hand drawn and then photocopied. Cheap as chips though but worse than useless