Are we getting too lazy?

[TonyN]

I guess there are many types of Golfers bob, it all depends on which type we want to be.

Me personally, I love practising. When I was at Upton, I would spend 2-3 hours on and around the green, I had a mustard short game.

But there are people who just want to play and so without the practice, they just accept that tech is going to help them play a tiny bit better. If it makes them happy so be it.

I would rather practise and become a good golfer. Knowledge is power!

 

[CMAC]

I used to have a terrible set of clubs that i got from a club book. I used to complain about them all the time saying I would never get any better. My Dad used to say to me " if Nick Faldo came to our course and used your clubs how many do you think he would go round in?"

Basically what he meant was that if you can play the game well then you can play with pretty much anything.
I used to think that was great motivation by him, now I know it was a way of him not having to get me new clubs!

Thanks for explaining but I think we got it.

I'd wager it was motivation and nothing to do with cheapness.
Your dad was correct, Faldo would have probably beaten par with your set even without prior knowledge of the course.

 

[bobmac]

Thanks for all the replies.
I was reading a post earlier about someone who wanted to hit the ball lower so wanted advice which shaft/driver he should buy (no names)

I just thought, why not keep the driver you have and learn how to hit it lower.

I just got me wondering

 

[chris661]

Thanks for all the replies.
I was reading a post earlier about someone who wanted to hit the ball lower so wanted advice which shaft/driver he should buy (no names)

I just thought, why not keep the driver you have and learn how to hit it lower.

I just got me wondering

But sometimes I think with the way shaft technology has moved on it is difficult to keep it low as everything is geared up to help the player hit it higher.

 

[StrangelyBrown]

Thanks for all the replies.
I was reading a post earlier about someone who wanted to hit the ball lower so wanted advice which shaft/driver he should buy (no names)

I just thought, why not keep the driver you have and learn how to hit it lower.

I just got me wondering

Maybe he tried and couldn't?

I've been trying to hit mine straight for two years and still can't do it.

 

[CMAC]

Thanks for all the replies.
I was reading a post earlier about someone who wanted to hit the ball lower so wanted advice which shaft/driver he should buy (no names)

I just thought, why not keep the driver you have and learn how to hit it lower.

I just got me wondering

But sometimes I think with the way shaft technology has moved on it is difficult to keep it low as everything is geared up to help the player hit it higher.

good point, with the older neutral shafts then it was fun to hit high/low/hook/fade etc nowadays the technology is 'fighting' against what you are trying to manipulate, really makes me want to play Blades again

 

[d2cko]

I think I'm lazy! I have quite a lot of time to practice but I just can't be bothered! I'd rather go up and play 9/18 holes than spend the time practising.

Maybe I'd be better if I practiced, I'm not sure.

D2

 

[USER1999]

So the Pro's, on tour, who have zip all to do all day except practice, who can play any shot in the book, with masses of great golf coaching at their finger tips, just hit any old driver, and make it work? They don't use the tour van to optimise their launch conditions then? I think they might do. So if you hit it high, why not get a lower launching shaft/head?

 

[bobmac]

So the Pro's, on tour, who have zip all to do all day except practice, who can play any shot in the book, with masses of great golf coaching at their finger tips, just hit any old driver, and make it work? They don't use the tour van to optimise their launch conditions then? I think they might do. So if you hit it high, why not get a lower launching shaft/head?

I think you have a point Murph but I feel the pros use the tour van for tiny tweaks to the clubs which then combined with their skills might just give them the edge.

For the average handicapper who cant be bothered learning how to manipulate the clubs he's got just falls straight into the AG/ DG front door to buy a cure. I think that's a shame.
After all, clubs these days aren't cheap

 

[HawkeyeMS]

Bob, do you think the clubs alone make us better golfers? I've got some shiny wedges with spinny grooves and my ball never zips back 6ft cause I don't hit it well enough. To do that I'd need to practice more.

Don't get me wrong, technology helps. If you carry a ball 250yds with a driver 20 years ago, you'd probably carry over 300 with a modern one but you'd still need to have the skill to hit it straight.

What I'd like to know is was the average handicap 20 years ago higher than it is now because if technology helps that much you would think it would be.

I think technology must help, but without skill, regular playing and practice, you will never be a good golfer no matter how much technology you have.

 

[kid2]

Thanks for all the replies.
I was reading a post earlier about someone who wanted to hit the ball lower so wanted advice which shaft/driver he should buy (no names)

I just thought, why not keep the driver you have and learn how to hit it lower.

I just got me wondering

Iv been guilty of changing clubs like the weather up to this year i seem to be happy with my set of Pings....

I think that finding something that you like is very important to having confidence but i also think that people are being conned of there money by clever advertising by the big boys.

Take my i10's for instance...Ok there successor is a little more pleasing on the eye but performance wise i could not tell the difference and i saved myself the grad sum of 350 euro by not going for the newer model....

There is a certain element of keeping up with the Jones's when it comes to golf equipment also...
Your mate buy's the latest driver....You have last years model working fine for you but you still want that new one....


On the subject of practice i try and get to the range once a week and do my putting at home inside and practice my chipping in the back yard...
Just swinging a club a few times a night can be a big help if its done properly.

I can relate to the hectic lifestyles that people live and fair enough certain clubs might help them enjoy the game a little easier but i cant help wondering are these some of the same people that want to get better?
Who knows!

But what i do know is that to get better you have to practice...Otherwise its wasted effort.

 

[CMAC]

What I'd like to know is was the average handicap 20 years ago higher than it is now because if technology helps that much you would think it would be.

very good question, wonder what it is? maybe do a mini poll here of anyone playing for the last 10 and 20 years?

 

[RGDave]

Sadly I do practice, quite a lot, and I'm still rubbish at golf.

I often wonder why I bother, and can't really recommend it as a way of improving.

Need I go on.....

+1 (yes, that's a +1 as I know it makes everyone over the moon with happiness).

 

[Iaing]

What I'd like to know is was the average handicap 20 years ago higher than it is now because if technology helps that much you would think it would be.

very good question, wonder what it is? maybe do a mini poll here of anyone playing for the last 10 and 20 years?

Seem to remember reading on here a while back that the average h/cap hasn't changed at all over the last 30 years.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Im another who practices hard. As I've said many times, golf has never come easy and even when had a modicum of talent I had to work at my game all the time and even more so now age has caught up with me and my talent diminished. However it really is about practicing the right things and I spend a lot of time working on basics of set up and specific drills my teaching pro has given rather than bash ball after ball.

I did that a few summers back and to be honest it did more harm than good and put my game back by three months. As for technology, I have no problem with it. Have wedges become that much easier to master where feel and imagination are almost as important as technique

 

[Region3]

The defendant pleads guilty to 5 of the 6 counts, plus also asks for 2 other offences to be taken into consideration.

1, I have a GPS, and 2, After hitting approaches yesterday to 3', 18", 10', 4', and 2' I'd like a laser.

 

[upsidedown]

What I'd like to know is was the average handicap 20 years ago higher than it is now because if technology helps that much you would think it would be.

very good question, wonder what it is? maybe do a mini poll here of anyone playing for the last 10 and 20 years?

Julian Tutt referred to this at The Open and reckoned 15 years it was 15 and now it's 17

 

[Smiffy]

Thanks for all the replies.
I was reading a post earlier about someone who wanted to hit the ball lower so wanted advice which shaft/driver he should buy (no names)
I just thought, why not keep the driver you have and learn how to hit it lower.

But it would be so much quicker, cheaper (in the long run) and more cost effective to just go out and buy a Pro Launch red shaft.

 

[haplesshacker]

Laziness. Probably a tad harsh me thinks.

Okay. I can see the frustration from a coaches point of view. Teaching the same thing to the same person for half hour once a month and they never practice what they've been taught except during their once a week round and wondering why it doesn't work and reverting back to their old ways. Apologies for the grammar!

However. I don't have time for a game, let alone practice at the moment. For some of us, there are more important things in life than golf!!

Much as I'd like to spend an hour a day practicing and playing twice a week. It ain't gonna happen. Not whilst I'm married!!!!

Just except the frustrations of your trade. Much as we all have to in our working lives. Sorry. Came across harsher than it's meant.

 

[HawkeyeMS]

Not whilst I'm married!!!!

There are solutions for that