Could playing to an imaginary lower handicap help or hinder improvement?

[turkish]

I've been thinking quite a bit about this and wonder if playing to an imaginary lower handicap would help or hinder shooting better scores.

I take each hole as it comes and off my handicap I think well I have 2 shots here and sometimes play it as such... But I sometimes think if I knocked shots off my handicap and played as if I were off 18/19 I might play some holes better.... Of course it could have the opposite effect and I may end up making more mistakes, put too much pressure on myself but just wondering other people's mind sets on this?

 

[Rooter]

When i put my 3 cards in for my handicap i was playing a lot of golf and playing quite well, had a really good round in those 3, so got a handicap of 14. I had been playing socially off 18 with mixed results.

I have not hit buffer or had a cut in 16 rounds. It can get quite depressing when you are really chuffed with 30 points...

It will level out, played socially to my now 16 handicap, so its probably about right for right now..

 

[Curls]

The worst rounds are the ones in which I'm thinking about my handicap.

The best ones are where I'm playing and not overly aware of my score (other than knowing I'm going along nicely).

The second state of mind is difficult if not impossible to force.

 

[Farneyman]

Try just taking a shot a hole for a while and see how it goes. Just eliminate making two bad choices/mistakes in a row and get the ball back in play when in trouble.

 

[FairwayDodger]

My advice in strokeplay is don't give your handicap a second thought until you take it off at the end and sign for your card.

Play each hole to get the ball in the hole in as few shots as possible. Be realistic about your ability and let that dictate the shots you do or don't take on. Certainly don't play for a bogey just because your handicap suggests you get a shot on that hole.

 

[Spear-Chucker]

My advice in strokeplay is don't give your handicap a second thought until you take it off at the end and sign for your card.

Play each hole to get the ball in the hole in as few shots as possible. Be realistic about your ability and let that dictate the shots you do or don't take on. Certainly don't play for a bogey just because your handicap suggests you get a shot on that hole.

Good advice right there.

The games hard enough without limiting yourself by worrying about hcp when you're playing - matchplay is a little different but not that much. We need to understand ways to reduce pressure when playing and not add it by placing expectations on score, hcp etc. etc.

Took me a really long time and some good advice from others to figure out that energy is best spent deciding upon and executing the shot at hand as best as possible and enjoying the round whatever it brings.

 

[Khamelion]

As above, my worst rounds are when I'm thinking about my HC, a couple of good holes and the thoughts of cut come in, then it all goes wrong. Everyone is different and maybe the thought of playing to a better virtual HC may work for you, it would kill me, in that I' be thinking I'm not getting a shot on this hole, I've got to get a par at the very least and end up duffing chips.

My best rounds are when I just go out and play, not worrying about score, strokes taken, etc...

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I'm trying to play one shot at a time (sadly there a lot at the moment) and the handicap is furthest from my thoughts. Even if I recognise I'm heading to another 0.1 I'm just trying to shoot the best score on that day. I don't think trying to play to an imaginary handicap will make any difference to how I approach my game and each round

 

[Slab]

I think on each tee a combination works best

No point standing there with a 450 par 4 thinking you need GIR, it'll only make you attempt the 1 in 10 shot when the hole really should be played as a 5

Also no point plotting for a 5 on a double stroke par 3, so the mental handicap needs to be reduced

 

[Sports_Fanatic]

I think there is a little bit in what you are saying. I took a while to move down from 18 (now 13) and I think there was an element of thinking bogey was fine as I get one shot.

Fairly confident I had the same ability back then but changing my expectation to thinking I need 9 pars a round shifts my focus and concentration to help bring it down.

 

[woody69]

Guess it depends on how you respond to pressure. If you thinking, "I need to par this" helps, then go for it. If you thinking "I have a shot here, let's take a club or two less and use that shot" then so beit. Alternatively I can see the merits of just going out and thinking, how do I get get this white ball in the hole in as few shots possible.

I've started to wonder if I'm guilty of thinking, I have 2 shots here let's lay up when in reality being a bit more aggressive wouldn't be so bad.

 

[Region3]

I'm trying to play one shot at a time (sadly there a lot at the moment) and the handicap is furthest from my thoughts. Even if I recognise I'm heading to another 0.1 I'm just trying to shoot the best score on that day. I don't think trying to play to an imaginary handicap will make any difference to how I approach my game and each round

Really?

I thought you were in the "use your shots" camp.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Really?

I thought you were in the "use your shots" camp.

I know where I get a shot and of course that will influence what I do. If that means "using my shots" especially after a poor drive then fine. However my point is, I play the next shot on its merits given the lie, the conditions and the quality of my swing on the day.

 

[turkish]

Part of the reason I was asking was that I played well in my dads roll up and won the dosh... As a result they cut me in their unofficial book to a 20 handicap. Given I played my best round yet it's gonna be hard to match it I think but was thinking my approach may have to change as will have less shots.

 

[Hobbit]

I play to beat 5's on at least 5 holes per 9. That'll give me less than 40 per 9 holes. That way if I have a 5 on a par 3 there's not as much pressure, and even a 6 on a par 5, can be negated by a few 4's.

The other thing to consider is the weather. Everyone suffers the same weather. If its breezy and you've dropped a couple of extra shots, most people will too.

 

[the_coach]

it's been said but that's because it's the best ways to approach play.

just give your attention solely to the things you need to do to execute as well as you able, the shot in front of you to whatever the identified target was. the target picked should be what would put the ball in the best position you can for your next shot.

think of the index & do the math at the very end.

 

[UlyssesSky]

The only two things that should determine your approach to any hole are your abilities and the layout of the hole.

Just look at the hole and try to figure out what would be the best way to get form the tee into the hole in as few strokes as possible if your play your 'average' (not your best!) golf.

If that means laying up on a par 4 you don't get a shot on, do it. If that means going for the green in two on a par 5 even tough you do get a shot there, do it.

 

[Deleted member 1147]

I read a tip many years ago, in one of the golf mag's (hopefully it was GM). It was by Per Ulrick Johanson.

He said to imagine the course split up into 6, so 3 hole groups and end your scoring after each 3rd hole.

His idea was if you are a 10 handicapper you should play each set of 3 holes in 1 over par - giving you a round of +6.

If you play the 1st 3 in +4, you are over your imaginary handicap but it doesn't matter as those holes are over with for now, just move onto the next 3 holes and try to do them in +1. If you do this you will still play under your actual handicap and won't be putting too much pressure on yourself thinking that you've messed up early on. As all you are targeting is +1 per 3 hole stretch, you may even play to level or under par for 3 holes and shouldn't be thinking too much about how well things are going either.

I used it when off 10 and I think it helped. I'm now going to try it as 3 x 6 hole groups, aiming for +1 x 3 for my rounds.

 

[delc]

I've been thinking quite a bit about this and wonder if playing to an imaginary lower handicap would help or hinder shooting better scores.

I take each hole as it comes and off my handicap I think well I have 2 shots here and sometimes play it as such... But I sometimes think if I knocked shots off my handicap and played as if I were off 18/19 I might play some holes better.... Of course it could have the opposite effect and I may end up making more mistakes, put too much pressure on myself but just wondering other people's mind sets on this?

Is this like having an imaginary friend? :mmm: