Do you believe you can get to scratch?

[srixon 1]

Hybrid chip!

I have tried “chipping” with a hybrid (not from sandy lies though) and just find it too inconsistent. I just find that the ball flies off of the club face on too low a trajectory with no spin.

 

[Orikoru]

I have tried “chipping” with a hybrid (not from sandy lies though) and just find it too inconsistent. I just find that the ball flies off of the club face on too low a trajectory with no spin.

Yeah it does take some getting used to as it's hot off the face. I just use it when you've got a horrible lie and you're right next to the green, as it just pops it out of the trash and gets it rolling straight away. I never fancy trying to strike a wedge well on that kind of shot.

 

[pokerjoke]

I believe anyone that is physically capable that has a will and a want can get to scratch can do it.
Mostly you just hear people’s excuses why they can’t , pretty boring and standard.
Age,kids,time etc
24 hours in a day is plenty of time if you have commitment.
When you do get low the only word you want to here is consistency, get that and scratch is 100% doable.

 

[The Squirrel]

I believe anyone that is physically capable that has a will and a want can get to scratch can do it.

Well that's logically inevitable. The real question is: how many are truly physically capable though - can any reasonably healthy adult get there or does it take being born with an unusual amount of physical ability and hand-eye coordination that only a small faction of the population will have? There are lots of people who practice plenty and never get close to scratch (probably far more than those who succeed) so I'm voting for the second option - although no idea whether it's 3% or 30% of the population that have the potential to get there.

Not that it matters in the slightest - single figures is far more achievable and that's plenty good enough to knock it around nearly any course and have a fun time in the process.

 

[PaulMdj]

That's the same with all sports. I've lost count of the number of times a pro, at any sport, has a brother 'that we should all watch as they are better', but is then never heard of again. There is something extra, probably work ethic or mental strength, which separates the very good to the special. You have to have that inbuilt talent in the first place, hard work alone does not get you to that place, but to lift you into the pro game, that takes extra.

Yep, Wayne Rooney’s younger brothers Graham & John.

 

[Springveldt]

I play with scratch and plus golfers a lot and if I'm being honest with myself I doubt I could do it. They are just so much more consistent than me, I'll see them hit a horrid fat shot maybe twice a season while I can chunk that many and more in a single round. They are much better putters than me as well, that's what really lets my game down. I'm not sure if it's down to not reading the green correctly, not being good at judging pace, not able to get the ball on line or I'm a complete basket case upstairs but I miss way more putts from 8 foot and in than them. My pace on long putts is usually decent but those 8 footers and in are very shaky. I'll have a run during the season were I putt well but more often than not it's the biggest let down in my game.

Like many others the other thing is practice time, I get virtual none. Having a disabled son who will be 15 this year but is mentally 4 or 5 eats up a lot of free time, throw in a full time working wife and we don't usually get any "me" time till he's asleep and with autism and adhd he doesn't sleep that much.

 

[Tashyboy]

I play with scratch and plus golfers a lot and if I'm being honest with myself I doubt I could do it. They are just so much more consistent than me, I'll see them hit a horrid fat shot maybe twice a season while I can chunk that many and more in a single round. They are much better putters than me as well, that's what really lets my game down. I'm not sure if it's down to not reading the green correctly, not being good at judging pace, not able to get the ball on line or I'm a complete basket case upstairs but I miss way more putts from 8 foot and in than them. My pace on long putts is usually decent but those 8 footers and in are very shaky. I'll have a run during the season were I putt well but more often than not it's the biggest let down in my game.

Like many others the other thing is practice time, I get virtual none. Having a disabled son who will be 15 this year but is mentally 4 or 5 eats up a lot of free time, throw in a full time working wife and we don't usually get any "me" time till he's asleep and with autism and adhd he doesn't sleep that much.

A post where you like and relate to what’s said but what emoji does one click on.
Good luck with all things me man

 

[Mandofred]

I am 67 and am back up to 6.5......I do think if I took some lessons and practiced more and could get down closer to scratch, maybe 2 or so.......as long as the course isn't long. There is no way I can hit the ball far enough on a longer course. Very little natural arm strength....I do some lifting most days, but that is just to fight the inevitable old age decline. And.....a brain transplant.....I really give up too easily when things go bad.

 

[Arthur Wedge]

I play with scratch and plus golfers a lot and if I'm being honest with myself I doubt I could do it. They are just so much more consistent than me, I'll see them hit a horrid fat shot maybe twice a season while I can chunk that many and more in a single round. They are much better putters than me as well, that's what really lets my game down. I'm not sure if it's down to not reading the green correctly, not being good at judging pace, not able to get the ball on line or I'm a complete basket case upstairs but I miss way more putts from 8 foot and in than them. My pace on long putts is usually decent but those 8 footers and in are very shaky. I'll have a run during the season were I putt well but more often than not it's the biggest let down in my game.

Like many others the other thing is practice time, I get virtual none. Having a disabled son who will be 15 this year but is mentally 4 or 5 eats up a lot of free time, throw in a full time working wife and we don't usually get any "me" time till he's asleep and with autism and adhd he doesn't sleep that much.

At the end of the day - it’s mainly about what we enjoy about the sport and if we get enjoyment out of the level we play

Golf will never be our main area in life and it doesn’t earn us a living so we will play for enjoyment

 

[Beezerk]

I couldn’t even be bothered with trying, I’m still genuinely shocked I’ve managed to get to single figures given how little I play and practice.

 

[VVega]

I believe anyone that is physically capable that has a will and a want can get to scratch can do it.

Can you define this? If you mean generally healthy, I’d disagree. There is plenty of people who have poor hand to eye coordination, can they play to scratch?

As with any hobby/obsession - no matter how much effort /good will etc one can put in to it, there is a ceiling for everyone.

In golf, I’d say scratch is unrealistic with any amount of coaching/equipment/effort etc. for most people.

 

[srixon 1]

Yeah it does take some getting used to as it's hot off the face. I just use it when you've got a horrible lie and you're right next to the green, as it just pops it out of the trash and gets it rolling straight away. I never fancy trying to strike a wedge well on that kind of shot.

From a dodgy (buried) lie in the rough around the green play it similar to a bunker shot. Really open the face of your sand/lob wedge. Hit the ground slightly behind the ball and slide the club under the ball with a little bit of club head speed. The ball should just pop into the air and not roll much. Takes a lot of practice though and can go spectacularly wrong occasionally. (Thin bullets a plenty ).

 

[clubchamp98]

Find a quiet corner on the course in the evening, preferably the front 9, drop a few balls and spend a peaceful 1/2 hour chipping around a green. Earphones with yours favourite music/podcast can help.....family permitting

That’s frowned upon now though Bob.
We had an email about practicing chipping around the green fringes.

We do have a short game practice area so they have a point.

But if it’s allowed it’s ideal.

 

[Junior]

I think getting to scratch is a great achievement….keeping there is a harder one !!

 

[Golfnut1957]

I play with scratch and plus golfers a lot and if I'm being honest with myself I doubt I could do it. They are just so much more consistent than me, I'll see them hit a horrid fat shot maybe twice a season while I can chunk that many and more in a single round. They are much better putters than me as well, that's what really lets my game down. I'm not sure if it's down to not reading the green correctly, not being good at judging pace, not able to get the ball on line or I'm a complete basket case upstairs but I miss way more putts from 8 foot and in than them. My pace on long putts is usually decent but those 8 footers and in are very shaky. I'll have a run during the season were I putt well but more often than not it's the biggest let down in my game.

Like many others the other thing is practice time, I get virtual none. Having a disabled son who will be 15 this year but is mentally 4 or 5 eats up a lot of free time, throw in a full time working wife and we don't usually get any "me" time till he's asleep and with autism and adhd he doesn't sleep that much.

I believe that what is upstairs is the key to going really low. You can have all of the other tools, but if you are a mental midget you're doomed.

I can be playing lights out, all aspects of the game firing and suddenly have the demons enter my head asking me how long can I keep this up, when will the bubble burst? I bet there aren't too many scratch golfers who doubt themselves like that.

 

[JonnyGutteridge]

I play off 4.. I think I could and I think I could achieve it in 2-3 years - but I would caveat that by saying that I don't think I will. I don't put in the time or effort.

I would also caveat that by saying, I could under (*trigger warning*) WHS, but I wouldn't under the old system.

 

[Tashyboy]

That’s frowned upon now though Bob.
We had an email about practicing chipping around the green fringes.

We do have a short game practice area so they have a point.

But if it’s allowed it’s ideal.

We had an email with a photo attached from the club a couple of years ago. Some bright spark decided to knock lord knows how many ball's into a green from
About hundred yards. Made a right mess and not one divot replaced. As was said. Ain’t that what the range is for. We are fortunate to have a chipping and putting area.

 

[clubchamp98]

We had an email with a photo attached from the club a couple of years ago. Some bright spark decided to knock lord knows how many ball's into a green from
About hundred yards. Made a right mess and not one divot replaced. As was said. Ain’t that what the range is for. We are fortunate to have a chipping and putting area.

If you got caught doing that at mine your out the club .
No second chances .
Rightly so as well.

 

[clubchamp98]

I believe that what is upstairs is the key to going really low. You can have all of the other tools, but if you are a mental midget you're doomed.

I can be playing lights out, all aspects of the game firing and suddenly have the demons enter my head asking me how long can I keep this up, when will the bubble burst? I bet there aren't too many scratch golfers who doubt themselves like that.

My mate off scratch, wonderful golfer had a few shanks with his 8 iron.
Next day 8 iron again shank.

TXT me the next day and said “ I’ve sorted it out”
Sat comp no 8 iron in his bag shot -4 won the comp.
That’s mental .

 

[GreiginFife]

Short answer is no. I have too many brain farts.