Easiest way to reduce a high handicap?

[louise_a]

Yesterday I played to my handicap with a 89-17-72, which I was quite pleased with. However today I have been thinking about where I could have saved shots and getting down in 2 from around the green is definitely the place.

On 13 holes I was within 6 feet of the putting surface and got down in 2 4 times, down in 3 8 times and down in 4 once. So potentially 10 shots dropped, which could have changed an 89 into a 79.

So now I know what I need to practice.

 

[bigslice]

uve answered your own question lol

I struggle to hit greens in two (just) and have noticed I can get down in two quite often. im now working on hitting greens in reg and sinking puts.

 

[FairwayDodger]

I think it was my pro who told me the expectation for scratch golf was something like 12 GIR and 6 single putts.

At my level if I'm just off the green I always want to get up and down.... Don't always manage it, obviously. However the other night I started with 3 pars but didn't hit any of those greens in regulation. It makes a huge difference to your score.

 

[garyinderry]

ive always said. " any monkey can get near the green in two, its how quickly you get down from there"



im still waiting on a phone call from the R&A to go up to St Andrews to put my hand into cement and sign it.

 

[Akie]

If you count how many of your strokes in a round are spent around the green, especially putting, you realise where your focus should be in practice.

 

[duncan mackie]

having got your answer, you need to do more than simply 'practice' IMO

while the best player I knew around the greens (relative to handicap) did practice a lot, the real key to his success was the use of a system (back to that thread about the rule of 12!).

his practice sessions used distance markers, constant record keeping and analysis of results. he used the same motion/swing with multiple clubs and could land a ball on a 1ft circle with any of them from up to 15ft (his argument was that beyond that didn't matter because he could get a ball the full length of any green by landing his 6 iron 15ft...he expects to get down in an average of 2 (or less) from just off the green round after round after round.

he was a right pain as he got very upset if anyone else dared to use the chipping green when he was on it (I did) but is a very solid 3 handicapper who rarely hits the ball beyond 230 yds.

 

[pendodave]

Having seen the thread title, imagine my surprise about it not being another custom fitting thread...

You're right, of course. Practicing it effectively is the issue for those not able to get to a course more than once a week.

 

[Foxholer]

So there is something to this 'short game, short game, short game' then?

Your Pro's rating of the scratch player's numbers fits with my simple short game assessment - Putts minus GUR and the closer to 18 (anything below 27 is good for me) the better.

 

[patricks148]

short game.

The lowest handicap ive ever played with was off +3 in an Open at Golspie a few years ago. it was blowing a gale.

I think the course is par 70 the CSS for the comp was 76 so reduction only. This chap shot level par.

Was he longer off the tee than me?
Nope!

Was he a great iron player who hit every green?

Nope


Could he chip and put?

Hell yes 18 pars and to be honest he didn't even look like making a bogie even though due to the conditions he missed a fair few greens.

So Chipping and putting, then more putting

 

[Deleted member 1147]

So now I know what I need to practice.

The long game?

Hit more greens in reg' and all you need to do is 2 putt for easy pars :swing:

 

[Ian_S]

I only just realised this too. Until you actually count up you don't realise how many shots you could save through chipping practice. Bunker play has been killing me lately. I spent ages practising my chipping then found that I keep failing to get out of the bunker first shot.

Two putt the GIRs, one putt the missed greens - it won't work every time, but if you can manage that more often than not you'll be shooting very low indeed.

 

[bobmac]

I think it was my pro who told me the expectation for scratch golf was something like 12 GIR and 6 single putts.

At my level if I'm just off the green I always want to get up and down.... Don't always manage it, obviously. However the other night I started with 3 pars but didn't hit any of those greens in regulation. It makes a huge difference to your score.

But also to your mindset.
If you miss a green with your second shot and get up and down, you will feel relieved and your mood will be good on the next tee.
If you chip and miss the putt, your mood could very well adversely affect your next tee shot. It's often why bad holes lead to more bad holes.
Also........
Anyone can have a great short game as the technique is relatively simple to master and doesn't need great physical efforts to excell.
And....
You dont need a huge field and hundreds of balls to work on your technique so improvements will often show up more quickly than working on the long game

 

[user2009]

ive always said. " any monkey can get near the green in two, its how quickly you get down from there"



im still waiting on a phone call from the R&A to go up to St Andrews to put my hand into cement and sign it.

Not for me, I'm struggling with tee shots and getting the ball near the green, once on the green I usually just take 2 putts, If I could be on the green in 3 I'd be a sub 20 handicap, in reality I'm double that.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I am starting to finally reap a small degree of reward for the hard work I've invested. Not a great chipper by any means but getting there. I know that if I have a good chipping round I will score well because I play with more freedom.

 

[SaintHacker]

My problem is poor second shots. My GIR stats are laughable, even for my handicap. Next time out I'm going to change tack slightly, and aim to lay up 30 yards short, then try to get up and down. I figure by doing that if I don't make par I should be good for a bogey, and by not taking on the longer shots into greens I should (hopefully) stay out of trouble a bit more.