Fings Wat I Learned So Far
- Thread starter HomerJSimpson
- Start date
Robobum
Money List Winner
It's all about expectations really, what I would consider a poor(ish) short game is more than adequate to achieve single figures but just wouldn't cut it if you only have a handfull or less shots to play with. Similarly my pitching wouldn't allow me to progress much further unless I had the time to sort it and so would be deemed awful by someone off of scratch.
For me it's the lack of destructive shots that gradually seperate the h'caps on the way down. Eliminating duffs, tops etc is key. I always say to any high h'cappers I play with that if they can get every shot going forward roughly the "proper" distance for each club and then have a half decent short game then the scores will tumble.
Hitting shots where you make no or little ground are more destructive than not having a stella short game.
For me it's the lack of destructive shots that gradually seperate the h'caps on the way down. Eliminating duffs, tops etc is key. I always say to any high h'cappers I play with that if they can get every shot going forward roughly the "proper" distance for each club and then have a half decent short game then the scores will tumble.
Hitting shots where you make no or little ground are more destructive than not having a stella short game.
StrangelyBrown
Tour Winner
I have to agree with this entirely. On Saturday I had some disasterous holes because of some duffs and tops. At the par 5 7th I had about 4 duffs on the way to a nine. Without these I'd have made par easily. When I do keep my tempo reigned in I score well but I also can have a lot of disasters.
Anyhoo, i'm off to the range to try and fix the above
User 105
Journeyman Pro
Ok fings wot I learnt this year. And there's a LOT. But these are the highlights in no particular order.
1. If you're driver has been working well don't change it for that new shinny one just out in search of 'a few extra yards'. Same applies to all your clubs !
2. Find out what works for YOU mentally. Some people need to be ultra focused, some people play better when they are relaxed and having a laugh. Find out what works for you, we are all different. Same goes for knowing the score all the time vs totting up at the end !
3. Putt like you don't care if you miss it. Got this from Rotella. I had so many other thoughts going through my mind when I was putting I'm surprised I ever made a putt. I now pick a line, little practice swing, step in and hit it. If I miss, so what, I'll get the next one.
4. When you get yourself in trouble, the number one priority is to get yourself out of it. Not in even worse trouble by trying to make a 'hero' shot.
5. There is no magic bullet. This is a hard game that takes hard work to get even half decent at. Just when you achieve a major milestone (Beat 90 for the first time etc) and think you have it cracked. You're about to get a very rude awakening !
1. If you're driver has been working well don't change it for that new shinny one just out in search of 'a few extra yards'. Same applies to all your clubs !
2. Find out what works for YOU mentally. Some people need to be ultra focused, some people play better when they are relaxed and having a laugh. Find out what works for you, we are all different. Same goes for knowing the score all the time vs totting up at the end !
3. Putt like you don't care if you miss it. Got this from Rotella. I had so many other thoughts going through my mind when I was putting I'm surprised I ever made a putt. I now pick a line, little practice swing, step in and hit it. If I miss, so what, I'll get the next one.
4. When you get yourself in trouble, the number one priority is to get yourself out of it. Not in even worse trouble by trying to make a 'hero' shot.
5. There is no magic bullet. This is a hard game that takes hard work to get even half decent at. Just when you achieve a major milestone (Beat 90 for the first time etc) and think you have it cracked. You're about to get a very rude awakening !
JustOne
Ryder Cup Winner
Didn't he also say "Don't hit it unless you're going to hole it"?
He certainly covers all his bases.. typical psychologist
Mike_j_golf
Q-School Graduate
Hi,
This thing of having to get down in 2 from inside 100 yards to be a low handicapper is a bit off the Harrington was no.1 in scrambling on the tour in 2009 and he is only 69% most of the tour are in the 50% range the key is always be down in 3 at worst. Not keeping the ball in play and missing greens are a bigger reason for being a high handicapper that not getting up and down if you don't miss the green to don't have to have a good short game.
http://www.europeantour.com/publish.sps?...amp;seasonid=82
This thing of having to get down in 2 from inside 100 yards to be a low handicapper is a bit off the Harrington was no.1 in scrambling on the tour in 2009 and he is only 69% most of the tour are in the 50% range the key is always be down in 3 at worst. Not keeping the ball in play and missing greens are a bigger reason for being a high handicapper that not getting up and down if you don't miss the green to don't have to have a good short game.
http://www.europeantour.com/publish.sps?...amp;seasonid=82
richart
Major Champion
I always stay in the past,about 30 years ago,a time i could actually play this frustrating game!
A lot of good stuff here. My problems generally stem from the drive which is a point I think Murph alluded to. Problem with Ascot and its been mentioned by many others, is that to be competitive to my handicap and give myself a chance on the longer par 4's then a driver is a must on at least 8 holes. For example at the moment our 9th is 400 yards but ALWAYS plays into whatever wind or breeze there is so even on a calmish day and in Winter you could probably add at least another 20 yards to the hole (taking account no run too). Its also SI 12 so I don't get a shot
That means I'm hitting my 3 wood flat out to about 220 yards if I don't use driver and still going in with a 5 wood. At least with driver if I don't connect probably I might still have the same yardage. If I hit it well then its only a 3H or a 4 iron and an easier shot. The hole itself is one where there is no real trouble and so driver makes sense.
I think a short game that gets you up and down regularly is still more effective than hitting every fairway. If I miss a fairway and can get it to within 100 yards I can still give myself a chance. The only time I accept that it can backfire is if you do what I did on Sunday and go OB
That means I'm hitting my 3 wood flat out to about 220 yards if I don't use driver and still going in with a 5 wood. At least with driver if I don't connect probably I might still have the same yardage. If I hit it well then its only a 3H or a 4 iron and an easier shot. The hole itself is one where there is no real trouble and so driver makes sense.
I think a short game that gets you up and down regularly is still more effective than hitting every fairway. If I miss a fairway and can get it to within 100 yards I can still give myself a chance. The only time I accept that it can backfire is if you do what I did on Sunday and go OB
Tiger
Money List Winner
Hi murph I hear what you're saying but I was talking more about me than Homer, but was agreeing that like him short game is where I want to focus. How I see it from 150 yards in you've got full shot, pitch, chip, putt and bunker shot. If you're a disciple of Pelz you can add the 10.30, 9.00, 07.30 shots and finesse swing into the mix. There's just so much variation so as a beginner I just want to get consistent. I'll be putting up a new project scratch post tomorrow. Should explain everything.
Herbie
Tour Winner
A very good post by Homer I can agree with some of it, though I disagree with Murphs emphisis on driving, though it is fair to say that lost balls will cost you, a Drive that is playable should not be as costly as a crap short game. I have played rounds when my driving has been off and shot 75 to 80.......when my short game has been off 80 to 90 is not uncommon, when they are both off I pack up and go home.
B
birdieman
Guest
Agree with herbie here, I would say with these 460cc drivers you can hit them awfully but still get enough of them to keep the ball in play and get them out past 220 yds. You can hit a poorish iron from there and still be near enough the green to chip and putt for par.
If you're chipping and putting is off then your score is going to suffer whatever you do up to that point.
I have played appaulingly on the long game sometimes but still managed to return a score by pitching, chipping and putting well.
If you're chipping and putting is off then your score is going to suffer whatever you do up to that point.
I have played appaulingly on the long game sometimes but still managed to return a score by pitching, chipping and putting well.
USER1999
Grand Slam Winner
If I drive well, I will par the hole. If I don't, there is a limit as to how far scrambling will get me.
USER1999
Grand Slam Winner
Then there aren't enough trees on your course!
USER1999
Grand Slam Winner
We played Lewes at the weekend. 18 holes, pretty much all of which were oob on the right. 90% of golfers hit left to right. Not going to be easy then. Miracle I only lost the one ball. And boy was that lost.
Tiger
Money List Winner
Murph out of curiosity what do you play off?
USER1999
Grand Slam Winner
9 (til the next medal).
Tiger
Money List Winner
So on terms of your game if you hit a cracking drive you par the hole, so is your plan to reduce your handicap to get more consistency off the tee?I'm just interested to find out how different players try to improve their games. By your earlier comments I'm assuming you dial it in with your mid irons so ling as you're on the short stuff. T
USER1999
Grand Slam Winner
If I drive well I play well. My long / medium iron play is pretty poor too, but will get me near the green. My fairway woods are nonexistent, but I don't care. My short irons, 8i and down are fine. I chip pretty well, especially from the fringe. My bunker play is hot and cold, but I don't plan to go in them.
I putt well. I don't ever expect to 3 putt. I don't miss short putts, and can lag pretty well.
To reduce (keep) my handicap, I need to hit my drive somewhere I can find it, when the pressure is on. On a good day, I am ok length wise, and relatively straight, on a bad day, I pull the good ones, and slice the bad ones. If I could eliminate smacking the ball in the trees, I would be a lot more confident.
Then, I can work on my long irons. However, I would guess that if I fix my swing for the driver, the irons will take care of themselves. The fault is coming over the top, and I am working hard on this, or will be when it warms up.
I am making some big swing changes at the moment, which I expect to pay off come April, when the season starts.
Obviously I could drop down to a 5w off the tee, but 4 or 5 holes on my course demand driver, or you won't get anywhere near for 2.
I putt well. I don't ever expect to 3 putt. I don't miss short putts, and can lag pretty well.
To reduce (keep) my handicap, I need to hit my drive somewhere I can find it, when the pressure is on. On a good day, I am ok length wise, and relatively straight, on a bad day, I pull the good ones, and slice the bad ones. If I could eliminate smacking the ball in the trees, I would be a lot more confident.
Then, I can work on my long irons. However, I would guess that if I fix my swing for the driver, the irons will take care of themselves. The fault is coming over the top, and I am working hard on this, or will be when it warms up.
I am making some big swing changes at the moment, which I expect to pay off come April, when the season starts.
Obviously I could drop down to a 5w off the tee, but 4 or 5 holes on my course demand driver, or you won't get anywhere near for 2.
bobmac
Major Champion
Murph, you say your bad shot is a pull or slice. Can you hit the pull at will?
USER1999
Grand Slam Winner
I have never tried. I have looked at my swing on video, and I am just coming over the top, leading to an out to in path, and the ones I hit straight I don't release my hands at all, so effectively I am 'blocking' it straight. As my irons get shorter, the problem is ironed out as it were. Changing to stack and tilt is really helping, but I still am not getting it with the driver.
