Goal to drop to single figures

[jwlewes]

Hello all,

Having played golf sporadically for years, this February I finally joined a club and have been playing fairly regularly (when Covid has allowed)

I now have my WHS handicap (14.9), having played in competitions all summer, which I feel is slightly on the high side, seeing as even with a pretty average round I am shooting in the 32-36 point region

I have gone under 80 twice at my home course, and shot a 75 (+5) while away on a golf trip (including a quad bogey)

But what I want to know is your ideas on how to get my handicap down into single figures and lower, and how to keep it there!

 

[Deleted member 21258]

Try not to waste shot, so no duffed chips or iron shots, always look to progress the ball. Get good at chipping and putting.

Keep 3 off the tee and 3 putting, to say 3(definitely under 5) lost shots a round. Assuming you make some birdies and get a lot of nGIRs in a round.

Best of luck.

 

[Imurg]

Don't compound an error with another.
So when you hit a poor shot don’t automatically try the Seve Save..weigh up the likelihood of making that shot against what çould happen if you get it wrong.
Take your medicine and make bogey the worst score you can make.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Keep your eye on the ball , try and keep relaxed whilst playing , don’t push things , play within yourself

Also worth doing a journal of your journey online ?

 

[jwlewes]

All good suggestions, I feel like i'm getting there with my game.

Can't warm up for long enough due to our clubs Covid rules, which is annoying, but doing as much as I can!

Sometimes feel my issue is too few birdies, probable average 35-50% GIR, but hit so few birdies! My best rounds are just solid par after par!

 

[Tiger man]

Dont define your game by a number, hard work and progress isn't always reflected in your handicap. If you practice with purpose and learn course management it will happen. If you can reel of pars as you say its not tough to go round with a par every other hole and bogey golf for the rest with good course management.

 

[Deleted member 1147]

How many double, or worse, bogies do you have per round?

If you’re scoring 32-36 points per round of approx 15 you’re having too many bad holes rather than too few birdies.

 

[bobmac]

If you were 50yds from the flag what club/swing/shot would you play?

 

[sunshine]

1. As already stated, reduce mistakes around the green e.g. 3 putts.

2. Probably easier (and more effective) to focus on reducing double bogeys rather than increasing birdies. If you assume 50% GIR should translate to 9 pars, then focus on making sure the other nine holes are no worse than bogey and you will achieve your goal.

3. Alternatively, play at an easier course

 

[jwlewes]

How many double, or worse, bogies do you have per round?

If you’re scoring 32-36 points per round of approx 15 you’re having too many bad holes rather than too few birdies.

At a guess on an average round, 7-9 bogeys and maybe 2-3 doubles - Doubles (and worse) are definitely what i'm trying to get out of my game, and that stat has definitely improved

 

[jwlewes]

If you were 50yds from the flag what club/swing/shot would you play?

Would depend on the hole, lie and whether i'm short sided etc. In general it'd be a bump and run, or id fly it the majority of the way there (I wont try a flop shot)

 

[bobmac]

Would depend on the hole, lie and whether i'm short sided etc. In general it'd be a bump and run, or id fly it the majority of the way there (I wont try a flop shot)

You don't use the clockface system then?

 

[jwlewes]

You don't use the clockface system then?

No, have never seen it before. Will have a look!

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Play the shot that you are best able to play and that will give you the easiest next shot

 

[Garush34]

The biggest thing I'm getting from your replies is your guessing. You say you at about 35-50% GIR, but that's quite a big difference.

I think you need to start keeping stats to find out your weaknesses. Breaking 80 for me is not having more birdies it's limiting the bogies or doubles.

You can't improve if you don't know what's holding you back now.

 

[jwlewes]

The biggest thing I'm getting from your replies is your guessing. You say you at about 35-50% GIR, but that's quite a big difference.

I think you need to start keeping stats to find out your weaknesses. Breaking 80 for me is not having more birdies it's limiting the bogies or doubles.

You can't improve if you don't know what's holding you back now.

My rounds and starts are tracked, I may have misworded it, to say on an average round i'll fall in that range, I know my bad rounds come from missing greens on the whole, and not getting up and down when I do

 

[hovis]

Easiest way to become a single handicap player is to become a surgeon with two clubs..... Your putter and your driver.

 

[Deleted member 1147]

The majority of shots are played with 3 clubs; driver, wedge and putter.
Probably the best areas to allocate the majority of your practice time.

 

[Deleted member 16999]

Using Arccos as a guide a 15 Handicapper scores on Avg are 3% Birdies, 28% Pars, 48% Bogies and 25% Double Bogies.

A 9 Handicapper averages, 4%, 41%, 41% and 14% over the same areas.

How do you compare strength or weakness to this?

 

[jwlewes]

Using Arccos as a guide a 15 Handicapper scores on Avg are 3% Birdies, 28% Pars, 48% Bogies and 25% Double Bogies.

A 9 Handicapper averages, 4%, 41%, 41% and 14% over the same areas.

How do you compare strength or weakness to this?

Going on a rough guide from my last few rounds

Birdies 2%
Pars 33%
Bogeys 46%
D. Bogeys 19%