Great Stableford Experiment: the result

[Tiger]

Well I set off this morning in near darkness in my bid to get a round in before today's greensomes competition. After some refinement the experiment today consisted of me trying to only hit shots within my capability following on from the story of Tommy Armor on a different thread. The story goes that Tommy helped a pupil hit his best ever score by stopping him making the hero shot.

So how did I go. Well my round got cut short after 14 holes as I hit a major amount of traffic in the Greensomes competition and decided to call it a day. A mixed bag really with the latest swing changes from my pro meaning I wasn't hitting the ball that well. In fact I completely lost my swing on holes 8, 9 and 10 blobbing all three.

However, what was interesting that taking a different mindset to my game actually alleviated the pressure on my short game.

This meant that I was feeling positive when I reached a green in four shots on a par 4 (SI 1 - 10) because I knew I had 2 putts for 2 points. Normally, I wouldn't have this feeling and it translated into some solid putting.

So through 14 holes with 3 blobs I scored 23 points. Not setting the world on fire I know, but my swing was all over the place. I only hit ONE FIR and ONE GIR.

I need to spend some time on the range bedding in the swing changes my pro has asked me to work on, but today has been a eal eye opener and completely changed my mindset.

In fact I think I may have performed much better with company as I felt a bit lonely after six holes and shortly after that my game fell apart.

There were a couple of occasions I got aggressive because I felt confident in my ability to execute the shot, and more importantly I had identified that the worst case scenario was no worse than if I played a more conservative shot. On two occasions I missed the green and needed to get over a bunker with the pin close to me. The ball was sitting up a bit so played a flop. Now I knew the ball was sitting up well enough to mean I shouldn't thin it. The danger was over hitting or underhitting it into the bunker. The same risks by playing a standard chip shot but the reward of getting the flop right would be a chance to save par. Now I missed both putts and walked off with a 4 and 2 points both times but at least I had given myself a chance to save par.

All in all a worthwhile exercise.

 

[birdieman]

If you were out before the Greensomes how did you run into traffic after 14 holes? Was it a shotgun start in the Greensomes?
Trying to mimic comp conditions playing by yourself doesn't work imo.
Good course management is all about playing to your strengths, taking your medicine when it does go wrong and keeping things in perspective. Well done on finding out what these strengths are for you.
You need to get out in the club comps more now and get some experience under your belt.

 

[HawkeyeMS]

Hey Tiger, I didn't get around to reply to your original post but you have kind of proved the point I was going to make.

The experiment you are trying is an interesting one, however, I think the results will be inaccurate because of the fact you play off 28 and have an inconsistent swing. Actually, it's nothing to do with your h'cap, it would be the same if I tried it. The fact is, with an inconsistent swing it isn't the fact that you are playing conservative or aggressive that dictates the score, it is the swing you put on the ball.

I'm a naturally consetvative player but I can recall a couple of occasions this year when I've tried to lay up on par 5s, hit the ball OB and still made par after hitting the green with 3-wood and making the putt.

Personally I think the only thing you can do is make sure you only play a shot you are 100% comfortable with, if you have any doubt, play another shot. That way you give yourself the best chance of a good result but your inconsistent swing is still no guarantee of success.

 

[MashieNiblick]

Thanks for letting us know how you got on. Sounds like you learned something which is what it was all about. You can now use that knowledge next time you're out. It's always good to try different things when you are out on your own to keep your interest up.

 

[SammmeBee]

Stop all this messing about - enter the next competition and just see what you score.....why not play the first 9 conversatively, then if you're doing ok carry on or if not go for sh!t or bust on the back 9....

'Competitive' will provide you with more answers and help you 'learn' to play golf....

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I agree with the comments that say you can't replicate competitive conditions but I do think there is some merit in what you did (although I'm also confused that you hit greensome traffic having tried to go out in front of them) and that it will at least give you a different way of looking at holes next time you have a card in hand. As you demonstrated, at 28 handicap 6 for 2 points is nothing to be ashamed at and took the pressure off

 

[Tiger]

Yeah the greensomes was a shotgun start and unfortunately I couldn't get a playing partner. Playing with a mate next weekend and then playing the November medal the week after and our Stableford cup two weeks after that.

There were a few occasions today when unmade a different choice to normal and got a better result. Hawkeye I know what you mean about swing issueshitting the driving range on Thursday.

Winter is really a learning time but I think the best thing about today is that it has changed how I will think on course. Here's hoping I can tame the swing!

 

[RGDave]

Personally I think the only thing you can do is make sure you only play a shot you are 100% comfortable with, if you have any doubt, play another shot. That way you give yourself the best chance of a good result but your inconsistent swing is still no guarantee of success.

Agreed. Playing ultra-safe and making it work is always going to be tough for mid-high h'cap players. I've tried to "call" the shot for some of my partners over the years and often it fails. On par 5s (for example) I sometimes deliberately take no more than a 5 iron second shot and have walked off with 100% pars on those holes. If I ask my regular partner to play safe and hit his 7 iron (same as my 5), there's still a chance the ball with be off the course or topped 60 yards.

I could go out and deliberately play for bogey on every hole, and I confidently predict I'd sneak in a few pars anyway BUT probably cock up a few 100 yarders leading to a double or two. Playing to 18 is no good to me though.
18 might give you lots of points, but you are still learning and developing as a player so it's got to be much harder for you.

Keep thinking and experimenting though, it can only be great for your course management in the long run.

 

[brendy]

And the prestigious 'Homer Thinker Overload' award for 2010 goes to........
Tiger, it's a game, get out and enjoy it, you will improve with practice.
I'm sure many have heard of the saying 'paralysis by analysis', I think this applies here as you are simply thinking about it too much.
With a 28 handicap there is nothing wrong with aiming for the stars, but a realistic plan is to shave a shot at a time. Work out where tne worst carnage occurs and work on your weakest parts of your game. At the range don't be afraid to ask guys questions if you see someone peppering the targets, sometimes the best advice can come from the most unexpected times.

 

[Sneds]

In fact I think I may have performed much better with company as I felt a bit lonely after six holes and shortly after that my game fell apart.

I actually laughed at this, a lot.

 

[Region3]

And the prestigious 'Homer Thinker Overload' award for 2010 goes to........
Tiger, it's a game, get out and enjoy it, you will improve with practice.
I'm sure many have heard of the saying 'paralysis by analysis', I think this applies here as you are simply thinking about it too much.

I think I disagree, unless I've misread something along the way.

Just going out and playing gives no practice at all of course management.
Why not practice that as well.

Anyone that does lots of IQ tests/crosswords/sudoku/exam papers/whatever will improve at that particular task.

Why not practice thinking better on the course rather than aiming for the flag all the time?

 

[Deleted member 1147]

I think there's a balance to strike between going out there and enjoying it and over-thinking.

To me basic course management includes:

Teeing up on the dangerous side and aiming away from that danger.

With mid to long irons aiming at the centre of the green (or to the safe half).

Not racing a downhill putt, just going for the dustbin lid etc.

Stick to this and it should improve alot of players games (it did mine).

 

[brendy]

Region, the latter part of that post says that the range is the place to think and improve. The course is the place to enjoy and score, he'll even bask in the fact you hit a shot that you had practiced a thousand times that actually came off.
How often do we practice that 15 yard lob, 150 yard punched iron etc. Funnily when they don't come off we curse yet have no reason to as we never practiced them in the first place.

 

[Tiger]

In fact I think I may have performed much better with company as I felt a bit lonely after six holes and shortly after that my game fell apart.

I actually laughed at this, a lot.

The fact that I felt lonely or the fact that I think it played a part in my mental breakdown

Brendy, this wasn't a serious attempt to better understand the effect of on course decision making and whether there was a mathematical correlation to score.

I was dreading another solo round. I read a post. I thought it was interesting. I had a go at applying the concept behind the post. I learnt a lot about how I think on course. I've shared it with you.

I'm playing with my mate next week and trust me I'll just be having fun.

On the blog (which I know you won't have read) I do say that by doing this 'experiment' I have realised that my thinking on course is all wrong. By this I mean I make decisions on shot selection as if I need to make gross par on every hole rather than using my shots. I'd be disappointed scoring a double bogey rather than accepting that I had just picked up two points. But until Sunday I didn't realise this was how I thought.

The bottom line is I'll be a happier soul scoring double bogey on SI 1 - 10 and as a result will probably enjoy my golf more. Irrespective of whether I get any better at this blinking game, that little nugget is worth more than its weight in gold!!