Handicap and Distance

[Region3]

Why is there such a prejudice about the higher handicap you are the shorter you should hit the ball?

If a typical 12hc came to you and asked for advice on how he can get to 6, is the right answer.....

1) Hit the ball 30yds further
2) improve your short game

I'm guessing most would answer 2.

So if a 6hc can hit the ball 260 (or whatever) and he's lowered his handicap by taking less shots around the green, why can't a 12hc hit the ball 260 without being called a liar?

I believe it's mostly the low hc's think it's a slur on their masculinity to suggest that a worse overall golfer can hit the ball as far or further than they do.

Any other theories?

 

[chrisd]

Why is there such a prejudice about the higher handicap you are the shorter you should hit the ball?

If a typical 12hc came to you and asked for advice on how he can get to 6, is the right answer.....

1) Hit the ball 30yds further
2) improve your short game

I'm guessing most would answer 2.

So if a 6hc can hit the ball 260 (or whatever) and he's lowered his handicap by taking less shots around the green, why can't a 12hc hit the ball 260 without being called a liar?

I believe it's mostly the low hc's think it's a slur on their masculinity to suggest that a worse overall golfer can hit the ball as far or further than they do.

Any other theories?

Not too sure it matters what people think. I played a team game on Sunday with 3 others, the longest hitter off the tee by some way was the 20 handicapper, the others were 11,14 and my 10. The 20 h/c was in play most of the time.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Any handicap can hit a long ball - but the lower handicaps hit it more consistently and keep it in the fairways more I would suspect.

 

[Region3]

Not too sure it matters what people think. I played a team game on Sunday with 3 others, the longest hitter off the tee by some way was the 20 handicapper, the others were 11,14 and my 10. The 20 h/c was in play most of the time.

It doesn't matter, I was just wondering why people think the way they do.

 

[AmandaJR]

I've so often heard the "how can a ... handicapper hit it that far" and thought it was a daft question! It's often the approach and the short game that dictates the handicap imo. When I started (from a hockey background) I could drive it a good way relative to most lower handicap females. I sliced it a lot too but was rubbish once the drive was done and hated it. Called myself a "one trick pony" and started to work real hard on the rest of my game. Got that in shape and couldn't drive for toffee (golf hey!) but my handicap plummeted...

 

[Region3]

Any handicap can hit a long ball - but the lower handicaps hit it more consistently and keep it in the fairways more I would suspect.

I agree, but there are plenty who apparently don't. Hopefully they'll be along at some point to help us understand.

Bearing in mind your post above, what did the following mean?

why don't you think you should be 1 or 2 clubs down from your playing partners ?. What handicap are you and them.

 

[Hobbit]

You're not wrong Gary. It continues to amaze me how often I hear someone from mid teens h'cap down say something like, "I can't believe how far xx hits the ball, he's off 20-odd." I'm fairly short off the tee these days. Doesn't stop me putting a score together.

 

[garyinderry]

If a typical 12hc came to you and asked for advice on how he can get to 6, is the right answer.....

1) Hit the ball 30yds further
2) improve your short game


to answer that question. someone who has got to 12 probably has a fair idea how far they will hit the ball. their swing speed more or less determines how far they can hit it with the driver.

being able to hit the ball 30 yards further than you normally do is a big ask.

improving the short game is the easiest way for a 12 to get down to 6.

 

[louise_a]

It seems common thing that the longer hitting girls came from a hockey background.

 

[chrisd]

It doesn't matter, I was just wondering why people think the way they do.

Sorry!

I guess we have expectations of how different handicap levels can execute different types of shot, so you don't expect a 25 h/c to cream a 275 yard drive with a gentle draw - given that he can't chip or putt or he'd be off 12!

 

[DAVEYBOY]

I hit tons of drives out to 270+ this season and a fair few out to 300 yards with the longest being 312 yards and I'm off 17. I havent played many comps at all so I would probably be abit lower if I had of but still high handicappers can hit the ball as long as anyone else.

In one of the comps I did play this year I drove the ball around the 290 yard mark and was around 6 FT from the front of a short par 4 green. I made a 5. Hitting long doesn't put a score together. (No putters where harmed during the making of one of the most shocking bogeys I have ever made)

Oh and to add I hit a draw most of the time... Is a 17 handicapper allowed to hit a draw?

 

[Deleted member 15344]

I agree, but there are plenty who apparently don't. Hopefully they'll be along at some point to help us understand.

Bearing in mind your post above, what did the following mean?

I was trying it get a picture of the players and his reasoning why he thinks he should be hitting it further. Knowing a players handicap also helps give an insight into their thinking.

 

[garyinderry]

In one of the comps I did play this year I drove the ball around the 290 yard mark and was around 6 FT from the front of a short par 4 green. I made a 5. Hitting long doesn't put a score together. (No putters where harmed during the making of one of the most shocking bogeys I have ever made)

QUOTE]

what happened in the next 4 strokes if you don't mind me asking?

 

[DAVEYBOY]

Chip too hard that went past the hole leaving a downhill putt then the dreaded 3 putt, was purely down to lack of concentration. I had easy birdie in my head then over hit the chip which annoyed me and I went after the birdie putt downhill and left myself a tricky par putt which I missed. Ended the day on 36 points but should of been so much better that day after shooting 21 points on the front 9.

 

[duncan mackie]

Any other theories?

if there's no obvious stereotype we tend to create them in our minds in order to create 'logical structures'.

anyone hitting the ball 30 yds longer, but with the same lateral error distance (not angle) is probably going to score better - but anyone who sinks a greater length of putts over 18 holes is even more likely to score better

as a senior I just try a knock it 180 down the middle these days....

 

[TheJezster]

Slightly on topic, would a player tend to hit it a little further the longer he plays the game and his handicap comes down?

Actually, I dont suppose handicap comes into it. If someone plays longer and is generally getting better, could they expect to hit it further?

 

[garyinderry]

Chip too hard that went past the hole leaving a downhill putt then the dreaded 3 putt, was purely down to lack of concentration. I had easy birdie in my head then over hit the chip which annoyed me then went after the birdie putt downhill and left myself a tricky par putt which I missed. Ended the day on 36 points but should of been so much better that day after shooting 21 points on the front 9.

no as big a nightmare I as had feared. that could happen to anyone. ive had one or two of those birdie putts that turn into bogies this year myself.

kicking yourself the whole way to the next tee!

 

[Rooter]

Slightly on topic, would a player tend to hit it a little further the longer he plays the game and his handicap comes down?

Actually, I dont suppose handicap comes into it. If someone plays longer and is generally getting better, could they expect to hit it further?

I would say if they improve their technique, yes. Just playing and not changing, practicing or trying to improve, no.

 

[DAVEYBOY]

no as big a nightmare I as had feared. that could happen to anyone. ive had one or two of those birdie putts that turn into bogies this year myself.

kicking yourself the whole way to the next tee!

Believe me in my next round I re-played the shot from 6FT over and over as it peed me off that much. If I had even made par then I would of had a cut but it wasn't to be in that round as I also lost a ball down the left side rough of a par 5 and to this day I believe someone from the opposite hole had it away when they where swarming the hole looking for there ball, there was not a chance it could have been totally lost. The course was rammed so I decided to blob the hole.

 

[G.U.R]

When I was younger I played snooker, not to any great standard but have noticed that snooker is a lot like golf in as much as the more time you practise the better you get. I was a once a year golfer from the age of 18 started playing more regularly about 3 years ago and then joined a club in July last year. first handicap given was 25 and am now 16. No lessons just playing more and as long as you know how far you hit each club, then distance doesn't really matter it's the club you need to take to get the ball there.