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Handicap and Distance

Perhaps the lower handicappers choose to play a shorter ball, by swinging at 85%

Plus course and mind management along with better short game to improve
 
re. the original question. It's not really that surprising.

The tee shot is the first thing a golfer does. By the time a 20 foot putt drops for a treble, it's already clear why a high handicap is appropriate. If the first tee shot has just gone 290 straight it might not be quite so obvious.

tbh, I would be slightly surprised if any high handicapper was really good at any particular aspect of the game. If a 28capper started hitting perfect sand shots, rolling in 20 foot putts, or nailing 100 yard pitches wouldn't you be a bit surprised ? I guess the obvious thought is that to have mastered one golfing skill usually demands a level of practice, coordination and application which would suggest that the other skills could be mastered to a similar(ish) level.
 
pendodave said:
re. the original question. It's not really that surprising.

The tee shot is the first thing a golfer does. By the time a 20 foot putt drops for a treble, it's already clear why a high handicap is appropriate. If the first tee shot has just gone 290 straight it might not be quite so obvious.

tbh, I would be slightly surprised if any high handicapper was really good at any particular aspect of the game. If a 28capper started hitting perfect sand shots, rolling in 20 foot putts, or nailing 100 yard pitches wouldn't you be a bit surprised ? I guess the obvious thought is that to have mastered one golfing skill usually demands a level of practice, coordination and application which would suggest that the other skills could be mastered to a similar(ish) level.
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perfect answer! :thup:
 
Handicap and distance do not go hand in hand by any means. I play off 18 and our club pro plays of scratch (obviously!) yet we hit the ball almost the same distance with all but our wedges ( I'm slightly longer as I play the ball more from the back foot with my hands forward which works for me).
We can stand on a tee together and discuss which club to hit which has got us some odd looks from people we have played with. His short game is far superior to mine and he is straighter.
To me it's know your distances, learn to hit it straight and have a very good short game.
 
Region3 said:
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?
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I can relate to this slightly.... While off 14 at the start of the season i played a few rounds with a mate of mine off 3 and a friend of his off scratch....... I was driving the ball pretty well at the time and more often than not was as long if not longer on shots.... I was also taking less irons into greens and off of par 3's that they were.... What separated them from me was definitely there game from 100 yards and in and around the green.... I was average while they were very good..... There percentage of up and downs were also tighter than mine.....
Iv never really been looked at differently from lower handicappers for the distance i can hit my clubs.... I get more compliments than anything else but it was definitely clear to me where they differed......

I would say 1 and 2 of the above with a 3rd being keep the ball in play..... But that kind of reverts back to playing the right club for the situation as well..... I think so many players would score better if they swallowed some pride and left the driver in the bag when a particular situation demands accuracy.....
Iv seen so many people hit a driver on a 350 mtr par 4 when a couple of long irons or hybrids or even a wood would be a better choice..... It kind of boils down to seeing what others hit that dictates some players choice of club......
 
I guess I didn't word the question very well.

I'm not asking how a high handicap can get lower, or why a 5 is better than a 15.

All I want to know, is why high handicaps aren't believed when they say how far they hit their driver, or carry a 6 iron etc.
 
Its quite simple and i cant believe nobody has said this yet.

Theres too many captain Cavemen out there who gauge peoples game off how far they hit the ball rather than what their scores are like. The amount of times in the short time ive played golf ive heard somebody ask a players handicap after seeing a tee shot is unbelievable.

The aim of the game is not smashing it as far as you can. Its getting it in the hole in the least shots, end of.
 
Probably because the bulk of Humanity is stupid.....

I'm better than him so he can't possibly hit it further - such a stupid way of thinking.......
AS long as it's not beyond the realms of possibility - didn't we have someone on here a while back claiming to be able to hit a G20 Regular flex 350 yards or something - I'll believe them.

After all, if they can't they're only kidding themselves...and it doesn't matter anyway, I'll still probably beat them.





But not the way I played today.........
 
Have played with lots of guys (I do mean guys) who hit the ball a country mile. Some of these guys have high handicaps - the difference is not so much how far they hit it but how far from the fairway they end up!
 
in truth, ive never come across anyone that plays the game regularly, practices, strives to improve, hit the ball a long way and still have a high handicap.

I know one guy who was until this year, a high handicap bomber. he put a bit of work in and took his time around the greens and dropped like a stone from 22-14. the season ended before he could get cut any further.


the fact of the matter is, if you continually bomb the ball a long way and keep it in play, the rest of your game should eventually catch up to the extent where you cant be described as a high handicapper.

you cant be a long hitting high handicapper for ever! its only a matter of time and a bit of practice on the other parts of the game.

note : keep it in play. anyone can hit a bomb if they are strong enough!
 
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chrisd said:
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!
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Chris, you saw how far I can drive compared to a pro! And i'm off 16 Lol!

I play with a scratch player week in, week out and distance between us is negligable. Its the iron into the green that usually screws me or the 2 drives per round that go wild!
 
I have to say that a good distance drive into the fairway does a lot to set up for a good score. However to score low you need the ability to not only hit the regulation shots but also have a repartee of shots that can get you up and down from difficult situations. Experience and structured practice helps with this.
 
duncan mackie said:
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....
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You have just joined my" club" :thup:
 
From 100yrds in I'm as good as most, the problem is getting to the 100yrds mark, on a 465 yrd par 4 takes me 3 shots.My best drive will be 230:whistle: So I'm still left with 235 to the front of green, which is beyond my capability . But you young guns bomb it 320 then hit a wedge in. I'm envious but keep it going : I HATE YOU.:whistle:
 
williamalex1 said:
From 100yrds in I'm as good as most, the problem is getting to the 100yrds mark, on a 465 yrd par 4 takes me 3 shots.My best drive will be 230:whistle: So I'm still left with 235 to the front of green, which is beyond my capability . But you young guns bomb it 320 then hit a wedge in. I'm envious but keep it going : I HATE YOU.:whistle:
Click to expand...

Got the same problem with distance, never been a long hitter but honed my short game to a reasonable level. Would i like to be able to 'bomb' it? yes but not at the cost of control or direction.
 
Fraz said:
Chris, you saw how far I can drive compared to a pro! And i'm off 16 Lol!

I play with a scratch player week in, week out and distance between us is negligable. Its the iron into the green that usually screws me or the 2 drives per round that go wild!
Click to expand...


Indeed I did, in fact you out drove a tour pro a couple of times and funny enough, although I never out drove him I hit one or two shots into greens better - that sums up handicaps I think
 
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