How do you measure progress?

[Copernicus]

For those of you playing a while and who are the type who set yourself goals and targets - while you were still learning and progressing towards a handicap how did you measure your progress? Did you focus solely on reducing your overall score? Did you work on reducing your Stableford score? Something else? All of the above? What do you recommend for beginners? What was most helpful to you in maintaining a positive attitude whilst learning the basics?

 

[Lord Tyrion]

Progress can mean many things. The obvious is lower scoring but don't forget things like cleaner strikes of the ball, more greens hit, more putts holed, getting out of a bunker in one, then getting out of a bunker and within good distance of the hole. It depends where you get your enjoyment from the game.

I would say to a beginner, don't obsess about your score only. Look to improve aspects of your game and the scores should follow. That will allow you to enjoy a round even if the scoring is not good on a particular day.

 

[Dasit]

Measued stats. Fairways hit, greens in reg hit, how often you have a putt for par, penalty strokes take per round, average score on par3/4/5.

Distance each clubs goes, as swing improves distance should increase.


So many nice apps that will work out a lot of stats for you, then you can see if you are improving apart from yours scores.

 

[Hobbit]

For me, it was about eliminating the train wreck shots. The score will look after itself.

 

[Deleted Member 1156]

There is only 1 true measure of how well you are doing and that is the score you sign for. All other stats are skewed.

 

[Raesy92]

There is only 1 true measure of how well you are doing and that is the score you sign for. All other stats are skewed.

Focussing on score alone, doesn't lead to better improvements. In fact from what I have seen, those that are always intent on focusing on what they have shot, are those that tend to improve the least.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

It can also be destructive to a beginner. Lots of baby steps in golf. Lots of different things make up an enjoyable round and progress.

 

[Deleted Member 1156]

Focussing on score alone, doesn't lead to better improvements. In fact from what I have seen, those that are always intent on focusing on what they have shot, are those that tend to improve the least.

It can also be destructive to a beginner. Lots of baby steps in golf. Lots of different things make up an enjoyable round and progress.

Who said anything about only focussing on that?

 

[GreggerKBR]

For those of you playing a while and who are the type who set yourself goals and targets - while you were still learning and progressing towards a handicap how did you measure your progress? Did you focus solely on reducing your overall score? Did you work on reducing your Stableford score? Something else? All of the above? What do you recommend for beginners? What was most helpful to you in maintaining a positive attitude whilst learning the basics?

"Tests" I play test/pressure games devised for each discipline.
Putting, chipping, bunker, driving, approach etc. Keep it varied and interesting, always challenging to improve "under pressure" when practicing.

For example... around the practice green, I try and get up and down from 9 different places, chip and then putt.
I play each like a golf hole, under pressure, record all the scores, clubs and shot types, proximity for misses etc.
Then I try to groove out the weaknesses, ie. leaving too many chip shots short.
Then test again, trying to beat my best, or penalties for an error (coming up short).

For on course stuff I use GAME GOLF, it records all your stats and tells you directly where you can gain strokes.

 

[ger147]

For those of you playing a while and who are the type who set yourself goals and targets - while you were still learning and progressing towards a handicap how did you measure your progress? Did you focus solely on reducing your overall score? Did you work on reducing your Stableford score? Something else? All of the above? What do you recommend for beginners? What was most helpful to you in maintaining a positive attitude whilst learning the basics?

Depends what stage you are at:

1) Reduce penalty strokes
2) Stop losing balls off the tee
3) Complete a round with the same ball
4) Reduce the number of total duff shots
5) Increase the number of Pars
6) Decrease the number of blob holes
7) Try and score on every hole (stableford)
8) Break 100
9) Break 90
10) Increase the number of Pars

And so on...

The list depends on what level you are currently at.

I am currently trying to increase the number of Pars or better I get (new record of 12 set this weekend), try and keep doubles off the card as much as possible, don't get 6's and when the season starts, break 80 in a medal.

 

[londonlewis]

When I first took up the game, I didn't really care about my overall score as there were always the 4 or 5 over par holes that would ruin it. So I focussed on how many pars and bogies I scored.

Then as time moved on I would track the following; FIR, GIR, sand saves, number of putts. Simple stuff to track on a score card.

To improve further I spent a summer learning how to pitch, chip, play out of bunkers and putt. This brought my score down from shooting in the 90s to low 80s.
Stableford scoring gives a good indicator of your consistency and whether you are progressing. About 1 year in to playing golf I played at St Mellion against my father-in-law for a trophy. He plays off 7, I was off 18. I played the best round of golf I had ever played and managed to score 36 points with 2 blobs. That gave me the confidence that I could play to a decent level.

Moving to today;
2 kids later and I don't get out on the course much. So I practice at the range a lot. I play two casual events a year against my father-in-law and 2 mates for a trophy. So I've always got something I want to aim for and win.

I now focus much more on distance control with wedges. I like to know that I can hit yardages at 100, 75, 65, 40 with 4 different wedges.
I'll still focus on hitting full shots with all clubs in the bag though and at the range I focus on hitting specific shot shapes to different targets. I know that I am getting better when I can put pressure on myself to hit a draw starting at one target and finishing at another.

My next measure may change as I've started reading 'every shot counts' and I reckon that's going to open a can of worms in terms of what I am going to work on!

 

[GreggerKBR]

Depends what stage you are at:

Totally agree!! "progress" at what in particular?
In this context I guess it is "improving as a player"
Which does change depending on the areas you might chose to improve!

I remember being told once "your success will come down to the quality of the questions you ask"
The idea being that it would lead to a clearer picture and therefore assertive decision...

 

[GreggerKBR]

My next measure may change as I've started reading 'every shot counts' and I reckon that's going to open a can of worms in terms of what I am going to work on!

Great book - bit geeky but quite insightful.
It was after I read this and my coach recommended GAME GOLF that I started to see "strokes gained/lost" as a much better way to understand what to work on, and then how to work on it...

I chuckle to myself now when I look back at my old stats for GIR, FIR, Putts etc. You only know, when you know.
I do not work for GG - just in case anyone has spotted how often I've mentioned it...!

 

[Copernicus]

'depends what stage you are at'

I've been on course playing since June ( but went travelling for 7 weeks so about 6 months really) . Female. Can do about 64 from ladies tees so not really ready to put cards in. Putting mostly twos but also threes which are half complete misses by feet but also those irritating lips out or one inch short putts.
I'm hitting longer as I practice and have lessons, (about 100 yds with a 7 iron 130-135 with my 4 crossover as examples ) but the thing that lets me down is (a) getting in rough or bunkers as I struggle to get out and (b) getting cracking contact in the ball but sending it 40 degrees off my intended line no matter how carefully I set up c) bring heavy handed with chips and sending them flying over the green.

. So I can have rounds where I might have 4 or 5 holes at one over par and three where I score 12 or so ( with the rest in between) because I get into trouble and can't get out. So my scores are high still but I've seen improvement in that I have more good holes and good shots if that makes sense. . I've been allowed to play two 9 hole Stableford comp rounds for experience ( with an assumed handicap of 36), best score 13.

I suppose I am asking because it's hard to tell if I am making good progress or not given how long I've been going. (Being an inpatient non-sporty perfectionist, golf might not be the most intuitive sport to pick!!) And hard to choose where best to place limited practice time. I tend to come away from a round focussing on the things I did that I once couldn't do and not so much on the fact that I once again right royally stuffed up things I should be able to do well based on past performance! So trying to stay positive. But I don't want to kid myself I'm getting better if I'm not really.

Loving it though!!

 

[Copernicus]

Oh and I should say.. I like the game golf suggestion - I love geeky things and I've never mastered making written notes as I play and not holding people up. Anyone else using it?

 

[londonlewis]

Great book - bit geeky but quite insightful.
It was after I read this and my coach recommended GAME GOLF that I started to see "strokes gained/lost" as a much better way to understand what to work on, and then how to work on it...

I chuckle to myself now when I look back at my old stats for GIR, FIR, Putts etc. You only know, when you know.
I do not work for GG - just in case anyone has spotted how often I've mentioned it...!

Can you help me understand Game Golf, in a nutshell.
There are two versions, as far as I can tell. What's the difference and which one do you have? (Live Vs Classic).

Looks interesting. I hardly ever buy gadgets but could be interested in this.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

I go my son GG for Christmas. We played 9 holes together yesterday and uploaded the info afterwards. LL - Basically, you have a disk on each club that is linked to a tag that you keep on your belt. This is then linked to your phone via an app. On the first tee you tap the tag on your belt, hit the ball and walk on. When you reach your ball, tap the tag, hit the next club. Repeat etc. When you finish you tell your phone the round is complete and it uploads the data. (other users can give more in depth details but this is the gist of it. At some point you must tell your phone which course you are playing so it links the gps etc)

After playing the GG app gives you info relating to each club, average length, longest length. It tells you how many fairways you hit, how many you were left on, how many right. It tells you greens in regulation. It told my son that inside 100yds he hit 64% of his approach shots short yet from 100+yds he hit 85% on the green. It shows each hole, where you hit each shot, using what club. Basically it is a nerd fest but a really useful one. My son realised he needs to be more aggressive from 100yds in for example.

I suspect I will be very tempted to get one the more rounds he builds up and the more info on you it accumulates. I think it will be a great help as well as interesting. Extra fun, you can link your accounts to other peoples, Westwood, McDowell and Furyk are on there, along with your mates if they have it. You can compare info.

 

[londonlewis]

I go my son GG for Christmas. We played 9 holes together yesterday and uploaded the info afterwards. LL - Basically, you have a disk on each club that is linked to a tag that you keep on your belt. This is then linked to your phone via an app. On the first tee you tap the tag on your belt, hit the ball and walk on. When you reach your ball, tap the tag, hit the next club. Repeat etc. When you finish you tell your phone the round is complete and it uploads the data. (other users can give more in depth details but this is the gist of it. At some point you must tell your phone which course you are playing so it links the gps etc)

After playing the GG app gives you info relating to each club, average length, longest length. It tells you how many fairways you hit, how many you were left on, how many right. It tells you greens in regulation. It told my son that inside 100yds he hit 64% of his approach shots short yet from 100+yds he hit 85% on the green. It shows each hole, where you hit each shot, using what club. Basically it is a nerd fest but a really useful one. My son realised he needs to be more aggressive from 100yds in for example.

I suspect I will be very tempted to get one the more rounds he builds up and the more info on you it accumulates. I think it will be a great help as well as interesting. Extra fun, you can link your accounts to other peoples, Westwood, McDowell and Furyk are on there, along with your mates if they have it. You can compare info.

This sounds like something I should definitely invest in. As long as I can actually get out on the course.
Does it provide any data about swing speed / swing plane etc...? I.e. can it also be used at a range?

 

[Dasit]

Not to discourage Game Golf, but myself and most people I know who bought it used it for a few times then it became more hassle than it was worth.

Having to charge it for every round, syncing it with iphone, remembering to tag every shot before you hit. I was spending a lot of time editing rounds on my PC after as I would forget to tag strokes like putts, or find it didn't pick up a shot so was saying my drive was 400 yards etc

 

[londonlewis]

Not to discourage Game Golf, but myself and most people I know who bought it used it for a few times then it became more hassle than it was worth.

Having to charge it for every round, syncing it with iphone, remembering to tag every shot before you hit. I was spending a lot of time editing rounds on my PC after as I would forget to tag strokes like putts, or find it didn't pick up a shot so was saying my drive was 400 yards etc

you fancy selling it on?