How much difference would a caddie make?

[CheltenhamHacker]

After someones comment in another thread, it piqued my interest for yet another poll, about how much difference you think a caddie would make to your game? Or, if you've had one, how much difference it actually made?

If you think it would make you significantly better, why is this? It is still you hitting the shots...

Me personally, I have played with my step dad effectively being my caddy for a practice round, and would definitely say that it took a couple of shots off. I would expect that the higher handicap you are, the more shots you would expect to lose... Am I wrong?

 

[USER1999]

A tour caddy might make a difference. Having a mate on the bag, none.

 

[Andy808]

I think it would be 0-5 shots for me with one or two mates I play with who can keep me under control as they have when we have played pairs matches. Anyone else would be a waste of time.

 

[woody69]

Proper trained caddie would probably save you a few shots for sure (providing you were able to execute their instructions!). Mate on the bag may help with the one providing you listened to him/her!

 

[Jdb2005]

A mate I regularly play with who is of a handicap of 15, knows my game inside out on distance I can hit my clubs etc, he's also good at yardages and taking into the conditions of the weather, offers me advice on a few occasions and I've played maybe 6/10 shots the way he said ,club,where to aim etc.

I think I'd save 5-10 shots with him on my bag. He just wishes he could put his own game together.

 

[Deleted member 18121]

Dont think I'm good enough to make any difference to be honest.

 

[Foxholer]

A tour caddy might make a difference. Having a mate on the bag, none.

I know a couple of Tour Caddies who don't really contribute anything to club level player's score - even Green Reading.

No difference, for a Club player, between a Tour Caddie and a decent Club level one imo. A mate, however might be of benefit (or no use at all) in tense environments like tournaments.

A Caddy wouldn't help me at all - except by removing the effort of carrying my bag!

I'd like to think that if I caddied for a receptive player, I could take 4 or even more shots off his score!

 

[TXL]

A tour caddy might make a difference. Having a mate on the bag, none.

There is one person at my club that would help in the same way a tour caddy would, most however would have no impact.

 

[Dellboy]

Might help me as I tend to try silly shots when playing, so someone in my ear talking me out of them would help me, as the shots I try, Never work out !!

 

[Fader]

I'd say if I had my dad on my bag i'd save 0-5 shots as he knows my game and is a damn good reader of greens plus he'd talk me out of silly shots.

If my brother was on the bag despite him being a 1 handicap and damn fine player it'd cost me an extra 5-10 shots because he is overly aggressive and would want me to go for everything so pointless.

A tour caddie for me would save me no more than my old man could simply because he doesn't know my capabilities as well so by having my dad caddy i'd get good assistance and save on a caddy fee.

 

[USER1999]

I probably lose quite a few shots due to indecision. I know the yardage, but the wind swirls round my course, so it seems all the holes play into wind?! I think a decent caddy, who was convinced the club choice was right, and who could convince me it was right, would save me shots. If I'm not convinced, I quit on it. I don't know any one I'd trust to be right, so it would need to be a proper caddy, not a bag carrier.

 

[stevelev]

Dont think I'm good enough to make any difference to be honest.

Sorry to ask this, but if you have an official handicap in your signature, what is the unofficial handicap??

 

[fundy]

round my home course none whatsoever imo, round a course I dont know or havent played before then could easily be worth several shots

 

[HawkeyeMS]

A mate I regularly play with who is of a handicap of 15, knows my game inside out on distance I can hit my clubs etc, he's also good at yardages and taking into the conditions of the weather, offers me advice on a few occasions and I've played maybe 6/10 shots the way he said ,club,where to aim etc.

I think I'd save 5-10 shots with him on my bag. He just wishes he could put his own game together.

Up to 10 shots just by having your mate as a caddy? Personally, I think that's 8 or 9 shots too ambitious.

At my home course, it'd make no difference at all. At a course I'd never played before it might save 1 or 2 shots if the caddy knew the course inside out but at the end of the day, it's still me hitting the shots and I don't tend to suffer from making bad decisions all that often. I think the biggest advantage would be an extra set of eyes to read the greens but again, I still have to make the putts.

 

[MashieNiblick]

Not a lot other than on a course I didn't know or maybe in the rain.

However, if it was Stevie Williams who knows!

 

[HawkeyeMS]

Sorry to ask this, but if you have an official handicap in your signature, what is the unofficial handicap??

That's a very good question.

 

[Birchy]

It all depends on the situation i.e course and if im having a dodgy day how well they keep me in the game as sometimes if im doing crap I just tend to let it slide.

I would say an average of 1-2 shots max.

 

[Jdb2005]

Up to 10 shots just by having your mate as a caddy? Personally, I think that's 8 or 9 shots too ambitious.

At my home course, it'd make no difference at all. At a course I'd never played before it might save 1 or 2 shots if the caddy knew the course inside out but at the end of the day, it's still me hitting the shots and I don't tend to suffer from making bad decisions all that often. I think the biggest advantage would be an extra set of eyes to read the greens but again, I still have to make the putts.

U maybe right , just 0-5 then, he is good the guy tho

 

[jason6r]

Well I am caddying for one of our club's better players in a county pairs matchplay comp tomorrow so I'll let you k ow how it goes! My opinion is that a caddy will be beneficial not so much for better green reading, shot selection etc but for the moral support that can be given during the round. I think (for me) anyway the benefit comes from knowing what to say at the appropriate time, whether it's an encouraging word or something to get me back on track (e.g. If I start swinging too hard without realising it) or equally not saying anything and just carrying the bag.

I'm looking forward to seeing how a good pair - one plays off 4 and the other is off +2!! - think their way around the course, what shots they will and won't take on depending on the situation. Should be very informative and worthwhile.

 

[Deleted member 1147]

I've said 0-5 shots as I do think a good caddy could help. For me the main help would be for yardages, like most amateurs I under club too often, and for green reading as that is my main problem these days on the greens. I keep hitting them where I aim but tend to over borrow quite often.