theeaglehunter
Tour Winner
GIR on par 4 = 2.
GIR on par 5 = 3.
GIR on par 5 = 3.
andiritchie
Journeyman Pro
on a par 4 its 2 and on a par 5 its 3
D
Deleted member 1147
Guest
So it would appear to come down we need to have confidence that those putts will drop and if we have'nt reached the GIR we must U&D most of the time, and in terms of the long game consistency is key!
Well, that sounds easy enough
Well, that sounds easy enough
viscount17
Money List Winner
GIR on any hole is 2 below the par
TonyN
Money List Winner
You always get 2 putts on a green, so if its a par 5 you should be on in 3(2 putts to make par)
If its a 4 you should be on in 2 (leaving you 2 putts for par)
Par 3 is on in ya tee shot ( 2 putts for par)
I have stopped using all of my clubs around the green now and just use 7 iron from within 5 yards for the bumps and a PW from 5-45 yards to chip on. I am now building up a good strong feel for these 2 clubs as i use them more. I will still use different clubs if i need more less run etc
If its a 4 you should be on in 2 (leaving you 2 putts for par)
Par 3 is on in ya tee shot ( 2 putts for par)
I have stopped using all of my clubs around the green now and just use 7 iron from within 5 yards for the bumps and a PW from 5-45 yards to chip on. I am now building up a good strong feel for these 2 clubs as i use them more. I will still use different clubs if i need more less run etc
Kaizer_Soze
Head Pro
IMO the main difference between a 10-12 handicap and a 7-9 handicap is the ability to get down in 2 from around the 70 yard in mark, a single figure player will do this 50-60 % of the time, a 10-12 player around 30% of the time.
Just my opinion, but I know that it got me from 11 down to 6 in the space of 6 months a few years back.
Just my opinion, but I know that it got me from 11 down to 6 in the space of 6 months a few years back.
D
Deleted member 1147
Guest
I think that's what I lack Keyser, my approaches are normally ok but I can't sink those putts. But since I recently had a putting lesson I have improved no end!
TonyN
Money List Winner
My putting is generally good, like i said, i just miss to many G.I.R's by a few feet. Or if i do hit the green, its not close enough for a realistic birdie chance!
Nico
Challenge Tour Pro
Single figures is way easier than you would think.
Mostly a state of mind and a reasonable short game.
First you must realise that this game can only be played well from the fairway.
Second that a good chipper will beat a good ball striker most days.
Third,three putting is not an option and one putting is a bonus!
So to sum up, hit it a bit straighter or take a club that will hit the cut surface,learn to chip and pitch and get a decent putting stroke.
Did I mention talent? No because you do not need to be gifted to get to 9,just have reasonable coordination and a good attitude.
I know I make it sound easy and it isnt but it is not as hard as most people think!
Mostly a state of mind and a reasonable short game.
First you must realise that this game can only be played well from the fairway.
Second that a good chipper will beat a good ball striker most days.
Third,three putting is not an option and one putting is a bonus!
So to sum up, hit it a bit straighter or take a club that will hit the cut surface,learn to chip and pitch and get a decent putting stroke.
Did I mention talent? No because you do not need to be gifted to get to 9,just have reasonable coordination and a good attitude.
I know I make it sound easy and it isnt but it is not as hard as most people think!
madandra
Money List Winner
I think the big difference is scrambling: getting up and down when you need to. I must loose between 4 and 8 shots a round because I didn't get my chip shot close enough to save par.
Nico
Challenge Tour Pro
Like I said Mad. Chipping!
What I also should have said is that you must just keep grinding out the pars!
Birdies or better are an absolute bonus,and always aim to take nothing worse than a bogey.
No hero shots or miracle escape attempts.
What I also should have said is that you must just keep grinding out the pars!
Birdies or better are an absolute bonus,and always aim to take nothing worse than a bogey.
No hero shots or miracle escape attempts.
TonyN
Money List Winner
Everything you have said in your last two post nico is how I have been trying to play in the last month.
I am really working on my chipping and approaching.
I spent about 45 mins last night, bumping and chipping and i was leaving almost everything with a decent chance of a one putt.
I am really working on my chipping and approaching.
I spent about 45 mins last night, bumping and chipping and i was leaving almost everything with a decent chance of a one putt.
sandford93
Assistant Pro
Par 4 GIR is 2
Par 5 GIR is 3
Par 5 GIR is 3
RGuk
Tour Winner
Hmm, some good theories.
f.w.i.w. I don't believe there is a right or a wrong way to reach the standard necessary to play off 9 or less.
Clearly, if you miss greens, then unless you can scramble pars, you've got no chance. However, if you hit lots of GIR, then the short game is going to help you get even lower. When I played off just under 10 quite often I'd shoot a good score with only 3 or 4 chip n putts (hardly scorching!), the rest were routine GIR pars. I don't subscribe to the idea that it's ALL short game....for me it's a case of straight hitting to get the GIRs and the confidence to chip and putt even if you don't make that many par saves.
As for the ability to get down in 2 from medium distance (70 yards??), I cannot agree on this one; most single figure players I know either hit the green or just miss it (by under 10-15 yards) and it's the game from there that counts. The only time a good player is 60-90 yards out (and needs/wants to get down in two) is on a par 5 3rd shot or a total cock-up hole....??? or a short par 4 (but you all know my opinion on using drivers on short holes!!!).
I'd surmise
1) Straight hitting (i.e. as close as possible to 18 holes where you are on or v.v. close to the green) - it's no good if you miss 50% of fairways
2) Solid short game....obviously!
3) reliable putting and taking Birdie chances when they come.....if I could convert more birdie opp's, I'd be back closer to single figures.
f.w.i.w. I don't believe there is a right or a wrong way to reach the standard necessary to play off 9 or less.
Clearly, if you miss greens, then unless you can scramble pars, you've got no chance. However, if you hit lots of GIR, then the short game is going to help you get even lower. When I played off just under 10 quite often I'd shoot a good score with only 3 or 4 chip n putts (hardly scorching!), the rest were routine GIR pars. I don't subscribe to the idea that it's ALL short game....for me it's a case of straight hitting to get the GIRs and the confidence to chip and putt even if you don't make that many par saves.
As for the ability to get down in 2 from medium distance (70 yards??), I cannot agree on this one; most single figure players I know either hit the green or just miss it (by under 10-15 yards) and it's the game from there that counts. The only time a good player is 60-90 yards out (and needs/wants to get down in two) is on a par 5 3rd shot or a total cock-up hole....??? or a short par 4 (but you all know my opinion on using drivers on short holes!!!).
I'd surmise
1) Straight hitting (i.e. as close as possible to 18 holes where you are on or v.v. close to the green) - it's no good if you miss 50% of fairways
2) Solid short game....obviously!
3) reliable putting and taking Birdie chances when they come.....if I could convert more birdie opp's, I'd be back closer to single figures.
Doh
Journeyman Pro
It's got to be a combination of short game and course management and in my case having the right equipment.
I had my clubs fitted about 2years ago was playing off 12 at the time now down to 8.8 lowest being 8 have been pretty consistant since i have learnt not to panic if i have hit a poor shot play the percentages and think about what i'm doing. dont turn a boggie into a double or a double into a triple.
I had my clubs fitted about 2years ago was playing off 12 at the time now down to 8.8 lowest being 8 have been pretty consistant since i have learnt not to panic if i have hit a poor shot play the percentages and think about what i'm doing. dont turn a boggie into a double or a double into a triple.
John_Findlay
Tour Winner
I'm with RGUK on this one. There are many way to skin a cat but I know that I only got down to 9 when I got the consistency to be either on or within 10 yards of the green on every hole in regulation. So long as you don't have more than 1 penalty shot every 3 or 4 rounds that should do the trick, too. Keep the double bogeys off the card and you're half way there.
RGuk
Tour Winner
This is my way of thinking too.
There's 18 holes on which to get (only) 9 pars or better if you can keep the doubles off your card. If you can hit say 5 greens and get up 'n' down on 4 more, bob will be your uncle.
We all have a few bad holes but if you can course-manage your way to a bogey on these and then play smart on the remaining 12/13/14 or so? holes that are not dangerous, then a round without big numbers is possible.
I've seen 16-20 h'caps go round with nothing worse than a bogey (not often, I admit) but the trouble is they don't make enough pars.
mrobbie
Club Champion
I'm off 16, and have been for a long time. I'm about to embark on the most intensive summer of golf since I was at school! My wife gave me a summer membership fo rmy birthday, and she wants to get out for a walk each night round the course with me.
So, as I have heard of the years, regular play is crucial in getting the handicap down. There's a tick in the box for starters.
I am more consistent with my new driver than my old one, which will help me out a lot (less 3 off the tee for starters!).
I have access to 18 holes, a par 3 course, the driving range and chipping & putting greens. This way I can pratice each area. From the way I currently play, I need to sharpen up driving accuracy and more importantly, chipping; putting is OK, but I never leave myself with a 1 putt opportunity due to inconsistent short game.
I am going to track my handcap to see how I can progress between 15 June and 15 September. It is my goal in these 3 months to get from 16 to 12, with 9 as a stretch target.
Oh, and the difference between average figures and low figures? Hitting where you aim. I played with a 4 handicapper recently on his home course (I had never played there). To help me out, he told me where to play to; eg 5 yards to the right of a particular bunker or marker. Now, off a drive, this gave me an idea where to play, but I was not able to do what he said exactly. He was however able to play to the targets he pointed out. Amazing to watch, and highly insiring.
So, as I have heard of the years, regular play is crucial in getting the handicap down. There's a tick in the box for starters.
I am more consistent with my new driver than my old one, which will help me out a lot (less 3 off the tee for starters!).
I have access to 18 holes, a par 3 course, the driving range and chipping & putting greens. This way I can pratice each area. From the way I currently play, I need to sharpen up driving accuracy and more importantly, chipping; putting is OK, but I never leave myself with a 1 putt opportunity due to inconsistent short game.
I am going to track my handcap to see how I can progress between 15 June and 15 September. It is my goal in these 3 months to get from 16 to 12, with 9 as a stretch target.
Oh, and the difference between average figures and low figures? Hitting where you aim. I played with a 4 handicapper recently on his home course (I had never played there). To help me out, he told me where to play to; eg 5 yards to the right of a particular bunker or marker. Now, off a drive, this gave me an idea where to play, but I was not able to do what he said exactly. He was however able to play to the targets he pointed out. Amazing to watch, and highly insiring.
