I’ve dropped 6.2 on my index this year.

[Jigger]

After years of moving in the wrong direction I’ve finally flown down from 18.2 index to 12.0, winning a medal on the way!

There’s 3 things I’ve done and I thought I’d share in case it helps others.

1) Practiced my chipping and bunker play a little but not as much as I should. This will be what I expect takes me down further next year with a lot more practice.

2) Take a longer back swing. This allows me time to rotate the lower half and bring the trailing shoulder under on the way through. I lose this feel lots and needs drilling in this winter. I’m hoping for more consistency next year with this.

3) By most the biggest improvement I’ve made is use jumbo max grips! They’re on every club except my putter and they’ve been transformational!

They took some getting used to but I put them on a few clubs last winter to give me time. They’ve really helped softening my grip and as a fader I’ve not experienced the myth that they make you leave the club open and slice everything. That’s just poor reporting from YouTubers.

When I try my mates clubs now, they just feel dreadful with a normal grip and I can feel my wrists locking badly. Will never go back!

 

[Orikoru]

Your point number 2 is interesting, I've come down from 16.9 to 12.1 this year and one of the main things I've done is finally shorten my backswing. It was always too long and would get steep and over the top. When I keep it shorter the path is much better. But then your 'longer' backswing and my 'shorter' one might in fact be the same length of course.

If I had to add one big tip to your ones though, it would be videoing your swing at the driving range. If I hadn't have done that I'd have had no idea that my backswing was mega-long, as it didn't feel like I was doing that at all.

A few years back when I used to buy more second hand clubs, I did end up with one or two with thicker grips, but I hated them. Felt like swinging a cricket bat and I got them removed quickly. I have fairly long but skinny fingers so maybe normal size grips are better for me anyway.

 

[Backache]

Interestingly I was listening to a podcast with someone called Liam Mucklow who'd done a study suggesting one of the biggest equipment factors in shot dispersion was grip size and he suggested there were quite large interindividual variations that didn't necessarily correlate with hand size.

 

[Jigger]

Your point number 2 is interesting, I've come down from 16.9 to 12.1 this year and one of the main things I've done is finally shorten my backswing. It was always too long and would get steep and over the top. When I keep it shorter the path is much better. But then your 'longer' backswing and my 'shorter' one might in fact be the same length of course.

If I had to add one big tip to your ones though, it would be videoing your swing at the driving range. If I hadn't have done that I'd have had no idea that my backswing was mega-long, as it didn't feel like I was doing that at all.

A few years back when I used to buy more second hand clubs, I did end up with one or two with thicker grips, but I hated them. Felt like swinging a cricket bat and I got them removed quickly. I have fairly long but skinny fingers so maybe normal size grips are better for me anyway.

It’s interesting we seem to be opposite ends of the spectrum. It reinforces the fact that all these YouTube videos don’t fit all!

100% agree that I need to video myself this winter as when I was too long in the past I was more over the top but I genuinely think I’ll see better rotation this time

 

[Jigger]

Interestingly I was listening to a podcast with someone called Liam Mucklow who'd done a study suggesting one of the biggest equipment factors in shot dispersion was grip size and he suggested there were quite large interindividual variations that didn't necessarily correlate with hand size.

Interestingly I was listening to a podcast with someone called Liam Mucklow who'd done a study suggesting one of the biggest equipment factors in shot dispersion was grip size and he suggested there were quite large interindividual variations that didn't necessarily correlate with hand size.

I think all factors can be unique to a person. I have mid/large hand size but I would say stubby fingers so larger grips shouldn’t work I guess on standard modelling but the absolutely do for me as it really softens the hands and subsequently the arms which means I’m relaxed into plane.

 

[Lucifer MorningStar]

Firstly congratulations on such a good reduction in handicap this year.

Just on your point 1) certainly keep working on that as it will be a big thing that helps getting lower, but I would recommend adding in practice of up to a 100yds or less with your pitching. As you get lower this is the real scoring zone for saving shots on longer holes where either you can’t text or have had to play sensible golf or simply start playing long courses.

Point 2) like @Orikoru I find it really interesting that lengthening your swing has seen better results. I always had a parallel for years and even though I got pretty low with my HC it was always the long game that caused me issues. Since returning to play I’ve grafted on shortening my swing with every club to max 3/4 length from Driver to LW and found I consistently find the centre of the club face more and have better swing path. I guess your changes just highlights there is no 1 size fits all.

Lastly my own tip for getting lower into that single figure area. Course management, genuinely can save so many strokes per round purely through decision making and correct strategy. I play every backward from green to tee in my mind before I hit a tee shot to decide what club to play and how to play the hole. Even on bad days I’d say this saves me 3-4 shots per round purely through minimising mistakes and playing smart.

Anyway well done mate long may your improvement continue