Index keeps going down!

[SteveJay]

Just intrigued about other users' experience on the rate of change in their index. I know young golfers can see a dramatic reduction in their index as they improve and mature, but I am a 61 year old who has played for about 25 years (so a late starter).

At the end of April this year my index was 13.2, with a fairly stable trend, ranging from about 11-13 over many years. Now, 3 months later, it has reduced to 8.8.

A PP asked me what i thought the reason for the reduction was and I'm not really sure. My game just seems to have "clicked" although I changed drivers early this year, and got new wedges, with both driving and short game improving as a result. My course management is also better and maybe the better weather has helped, although it has still been windy as it usually is at my home links course.

I have scored in the 70's twice, for the first time & I play 3 times a week on average, so am not playing more, and I practice a few hours a week.

I know this might not be exceptional as i know some will have seen big moves as WHS facilitates that, but am interested in others' experiences. I do feel that I must be close to being as low as I can reasonably expect although my counting scores still range from 77 to 83.

 

[Orikoru]

It definitely fluctuates a lot more. Although, I got a bit of delayed reaction with mine earlier this year. I played trash all of 2024, but must have just enough mediocre rounds to scrape by, but then after a few months of this year (having not really put many cards in over winter) I suddenly went up to 16.9. But I was actually playing a lot better, this was just a hangover from the previous year. I promptly smashed an away day with my mates getting about 42 points off of that, and soon came back down to around 15 again. In my last two comp rounds I've done quite well, and now I'm down to 13.9, which is the lowest I've been in three years. Got a few more 'freebies' as well before a good score comes off. So I think compared to the old system there are just way more peaks and troughs.

 

[nickjdavis]

A year ago my index was 10.2, at the start of this calendar year it was 9.5, some indifferent form in the early part of the year (along with a couple of good scores dropping off from last summer) saw it rise to 11.3 at the start of June. In the last 2 months I've gone on a decent run, played well and scored well, and now its back down to 9.6.

35 qualifying scores submitted in that time...all of them from competition play. 7 of my best 8 scores have come in the last nine rounds...the other dates from March.

I can see myself eeking out another shot maybe in the next couple of months...two or three rounds around 8 or 9 over par would do that.

The system is more responsive and anyone submitting a couple of rounds every week will see a lot more volatility in their (moving average) index than the old "step based" system. Whether you consider this volatility a good or a bad thing is a separate discussion which has been dragged through various hedges many times in the past with the old "form v potential" debate.

 

[Neilds]

Also worth remembering that we are all driving further due to the exceptional weather conditions- every yard help

 

[jim8flog]

If you have a couple of very low scores compared to you H.I. (better than 7) there will be exceptional score reductions.

 

[SteveJay]

If you have a couple of very low scores compared to you H.I. (better than 7) there will be exceptional score reductions.

No exceptionals for me, just a run of scores around 80 and lower, compared to a previous trend around 85ish which has seen me drop 5 shots in 3 months

 

[Springveldt]

Started the season at 2.8, went up to 5.3 as I couldn’t putt and kept throwing away shots but in the last month I’ve played probably the most consistent golf of my life and I’m down to 2.2.

Also worth remembering that we are all driving further due to the exceptional weather conditions- every yard help

This is also true, our course has been ridiculously fiery but it was verging on unplayable as the greens were rock hard as well. Some rain in the last month has definitely helped, I’m no longer hitting multiple 300 yard drives per round but I’m scoring better as we are still getting run but the greens are more receptive as well.

 

[mrpar]

Play better golf handicap comes down? It's a mathematical equation not voodoo

 

[Backache]

Play better golf handicap comes down? It's a mathematical equation not voodoo

The two are not mutually exclusive.

 

[mrpar]

The two are not mutually exclusive.

Ok, have better score differentials and handicap comes down