Maintaining a single figure handicap advice

[Curls]

This sounds interesting. I have a feeling that geography could be an issue, where are you based?

IN HELL JAIMELAING!!! I'LL SEE YOU IN HELL!!!!

WWWWWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'M GONNA KEEP YOUR HEAD AS A COVER FOR MY DRIVER!!!!

WWWOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!

(this is how competitive we are, it's why we have no friends)

 

[jamielaing]

IN HELL JAIMELAING!!! I'LL SEE YOU IN HELL!!!!

WWWWWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'M GONNA KEEP YOUR HEAD AS A COVER FOR MY DRIVER!!!!

WWWOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!

(this is how competitive we are, it's why we have no friends)

BRING IT!

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Always go out with the mind set of shooting as low as I can, whether that's a knock on my own, the roll ups with the usual suspects at the club or in a match or competition. As long as I enjoy the round, and contrary to the popular belief of some on here, I usually do, then irrespective of the outcome I'm happy. Of course no-one likes 0.1 back but sometimes you have to take a few knocks to get to where you want to get

 

[the_coach]

After shooting a 4 over 75 in this weeks comp i am for the first time now down to single figures from being between 11-12 for the last few years.

i play twice a week but living 20 miles a way from the golf club i have probably used the practice facilities once this year. I probably could find more time but if i don't do you think it would benefit my game if i swapped a round every few weeks for 2-3 hours practice instead.

Also making practice more fun tips would be appreciated.[/QUOTE


for sure it's really about looking to improve the game & the ability to score - you cannot do this if thinking about the index mark as when you play you will be projecting results forwards to what might happen to the finished score so the handicap at finish
during play you have to stay in the present - one shot at a time - focus is/should be on just that - the only way you can play good golf

practice from 100 yards in plus putting - even if putting is indoors - as guessing the off season weather an issue
but when not in the off season play as much competitive golf as you able

funds allow find a Pro you gel with - off season a great time for work through a series of lessons on improving the swing motion

you have to make time for practice there's really to kind of main types - block - work on technique so would include drills from the Pro - or working on blocks of getting down a particular 'feel' through part of the swings motion whatever that might be
pre-set impact drills - transition drills - balance - rotation etc whatever has been highlighted as having some room for improvement

but whats also real important is 'random practice' so never hitting the same club twice to the same target - say driver to wedge to 4i to 8i - working through the clubs that ways - can also from the range mat 'play' a round of golf around your 'home' course - visualize the tee box, fairway, pitch, chip shots you'd play
hit shots at angles off of the range don't just align with the lines of the mat - don't have those convenient lline-up reminders out in play
practice the weak areas of the game - not just what feels comfortable because it's an area of the game you are better at

don't just drag balls to hit from a settled stance - at least even with block practice every say 3 balls - move away to behind the ball focus on target line from behind (as should be done for every shot during play) go through the pre-shot routine, grip, aim, alignment & posture

try not to hit a shot without first visualizing it

make short game drills 5 balls different wedges, different distances say between 50, 70, 85, 100, 120 yards, angle off of the mat to different targets give yourself a score 10 points within ball within 10 feet, 5 points within 15 feet, 1 point within 25 feet keep scores - next time you got a 'mark' to try to beat - you can make up all kinds like this right through the bag

above all don't think about trying to maintain a handicap mark - think about playing the next shot to the best level you are able to - if not doesn't come off give yourself 15 secs to 'objectively' learn what you can from it - then forget the outcome & move back to the present

 

[Oddsocks]

Why change anything? Surely this just adds more pressure.

When I got to 8 there were a few things I changed that I stuck to from 11.something downwards:

1) play par5's as par5's. 90% of trouble on par5's is short of the greens and normally they are big deep bunkers that you plug in. Driver/mid iron/9i or wedge leaves you two putts for your par. Driver/3w can bring a whole world of pain.

2) know your weakness and know you safe miss areas and your no go dead areas

3) always aim for a bogey at worst on holes you've messed up. One wedge out the rough as a lay up, with a wedge on still leaves a par putt on a par4, but trying to hit 5i/6i from deep cabbage is a massive gamble and one that will almost result in a double!

4) if aiming for GIR, don't pin seek if they are in difficult positions, 2 putts from the middle of the green is still a par!

It seems a lot of golfers think that 9hc is a massive milestone between a 10hc/11hc player. For me that's either a putt that dropped or didn't. People don't miraculously become a better ball striker and greater player separated by 0.1.

Personally have just broke single figures I wouldn't change anything until you started getting closer to cat1, all I would be focusing on is reducing the doubles and thinking how to make more safe pars. Our course has 4 par 5's, if I par them playing smart instead on going for a Sunday best, that's the difference between 4 shots....

 

[Deleted member 1147]

I got down to, and stayed in single figures purely by playing.
As a kid we practiced and competed and I didn't get down to single figures.
I now play more and practice more, but am no better than when I first got down to 4, playing once a week.

 

[cookelad]

Forget about trying to maintain it. Try to go lower.

Agreed, look forward not back!

 

[MadAdey]

Moving away from the practice side of things, a better mindset towards par 3s and 5s have helped my scores stay low.

To me dropping shots on a hole where you have 3 swings to get it on the green or 1 swing from a perfect lie with a ball teed up is stupid. Ok some of these 600 yarders or 200+ par 3s can be difficult, but most courses do not throw these at you.

I've started to avoid trouble on par 5s. Course I was playing at had a par 5 that I could easily get on in 2 with a good drive. But it was slight dogleg right with a tight landing area with trees on the right and a deep bunker left. I changed to hitting a 2i into the big area, a 3w down the fairway and a 50 yard pitch with a wedge. No more dropped shots and a fair few birdies.

Just because it's a long hole, you do not necessarily need to hit a driver.

 

[Oddsocks]

Seems we have the same theory on the par5's sir