New Golf Thinking opportunity - the lucky 8 are....

SaintHacker said:
The back of the green yardage was the one thing that really sunk in, and worked to some extent.
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I've advocated this for nearly a year now and mentioned it on here many times. The pro (not MY Pro) I was having lessons with explained that by going for the back yardages irrelevant of the pin position I'd probably only put it beyond the green if I really flushed my shot, as such, most would be short either putting me in the middle of the green or if I caught it a little heavy I'd be at the front of the green, but, the main thing was I would have mainly carried the hazards that predominately protect the greens at the front and I would be more times on the green than not! Only if its a huge green with the flag at the front I might take a different yardage but in the main, I work to the back.
 
Fish said:
I've advocated this for nearly a year now and mentioned it on here many times. The pro (not MY Pro) I was having lessons with explained that by going for the back yardages irrelevant of the pin position I'd probably only put it beyond the green if I really flushed my shot, as such, most would be short either putting me in the middle of the green or if I caught it a little heavy I'd be at the front of the green, but, the main thing was I would have mainly carried the hazards that predominately protect the greens at the front and I would be more times on the green than not! Only if its a huge green with the flag at the front I might take a different yardage but in the main, I work to the back.
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Up to a point I'll agree but it is very dependent on what's behind the green. We have quite a few greens where, if you overshoot by 5-10 yards, you're screwed. Pins are often on the back section too so with, say, 150 to the middle, 165 to the back, I'd be going for a 150 yard shot on those type of greens. The penalty between being short and long could easily be a couple of shots.

Also, if your "normal" 7 goes, say, 150 and it's 150 to the back, doesn't it make more sense to hit the 8 iron? A "normal" 7 is going to put you, at best, on the very back of the green- all it would take is a hard bounce and you're shot.
 
The thinking as I understand it, is that you need to be aiming for the back 90% of the time and that the other 10% takes into account those times when going long is going to be penal. We have a couple of holes, including our 12th in particular, where there is a lateral hazard ten yards over the back and so it makes no sense to be long, especially with a middle or back pin.

The back yardage is applicable for alot of golfers the majority of the time as is stopping the shorties in terms of coming up shy on chips and putts in particular. There is a whole section in the ebook (well worth downloading) which explains this in detail and gives you a scorecard to take out in practice rounds and will show just how often this happens and over time will help you eradicate this.

There are a lot of other things that can be used to think better but as Sainthacker said, it was a lot to take in and hard to try and apply everything. If I am being honest, I stopped filling in my chart we were suppose to be using after six holes, just focussed on the back yardage and playing my game and hit it nicely. I was trying for career shots on every one as per the the thinking, just not recording the data. I will be doing a lot of work on the different charts and ideas in practice rounds and hope that it starts to become second nature once I get into a competitive arena. I think I need to read each section one by one and start with the areas most applicable to me and work on them
 
Imurg said:
Up to a point I'll agree but it is very dependent on what's behind the green. We have quite a few greens where, if you overshoot by 5-10 yards, you're screwed. Pins are often on the back section too so with, say, 150 to the middle, 165 to the back, I'd be going for a 150 yard shot on those type of greens. The penalty between being short and long could easily be a couple of shots.

Also, if your "normal" 7 goes, say, 150 and it's 150 to the back, doesn't it make more sense to hit the 8 iron? A "normal" 7 is going to put you, at best, on the very back of the green- all it would take is a hard bounce and you're shot.
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Like in everything there will always be exceptional circumstances that mean it would be unwise to use that formula due to water, trees etc immediately at or up to the rear of the green, but for me, at my level, and I would think for most handicap golfers, we are all predominately short of our intended target or more often short than long, so, it works for me and keeps me out of greenside bunkers or awkward greenside chips as the main idea behind it is to carry the immediate hazards but if we went pin hunting and were short, its a bunker shot and still possibly 2 putts, I'll take my chances at the rear yardages more often than not.
 
Fish said:
I've advocated this for nearly a year now and mentioned it on here many times. The pro (not MY Pro) I was having lessons with explained that by going for the back yardages irrelevant of the pin position I'd probably only put it beyond the green if I really flushed my shot, as such, most would be short either putting me in the middle of the green or if I caught it a little heavy I'd be at the front of the green, but, the main thing was I would have mainly carried the hazards that predominately protect the greens at the front and I would be more times on the green than not! Only if its a huge green with the flag at the front I might take a different yardage but in the main, I work to the back.
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Well, using the back of the green distance is a pretty good idea generally - danger/pin placement notwithstanding.

Fish is apparently also naturally applying the 'no negative thoughts' philosophy too - no comments in Football threads for 'a while':whistle:!
 
The points about going for the back of the green 80% of the time and avoiding shorties were the only 2 "tactical" things mentioned during the session, everything else was about having the correct mental attitude and recognising when you are slipping out of "MPA" and tactics for putting a positive spin on even the most useless shot.

Avoiding talking yourself down and putting undue pressure on yourself after a bad shot, these are skills that will help everyone given a bit of time to get used to the new way of thinking

As for The Grove itself, what a lovely place, excellent service and the course was lush, got 5 pars, but did get chewed up on some of the others. A joy to play, but at £165 per head a round, dont think i'll be back unless its by invite, Thanks again to GM,

Im going to read the book and pick out the parts that I think will be most beneficial to both my enjoyment of the game and scoring, with the ultimate aim of slamming Imurg even more regularly than in recent weeks :)

unfortunately the book isnt available as a book yet, only a download to a Kindle, / Ipad/ Iphone or other PC/tablet device, but at only a fiver, its a very good investment in your game
 
As a high HC, I find this really interesting.. (as Homer might back me up) On many holes I can hit the ball, but I think i take a lot of bad decisions. Last weekend S/F I had 2 birdies and had to pick up the ball with a 'birdie for 4' comment that did not go down well, but I also had 2 blobs to negate those.

I like the concept of back of the green.. though some of our bunkers are at the back.. so I guess HJS version of '90% to back, 10% the rest' works. These days I am going for the centre irrespective of where the flag is - just have to remember that advice everytime. Is there a process that you can do?

Finally, I seem to have an opposite problem to negativity. I played 36 holes as Swinley recently. Shot 28 pts in the morning which was ok. In the afternoon session
- On the holes that I did poorly in the morning --> I was thinking, how do I not get into the same position, so changed my line and so played safe and had a good hole.
- On the holes that I played well in the morning --> I was thinking, this is an easy hole that I par-ed in the morning, so easy-peasy-lemon-squeezy... result 1 point or worse!!!
Is there a case of too much positive going to your head??? Guess I need a shrink (and a prayer)
 
vkurup said:
Finally, I seem to have an opposite problem to negativity. I played 36 holes as Swinley recently. Shot 28 pts in the morning which was ok. In the afternoon session
- On the holes that I did poorly in the morning --> I was thinking, how do I not get into the same position, so changed my line and so played safe and had a good hole.
- On the holes that I played well in the morning --> I was thinking, this is an easy hole that I par-ed in the morning, so easy-peasy-lemon-squeezy... result 1 point or worse!!!
Is there a case of too much positive going to your head??? Guess I need a shrink (and a prayer)
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All about MPA. If it's a hole you play badly on a regular basis..... you're due. If you get a shot on the hole....it's a 3 pointer. If you don't get a shot...... it's an easy par.
 
Surely when playing you tell yourself you're going to cream every shot anyway. No?:confused:

'Forget about the last one and play the next one.' That's my advice. Can I have some money please.....;)
 
Back of the green yardage surely very course dependent, theres only 2 holes on our course where I would prefer to miss long rather than short and with the rough round the greens growing pretty severe already theres several holes where you've next to no chance if you're past the pin
 
A poll to see how many times you have gone over the back off the green in your last 4 rounds would be useful.

My fig would prob be one!

Famous pro maybe Hunter Mahan (cant remember but I posted awhile back) said take the club that gets you to the back of the green and swing easier, result, more pin high shots.
 
why not aim at the middle of the green as apposed to the back. fly one to the back of our greens at the minute and you will bounce out the back 20 yards.



why not aim for the middle of the greens. it should give you a club either side and you should still be on the green. simple!
 
fundy said:
Back of the green yardage surely very course dependent, theres only 2 holes on our course where I would prefer to miss long rather than short and with the rough round the greens growing pretty severe already theres several holes where you've next to no chance if you're past the pin
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This wasn't the 100% option Fundy. John suggested 90% of the time it's better to finish past the pin than short of the pin, although he did give us an easier target of 80%...... Of course there are times when you need to lay up and aim for the pin instead, but they fit the 10% - 20% instances.
 
garyinderry said:
why not aim at the middle of the green as apposed to the back. fly one to the back of our greens at the minute and you will bounce out the back 20 yards.



why not aim for the middle of the greens. it should give you a club either side and you should still be on the green. simple!
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It was more gauged to finishing past the pin rather than short of the pin. Will be more of a challenge in the summer when it's dry and warm.....
 
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