Perception of low handicappers...

[JezzE]

I agree, I play off 6 too and I don't think higher handicappers realise how bad some of us off single figures actually are !!
There are loads of players off 10/12 that could be mid single figures.
To me there are three factors that got me from 10/12 to 5/6.
1. Course management. Don't put yourself in the position where you may rack up a big score and always look to take the trouble out of play.
2. Accept the bad shots. Don't let one bad hole turn into three, accept a bogie if the alternative is to risk an 8 etc and don't get upset if you don't strike the ball like a pro very often.
3. Probably most important, learn to putt and chip and practice this. Most single figure players have a good short game.

hi fyldewhite this is the first post of yours I have seen and i think it sums up the situation up perfectly. very sage words indeed

Having played with TonyN and VIG at Hoylake last week I could see that both could easily be single figures (I know VIG was indeed off 8 a good while back and Tony has a lovely swing that is technical very solid) but what set us apart on the day (apart from my local knowledge!) was that I got up and down from 4 or it might have been 5 bunkers and that I didn't make any big numbers.

A key part of this is knowing that even though you might be able to pull of a shot its often not the wisest option to attempt it as the downside is too large.

Tour pros often say to us that the most successful players week in week out are the ones who make the fewest mistakes not the ones who make the most birdies

Have to say I agree wholeheartedly with my editor (always shrewd for job security in the current climate!)

These would certainly be three of the main reasons why I've played off 5/6 rather than 10/12 over the last few years.

Would say though that my driving has also improved significantly and I am at least in play 8 times out of 10 off the tee on average. If I can then get it somewhere up by the green I know I at least still have a chance on a good day.

Conversely, average at best iron-play, and below average full wedge-play are the things that most hold me back

 

[MVP]

course management was so important this weekend at lydd. with the wind blowing like it did and the water every where i was having to play par 4s as if they were par 5s it was a night mare. luckily my putter was sort of working.

Now i know the course a bit i could improve the course management even more. Alone it could shave 10 shots of off my round saturday along with a bit of luck. i couldnt get the ball to check on the greens very well and keeping driver in play was a headache too. any way better luck next time i hope!

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I think it's an mixture of straight (not necesarily long) driving, knowing when to leave the big dog in the bag, reasonably control over irons and above all a killer touch around the greens. It is the ability to turn 3 into 2 when the green is missed that keeps the scorecard looking pretty.

I've played with a lot of low figure guys and some have had worse swings than me but they have the ability to scramble and accept the odd bogey but will keep the 6, 7 and 8's off the card. They can manage their way round even when the ball striking is a little off.

I think the real difference between scratch (and + handicaps) and 5-9's isn't always that great. Possible a greater inner belief that they belong in that company, a better practice ethic (hypothetical) and maybe more intensive coaching

 

[vig]

It's the driving that generally kills me. I, more often than not play a long iron from the tee or hybrid.

My long irons are a strength but when they are off, I struggle.

Short game has improved and scores have reflected that.

When I play a new course I tend to attack as I want to emjoy what i'm doing. Defensive/sensible golf is not what I started playing again for although I know that when I have a strategy and follow it, I play better

 

[Herbie]

Perceptions is a good title. I used to be off six then over time went 7, 8, 9.

There are days when people will call me a bandit, like today where I didnt hit all that well on some holes, didnt hit many fairways off the tee, but the key was that I didnt make big mistakes, they were all little ones and I shot 77 quite comfortably, its not always like this, far from it, I make lots and lots of mistakes and often miss greens and fairways.

Anyone who thinks there is a significant shot difference depending on the course is rather misguided,I have been a member at several clubs of different levels of difficulty and held h/c's from 6 & 9, when I play an easy course I make more mistakes than I do on a tough course, Last time I played Forrest pines I shot 81, last time I played Woodhall Spa Hotchkin 79, or Kenwick Park 80....All of them far tougher than my home course and I didnt play any of them frequently enough to have advantage.

The tougher the course the harder I concentrate and I am sure that is the same for any single figure h/c player.
When I have my match face on I am more likely to lose on a med to easy course than a tough one.

 

[FourRight]

Very good post.

I think with lower handicappers alot of it is to do with confidence, playing the shots that they know will work and not taking silly risks.

My habit last year was to always go for it. This year I have deciced that to try the more cautious approch, and so far it seems to be working.

My scores are comming down, and I am starting to see confidence in some areas of my game (50 - 120 Yd approach shots, chipping around the green). I just need to start improving the consistancy of the other aspects of my game.

 

[thecraw]

I agree with the person who was talking about the "real" low guys. I play off of between 4 and 5 and have done for about 18 years now, up, down, down, down, up etc you catch the drift.

Anyway my mate plays off of 1 and the difference between him and me is night and day.

I also seem to differ from the other low guys on here in respect of my short game. I am a consistant diver, I'm very rarely off of the fairway, (not being big headed but its the strongest part of my game) my long irons are solid and my mid irons are usually good as well. However my short game is very very streaky and it frequently lets me down. Putting I am above average, I dont hole a great many putts however I also dont three jab very often.

Looking at that it may seem obvious where I need to practice in order to improve but believe me I do and to be honest I think its a confidence thing, hence the "streaky" comment.

 

[haplesshacker]

Having played with lower h'cap players (well everyone is compared to me!). It's not their inate ability that differs them from us (high h'cappers), it's their understanding and confidence in their own game and abilities.

Some of the older guys that I've played use drivers for 160 yard shots. And I've often thought that they're over-clubed. But no. It goes straight. They know exactly where they're going to put the ball, and put it there. Their short game is normally excellent, being able to chip to within feet from the hole almost everytime. They also rarely score more than a bogey on a bad hole.

They're not great golfers, ie, swing not elegant, etc. But they know how far every club will go exactly. They're incredibly frustrating to play with, as they appear to take no risks what-so-ever, hit the ball a very short distance for the club used, and constantly rack up a good score!

I can't wait to be that annoying to younger players!!

I know that I should learn from their examples. But a bad shot is a bad shot for me. Regardless if I'm trying to send it 200 plus yards, or 100 yards. So I might as well send it on it's way nearer the hole.

 

[stevek1969]

A couple of years ago a played in the works golf day with a guy who played of +2 what an educcation in golf that was every iron was right at the pin he went round in 68 2 under par and said he didnt play well i was happy with a net 68 that day just lets you see how they think.

 

[Herbie]

Im a go for it sort of player but sometimes I can come to the course with almost a tired manner of play where I dont pull any trees up but I often play my best golf, I find it hard to hold off the urge to go for one and instead,lay up sometimes, its the penalty for being able to do it in the past far more frequently than I can now.

The mental side of golf is the area for me that costs me quite a few strokes sometimes

 

[RGDave]

add....

I did read once upon a time that you should add 4 shots to your score when playing around your own course because you know it like the back of your hand, so 5 over is really equivalent of 9 over on any other course

I don't know where you read that but that is utter crap.

Yup.....my best scores have been around non-home courses. I can see where the thought came from but I'm a bit worse round my track.....it often works against you to know where the trouble lies, better to go out and optimistically bosh the thing.....

 

[RGDave]

I'd need an hour and four pages to give this one justice.

All I can say is that good players always seem to have a putt for par and just when they are "regretting" back to back bogeys, they always find a birdie around the corner.

(Gits)

Ooohhh, and they hit a lot of greens from "nowhere".....freaks......

Only joking.....I just watch and admire.....

 

[Herbie]

I'd need an hour and four pages to give this one justice.

All I can say is that good players always seem to have a putt for par and just when they are "regretting" back to back bogeys, they always find a birdie around the corner.

(Gits)

Ooohhh, and they hit a lot of greens from "nowhere".....freaks......

Only joking.....I just watch and admire.....

Hey I can do this sort of golf now and again, usually just before I play the other kind of golf