Plan for lowering your handicap

[Adonaldson90]

I got back into golf after a few years away from the game at the end of last year. I was given my old handicap, 11.0. I played 3 competitions before the end of the year and I now feel I am getting comfortable again playing at 11.

This year I have set an optimistic but achievable handicap target of 8

I was wondering what people's approaches were of lowering their handicap's....obviously practice but what specifically.

The reason I ask is everyone has a different theory or story so I wanted to know if anyone had some proven success stories of how they lowered their handicap and the way they practiced to do so

 

[BristolMike]

My plan is to actually get to the course a bit before my tee time so I'm not rushing and can actually warm up. Last year I wasn't planning very well and a lot of the time it was a jog to the first tee from the car, then the first drive topped or OB. It took a few holes to settle into it and by then a really good score was out of the equation. That and working on keeping my drives in play. I think that will help me drop

 

[londonlewis]

Not sure yet. Just bought a 2 iron so will be practicing a bit with that.

I've also been working hard on drawing the ball, so will take that to the course this year and see how it fares.

Just had a second kid though so I am not expecting to really make much of an impact.

 

[Adonaldson90]

My thoughts where to spend a lot of time working on my game from 150yards in. Maybe go to the driving range once a week to keep my drives consistent but spend a lot more time on the practice area working on putting, chipping and approach shots.

I am thinking about getting a few pro lessons as well to maybe point me in the right direction on things to work on

 

[bobmac]

How do you rate your approach play from 100yds and under?

 

[Khamelion]

I'm just going to play golf, if my HC comes down then so be it, if it goes up then so be it, but overall just play more golf, use the swing aid I got for Xmas when practicing and I've also got a Rick Shiels lesson to take at some point from my H4H auction win, really hope the lesson is not vlogged, or if it is he has a really good slo mo camera, 6000 fps should do lol*

Getting the swing speed comment in before someone else does.

 

[GreiginFife]

My plan is to buy loads of new gear with loads of tech, switch to aim point, get loads of training aids and some gps apps on my phone, take screeds of lessons, get a coach and a psychologist and maybe have some time to actually play golf in amongst all that.
What could possibly go wrong?...

 

[Adonaldson90]

honestly its inconsistent. There are days when I feel confidents dropping it at the pin and then days where I feel like I would be happy anywhere on the green.

It used to be the strongest part of my game but I would say since I have started playing again it is the weakest. The good thing is I used to be very inconsistent with the driver but since I have started playing again I rarely lose a ball off the tea. I tend to play safe a little too much still though off the tea. I play on an out and back course and there is generally out of bounds/danger on the right of every hole. I find myself aiming left to be safe but at the moment the drives are going straight so I am in the left semi a lot. I need to be more confident to aim down the middle

 

[pokerjoke]

I'm just going to play golf, if my HC comes down then so be it, if it goes up then so be it, but overall just play more golf, use the swing aid I got for Xmas when practicing and I've also got a Rick Shiels lesson to take at some point from my H4H auction win, really hope the lesson is not vlogged, or if it is he has a really good slo mo camera, 6000 fps should do lol*

Getting the swing speed comment in before someone else does.

So your not really going to just play golf then

A swing aid and a lesson hardly equates to just playing now does it:ears:

No goals no glory Dave

 

[Khamelion]

So your not really going to just play golf then

A swing aid and a lesson hardly equates to just playing now does it:ears:

No goals no glory Dave

When I wrote playing golf, I did mean it in the loosest sense of the word.

 

[ger147]

I got back into golf after a few years away from the game at the end of last year. I was given my old handicap, 11.0. I played 3 competitions before the end of the year and I now feel I am getting comfortable again playing at 11.

This year I have set an optimistic but achievable handicap target of 8

I was wondering what people's approaches were of lowering their handicap's....obviously practice but what specifically.

The reason I ask is everyone has a different theory or story so I wanted to know if anyone had some proven success stories of how they lowered their handicap and the way they practiced to do so

Play as much as possible.

Between my home course and opens away from home, I'm hoping to manage about 35-40 qualifiers this year with no other specific targets in mind. Just play as much as I can and my handicap should take care of itself.

 

[El Diablo]

For me, I plan to play as much as I can and probably a similar level of qualifiers as last year (50+) which meant my handicap went up (first 6 months unabated) and down a lot - but found a new lower level.

Been having some lessons so focussing on key aspects from those, and moving onto areas of my game where I lack confidence and skill (I think some skill is there but the lack of confidence hurts at times) which could give the most bang for the practice effort.

Key is playing more often though as confidence on the course is a massive positive factor for me.

Never hit the ball straighter than I do these days and no loss in distance and that has been a big factor.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Play as much as you can which is what I plan to do this year. I want to work hard from 100 yards and in and on my putting and that's what I'll spend most of my practice on. I'm having some lessons between now and Easter (our first big event of the season) and just going out with no preconceptions and just enjoying it and trusting what I've learned in the lessons and my practice,

In reality there's no short cut to getting cut

 

[pokerjoke]

Play as much as you can which is what I plan to do this year. I want to work hard from 100 yards and in and on my putting and that's what I'll spend most of my practice on. I'm having some lessons between now and Easter (our first big event of the season) and just going out with no preconceptions and just enjoying it and trusting what I've learned in the lessons and my practice,

In reality there's no short cut to getting cut

Glad to see your over your illness and planning to get out more.

No more excuses now just time to deliver.

 

[bladeplayer]

From personal experience id say dont stress too much re handicap , i got realy hung up on getting to cat 1 a cpl of years ago , id gotten to 6 and "had" to get to 5 .. i didnt & to complicate things i stopped enjoying golf ,

so this year i used our winter league to try out practice , im going out with a positivity (sp)of i can make the shots , i can sink the putts etc but if i dont on any given day so what , i will the next day ,

I believe im good enough to get to 5 but im just gona relax on the course and enjoy golf whilst trying to do so

 

[Dasit]

Play loads

read some good literature

practice with more purpose

hoping for big things this year, a lot of wins and big cuts

 

[MadAdey]

We got into this a little bit on a another thread so I am probably repeating a lot of what I said before.

A couple of years ago I had a really good look into my game to identify my strengths and weaknesses, so I could play more to my strengths. Things that I found was I am more accurate with a fuller swing than leaving a 50 yard pitch, so I tend to club back on par 4s from the tee to not leave me with these half wedge shots. I was also loosing shots by always hitting driver and getting into trouble on tighter holes when a 3w or rescue will leave me with a fuller shot.

IMO if you want to make the step into shooting consistent rounds in the 70's then you need to identify your strengths and weaknesses and learn to play smarter golf

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I've set some goals for my practice on what I want/need to work on in conjunction with lessons. After that and once we're open again and not on temp greens it's about getting out and doing it. Structured practice and freedom when playing. Let's see what I can do with that

 

[Dasit]

We got into this a little bit on a another thread so I am probably repeating a lot of what I said before.

A couple of years ago I had a really good look into my game to identify my strengths and weaknesses, so I could play more to my strengths. Things that I found was I am more accurate with a fuller swing than leaving a 50 yard pitch, so I tend to club back on par 4s from the tee to not leave me with these half wedge shots. I was also loosing shots by always hitting driver and getting into trouble on tighter holes when a 3w or rescue will leave me with a fuller shot.

IMO if you want to make the step into shooting consistent rounds in the 70's then you need to identify your strengths and weaknesses and learn to play smarter golf

Just out of interest, why would you not work on your 50 yard and other pitch shots, instead of favouring leaving a longer approach.

From looking at PGA stats for 2016, the median guy (~90th/185) from 50-75 yards left the same distance from the hole as the very best guy from 100-125 yards.

 

[KenL]

If you play an inland course that takes a while to get into its best condition you might not want to play too many medals before May.

Opens are often hard or your handicap, although I feel they are worth it.

Work on your short game and especially your putting. Swing slow and smooth and don't try to pull off once in a lifetime shots.

Good luck.