Plan for lowering your handicap

[MadAdey]

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.

Because if you ask any Tour pro what distance to they prefer to lay up to they will all have different answers. Can I play a 50 yard pitch shot? Of course I can. I prefer though to lay up at either 30 yards or 100 yards. So a nice little pitch with my GW or a smooth 3/4 knockdown with my GW. Why waste time trying to practice a distance when you have another one that is better for you.

You mentioned stats, take a look at some of these:

Mickleson who is a pretty good golfer averages 13'10" with shots from 50-75 yards, but 12'6" with shots from 75-100 yards.
World No1 Jason Day averages 13'6" from 50-75 yards, but 10'2" from 75-100 yards.
Mcilroy averages 13'5" from 50-75 yards, but 15'10" from 75-100 yards.
Dustin has his best average results with shots from 100-125 yards
Stenson is best with shots from 50-75 yards
Speith is deadly from 50-75 yards

OK, so I could go on and on listing every player, but do you get my point? A player will have a distance that works for them and it delivers the best results. There is no correct layup distance, the only correct layup distance is the one that suits you best. What you need to remember is we all hit our clubs different distances, where I may hit a GW from, another player might have a 9i/8i in there hand. They probably hit there 9i just as accurate as me, difference being is I am coming in from 150 yards where they are coming in from 120 yards.

I'm not saying your wrong, but I know my own game and how to play it. All I am saying is that you need to find out what distance is perfect for your own wedge shots.

 

[SaintHacker]

I'm going to concentrate on hitting more GIR thus giving me more birdie opportunities. That and stop turning one bad shot into a cricket score...

 

[PaulyMcK]

This will be my Third season playing golf. Last season I didn't play one Comp atall so retained my Handicap of 24. Since then I have actually changed my course. Loving the change at the moment.

The plan to lower the handicap is to play as many Comps as possible, I'm trying to work on a Practice routine for the next month or two where I work on my Striking and Longer clubs at the Golf Range, then as the nights get lighter, I will spend more time during the week playing practice rounds and working on my short game. Also finally as the season officially starts I will spend more time on my putting, so planning on making a routine and just getting out to play to have fun and to enjoy my new Club membership.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

This will be my Third season playing golf. Last season I didn't play one Comp atall so retained my Handicap of 24. Since then I have actually changed my course. Loving the change at the moment.

The plan to lower the handicap is to play as many Comps as possible, I'm trying to work on a Practice routine for the next month or two where I work on my Striking and Longer clubs at the Golf Range, then as the nights get lighter, I will spend more time during the week playing practice rounds and working on my short game. Also finally as the season officially starts I will spend more time on my putting, so planning on making a routine and just getting out to play to have fun and to enjoy my new Club membership.

If you didn't play last year in a competition you need to make sure your handicap is still active or you'll need to put three cards in to reactivate it

 

[Fish]

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

I'll set you 2 new goals, try & stop saying Erm and ffs sit on your hands 😜

 

[Danielms]

Booked in for my first set of lessons in a fair few years.

He is planning a structured practise for me as well. Think this will be mainly short game based.

Stick with kit that works rather than chasing the latest and greatest and struggling

 

[MendieGK]

I'll set you 2 new goals, try & stop saying Erm and ffs sit on your hands 

His thighs must have been so sore after filming the amount he slapped them with his hands!

 

[Capella]

Winters are always difficult for me, as far as practice is concerned. Short game facilities at our club are closed due to the weather, the range is awfully cold and exposed, facing straight into wind, and there are no public driving ranges or other training facilities in the area, so I am normally happy enough if I get to the course to play 9 or 18 holes once a week. So all work on my full swing and short game is postponed until temperatures go up and daylight comes back. At the moment I go to the gym three times a week, hoping that more physical strength and mobility will give me a bit more distance, which is actually the most important area in my game that needs to improve at the moment anyway.

 

[Hobbit]

I'm contemplating a lesson. I feel as though my swing resembles an octopus putting on a sweater in a phone box. It's got so loose and raggedy. I want to see it on vid.

 

[huds1475]

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?...

Think you need a blog/vlog as well Greig.

And possibly a 'wacky' side-kick.

Then you'll be proper bo :thup:

 

[Fish]

His thighs must have been so sore after filming the amount he slapped them with his hands!

I thought he was auditioning for Blackadder :smirk:

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I thought he was auditioning for Blackadder :smirk:

You're a hard man. Very self-conscious at the best of times and this was very difficult for me. Wasn't the first (by a long chalk effort) but I'll um, take what you, um said, um, on board :thup: