bobmac
Major Champion
Start on the second
Single figure handicaps
- Thread starter matt01
- Start date
Start on the second
Society_Fan
Head Pro
Of course you have to practice, improve technique and all that, but the last thing you want to do is be thinking about where your right elbow is on the down swing (that only takes a split second).
To get the best out of your ability I suggest that you read Bob Rotella's book, "Golf is not a game of perfect", and put 5 key principles in to play (Really easy if you believe in what he is saying). One of his stories is about a golfer (usually shoots in the high 90s, and never broke 90 before), got an ex tour pro to caddy for him and talk him through the round if necessary. The guy thought his swing must be looking good as the Pro did not mention it for the whole round, so just concentrated on getting the ball in the hole with the Pros excellent course management. The guy shot 79 on the day and learnt a great lesson.
Good luck and read the book.
P.S. I'n not even on commission.
To get the best out of your ability I suggest that you read Bob Rotella's book, "Golf is not a game of perfect", and put 5 key principles in to play (Really easy if you believe in what he is saying). One of his stories is about a golfer (usually shoots in the high 90s, and never broke 90 before), got an ex tour pro to caddy for him and talk him through the round if necessary. The guy thought his swing must be looking good as the Pro did not mention it for the whole round, so just concentrated on getting the ball in the hole with the Pros excellent course management. The guy shot 79 on the day and learnt a great lesson.
Good luck and read the book.
P.S. I'n not even on commission.
Macster
Journeyman Pro
and another vote for Bob Rotella's book, its a good read.
In fact, I'm gonna read it again
In fact, I'm gonna read it again
RichE
Club Champion
I agree with a lot of the comments already made and i think, like any sport, if you have started from an early age and got a good grounding early on plus have a natural talent, that for me is the key difference between the good low handicappers and the really good (4 to +X) golfers - no offence to anyone off 5 or higher!!
I also think anyone who is able to put the effort in with coaching and regular practice and play can achieve a very low handicap.
Only contributing factor against a lot of us doing this is work, family and other commitments.
A friend of mine once made a comment - "how good do you want to get?"
What he meant was that for the handicap i'd achieved at the time (8) through going to the driving range/ practice area once a week and the 1 maybe 2 rounds of golf per week that was pretty good and left a good balance of time for everything else.
I suppose we have to be realistic about what we can achieve with the time we have given everything else we have to deal with.
I also think anyone who is able to put the effort in with coaching and regular practice and play can achieve a very low handicap.
Only contributing factor against a lot of us doing this is work, family and other commitments.
A friend of mine once made a comment - "how good do you want to get?"
What he meant was that for the handicap i'd achieved at the time (8) through going to the driving range/ practice area once a week and the 1 maybe 2 rounds of golf per week that was pretty good and left a good balance of time for everything else.
I suppose we have to be realistic about what we can achieve with the time we have given everything else we have to deal with.
S
Snelly
Guest
I agree with plenty of the above. I lived at the golf club in the school summer hols - 36 holes a day and some good coaching plus being generally a reasonable sportsman gave me a decent swing.
I don't play much golf and never practice any more and have probably played one round every five weeks over the course of the last two or three years. I am going to play more next year though....
Anyway, my long game is very good and also consistent and I think this just comes down to having a decent, grooved swing. However, my short game really suffers when I don't play regularly. Pitching was never my strongest suit and it tends to be a bit patchy. My chipping really goes downhill in a lay-off though and becomes the worst aspect of my game. This is especially frsustrating as I have been a good chipper all my golfing life when playing often. The good news is that it comes back to form pretty quickly as the "feel" returns.
Putting stays the same really. I find the adjustments on putting relate more to the condition of the green etc.
I don't play much golf and never practice any more and have probably played one round every five weeks over the course of the last two or three years. I am going to play more next year though....
Anyway, my long game is very good and also consistent and I think this just comes down to having a decent, grooved swing. However, my short game really suffers when I don't play regularly. Pitching was never my strongest suit and it tends to be a bit patchy. My chipping really goes downhill in a lay-off though and becomes the worst aspect of my game. This is especially frsustrating as I have been a good chipper all my golfing life when playing often. The good news is that it comes back to form pretty quickly as the "feel" returns.
Putting stays the same really. I find the adjustments on putting relate more to the condition of the green etc.
DMC
Challenge Tour Pro
I played a lot as a junior and through practice,blind luck and an understanding wife,i have maintained a single figure h/cap for a while now.
RGDave
Money List Winner
I wish I'd played as a kid. Took it up at 23, it seems to make quite a difference.
