Some people take golf way to seriously

[shanker]

But seriously.....who is Benny?

For those that don't know, be grateful,
For those that do, let sleeping dogs . . . guys.

It's too easy to rouse the beast

Viscount. You're right about sleeping dogs. But, where is Benny?

 

[haplesshacker]

Just no one say his name 3 times whilst looking in the mirror at midnight.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I can see the advantages of playing a solo round either first thing in the morning or late in the evening and maybe carry two drivers or a couple of putters/wedges and don't really see that as breaking the rules but more a case of an on course practice session. However whilst the rules say a amximum of 14 then that is what we adhere to. I can see the argument about taking one more out in a social game as the original thread indicated and to a point I wouldn't have a problem as long as you didn't then take ages on each shot trying to work out what to use.

I think the comments about less being more are spot on. A 1/2 set every so often is good for the soul and the game. 170 yards with a choice of 5 iron or 3 wood is a challenge I've frequently faced and solved using both clubs and widely differing shots

 

[happyhacker]

I miss Benny!

Benny! Benny! Benny! (Looks behind the sofa)

 

[RGuk]

I've been reading this forum for a while but this is my first post.

Try ditching half your clubs and your scoring will not suffer unless you are a pro or a good scratch amateur. It might even imrove as you are focusing on just hitting the ball instead of wasting time trying to decide whether you should hit an 8 or a 9 iron when, in fact, you are not a consistent enough ball striker for it to really make any difference over the course of a round.

Whoops, not a stellar start. What do you play off?

Waste time choosing between 2 irons??? I think not. All those lovely birdies and pin-high approach shots.......they don't happen by accident.....what are you trying to say......

As much as it might surprise you, even quite high h'cap players actually DO hit fairly consistent distances.

Last game I played I hit 10 greens for an 81......with only 1/2 a set, that wouldn't have happened.

 

[Herbie]

Its like most rules, they are there to set a balance by which we can all be equal.

Where does it stop? I can think of at least 30 different or variations on different clubs, would anyone want to carry that many? lol

If during a match someone had a 15th club and used it to take a particular shot the others would have the ligitimate argument that they may not have been able to produce the shot and result if they only had 14 clubs. If everyone had unlimited clubs in their bag someone would always have something someone else didnt and the same argument would be there, so it would continue on and on and on, plus caddys or golfers with hernias lol.So a standard by which we all play is fair as could be.

In my view most people will not use more than half their clubs in the bag in the average round but it is handy to have others for those unusual circumstances providing you dont have more than 14, I would love to compete against someone who had more clubs as I would wait till they teed off before telling them and the penalty could reduce the competition, if you get the habbit of having more in your bag you will go to a comp doing it sooner or later.

Most of the varied clubs you can buy other than standard set are simply a must have because Phil Mickleson used one but are not essential.

If you learn the game well you will find that you wont need even a full standard set during most rounds for almost any shot. People buy a lot of stuff, favour their use, get comfy with them but never try to produce the same results with standard clubs.

When I play well I dont need anything more than Driver, Recovery wood, 7 iron down to PW and thats it, 6 clubs and a putter and even if I cock up I could still manage with that lot.

 

[RGuk]

PS...where is benny?

"He came needing therapy, with a devil on his shoulder, he left as an angel with his posts in my spam folder".

Whoaa.....random poetry.....

 

[Herbie]

I've been reading this forum for a while but this is my first post.

Try ditching half your clubs and your scoring will not suffer unless you are a pro or a good scratch amateur. It might even imrove as you are focusing on just hitting the ball instead of wasting time trying to decide whether you should hit an 8 or a 9 iron when, in fact, you are not a consistent enough ball striker for it to really make any difference over the course of a round.

Whoops, not a stellar start. What do you play off?

Waste time choosing between 2 irons??? I think not. All those lovely birdies and pin-high approach shots.......they don't happen by accident.....what are you trying to say......

As much as it might surprise you, even quite high h'cap players actually DO hit fairly consistent distances.

Last game I played I hit 10 greens for an 81......with only 1/2 a set, that wouldn't have happened.

By consistant I think he means accuracy both dist and line. In my opinion if high h/c were consistant hitters they wouldnt be high h/cappers
Im not that consistant on dist or accuracy and never have been but Ive been accurate enough and consistant enough to get down to 6h/c once upon a time and 9h/c now.lol

 

[Troy]

I've been reading this forum for a while but this is my first post.

Try ditching half your clubs and your scoring will not suffer unless you are a pro or a good scratch amateur. It might even imrove as you are focusing on just hitting the ball instead of wasting time trying to decide whether you should hit an 8 or a 9 iron when, in fact, you are not a consistent enough ball striker for it to really make any difference over the course of a round.

Whoops, not a stellar start. What do you play off?

Waste time choosing between 2 irons??? I think not. All those lovely birdies and pin-high approach shots.......they don't happen by accident.....what are you trying to say......

As much as it might surprise you, even quite high h'cap players actually DO hit fairly consistent distances.

Last game I played I hit 10 greens for an 81......with only 1/2 a set, that wouldn't have happened.

14.

And high or mid handicappers do not hit the ball consistent distances. If they did, they would be off low single figures. Unless they were consistently hitting it about 15 yards.

I'm sure that if I hit an 6 iron perfectly, it'll go about the same distance every time. However, there's a good chance that I'll hit it very slightly thin or very slightly fat or pull it or push it. And I'm not a bad player. I very rarely top a shot or completely mishit it. The last time I played I took 79 and hit 8 greens in regulation. And that was with a half set. Try it.

 

[viscount17]

And high or mid handicappers do not hit the ball consistent distances. If they did, they would be off low single figures. Unless they were consistently hitting it about 15 yards.

when I strike cleanly distances are reasonably consistent. it's the mis-strikes and line that cause me problems.

off the par 3 7th, I can regularly get the required distance, it's just that it might be left of the green (where they've now decided to plant some trees!), on the green or (perturbingly too frequently) right of the green aka the lake.

 

[RGuk]

14.

And high or mid handicappers do not hit the ball consistent distances. If they did, they would be off low single figures. Unless they were consistently hitting it about 15 yards.

The last time I played I took 79 and hit 8 greens in regulation. And that was with a half set. Try it.

I'm surprised. Not so long ago, I spent the best part of 2 hours on the course grass range and hit 21 balls (one tube)with each club to see the difference in distance. I posted the results and a low-res picture taken with my mobile.
5 yards difference with GW, less than 10 yards difference(total) with 7 iron.
What causes the problem is the direction for me.

Your assumption that a 12 player would be off low single figures with consistent distance is not something I would subscribe to.

I know plenty of guys who play off 10-14 who are nearly always more-or-less pin-high. I'm surprised that a keen 14 h'cap would have such a negative outlook. If you can play to less than 80 with a couple of clubs and a putter, great, but to my mind, the evidence would suggest that direction is more of an issue to mid-players than distance.
I've played with 3 clubs, 5 clubs, 1/2 a set, whatever....never going to be as good as a set of every iron 5-SW.
Perhaps you should try the experiment yourself of hitting 20 balls with one club and strolling down the practice ground to see the results...you might be impressed with your own ability.

 

[RGuk]

By consistant I think he means accuracy both dist and line. In my opinion if high h/c were consistant hitters they wouldnt be high h/cappers

Clearly, if you fairly consistent with both, you'd be looking at 10, 15? max.

I was just surprsied the on a first post, someone suggests that mid-h'cap players should not waste their time selecting the best iron for a given situation. First rule of half-decent golf, play with your head, use your course management experience, trust your distances and let it flow. Making a good choice about which iron to hit should potentialy make your life easier????

 

[Herbie]

Direction is a problem for me all the time lol. So is distance if Im not on form.

Hitting 20 balls in a row from the same spot is nothing like walking down a fairway with your bag, assessing distance, addressing from a completely new spot and perception and hitting a ball.

If you were to measure distances hit in that situation over a year for example you would find a very very varied range per club.

A top player who hits 156yds with 8 iron on a practice ground will be very likely to hit 155 to 157 on any golf course during play, I cant do that which is one reason Im off 9.

A top player will also be as accurate on the practice ground as in a game, I am very very accurate on a range but not during any particular round of golf by comparison. Another reason why Im not a pro.

 

[RGuk]

If you were to measure distances hit in that situation over a year for example you would find a very very varied range per club.

How varied are you thinking.....very, very? Not me.
The consistency is exactly the same.....about 7 or 8 yards on 7/8/9 at a guess.
Maybe this is because I don't hit it so far?? smaller margin either way?
t.b.h. once I've selected the club taking into account the full info, I don't remember coming up short or long of the green in years. Just doesn't happen. I might miss the green left or right, but 15 yards short or long (on a 30 yd green), no.
Are you also into the theory it's about luck?? I can't believe that from a good player (as you obviously are).