Take Five People...

[Jonny_Stevenson]

Hi all - just trying to prove (or disprove) a fascinating wee theory I read about.

It's to do with the comfort zones of how we play golf and the people we play with.

So take the five people you play most with and average out their handicaps. (If they have no handicap estimate it)

The theory is that 80% of us fit within three shots of that average. In my case I actually sit right on the average.

Kinda interesting I think in terms of how to improve. i.e. do we stay comfortable at this level and if we were to start playing with golfers would we gradually shift up to that level? Interesting theory and I think there's a lot of truth in it.

So what is your score?

Incidentally the link is here - it's from the site that Farneyman got his tips from:

http://breakparblueprint.com/blog/2008/08/12/take-five-people/

 

[TonyN]

I can well believe this without digging in to it or working it out because, (and I'm sure its the same for 90% of us) whenever I play with lower handicappers I play alot better. If I play with high handicappers, I hack around like a beginner!

I think alot of us are influenced by what we see, well I know I am. If I see the FIL swing a big out to in and I think about it, I normally end up playing a face/slice after him.

I try my hardest now to not focus on his game (I give up giving him advice he doesn't want) and try as hard as I can to keep focused on my own routine/game plan. Most of the time it means looking away whilst he takes his swipe....I mean swing.

 

[USER1999]

House rule, I never watch ugly golf swings. Urgg. Never. Or leftys.

 

[GB72]

I agree with TonyN. I play better when playing with low handicappers. I think I focus more trying to keep up with them.

 

[Parmo]

I concur, when I play with my step son I shoot in the late 80s but when alone or with a low hcp player I shoot high 70s to low 80s. Must be something in it.

 

[Cernunnos]

I was a 28 handicapplayer last year, though I've played under that in the odd works golf day. The Course I was amember of last year never seemed to cut me even when scored an 86 on their parr 68 course..odd

Anyhow, I digress...

People I play with are my missus, who, is does not have a handicap & the lowest she's ever gone round is a 154. So I'll call her a 36 handicap for the sake of argument

My Usual playing partner is around a 20 handicap player, then the other usual player I play with & who to be honest I much prefer to play with is a 12 handicap player.

Then I'll sometimes play a round of golf with my Father, when we go down to see them, he's fallen back from being an 18 handicap to a 20. My Mother plays off 20 too but playes more like a 16 or less & is only her no hitting drives very far, though having watched her, she's capable of hitting much further, so in short

36, 20, 12, 20, 20.

I play my best golf when playing with low handicap golfers& I mean a lot lower than my official

 

[ColinR]

People I play with are my missus, who, is does not have a handicap & the lowest she's ever gone round is a 154.

You must have the patience of a saint !!!!!

 

[Farneyman]

Johny I replied to your question on my thread if you havent checked it out.

I ahve also looked at that clip and it got me thinking. My recent playing partners play off, 13,19,21,17,17.Me now 16.

My winning medal score was shot with a 1 and 4 handicapper which I really enjoyed playing with. Although we cant always pick who we play with I dont feel intimidated playing with low players I feel it helps me concentrate better on my own game. They were also very helpfull during the round and didnt laugh when I lost a ball They play a game at a different level but not one thats unachievable for me to reach one day!

I am going to sign up for his course and looking forward to charting my progress on the forum here to share with everyone.

 

[Cernunnos]

People I play with are my missus, who, is does not have a handicap & the lowest she's ever gone round is a 154.

You must have the patience of a saint !!!!!

It occasionally gets tiresome. However the odd time her diminutive frame manages to catch the ball just right pays dividends. In all honesty I don't play with the other half that often, tends to be holidays & odd weekends through the year. She's keen though she probably gets more frustrated with herself, than I do with her. She's just had some new irons, which have helped her no end, so I'm curious to see how much a differnce they will make. Her old ones the heads were just too heavy for her & these CG Pinks are less likely to cause the breakdown at the top of her swing, at the moments its still a little automatic, but we'reworking on it.

I will say having to watch her play doesn't help my game at all, as I normally try not to watch other peoples swings unless they are a low handicap player or a pro, as I tend to catch swing faults like a cold if I'm not careful, probably explains why I've been suffering with the s***ks since we got back from the hols.

Thing is whether she hits the ball 150 times a round or 200 times, she still get round the course in quite reasonable time, though getting her to do some time saving things occasionally frustaits me more than anything else. What makes it all worth while, when all 6 & a bit stone of 5 ft sinue hits that one driver shot 220 yards, makes it all worth while I get a great sense of satisfaction knowing I've helped her get something good out of her game.

 

[toyboy54]

Tony(wine is starting to kick in)but agree with you!Play with lower h'caps and you do swing slower and better and subconscioulsy copy their swings.Dfo makes a difference!

 

[Jonny_Stevenson]

I think it's absolutely spot on.

I take my hat off to you being able to play with your wife at all let alone shooting 154+. But I think that says more about me that you

The problem with this theory (and I genuinely do think it's a great theory with all sorts of other ramifications) is that you end up having to tell your crap golfing mates to sod off. Which isn't always easy.