Piece
Tour Winner
Jeez, I actually agree with almost all of that humungus post! 
Now I need a timesheet code to book to as it took so long to read...
Now I need a timesheet code to book to as it took so long to read...
The Timgolfy Method v The Tiger Method
- Thread starter Tiger
- Start date
HRC99
Journeyman Pro
Good read that, Tim and well put.
I'm not even sure that, Tiger, you have a method. You've been around a while and have only managed to get to a 27 handicap. I think it's definitely time for a change of approach!
I'm not even sure that, Tiger, you have a method. You've been around a while and have only managed to get to a 27 handicap. I think it's definitely time for a change of approach!
HogansAlley
Assistant Pro
A good read most of this. I go with Tiger, for my simple belief that the short game gets the ball in the hole, which is the whole idea. This is how to score consistantly.
There's something of a snob factor at work here too. Some folks seem to believe in a perfect game of fairways and greens, as someone often quoted on here said; golf is not a game of perfect.
There's something of a snob factor at work here too. Some folks seem to believe in a perfect game of fairways and greens, as someone often quoted on here said; golf is not a game of perfect.
richy
Journeyman Pro
Not a bad post Tim. I think that if they were more like that then people wouldn't take a dislike to you. But hey "don't go changin!"
SatchFan
Q-School Graduate
Tim. Spot on and very well put. I can confirm I am Player A.
Tiger
Money List Winner
Touché.
Though in my defence it was a combination of cost and fear over choice!I do try but I have a 4.5 hr commute three days a week and a young son. We have one family car so a lot of my golf is dictated by circumstance so short game practice or a round is easier than getting to the range (my course doesn't have one).
Goal wise the aspiration is still to get to scratch but the realistic ambition is to be Cat 1. I certainly feel the latter is achievable. However, my focus is just on getting better whatever number I reach will correlate to the level I've reached.
When I said I was going to work on short game a lot of folk said it was the way forward. That feeling is replicated in this thread. However, I look at how others have progressed and think if I'd worked on long game instead my handicap would be lower.
You are of course forgetting one little detail which affects golf a fair bit.. THE WEATHER.
Saying a 440 yard hole is a drive and a wedge is maybe misguided and having a wedge in your hand also qualifies as short game.
Example, 420 par four yesterday into a hammering wind. Driver 255 onto the slightly raised fairway (which was sweetly hit and I am not exactly short off the tee) 420-255=165 (good 8 iron usually in calm). I hit a 4 iron really well and it just about landed and stopped 3 feet onto the green, 25 feet from the pin, I walked off with a 5 such was the slope and wind sweeping the surface.
Point of my story...?
For handicappers, every shot is Risk-Reward, especially in the windy weather we get most of the year round, unlike pro's who have a very good idea of where practically every shot is going to end up.
In a nutshell, you are placing too much emphasis on one area of your game. No matter what you do it will never be perfect so it might be prudent to examine the weaknesses in your game and fix them now rather than practice blasting the udders off cows in the other field beyond the fence at the range.
Saying a 440 yard hole is a drive and a wedge is maybe misguided and having a wedge in your hand also qualifies as short game.
Example, 420 par four yesterday into a hammering wind. Driver 255 onto the slightly raised fairway (which was sweetly hit and I am not exactly short off the tee) 420-255=165 (good 8 iron usually in calm). I hit a 4 iron really well and it just about landed and stopped 3 feet onto the green, 25 feet from the pin, I walked off with a 5 such was the slope and wind sweeping the surface.
Point of my story...?
For handicappers, every shot is Risk-Reward, especially in the windy weather we get most of the year round, unlike pro's who have a very good idea of where practically every shot is going to end up.
In a nutshell, you are placing too much emphasis on one area of your game. No matter what you do it will never be perfect so it might be prudent to examine the weaknesses in your game and fix them now rather than practice blasting the udders off cows in the other field beyond the fence at the range.
granters
Q-School Graduate
Great post Tim, but i still don't agree! You did speak a lot more sense than usual though.
Most amateur golfers, like 99% on here will never reach a level where they will hit 15-16 greens a round. A sound short game is always required, no matter how well you are playing. If/when you join a club, you'll maybe have the round of your life, but i guarrantee you there will still be one shot you think you left out there- more time than not from a missed putt, or poor chip.
A short game holds your round together, even when the chips are down.
Most amateur golfers, like 99% on here will never reach a level where they will hit 15-16 greens a round. A sound short game is always required, no matter how well you are playing. If/when you join a club, you'll maybe have the round of your life, but i guarrantee you there will still be one shot you think you left out there- more time than not from a missed putt, or poor chip.
A short game holds your round together, even when the chips are down.
Tiger
Money List Winner
HRC I think you may well be right it could be time to change approach. For the record my method was to work from green to tee. Solid putting - chipping - pitching - mid iron - long iron etc...
The whole reason I started the thread is that I'm increasingly convinced that spending more time at the range hitting balls will make a big difference.
Tim I like your thinking fella. Really interesting post. I'm playing nine holes tonight, lesson on Sunday and medal next week. If it all goes belly up, I'm adapting to include elements of Tim's approach. A few months ago McIlroy came out and said he didn't think the short game was important as if you hit GIR you are quids in...
For the record my method was to work from green to tee. Solid putting - chipping - pitching - mid iron - long iron etc... The whole reason I started the thread is that I'm increasingly convinced that spending more time at the range hitting balls will make a big difference.
Tim I like your thinking fella. Really interesting post. I'm playing nine holes tonight, lesson on Sunday and medal next week. If it all goes belly up, I'm adapting to include elements of Tim's approach. A few months ago McIlroy came out and said he didn't think the short game was important as if you hit GIR you are quids in...
Which he proved but never ever think of amateur golfers as even close to that lads talent. I don't think he was giving advice to high handicap golfers nor novices.
bobmac
Major Champion
So to sum up...
If you hit it long and straight, you have more birdie chances and a good short game helps you make par when your long game lets you down?
If you hit it long and straight, you have more birdie chances and a good short game helps you make par when your long game lets you down?
Aztecs27
Money List Winner
It should also be noted that since saying that his short game (bunker play especially) has improved markedly.
coolhand
Head Pro
Makes sense to me.
coolhand
Head Pro
You have spoken well Oh wise one.
RGDave
Money List Winner
Word! (bro')
Tiger
Money List Winner
Wouldn't dream of it...but if he does go on to dominate the game will that change people's perceptions of how to get better at golf?
HRC99
Journeyman Pro
So to sum up...
If you hit it long and straight, you have more birdie chances and a good short game helps you make par when your long game lets you down?
Shut up, Bob.
Don't bring your sensible thinking here.There's just no place for it on this forum!
RGDave
Money List Winner
So to sum up...
If you hit it long and straight, you have more birdie chances and a good short game helps you make par when your long game lets you down?
or, in the case of mere mortals.
If you hit it.....straight (ish), you have more par and birdie chances and a good short game helps you save bogey when your long game lets you down?
HRC99
Journeyman Pro
HRC I think you may well be right it could be time to change approach.
The whole reason I started the thread is that I'm increasingly convinced that spending more time at the range hitting balls will make a big difference.
I'd pretty much lost my swing for a bit but a couple of hundred balls at the range just working on rhythm and timing did wonders for me.
And what exactly does he know about anything. Just tell me what he's ever won. Oh.....
bobmac
Major Champion
That's called 'reverse chaining', a teaching method used by many professionals.
