What do you think is your golf handicap ceiling?

[MadAdey]

I agree with your approach, but would suggest that in practical terms the 2 levels are maximum potential and the lowest you actually achieve

the gap between the 2 reflecting time & effort (appllication), coaching and probably opportunity is in there somewhere (money etc)

That is more or less what I am talking about I just call a realistic potential. The last paragraph of my post is explaining what I think that is and comment about all the external factors that can influence the level we can realistically achieve.

 

[MadAdey]

Ah ok guess we are both saying the same thing then. I thought you were saying that your average club golfer "couldn't" improve beyond a certain level regardless of what they did but you were saying based on certain limiting factors they can only get so far. I was being a bit more theoretical/hypothetical and saying that the vast majority of people will never find out what their ceiling level is because of the other limiting factors of life in general. Apologies for the confusion.

Sorry mate when I read back I realised that we were saying the same thing just in different ways.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I have regular lessons and practice regularly because I'm not blessed with a huge amount of natural ability. Same for all the sports I've been half decent at and only got to the levels I did by working on my tenchnique, training or practicing hard and through sheer bloody mindedness. I've got to 10 without a real short game to talk of and the shots I do play are very one dimensional. The aim this year is to focus significantly on the scoring zone from 100 yards and in, bunker play and chipping and putting. I have an aim of 8 but feel there could be a 6-7 if the swing changes bed in and I can get a stellar short game.

Can I go lower. Of course. Physically I'm not in too bad a shape and I've still got a healthy work ethic towards my practice. Who knows where I can get to. Once you accept you've reached your limits I think you are accepting failure and settling for second best

 

[chrisd]

I'd be happy to get to 8 and will be working hard to try and get there

 

[macca64]

I'm off 18, 12 i reckon

 

[MadAdey]

I have regular lessons and practice regularly because I'm not blessed with a huge amount of natural ability. Same for all the sports I've been half decent at and only got to the levels I did by working on my tenchnique, training or practicing hard and through sheer bloody mindedness. I've got to 10 without a real short game to talk of and the shots I do play are very one dimensional. The aim this year is to focus significantly on the scoring zone from 100 yards and in, bunker play and chipping and putting. I have an aim of 8 but feel there could be a 6-7 if the swing changes bed in and I can get a stellar short game.

Can I go lower. Of course. Physically I'm not in too bad a shape and I've still got a healthy work ethic towards my practice. Who knows where I can get to. Once you accept you've reached your limits I think you are accepting failure and settling for second best

Please do not take this post the wrong way Homer.

You put a lot of practice in and have regular lessons, how long has your handicap been at 10 for? Have you got to a point where these limitations we have been talking about are affecting the level you could get to? To go lower is it changing the way you practice, getting a different Pro for your lessons or is it more time needed on the practice ground? I know you have said that you have identified something that needs sorting out, so does that mean more time practising or allocating your current practice time differently.

I am only asking as I am interested as people say they feel they have the potential to get lower, but do not specify what they are going to change to do it.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I haven't actually played a qualifier since August Bank holiday so that sort of anwers why the handicap hasn't moved in a nutshell. Actually went from 13-10 last year with the pro I hooked up with in December 2011 so clearly the ceiling hasn't been hit and the practice regime is working.

The short game has held me back. It's a case of allocating more time to the scoring zone now that I can trust the swing changes I've made enough to play with what I have. If it goes pear shaped I'll get a lesson to fix what should be a small glitch and allocate time and resources accordingly.

Interesting you seem to have plenty say on how others conduct their approach to the game and you are still at 10. Just saying :mmm:

 

[Andy808]

Does hitting the range ceiling count?
Seriously though I don't have the money for a great deal of lessons, time to practice as much as I would like to and probably took the game up too old. I hope to get to mid to low teens then I think I would have got to were I would can get to.

 

[Crow]

My goal is to get to the mystical single figures but I wonder if I've peaked already at 11.

Last year I was very hopeful and started the season okay but then just hit a brick wall. I struggled to even make the buffer and with the amount of practice and play I can afford to put in I can't see how I can make the diference to get to single figures.

 

[MadAdey]

Interesting you seem to have plenty say on how others conduct their approach to the game and you are still at 10. Just saying :mmm:

Very valid point Homer. Here is my story then and maybe that will explain why I am still on 10.

Got a handicap again in August 2010 after not playing for a few years after busting my knee up, started to play to it regularly but did not manage any cuts before the comps dried up. I practised and was looking really good going into the 2011 season constantly playing well below my handicap.

Well then it all kicked off in Libya in March 2011 and I had to leave the country until September, so did not hit a ball for nearly 6 months. Had 2 games then destroyed my shoulder. Did not pick up a club again until April 2012 just in time for a quick bit of practice and a couple of rounds before the old farts V whippersnappers match.

So into this season having physio on my has restricted how much golf I can actually play. If I could have got out in some of the comps at the end of the year when I was playing more, I am sure I could have got a little cut out of it.

Now my shoulder is as good as it is going to get and the plan is to sort out the scoring end of the game. I brought 100 premium practice balls from the craw to use on our practice facilities so I can have some good practice time around greens.

So that is my story Homer. It may be a bit more long winded than you expected, but I hope it enlightens you to why my handicap is what it is at the minute.....:thup:

 

[Captainron]

I am with Adey on the natural talent moving you forward quicker than application alone. I played a good standard of cricket and there were plenty of guys who practiced their guts out but didn't have the ability to sustain themselves at the highest level. They still enjoyed the game and contributed to the team. Their contributions (although valuable) were far less frequent and telling than those provided by the guys with the natural ability (this includes mental). Same goes for golf in my opinion. You can only get so good at something before your mind or body stops you from being better. BUT every one of us here will keep going until we eventually hit our 'ceiling'.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Very valid point Homer. Here is my story then and maybe that will explain why I am still on 10.

So that is my story Homer. It may be a bit more long winded than you expected, but I hope it enlightens you to why my handicap is what it is at the minute.....:thup:

Cheers for that. Not what I expected. Like I said haven't played a qualifier for yonks and those I had been playing were blighted by the fact my mum was so ill so each round was a rush to get done, jump in the car to the hospital or her house to spend time with her. Not conducive for good scoring and I wasn't working on my game. I missed out on the meat of the season in terms of the course being at its best and the number of events. I had come down and so the argument could be made that progression and earlier intervention on the short game with my teaching pro might have hit single figures. All conjecture. All I know is I feel I'm hitting well in practice and looking for my first round of 2013 on Saturday to act as a barometer as to where I really am

 

[JustOne]

So that is my story Homer. It may be a bit more long winded than you expected, but I hope it enlightens you to why my handicap is what it is at the minute.....:thup:

So it's not simply cos you're crap?

 

[MadAdey]

Cheers for that. Not what I expected. Like I said haven't played a qualifier for yonks and those I had been playing were blighted by the fact my mum was so ill so each round was a rush to get done, jump in the car to the hospital or her house to spend time with her. Not conducive for good scoring and I wasn't working on my game. I missed out on the meat of the season in terms of the course being at its best and the number of events. I had come down and so the argument could be made that progression and earlier intervention on the short game with my teaching pro might have hit single figures. All conjecture. All I know is I feel I'm hitting well in practice and looking for my first round of 2013 on Saturday to act as a barometer as to where I really am

That is the thing on here with not actually knowing someone, you do not know their story. I did not know that you had come down 3 shots last year, so well done. That is why I asked the question I did, I just wonder how much practice people put in and if they see any improvement or do they need to do it to maintain there current handicap.

 

[MadAdey]

So it's not simply cos you're crap?

mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm maybe something to do with it. But hey I can go out and give anyone a game off that handicap, even if I have not played for a month.

 

[JustOne]

mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm maybe something to do with it. But hey I can go out and give anyone a game off that handicap, even if I have not played for a month.

Bandit! Put some cards in!!!!

 

[MadAdey]

Bandit! Put some cards in!!!!

Bandit... how very dare you. I have not been called that since November when I had 43 points in the swindle..........

 

[palindromicbob]

I feel there is a mid teens handicap in me somewhere. Possibly 13/14 if I put the time in. The way thing are at the moment I think a skirt would be the only way I could have a handicap I could get a cut on.

 

[Bomber69]

I think the problem is there is no formulae to work this out. All you can do is look at what you do now, how much you practice the different areas and what room for potential improvement you have in each area. Break your current golfing abilities down into certain areas and see what it looks like.

I always look at the different areas of the game by handicap category. If I did my current abilities and potential ability in each area it would look something like this. I have looked at these specific areas of the game by what I am like now compared to what I think I could realistically improve to with more practice/lessons.

Driving: Cat 1 - Scratch
Approach: Cat 1 - Scratch
50 yards in: Cat 2 - Cat 1
Chipping: Cat 2 - Cat 1
Putting: Cat 3 - Cat 1

It is pretty obvious what I need to improve if I am to get back to a Cat 1 handicap. My putting is woeful and my shots from 50 yards in could be a bit closer to the hole. I say I am Cat 2 with chipping as I never hole any, but I do more often than not hit it to around easy 1 putt range(that is for someone who can putt though )

Wow.... That is some quality stats there:thup:

I am amazed given the above stats that you are not a Cat 1 golfer or at least play of single figures, your putting must really be in need of some hard work. With stats like that I can only guess you hit green in reg and 3 putt at least 12 greens, might be worth purchasing a new putter:whoo:

 

[MadAdey]

Wow.... That is some quality stats there:thup:

I am amazed given the above stats that you are not a Cat 1 golfer or at least play of single figures, your putting must really be in need of some hard work. With stats like that I can only guess you hit green in reg and 3 putt at least 12 greens, might be worth purchasing a new putter:whoo:

That is why I can easily shoot 2/3 over as I can 10/11 over. If I am having a poor day striking the ball then it is anyones guess at to what the score will be. Problem with this game is hitting the ball long and straight is not going to get you good scores, if it was then I would be pretty close to scratch. My problem is that my short game from 50 yards in is what you would expect off my handicap which straight away can be costing a couple of shots a round. But if you add in the fact that I putt like you would expect someone off a high teen handicap then you get why I am off what I am. To sum it up I am can get it closer with a 6 from 180 yards than I can a wedge from 80.

I do not need a new putter by the way. I have gone back to my old trusty Ping as I am worse with my 2-ball or scotty. Ask Pokerjoke about what my putting was like at Woodhall.....