What would you say is a realistic 2011 goal?

[Imurg]

my stats from last summer.

Driving
83.3% fairways hit, 5% left, 11.7% Right.

GIR 20.8%

Putts
Per Hole 1.88
Per GIR 2.15

Score by par
Par 3 -4.1
Par 4 -5.3
Par 5 -5.9

Scoring
Birdies 1%
Pars 24%
Bogies 42%
2 Bogies+ 33% <-- 1/3 of my game is pap

So your iron approach shots and your putting are letting you down. You're not hitting enough greens from the fairway and when you do you're 3 putting a lot, hence the 2.15 putts per GIR. Your doubles or worse look like they're coming from missing the green, chipping on and 2 or 3 putting.
So work on the approach shots, short game and putting. Get those irons closer to the pin so it's an easy 2 putt. Get those chips closer so mostly you 1 putt, at worst 2 putt. You'll never totally eradicate the 3 putt but if you work on the longer putts, getting them closer, you'll cut them down.
Most of my improvement this season has been down to improved iron approaches. I've been getting much closer to the pin, getting many more birdies and mostly 2 putting.

 

[Alex1975]

......Driving
83.3% fairways hit, 5% left, 11.7% Right.

.......

You should be on bloody tour with that figure!!!!!

Driving for show, putting for doe.


Ian, ye I spotted that stat, that I am more likly to 2 put if I hit the green in 3 and less likly to if I hit it in 2, I bet that is mental, I bet I let my self off knowing that a 5 is ok.

The other one that stands out is the average score on par 4s is much worth than 3s and 5s. Now there are more par 4s than anything elce but its one to work on.

 

[kid2]

Hi all,

I would love to set my goal at 15 to try and catch Kid2 up but I am not sure I have that rate of improvement in me, am I underestimating myself? Is that a bad attitude to take?

I am not a natural golfer but I am fit and strong and as you all know, VERY willing, to a fault. I learned a great deal this year, not just about my swing but about how to score on bad holes and not to chase golf too much.

What would you think would be a realistic goal for 2011 for me?
Also what is your goal for 2011 please.

Thanks so much for any and all input.

Alex

Hey Alex,
Dont let my handicap fool you.....Iv had alot of downs throughout the year also.....Yes iv had 5 shots off it but i lost 1.9 and 1.8 on 2 seperate occasions that had at least a dozen or so 0.1's back in between.....

Like you i also have a very decent long game and im not too bad around the greens and with my putter....where i do struggle is the in between full club distances.....60,70,80 mtr shots....

Im fairly fit and have a good deal of strength and i feel that because of this im a little too strong with the more finesse shots

Like you one of my strengths is my positive attitude as well as my competitiveness...And a willingness to better myself everytime i play...This can lead to bad rounds as iv found when i just relax and not bother about my swing and try not to think too much everything seems to fall into place alot more easily.

I practice twice a week on the putting green and this is definately paying dividends so come the start of the season next year i hope to make a real good stab at getting even lower.

At the moment im going through some long distance swing changes with the help of a certain forum member and hopefully ill have learned this and got comfortable with it for the start of next season.

I could probably play to around 11 or 12 IF i could get a little more consistency in my game.
Its the odd lost ball or DB that usually wreck what otherwise would be a decent card.

But like me if you keep that same positive attitude that you have then have no fear pal,that handicap of yours will come tumbling

 

[Alex1975]

Hey Kid, I named you because I think we think about the same and try and work and overwork at the game in the same way. I remember thing that when I first joined the forum then you went and dropped 3 shots, git.

Hope they sort out practice ground soon, I have some short game work to be doing

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I struggled this year with the goal of getting to single figures. It didn't become all consuming but it was always there in the back of my mind. It'll probably be hard to believe but I actually cut right down on practicing this year and wanted to get out and play as much as I could even if I wasn't hitting it great.

I actually found myself having fun once I didn't let bad rounds get on top of me and putting pressure ony myself when a cut seemed likely. In all truth I didn't play that well all year but only crept up from 11.3 to 12.1 so no real damage done. The one thing I have learned though is that I'd rather stand over a 4-6 footer with the confidence that it will drop than stand back some 400 yards and blast a booming drive into trouble. The short game is where the shots are saved. My putting has helped enormously but I've got a huge mental issue with the short game now which is really holding me back.

Fortunately with the cold weather there is no chance of me standing around hitting chip shots so we'll deal with that particular issue next year. However I won't be setting any sort of goal. It can work but I tend to go targets it like most things I do (full tilt) and not always successfully. It's a flaw but not something I'm good at addressing. If the OP wants to set goals then providing they are SMART and he works the right way (plenty of playing and not too much practicing) and seeks pro help if there is a major problem in his game then I can't see any reason why 12-15 isn't a realistic figure

 

[kid2]

Hey Kid, I named you because I think we think about the same and try and work and overwork at the game in the same way. I remember thing that when I first joined the forum then you went and dropped 3 shots, git.

Hope they sort out practice ground soon, I have some short game work to be doing

Ditto pal.
Ill have to get across the pond to ye all one day for a few rounds....It would be very entertaining and enjoyable i think....

 

[JustOne]

If the OP wants to set goals then providing they are SMART and he works the right way (plenty of playing and not too much practicing) and seeks pro help if there is a major problem in his game then I can't see any reason why 12-15 isn't a realistic figure

Can't help but disagree with that Homer.

If you play a round of golf how many 30yrd chips will you hit? and how many will you hit if you practice them for just 1 hour?

Practice is the key, but don't neglect actually playing, even if it's just a few holes.

 

[MashieNiblick]

I think Imurg's analysis is spot on.

The stats suggest that on average you are hitting 14/15 fairways but only 3/4 greens in regulation so I'd think about your approach shots. Try to identify what's stopping you getting the ball on the green from the fairway more often.

Missed greens should result in fewer putts if you are getting up and down enough. As you've realised you are still taking at least 2 putts most of the time when you miss the green so that's the other area to work on. Chipping closer will result in more holed putts. Practising your putting will improve things even more on top.

By the way the leader in Driving Accuracy on the European Tour (Peter O'Malley) hit only 75% of fairways.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

If the OP wants to set goals then providing they are SMART and he works the right way (plenty of playing and not too much practicing) and seeks pro help if there is a major problem in his game then I can't see any reason why 12-15 isn't a realistic figure

Can't help but disagree with that Homer.

If you play a round of golf how many 30yrd chips will you hit?

The way I play and with the ground so hard, probably at least one a hole right now

I agree that practice (and making sure you are practicing the right things) is essential. However there is a danger, and it's a trap I fell into in 2009 in particular that you can over do it and become too obsessed with short game skills that it takes away some natural flair. If you then add in trying to groove the longer game to work better and before you know it, it's all practice not much playing. As I say it is easy to do and which is why I tried to strike a much better balance this year. I had a short game lesson (well two actually - different teachers and a long story) and have tried to work on the drills to ensure my technique is still sound but on a much more infrequent basis.

 

[AMcC]

Have to agree with what has already been said about being able to get up and down more often, turning three into two. It looks as if all your problems are closer to the green than further away.

A drill I was given at the start of this season was as follows.
Chipping on to the practice putting green, to tee pegs positioned at 10 yards, 15 and 20 yards. I used only an 8 iron and pitching wedge. Gradually got the hang of these distances and as a result scrambled better. If you have a different distance it doesn't take much adjustment.

 

[Alex1975]

Have to agree with what has already been said about being able to get up and down more often, turning three into two. It looks as if all your problems are closer to the green than further away.

A drill I was given at the start of this season was as follows.
Chipping on to the practice putting green, to tee pegs positioned at 10 yards, 15 and 20 yards. I used only an 8 iron and pitching wedge. Gradually got the hang of these distances and as a result scrambled better. If you have a different distance it doesn't take much adjustment.

How far off the green you standing for this one?

 

[Macster]

The only reasons you are'nt playing off 10 are glaringly obvious, as Imurg says.

With 83% of Fairways hit, your GIR should'nt be far behind, and when you do, you're bottling it with the Putter.
Simples.

Spend the winter practising your iron play, and then some serious Putting practice in the spring, and assuming your Driving stays as good, you could fall to 10/12 next year easily.
I say 'could'........but things are rarely that easy .

I dont keep 'stats', other than look at my figures on 'Howdidido' versus other Cat2 players at my own club, but if I do know that I rarely take more than 34putts, usually 32ish, and I think a couple of times this year was 28/29.

That doesnt just say that I'm a reasonable Putter when I've hit the green, but I'm also pretty good at getting up & down if I miss it.
So work on your chipping too.

So.....Iron play, Putting & Chipping. Work on that and you'll be off 12/10 before you know it.

Hopefully !

 

[alldownhill]

I have found this thread really insightful so thanks everyone.

I started playing this year in June.

I'm really lucky because my regular playing partners are both pretty good and play off 6 and 7.

I get some top tips every round and they are both incredibly patient with my more wayward shots.

I'm playing off 21 and I want to get down next year to around 16 if possible then single figures within 3 years.

I've found this forum very useful and it has answered many questions I have had so once again thankyou everyone.

 

[JustOne]

After thinking about this thread I realised that I don't actually have my own goal for 2011. Not sure if that is a good or bad thing. Wouldn't mind winning a trophy or getting my name on the boards but I'd hardly be upset if i didn't. Maybe I need a different mindset.

 

[Alex1975]

After thinking about this thread I realised that I don't actually have my own goal for 2011. Not sure if that is a good or bad thing. Wouldn't mind winning a trophy or getting my name on the boards but I'd hardly be upset if i didn't. Maybe I need a different mindset.

Well a lot of that has come out in this post, it seems some people feel they get more success by not making a goal thus freeing their minds and others like myself feel they need something to work towards, though I am looking at maybe that not being a handicap number this year.

Do you usually make a goal Justone?

 

[JustOne]

I've only been back playing golf 2½ years and haven't really had any goals at all. I did want to get my h/cap back down to something respectable but can't get motivated to put in the practice right now. Just to keep playing would probably be a goal achieved.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

After thinking about this thread I realised that I don't actually have my own goal for 2011.

How about bringing your irons into the 1980's as a starter!

 

[JustOne]

I'm saving up for a set of Dunlops from JB Sports