Would you rather...

WeekendGolfers

WeekendGolfers

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Would you rather play poorly and somehow have a decent score or strike the ball really well but somehow not score so well?


I shot a 3 over gross, missed most fairways and greens, but my short game rescued me.

Another time I shot 6 over, hit nearly every fairway and green but just couldn't get the ball in the hole, I felt it was my best ball striking ever but it was 10 shots worse than my best ever round...doesn't this game drive you nuts...

just wondered what you thought ;)
 
In a way both, but really playing bad with good score. I shot my best ever round this year playing badly but on the other hand most of the year ive hit the ball so good and not even come close to my handicap which is very frustrating.
 
I actually prefer hitting the ball well (suprise suprise, who wants to hack it round), but in a comp will accept what ever gets me the lowest score, if that is the way I have to play on the day. I then hope that next time out I am cured.
 
I'd want to be striking the ball well, as at least it's something that is improving. A good score, though it's what is remembered, could be a fluke, and you've not actually improved as a golfer. Unless of course that you're course management was spot on.

Strangely my gross score averge has come down by a few shots recently, but my stableford points has gone up on average by at least 10 points. Figure that one out!

Mind you if by fluke I stuck in a card wih 45 poits on it and won, despite not striking the ball well. I'd take it!
 
As I get older I'm starting to realise that it's not the swing but the end result. I played Chartham Park the other week (when it was really windy on the Saturday) and I stood on the par 3 9th - 170 yards into the wind. I'd just birdied the 8th so I was feeling confident. 4 iron in hand I then proceeded to hit the moodiest shot - it flew out of the toe, never got higher than fifty yards but landed 10 foot from the pin. Two putts - par. A terrible shot but no-one knows that (apart from you lot) looking at the card.
I've hit what feels like a perfect shot - the swing was tight, the follow through excellent, the strike perfect and it's either ballooned or faded right.
I know which result I'd prefer and I'm now not too bothered how I achieve it. :o
 
Personally I love the challenge of scrambling for every shot. Even if I'm driving well I'll have five long par 4s and three longer par 3's which I'll often miss most of in regulation. That's nearly half the course if I'm playing OK! When I'm playing bad there's just more of it and less chances for birdies to balance it up.

Everyone loves playing well but there's a special satisfaction in scraping 4th prize in a final with a nett 1 over that you have really battled for against the odds.
 
play bad but score well.

if my short game is what is saving me and i'm scoring well, that will only boost my confidence. if i'm striking the ball well, but scoring bad, i'll be wondering what the hell is happening.

i vote for confidence over confusion.
 
I'd prefer to hit it well and not score as well. OK it tells me that I'm not as accurate with my irons and my short game needs work but I'd prefer a decent strike and a good ball flight to knobbling it along the ground with a thin and finding the green. That said, the last medal I one I actually hit the ball rubbish but chipped and putted like a man possessed.

I did have a few rounds where I've reached the turn in one or two over gross where I have had a good abll striking round only for the wheels, axles and chassis to fall off on the back nine. Converesely I've hacked it round for twelve holes and suddenly hit a groove and played the last six in three over.

Good ball striking wins for me though
 
I hit the ball quite well last game. However, I couldn't buy any luck, I chipped close-ish but made few and generally bogeyed my way round the course. I loved it! :)
Best 30 point game in years......
If I'd been wayward and sprayed it all over the place but scrambled some flukey pars (like 7 or 8), I'd not have had such a big smile.
I enjoyed my game because I went out with a few "aims" which I achieved (apart from a horrible double on the hopeless 6th hole)......
No 3 putts, no bad slices/pulls, about 12 chances to convert up n downs (only 4 made).

At least if I'm hitting it half decent, I can look forward to the next game.
 
I used to be very much in the ball-striking camp but these days I'll take the score any day of the week.
Isn't that what the game is about? Getting the ball in the hole in as few shots a s possible?
Sure, I'd love to hit every fairway and green and make a couple of 1 putts to go with the rest of the 2 putts and shoot under par but if I can shoot under par hitting some real dog shots then so be it.
Score's the winner for me.
 
In comps I will take the luck and be happy to move on with that, but I would rather hit the ball consistantly well throughout the round and come home with a great score, if not a winner, and feel great about my golf. I have in the past shot as low as 74 gross and been completely pee'd off with the round as most of it was pure crazy luck, really bad hits and lots of recovery.
 
In comps I will take the luck and be happy to move on with that, but I would rather hit the ball consistantly well throughout the round and come home with a great score, if not a winner, and feel great about my golf. I have in the past shot as low as 74 gross and been completely pee'd off with the round as most of it was pure crazy luck, really bad hits and lots of recovery.
Click to expand...

Yes, me too - and exactly the same score too!

Maybe it's a h'cap thing. I'd imagine a low-figure player probably hits decent balls all day. I'm just happy to get round without silly shots, regardless of score.
 
Yes, me too - and exactly the same score too!

Maybe it's a h'cap thing. I'd imagine a low-figure player probably hits decent balls all day. I'm just happy to get round without silly shots, regardless of score.
Click to expand...

Not too sure about that. There's a guy off scratch at my place who shot an 83 in a recent comp. I'd imagine there were some silly shots in there - 11 to be precise... :D
 
Not too sure about that. There's a guy off scratch at my place who shot an 83 in a recent comp. I'd imagine there were some silly shots in there - 11 to be precise... :D
Click to expand...

Is your course par 72?

I don't do the maths that way myself. A good player could hit 18+ bad shots and still make 11 over par, likewise, I could hit no really bad shots and still play to 11. It's all about your personal standard.
 
If I'm sneaking in 9 holes after work, or playing a fun round, then it's all about feeling good - hit a few nice ones, and boast about them over a pint afterwards.

But in a serious round, for ten bob or more :eek:, and it's all about the score.

Having said that, last time I played the 13th at Copthorne, I remember a drive into the trees on the left, chip out sidesways. Slice a 5W back into the trees on the right. Failed rescue shot saw the ball fly backwards over my head into the heather behind the 14th green. Then a punchy 7I out down the 14th, a miracle punchy 4I under and between half a dozen trees through the back of the green, and a thinned 8I chip, straight in. For a 7 net 6, one point, and a huge fistpump :D. It's an easy game when you know how ;)
 
I guess ultimately a comp round its about getting it round but even if I do that and hit the buffer zone or better there is always a slightly bitter taste knowing that in all probability I only scored because of some half decent chipping and a warm putting.

Much more satisfying to play a good comp round where you were giving yourself plenty of birdie opportunities and playing most of the second shots from the fairway. To me I feel more satisfied knowing I've played well under the limited tension of a club competition and didn't let myself get carried away with the good score I was putting together
 
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