So you could probably get away with a putter and a wedge!

Lol
Can’t hit them that far!
How’s your game going mate?

Got out for some practice this afternoon. Driver was my main aim. The clubs new driving range should open in a couple of weeks so that’ll help.
So I did a ‘cross country’ game. Basically zig zagging the course so I could hit driver out and in. It was a excellent learning curb. My misses weren’t huge and on a range would probably appear acceptable. On course however they were in areas that needed work to obtain a score.
This was the biggest wake up….I’m putting myself into a position where it’s difficult to score
That just seems stupid!
Will maybe reconsider driver until I can get more range time.

Been soul searching, so to speak, on what is needed in my improvement.
My current goal is a 18hcp and thus far the progress has been in the right direction. The one thing I’d noticed though is there was little structure or planning to get there. This had me concerned as ‘luck’ only goes so far where structured planning has goals and things to work on.
I’ve looked at golflink and previous scores and although scoring well points wise I’m still not breaking 90. Also discovered that consistent 91 will give me a 18hcp.
So back to the 5 per hole idea.
Searched a few different authors on the matter and putting was a big factor. Mainly lag and two putts. This I feel I have a good grounding on.
The next most common suggestion is chipping. To get it to a range of a one putt.
Then 70 yards to 100 on the green. Not next to the flag but on.
Then long irons and fairways and last drivers.
The one thing I found with driver is it makes a flaw apparent. So for myself I’ve been working on some basics to fix it.
Grip: like holding a wounded bird. I must admit I’ve been gripping too tightly, or my fingers are hurting after a round for another reason.
Tempo
Contact.

I feel in some ways I’m putting training wheels back on but I think my scoring is showing that I’m trying for things outside my ability. Not that I can’t necessarily play the shot but there’s less risk involved options.

There’s a guy goes by richie3jack who writes a golf blog. He is a statistician. I have read him say that statistically the most important stat for higher handicappers is driving performance. And by that he means getting it playable off the tee, and getting it far enough down the fairway to allow you to have a decent chance to get the ball on or close to the green.

I also believe that, unless you have a really great short game – and I mean you’re confident of getting it up and down from inside 20m more often than not – then you need to build a swing that allows you to most times play your second shot from a decent position.

So if you think about a 350m par 4 a 200m shot off the tee will leave you a mid iron approach. You would expect to hit it in the region of the green, then you have 3 shots to get it down to play it to handicap.

Something he also talks a lot about is the danger zone. This is approach shots with long irons and hybrids and woods. These shots are the ones that give you a significant risk of putting yourself in trouble – making getting down in 3 difficult. You don’t want a lot of these.

My personal concern with using up your spare shot with full swing shots – eg taking 3 shots to get to the green on a par 4 – is that it means that your short game has to be perfect.

This is my take on it, and it is strictly based on what I’ve found for myself. For someone who expects to get within 5 metres of where they are aiming with any shot from inside 50m then laying up on longer par 4s to the 30-50m range would be a great option.

So it’s all around your personal strengths and weaknesses. We all work on everything of course. But course strategy needs to be based on your capabilities and the mathematical requirements.

My handicap is now 18. And I want to get to 9. I look at my game results. I lose a shot or two a round from wayward drives. So while there is improvement, that is not my focus for now. But up to now it has been. Because I am not a long hitter building a fairly consistent full swing was a priority. Because I was losing huge scores from wayward drives, thin and fat shots from the fairway, and pushes, pulls, slices and hooks from the fairway.

No use getting up and down when it took 2 over to get to the green!

But now I need to get those approach shots better. Get my GIRs up around 6 a round on average, and better. That is where easier pars and potential birdies come from. There are probably 4 or more shots a round right there.

And then it’s chipping. Only got 2 out of 16 up and down last round. Get that closer to 50:50 and there’s at least 6 shots.

And there’s single figures!

I shouldn’t finish without mentioning putting. I have been putting a lot of work in there. It was a weakness. It wasn’t great on Sunday but it wasn’t the problem. So I will continue to work on both the technical, but even more the mental aspect of putting – allowing my body to control the distance instead of trying to do in consciously. And improving my green reading.

Fun stuff mate.

Look forward to reading more about your improvement. And hopefully having a round with you this year some time.

My personal concern with using up your spare shot with full swing shots – eg taking 3 shots to get to the green on a par 4 – is that it means that your short game has to be perfect.

Interesting isn’t it? For at least half of the holes I play, if I try to make it in regulation, then I bring bunkers into play and a whole lot of other trouble. Maybe this is what you mean by the trouble zone – I would be hitting hybrids for approaches to make GIR on those holes.

Chipping and putting are interesting because they will always be a required part of the game – even when you are a plus marker, time spent improving your chipping and putting will make a positive difference to your game.

Whereas, I am not fussed about making my hybrids more accurate at this stage, because as time goes on, I won’t be using those clubs for approach shots. So I don’t bother using them now – just hit a club that I know will end up in a good position on the fairway or just short of the green.

Nice posts Weety. Wish I’d read it before my round :(

Well today’s score was dismall. 16 on the front and 12 on the back.
My 3 wood went AWOL. No idea what was doing but I had a lot of tee shots with it that we’re lucky to go 50m!
The round started well. Par, bogey, par, bogey. Drained a 20 footer for a 4/4. Putting, chipping and pitching were sublime. Thoroughly enjoyable and showed the rewards of my labour. The second par was after hitting the green side bunker on a par 3 and getting it out nicely.
My 3 wood tee shots were ridiculous! It was like I was playing holes in reverse?!
There was a lot of positives but I think if I had of swallowed my pride and used iron off the tee the score would’ve been better.
Was very strange for me to suck at the 3 wood. Maybe it was a setup fault as a lot felt very very nice.
Always next week :)

Just goes to show that everyone’s journey is different hey deege. And it is very dependent on your proficiency in the different areas.

Totally agree that short game practice is always beneficial!

For me a key part of what you said is that you choose a club you know you can hit into a decent position. I never had that because I could hit a pitching wedge as badly as a driver! :-) So I’ve worked on building a repeatable swing.

Realistically I would likely have a lower handicap if I had spent more time chipping and less on the full swing. But my approach has been about building a single swing – from chip to driver. Hope fully I’ll start reaping the benefits now!

Part of the equation for me is definitely about keeping it interesting. I really enjoy working on my swing. It’s relaxing and fun and endlessly interesting at the same time. And as I didn’t play much it was my substitute.

Bummer AB. Always next time! :-)

What you’ve described was my motivation for the full swing work. Not so much creating a perfect swing but at least being confident of getting the ball around about the green in regulation that majority of the time.

It’s turned out that I have become a pretty reliable driver. I haven’t really put much effort into that club specifically. Lots more 9 to 5 iron work. And part wedges. But I hit drives pretty much every range session for one reason – to understand what ball flight I get from putting my usual swing on the ball with the driver.

Good luck mate. Keep working on your short irons and the long clubs will come.

AB, there’s been some interesting posts on your thread today.

And some I agree with as well. Certainly, as a higher handicapper (and this made me think) the drive IS more important than you might give it credit for.

It does need to be in play. And so do the second/fairway shots.

As you personally know, I’ve played most of my game at my home course. By playing it safe,and playing the second shot short of the green cuts out most of the bunkers/hazards.

A reasonable chip on to the green gives you a chance of bogie (and we are looking for this as a higher handicapper) or a par if the chip is good.

You recall the 4th at home. It is sooooo easy to par it but you and I get 2 shots on it! But if you go for the green on your second shot you bring the bunkers in to play with a wayward shot.

I’m starting to wonder of the benefit of the GIR if your handicap is more than 15-18

That was like me at OOM. Suddenly a lot of the greens were in range for GIR, so I was going for them – even though I had at least an extra shot on every hole. Not coincidentally, I ended up with exactly zero GIR for the day (I normally get 2-4). And I scored terribly after hitting every hazard available.

In that case, a super easy layup with a half pitching wedge to a good position for a chip would have seen me in much better position than going for all those greens. A rush of testosterone or something.

Strange game golf, just when you think you have “Got It” it slaps you on the back of the head and says “I was just kiddin ya” and brings you screaming back to earth!

I’m struggling to keep under 90 atm when only a couple of months ago I was close to breaking 80 almost every game and making a par seemed easy.

It will come back mate just relax and enjoy the golf…

Thanks Node. Was very bewildering to not be able to hit the 3 wood :/

Speedgolf
Many readers of my posts would know that this type of golf has my interest and has also been adapted into my play.
Due to my general fitness I have been debating doing some jogging as a way to improve and drop some belly.
Now there’s no way I’m planning on going out and running 18! But I looked at the course setup and I worked out if I play 1,2,3,8 & 9 it’s 1.5 km. Now if I average 5 km/hr I should do that around 20 min. Then if I add shots I think my hour practice on Friday could become a speedgolf round.
Then if I can work out a avg time I may be able to get out for a quick round more often.
It’s good in theory :(

Step 1
Run 1.5 km in less than 20min. Figured another 10/15min for shots, as I have no idea ATM and am guesstimating. :)
Well got on the treadmill and did it just under 15min. Seeing I’m no runner, a) this builds confidence in completing the mini course in half hour(fingers crossed) and b) 15 min exercise shouldn’t be too hard to stick too…..maybe :/

Great plan – getting exercise from something you want to do. Love it.

You could have Happy Gilmore rounds where you have to hit the ball on the run – guaranteed to make putting interesting! :-)

That was like me at OOM. Suddenly a lot of the greens were in range for GIR, so I was going for them – even though I had at least an extra shot on every hole. Not coincidentally, I ended up with exactly zero GIR for the day (I normally get 2-4). And I scored terribly after hitting every hazard available.

In that case, a super easy layup with a half pitching wedge to a good position for a chip would have seen me in much better position than going for all those greens. A rush of testosterone or something.

=============
http://www.golflink.com.au/...

That’s what happens when you play with Gaz and Mick, Deege. :-)

AB, if you are looking for general fitness wouldn’t you be better to do some walking in addition to golf.

I don’t think you will get fit playing golf, but you need to have fitness for golf

Or you could go to the Jim every morning….

I go to the Jim every morning it’s not making me any fitter maybe that’s why every one else calls it the John and it’s only me who says I go to the Jim every morning before work /wink.

JL the walking idea is fine but would take longer than my running theory. I’m interested in trying the speedgolf in its purity and rather than saying , I’m too old, too fat, not fit enough, I figured I’d give it a go. A 1.5km run ain’t much…..hopefully.

JL the walking idea is fine but would take longer than my running theory. I’m interested in trying the speedgolf in its purity and rather than saying , I’m too old, too fat, not fit enough, I figured I’d give it a go. A 1.5km run ain’t much…..hopefully.

http://www.golflink.com.au/...

VTTP #534
The “unofficial” millionth POST poster

1.5k if you hit the ball straight !!!!!

Node you hit the nail on the head of the other aspect of wanting to try it. If it goes straight I run less.
This mind set may force more concerntrating on accuracy over distance.

Get me to a driving range ASAP!!

Junior was sick so no pickup from school meant no practice while waiting for pickup time :(

Got to have a fiddle in the backyard with driver and wiffle balls. Reverted back to ‘hit it like a 7 ir’. Something I found best when I set the driver up in the centre of my stance like a 7 ir. lightbulb went off! ‘What if it isn’t actually centre and my positioning is out?’
I remembered a old clip using socks under your feet to then walk away and see how your lined up. So teed up a ball. Took my centre stance. Put a sock under each foot. Rechecked to make sure and then stepped off to see the ball positioning.
What a surprise! My centre stance actually has the ball inside the left heel. Not centre like it feels to me. Stood back on socks and swung and wiffle ball seemed to have good flight and direction.
Now to get to a range and try real balls. :)

http://youtu.be/g__Lr8mGBXw

I think I found my new 5 wood :)
I have a old Wilson that I’m currently using. I thought I’d treat myself when/if I get to 18.

Great Idea AB but wait to you get close because there are new clubs coming out all the time.

I have the Cobra AMP Cell and I love the club but the loft adjustability makes it even better.

I think there are more coming out with the same sort of adjustments soon.