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Question for scratch golfers


laxbballgolf
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If you are a scratch golfer, can you write how many years you played golf until you got your handicap to 0 or below?

Also, if you could estimate how days per week you played in that time or how many hours per week, etc.

I am very interested to see the results, thanks!
Scott T

G5 9° V2 75 X / 909F2 15.5° V2 85 X / 909H 19° V2 100 X / MP-33 #3-PW X100 / X-Forged Chrome 54.15 60.10 X100 / FGP Black 34" / Penta TP

Handicap is a guess because I haven't established one yet.Best score so far is a 71 on a 6,509 yard 70.3/121 par 72 muni, during a glorious...
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I started golfing when I was 4 and I became a scratch around 18. I have played 4 days a week consistently since becoming scratch and probably played a little more before I became scratch.
What's In The Bag?

Driver - Rapture 10.5 Epic 68g X-Pure - Balance Certified
Fairway Metal - Titleist PT 18°
Irons - Mizuno MP-67 3-PW Project X 6.0 Wedges - Mizunos R Series Chrome 52°, 56°, 58° Project X 6.0 Putter - Yes! C-Groove Callie-f - Balance Certified Bag - Ping Freestyle...
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well ill tell you im far from scratch golf..... but only practice and time on the course will make you better..... im 20 now and for the last 2 months ive been playing everyday and it only gets better...... i can now play a bogey game compared to what i was it was horrible about a year or two ago..... like anyone will say get out there and play and play and play

In My: Black Titleist sc75 Bag
Driver:  G20 10*

Irons: Soon To Be Titleist 712 CB/MB Combos 
Wedge: 60* Spin Milled Oilcan

Putter: Circa 62 Model 1Putter #2 Vintage Pal

Ball:  E6

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I'm hoping this thread gets a lot of responses. I'm really curious how many people become a scratch golfer within a year of picking up the game.

Driver: Tour Burner 9.5° Stock Stiff
Wood: Tour Burner TS 13° Stock Stiff
Hybrid: Tour Burner T2 18° Stock Stiff
Irons: Tour Preferred 3-PW Rifle Project X 6.0
Wedges: 54.10|58.08 Z TP Rifle Spinner 5.5 Putter: VP Mills VP2 Ball: TP/Red.LDP Bag: Warbird Hot Stand Bag 2.0Started playing...

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  • Administrator
I'm hoping this thread gets a lot of responses. I'm really curious how many people become a scratch golfer within a year of picking up the game.

Roughly 0. And this thread can only get as many responses as we have scratch golfers to respond.

Erik J. Barzeski —  I knock a ball. It goes in a gopher hole. 🏌🏼‍♂️
Director of Instruction Golf Evolution • Owner, The Sand Trap .com • AuthorLowest Score Wins
Golf Digest "Best Young Teachers in America" 2016-17 & "Best in State" 2017-20 • WNY Section PGA Teacher of the Year 2019 :edel: :true_linkswear:

Check Out: New Topics | TST Blog | Golf Terms | Instructional Content | Analyzr | LSW | Instructional Droplets

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"roughly 0" ....... so it's THAT unlikely?? That's helpful inandofitself

i realized the symantics of the response issue..... hence the ****HOPE*****

Driver: Tour Burner 9.5° Stock Stiff
Wood: Tour Burner TS 13° Stock Stiff
Hybrid: Tour Burner T2 18° Stock Stiff
Irons: Tour Preferred 3-PW Rifle Project X 6.0
Wedges: 54.10|58.08 Z TP Rifle Spinner 5.5 Putter: VP Mills VP2 Ball: TP/Red.LDP Bag: Warbird Hot Stand Bag 2.0Started playing...

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u're better off trying to find golfers that became a single handicap in a year. i would think that would be much more likely, though extremely rare. finding someone who became scratch in a year is almost impossible.

...

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Ive been playing 10 years...and I still can't play scratch

"Mulligan: invented by an Irishman who wanted to hit one more twenty yard grounder." -Jim Bishop

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If you are a scratch golfer, can you write how many years you played golf until you got your handicap to 0 or below?

To put my experience into this thread without going on forever, I'll elaborate on the latest chunk of golf in my life. The time it took for me to get where I am today +0.8, from a 5 when I first started working at the club, five and a half years ago. Other than the nine weeks off when I broke my ankle last year. I've had a golf club in my hand practically everyday. I do miss a stray Monday maybe twice in two months. And I have taken a couple rainy day breaks. But other than that, everyday.

Callaway RazrFit Extreme 9.5 w/Project X 6.5
Callaway XHot Pro 15* 3Wood w/Project X 6.5
Callaway XTour 18* 2h w/S300
Callaway XHot Pro 4/5 irons w/S300
Callaway XForged III 5-PW irons w/S300
Callaway Forged 52*/58* Wedges
Odyssey 7 Versa 90
Callaway Hex Black Tour

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Getting to scratch your first year probably requires you to be under heavy coaching with some sort of high level athletics background or understanding like from a college team. This is only my second season and just updated my handicap to 5.8 after a bunch of great rounds from whatever is displayed to the left. I'm hoping to make it this season, I guess as a lofty goal, but I'm not expecting that to happen. You gotta recognize the amount of work you need to put in for that kind of control, muscle memory, training your eye, same as any sport.

Just bought an unlimited ball range pass 2 days ago and went out yesterday and didn't flub a single shot! Gotta work on the flat stick though. Practice prevents mistakes. The less mistakes you make, the closer you get to a perfect round.
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  • Administrator
Could you please explain exactly what a perfect round of golf is?

Actually, let's just stick to the topic at hand. If you want to start a tangential discussion, start a new thread.

Erik J. Barzeski —  I knock a ball. It goes in a gopher hole. 🏌🏼‍♂️
Director of Instruction Golf Evolution • Owner, The Sand Trap .com • AuthorLowest Score Wins
Golf Digest "Best Young Teachers in America" 2016-17 & "Best in State" 2017-20 • WNY Section PGA Teacher of the Year 2019 :edel: :true_linkswear:

Check Out: New Topics | TST Blog | Golf Terms | Instructional Content | Analyzr | LSW | Instructional Droplets

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Played for many years in the 70's. I changed my swing to mimic Moe Norman, learned a lot about course management and shot selection and it took me 2-3 years to be a consistent scratch or better. The biggest difference for me was course management. I always had a pretty good swing, but I did not know how to use it until I changed my swing and had to learn to score with a swing that was not really good. So, when my swing got good, the scoring became easier.

My swing thoughts:

- Negative thinking hurts more than negative swinging.
- I let my swing balance me.
- Full extension back and through to the target. - I swing under not around my body. - My club must not twist in my swing. - Keep a soft left knee

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  • 1 year later...
I have been golfing for four years now after playing baseball my whole life to that point. I have finally gotten to scratch after being a 4 for two years. It takes a lot of practice to get from a single digits handicap to scratch.
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Picked up the game when I was 14 shot 104 first round in a rain storm and then shot 94 next round and never came near 100 again. Gave the Game up when i was 18 for University and wife and kids for the next 20 years. Was probably a 8 handicap when I gave it up.

4 years ago I joined local club and became a 2 handicap by the end of the year(attributed this mostly to learning how to chip and putt). Next year was a 1 and last year and since I have be a scratch golfer.

I live in Canada so our season is only 7 months long (if were lucky) but during the year I get out 3-4 times a week for a game. Probably practice another couple of hours a week.

Keys to Scratch have been - as I said before I learned how to bump and run the ball around the green and my up and downs went way up as opposed to trying to pitch the ball which is all hands and feel. Secondly I learned how to lag putt and avoid the dreaded 3 putt. Outside of that I'm a little better at course management. And I have upgraded my equipment every year. Esentially for me I have always struck the ball well but needed to get a Scratch golfers short game.


Hope this helps.

Driver - Taylormade R9
3 Wood - Titlelist 909F2 15.5 degrees

2H - Nickent

4H - Taylormade
Irons - Mizuno MP-63 5-PW
Wedges - Titlelist 52 and 60 and Cleveland CG-15 56
Putter - Scotty Cameron Stainless Steel NewportBall - Pro V or V1

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Here's a question for the weekend warriors - how did your game progress playing/practicing once a week? I really want to improve but can only play once a week or every other week. Will i ever reach single digits at this rate?
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3 years. Practice around 2 hours a day in the mornings some days on the range, and others playing the short game test. I Play a round thursday, friday, saturday, and sunday. Putt around 100 balls 3 nights a week.

Driver: Adams 9064ld 6.5* w/ Oban Devotion 7 .... 281 cpm at 44"
Fairway Wood: Tour Edge xcg 4 3 wood w/ rapport blue velvet shaft

hybrid: Tour Edge Exotics cg4 17* 2 hybrid
Irons: Miura series 1957 "baby blades" w/ KBS tour shafts
Wedges: Miura: 52* wedge, 56* K grind, 59* Y grind
Putter: taylormade white smoke 35"

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Note: This thread is 4409 days old. We appreciate that you found this thread instead of starting a new one, but if you plan to post here please make sure it's still relevant. If not, please start a new topic. Thank you!

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