Tell me why I'm a 12 handicap

**$2 Nassau** · June 23, 2009

To all the low handicap people out there, tell me why I'm a 12. Meaning, let's say you're a 3 handicap or whatever and you play rounds with guys who are in that 10,12,15 handicap range. What do you see from them that makes you scratch your head and say..."why the hell did you do that?"

I'm not talking about technical swing type of observations. Sure, the easy thing to say is that we need to get a better swing. But I'm talking more about course management, club choice, strategy, etc.

For example, I play in a league that has everything from single digit handicappers to 30+ handicappers. On a par 5, when the 30 handicapper is 250 yards out in the rough, when I see the 3 wood come out of the bag I say to myself "what are you doing??"

So I'm sure the golfers who are better than I am probably say similar things when I'm doing something foolish. Just curious if you guys have noticed any trends. thanks.

**David in FL** · June 23, 2009

3 things immediately come to mind......

1. Shooting at pins and subsequently short-siding themselves which usually results in a more difficult up and down, rather than simply aiming at the center of the green.

2. Not taking enough club. Playing for that absolutely perfectly struck 7 iron that happens maybe once every 5 shots, rather than the one that they hit the other 80% of the time.

3. Poor chipping choices. Trying a hero flopadopolis or a hard spinner, when a simple pitch and run would have a much higher percentage likelihood of getting close, or even going in.

Most of the rest comes down to ball striking. The two or three fat or thin shots per round and mediocre bunker play.

**Bump-n-MI** · June 23, 2009

2. Not taking enough club. Playing for that absolutely perfectly struck 7 iron that happens maybe once every 5 shots, rather than the one that they hit the other 80% of the time.

Those 2 about sum it up for me.

**$2 Nassau** · June 23, 2009

3 things immediately come to mind......

Thanks for the input. I knew #1 was going to come up. LOL. I've heard the following quite often: "You went right at it, huh? Wow, brave man." Then of course we walk up to the green to find that my ball trickled off the back and I now have some funky side-hill lie to deal with. Bogey.

**DavidFehertysBike** · June 23, 2009

I know youre not looking for technical things, but the one thing i see from mid and high handicaps is that they almost always have terrible grips. I played with a guy that had his right hand so far under the club it looked like he was attempting to revist his childhood rather than swing a golfclub. Im not saying thats the sole reason why they are in the double digits, but its what jumps out at me the most.

**$2 Nassau** · June 23, 2009

I know youre not looking for technical things, but the one thing i see from mid and high handicaps is that they almost always have terrible grips. I played with a guy that had his right hand so far under the club it looked like he was attempting to revist his childhood rather than swing a golfclub. Im not saying thats the sole reason why they are in the double digits, but its what jumps out at me the most.

Anything helps, thanks.

**1par2win** · June 23, 2009

3 things immediately come to mind......

The sad part of my handicap is I managed to get mine down by already executing 1-3! One thing I would add to this list would be to work on making 6 footers. And I mean working hard to get that stroke grooved, not just taking 10 or so wacks at a 6 footer on the putting green and calling it good. I can tell when I have been neglecting my putting practice. For me, the scoring starts at the cup and goes back to the tee, not the other way around.

**Rob** · June 23, 2009

While there are many things to look at,if you`re a 12 you can play some. I say "course management. If you play within yourself,and make smart,safe choices when you get in trouble,you can cut a number of strokes.Fairways,greens. Take a bogey from a bad spot and move on- no "snowmen" from trying to be a pro.

**SpringBokVol** · June 23, 2009

I couldn't agree more with No. 2. Most high handicappers I play with want to look cool by hitting their PW 160 yards...

I learned, not that long ago, that it doesn't matter how you get it there as long as you get it there.

Also, a lot of high handicappers are not very good at reading the greens or judging the greens speed.

**ks8829** · June 23, 2009

1) not taking enough club
A) always comming up short, beginners should consider hitting to the back of the green and if they miss hit the shot they will still be in front of the green.

2) shot within 50 yards
A) not able to get up and down

3) hitting fat

4) putting short
A) not putting pass the hole

5) 3 putting
A) distance control is lacking

**shankapotamus** · June 23, 2009

To all the low handicap people out there, tell me why I'm a 12. Meaning, let's say you're a 3 handicap or whatever and you play rounds with guys who are in that 10,12,15 handicap range. What do you see from them that makes you scratch your head and say..."why the hell did you do that?"

Maybe I am misunderstanding you, but I think it's been proven that the closer you are to the pin, the easier it is to get it there. So why not hit your 3 wood and give yourself 100 yards, instead of hitting an iron and giving you 160?

**$2 Nassau** · June 23, 2009

Maybe I am misunderstanding you, but I think it's been proven that the closer you are to the pin, the easier it is to get it there. So why not hit your 3 wood and give yourself 100 yards, instead of hitting an iron and giving you 160?

Because the ball is in the rough and they are trying to swing out of their shoes with a 3 wood (out of the rough) and get the ball on the green. They are in no way trying to lay up to 100 yards. They usually chunk it 10 yards in front of them or hook/slice into the woods.

I'm aware of the statistics but I'm not convinced a 3w out of the rough is a smart play for a beginning/30 handicap golfer. The statistics assume a person is going to pull off the shot they are attempting. Not take 3 shots to pull it off. They don't track the 2nd shot, they track what happens after the second shot. So when the ball goes 10 yards or flying into the woods, what are the chances of the player then hitting the green? Probably not too good.

**Shindig** · June 23, 2009

Maybe I am misunderstanding you, but I think it's been proven that the closer you are to the pin, the easier it is to get it there. So why not hit your 3 wood and give yourself 100 yards, instead of hitting an iron and giving you 160?

Well, the example was 250 yards out in the rough. Not too many people hit a 3-wood straight and 150 yards, certainly not at that level.

For me (16hcp), 250 yards out and in the rough, If I hit a 3-Wood, and I hit it well, I am left with a sand wedge in. That's fine, but keep in mind, I'm not going for the pin, I'm going for the center of the green. It's a better option, in my mind, to hit a 7-iron out of the rough, where it will likely land in the fairway, while the 3-Wood could go anywhere. Then, I can hit an 8-iron at the center of the green. I think the key in the example was that the high handicapper let the distance dictate the club, and he was playing for what the best possible result of the club could be, rather than what the expected value (in a probabilistic sense) of the shot is. Not too many people are going to hit a 7-Iron O.B., or into the heavier rough, or into the trees, but this can easily happen with a 3-Wood for a high handicapper.

**shankapotamus** · June 23, 2009

Well, the example was 250 yards out in the rough. Not too many people hit a 3-wood straight and 150 yards, certainly not at that level.

But, then you have to hit a longer club instead of a shorter club to the green, thus making it harder to get it close.

**$2 Nassau** · June 23, 2009

Well, the example was 250 yards out in the rough. Not too many people hit a 3-wood straight and 150 yards, certainly not at that level.

That's what I was trying to say, you said it better.

**$2 Nassau** · June 23, 2009

But, then you have to hit a longer club instead of a shorter club to the green, thus making it harder to get it close.

Again, you're assuming the person pulled off the 3w out of the rough shot perfectly. Often the 30 handicapper will not.

**jonnythan** · June 23, 2009

But, then you have to hit a longer club instead of a shorter club to the green, thus making it harder to get it close.

Two hypothetical shots:

I am 250 yards from the hole in the rough. I pull out my 3-wood then proceed to swing out of my shoes. I mishit and it goes 20 yards. Now I'm 230 yards away with the ball in the rough. I am 250 yards from the hole in the rough. I pull out my 7-iron and lay up into the fairway 100 yards in front of me. Now I'm 150 yards away with the ball on the fairway. Which scenario leaves me farther from the pin?

**Eeryck** · June 23, 2009

One thing I noticed watching the teaching pro I am playing with on the course was he "knew his miss" and played to it much better than I did.

-E

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