Walking vs riding

**TheNatural** · July 3, 2009

trying to get into better shape and play a cheaper round I started walking and was curious of the consensus, is walking tougher on strokes?

**TheNatural** · July 3, 2009

part of my theory is that in heat and high humidity, the fatigue factor takes away power and accuracy. This may not be true for 50-70* days. I also firmly believe that a hilly course will affect play greater compared to a flat course.

**Zeph** · July 3, 2009

Not really. In the beginning it may feel so, due to being used to riding, but after a while you get used to it and it does not affect your play. I'd rather say it's the opposite, that you can walk directly to your ball, regardless of others' balls or items blocking a cart. It is often quicker to walk since you don't have the limitations a cart does, you also get more time to plan the shot. Instead of thinking about riding the cart you can walk up to the ball, perhaps take a small detour to check out the preferable landing area and plan your shot well. I always keep a course guide in my bag, which I pull out to check distances to the hole, hazards etc. When I come up to my ball I have pretty much decided where I want to hit my shot and which club to use, so there's nothing left but to swing away.

It's also a wonderful nature experience to walk around for hours on green grass. I walk anytime I can. If you've got back issues, hilly courses or long distance between green and tee, a push cart is an excellent addition. Pull carts have nothing up against a push cart with three wheels.

**Chief Broom** · July 3, 2009

part of my theory is that in heat and high humidity, the fatigue factor takes away power and accuracy. This may not be true for 50-70* days. I also firmly believe that a hilly course will affect play greater compared to a flat course.

Lately I've noticed that when I'm walking 18 holes fatigue starts becoming a factor late in the round. 100 degree weather has a way of doing that. When I stick with 9 holes I finish before the heat starts getting to me. The difference is minor but I start seeing it showing up in my driving and putting. Both of those activites require a lot of mental focus and as you tire and the heat gets to you it's easy for me to start pulling my drives and misreading putts and misjudging distance.

**goblue107501** · July 3, 2009

I think it depends on the person. Some might notice a difference, some might not. I used to walk quite a bit in my younger days and outside of being a little tired walking up the last couple of holes, I don't recall any difference in play. You just have to dig a little deeper the last few holes to hit a good shot.

Much of it depends on the weather where you play also. I doubt anyone could carry a bag 18 holes around here last week (when it was in the upper 90's all day every day) and not be fatigued and have their play slip a little. If it is in the upper 60's with a gentle breeze, you could walk all day and not even notice.

I would say overall, there isn't much difference for me, although it has been a few years since I have walked a course. It just depends on the person and conditions.

Dugie · July 3, 2009

i ride all the time.

**svchiefs19** · July 3, 2009

i think walking is the best option. it gives you more time to enjoy the game being out on the course. with a cart you just zip right by everything and its seems like you dont even have time to enjoy the round. plus, walking is good exercise and can get you into better shape. if your out if shape, then sure i guess walking has a fatigue factor, but i still prefer walking

**PiKapp23** · July 3, 2009

While it depends on the terrain for a big part, when I use my push cart I notice very little difference in my scores for walking. However, that can change is the terrain for weather is a little more extreme. If I were to actually carry my clubs I would see a definite difference (again, depending on terrain) of a few strokes just because I get pretty tired and back starts to hurt around the end of the round. If I were in better physicaly shape I probably would not notice as much difference.

Another factor for me has always been tempo. I know a lot of people say their tempo is better when walking but I find the exact opposite. When I ride I am more relaxed and my tempo slows down. When I walk I tend to walk kind of fast and this causes my entire tempo to go awry - the stroke becomes quicker and rhythm is not the same. And it's not just as simple as me walking slower because that is not how I am comfortable walking. This is not even taking into consideration when the course is hilly and I get to my ball all out of breathe and end up just hacking at it.

**-Mini-** · July 3, 2009

I definitely shoot better when walking and feel better playing, as I have more time to focus on the shot. Though lately it has been 100 degrees or outside and playing 18 in that heat isn't fun walking so I've been riding to keep some heat off

**mdvaldosta** · July 3, 2009

When I walked alot during high school, and would occassional ride a cart, I would usually play worse riding. I played much better thinking shots through on the way to the ball walking.

Now that I'm using to riding in a cart though, carrying a bag seems to wear me out more and it's harder to stay loose with the bag strapped on my shoulders. I'd imagine if I had a caddy I'd play much better walking.

**billm408** · July 3, 2009

I play better when I walk. Keeps my back loose and I get a better feel for the course.
Unfortunately, it seems that the newer courses all require carts and are routed with long green to tee distances. Played a course yesterday like that and I doubt I'll go back.

**CG031** · July 3, 2009

I definitely shoot better when walking and feel better playing, as I have more time to focus on the shot.

Completely agree with this comment. I seemingly have better tempo and rhyhthm on each shot, and it gives me time to forget about bad shots and think about what I really need to bare down and focus on on the upcoming shot.

**svchiefs19** · July 3, 2009

Unfortunately, it seems that the newer courses all require carts and are routed with long green to tee distances. Played a course yesterday like that and I doubt I'll go back.

i agree 100%. when i go to the nicer courses near me, almost everybody drives carts. it makes it a pain to get to the next hole because the tee is so far away from the previous green. its really annoying.

**Dub** · July 4, 2009

trying to get into better shape and play a cheaper round I started walking and was curious of the consensus, is walking tougher on strokes?

Depends on a couple of factors....at least it does to me (bad knees and outa shape

). Solo rounds or quality time rounds with my son I think the walking is superb. It's good to stretch out the legs and get the heart pumping and sweat pouring (it's been beyond hot down here lately....too hot to walk after 11:00am in my opinion). Playing mixed groups with walkers and riders isn't much fun to me. Virtually all the golf I play with friends is riding / social type golf. It can also depend on the courses as well. My home course and a few other local tracks are good for walking....but we have some that I've never seen anyone even try...ever. It also depends on you gear. This time last year I was getting back into the game after a multi-year layoff. None of my gear was "walking-friendly". That was quickly remedied with the bag and pushcart in my sig line. That cart is awesome. I can only hope that the mountain bike I ordered last week is as strong and durable!!!!!! Walking does give you some more quiet time to your thoughts. I find that when I walk to the next shot I'm automatically gearing towards "target thoughts" but when I ride...for some dumb reason, my mind drifts into "mechanical analysis".

**NotAStick** · July 4, 2009

I have trouble carrying my bag. No matter how good shape I am in (i'm in quite good shape), the carrying my bag tends to cause my hands to swell, which makes me loose a lot of my feel late in the round. I can run 5 miles without too much exhaustion, but a round of golf leaves my hands feeling weird and messes up my swing.

I've played a few rounds with a caddie and I simply LOVED being able to walk and not carry a bag. I've thought of getting one of those push-cart things, but I despise to motion of walking while pulling a card and having to walk around the greens and tees to avoid rolling over them, so I generally end up in a regular motorized cart.

For me, walking requires very careful planning of hydration, rest, etc. I have to do some exercises during the round to keep the blood flow in my arms and hands normal, etc. I can do it, but it's a pain.

I do have minor carpal-tunnel in my hands, so I'm sure that's part of the cause, but anyway... just feels weird to me these days.

**B-Con** · July 4, 2009

I prefer walking, when possible. It forces me to return to some sort of equilibrium between shots. In a cart you can hit, run, hit, run, hit, etc, and if I hit poorly and get frusterated on a shot I can be hitting my next shot in 30 seconds, before I've had time to calm down and re-think my swing. With walking you expend energy between shots and have to take longer to get to your ball and hit again. The time delay and energy expenditure walking forces on me helps me from just getting into a whack-a-mole mindset.

**senorchipotle** · July 4, 2009

part of my theory is that in heat and high humidity, the fatigue factor takes away power and accuracy. This may not be true for 50-70* days. I also firmly believe that a hilly course will affect play greater compared to a flat course.

well, isn't that the point? the reason why the pga tour nor the usga allow the usage of carts is because fatigue is supposed to play a factor in your game. that's why more golfers are getting fit.

**senorchipotle** · July 4, 2009

I play better when I walk. Keeps my back loose and I get a better feel for the course.

i know what you mean. there's a really nice course here i'd like to play, but i boycott it because they make you take a cart. that's bulls*** in my book.

Sign In

Walking vs riding

0

1. Walking VS RIDING

Recommended Posts

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

Create an account

Sign in

Topics Being Discussed Right Now on The Sand Trap

TST Partners

Posts

Important Information