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My Quest to Break 80 in a Year (July 2016) from a 22 Handicap


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Hi all I'm going to use this thread as my progress to break 80 (on my home par 72 course, SSS 71), hopefully by the end of next summer and what I need to do to achieve this. If anyone is interested or has any comments.

Basically I started playing properly last summer  and had about 10 rounds prior to this over about 10 years. I was injured all of winter (crushed nerve in knee from playing hockey,still recovering) so got back playing again late spring. I started this year playing at around 22-23 HCP which I've calculated from the rounds I've played this year. I was sat at about 18 HCP for the last month or so but this is looking at about 15.5 now, so I've altered my profile to reflect this. I basically count every round I play and work that out as if it was 18 holes, ie if I'm 1 under HCP for 9 hole and I leave, I'll this down as 2 under for 18 as I think this should be fairly accurate. Most rounds are 12-18 holes, depends when it gets dark as I nearly always play after work.

Most of my rounds I'm in a rush to get started so tend not to warm up or practice any putting (I know , I know :doh: ), so usually my first few holes are pretty bad, then I get into a decent rhythm and play well, then I get cocky and mess up.

Putting costs me quite a few shots as I never practice this as I had been spending most of my time trying to correct my path from being 10 degrees out to in (I play field hockey, so this "was" natural). Obviously with this swing style I was fading and slicing. I've had some lessons and worked on path and now I'm about 5 degrees in to out, which is where I think I want to be. I strike the ball much better and now have a draw with most clubs, with my bad shot being a push. Sometimes I hook with driver, maybe 1-2 per round.

I would rate my self compared to what I percieve most 15-20 HCP players to be, which I play with most often:

Putting: Very Poor (average 2 putts per round, but considering I chip well this is too high, PPGIR is 2.3 for last 10 rounds)

Chipping: Very Good

Pitching: Average

Iron striking: Good (up to 6i)

Iron distance: Average

Driver striking: Average (hit out of the heel if I don't grip down half the shaft)

Driver distance: A good strike can ususally go 230-240 total, but I've had quite a few go to 270 in the last few rounds

Bunkers: Poor

Course management: Poor (I go for everything)

Originally posted this in another thread, but it's more suited here:

Actually I've just noticed something on Game Golf with regards to ball striking, a lot of my irons seem to be bunching together over the last 5 rounds, should I read much into this?

These are totals and I tend to grip down on some to get yardages which might account for some variations, my course is flat so none of these are really hitting downhill/ uphill.

Left is last 5 rounds, right is all rounds

My 5i is very poor, I think I might have been hitting it out of the heel (I don't use my 4i).

I've just bought a SkyTrak amd carried out some gapping on 4 July:

My ball speed doesn't seem to increase much between my 7i-5i and the loft doesn't change much either, any idea why this would be?

As a whole I would say these are all under reading by about 5%, compared to my last set of numbers from my lesson on GC2 HMT and what I see on the course (think it might be to do with the mat I hit off but some are saying it's software issue with the latest Skytrak release). Club speed is "estimated" on SkyTrak, but it's well under as it basically works this out on more than a max smash factor from the ball speed (which I doubt I get). My 7i club speed is ususally 89-93 mph on GC2 HMT. Driver speed was about 105mph, but was tested a while ago. I've played hockey as a striker for 18 years, and basically been belting the ball all this time, so should have plenty of speed in my locker, just need to be more eficient with it.

My gapping averages above are based on taking about 15-20 shots, taking the top 2-5 out (depending on how many shots are hit) and the ones that are left below the select 5.

An interesting thing on there is the spin numbers for the Bridgestone E7, they never seem to change :-\ , not sure if this is me or the ball but the numbers are the same on GC2 HMT. I'll be swapping ball soon.

My ping G20 irons were fit by measurement last year (I didn't hit them) and all other clubs are off the shelf. I plan to get fit for new clubs next month.

Good news is my last two rounds (when playing off 17) were +8 off 10 holes (had 5 pars in a row, before getting cocky) without warming up, and a +8 off 9 holes (which would adjust to +7 off 9 holes as far as Congu handicap goes). I should have been 1 under par off 4 holes here. 3 putted the first from 15 feet (didn't have a clue about the speed of the greens, very slow!) and missed a 4 foot birdie putt on 4 :( Both of these rounds would have been me playing to roughly 14 HCP with CONGU.

Chris 

Ex-field hockey player with a few things on my list to correct/ sort out:
1:  Flipping, 2: Overswing, 3: Stop being Tin Cup

Been playing properly since May 2014, got the bug now, so I'm here forever. Must have watched a billion hours of youtube videos, seems to help!

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My guess based on those numbers you posted is that your contact is worse with the 6 and 5 irons. Makes sense because longer clubs are just harder to hit. In addition to (obviously) improving your swing you could consider hybrids all the way down to 6 when you get your new set. I'm not sure it will help since super GI irons are supposed to be pretty forgiving but you should at least mention it to your fitter and see if you get better gapping. Regarding putting, my opinion is that 80% of the battle is just trying damn hard on every putt you take. Make sure you know if that 30 footer is up or down hill every time. Be committed to hitting it firm or letting it roll. Stare down the hole till you instinctively know your speed. Meticulously line up every short put. If you change your mind about something while about to putt, step out of it and start over.
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Yeah, I couldn't figure it out but then I had a hallelujah moment, I set my driver up mid toe(as I hit the heel otherwise), 3w just in from the toe, same as 3hy but don't with my 5 or 6. This is probably pushing my strike to the heal and is why these are the only clubs that don't draw(gear effect and get a crap strike)! I can guarantee my smash factor is probably really low. I would have noticed that with face tape but didn't want to effect the gapping and testing of the spin! Looking forward to seeing what happens, I'll try it tomorrow. If that doesn't fix it I'll probably look at a combo set for the new clubs, or get a 3 and 5hy and just make myself hit he 6i well. Sometimes the 6 absolutely flies on the course and I hit my 5i 200y total once last week (so it must be in there somewhere). I've just got no concept of swing weight with the putter(alignment is half decent, they either stop just short like they would go in, or pass just on the high side but too fast), think I just need to do a solid week of 5ft, 10ft and 15ft putts which I will probably do when the weather is crap. Got all wooden floors at home so can't even do it there, think I need a putting mat. How do people control weight with the putter? Do they actively make sure they take the putter back the same distance for a set length, adjusting slightly for gradient etc(like with a 50% wedge shot etc), or just feel it out (I can't do this)? Or just use muscle memory and engrain a 10 footer into the memory bank?

Chris 

Ex-field hockey player with a few things on my list to correct/ sort out:
1:  Flipping, 2: Overswing, 3: Stop being Tin Cup

Been playing properly since May 2014, got the bug now, so I'm here forever. Must have watched a billion hours of youtube videos, seems to help!

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I don't think you want to hear what I have to tell you, so I'll keep it short:

  • Determine which Key is a priority (and re-assess and re-task periodically) and work on it.
  • Improve your putting. It's not that difficult.

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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Hey I'm open to ideas :beer: Rather than post in the other thread ;) (feel free to move the other posts over) Re iron striking and why they appear to be bunching up on GG and on SkyTrak Not sure what is going on, I know some of the 8's and 9's on GG are from the rough so will likely be fliers(190 8I???), skewing the distances. I know I was hitting 144-151 carry with the 7 on gc2 hmt before Christmas with my pro at the range on a decent mat, I would say that might even be 155 now as my strike has improved loads since I stopped the out to in path. I know for certain SkyTrak is under reading my ball speed, I think it's because the surface I hit off is pretty solid and the bounce is effecting strike (or my strike is moving the SkyTrak effecting the reading). I'm going to try it down a range with a decent mat(sitting on concrete) and from the grass at my course and laser it. I carried (2/3) past the pin from the tee off the deck on the par 3's the other day and the other plugged pin high, which according to my gapping should have been 10-15y short and rolled on to the flag(which I lasered). This mat/ suspected movement of the unit might also be effecting launch angle numbers. I've heard pro's launch at impact is lower but have masses of spin which increases the spin loft? None of my numbers get above 4700rpm even with the wedge, and I hit 5 down with that I think. Again this might be something to do with my mat or the low spin Bridgestone E7 I was using.

Chris 

Ex-field hockey player with a few things on my list to correct/ sort out:
1:  Flipping, 2: Overswing, 3: Stop being Tin Cup

Been playing properly since May 2014, got the bug now, so I'm here forever. Must have watched a billion hours of youtube videos, seems to help!

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I don't think you want to hear what I have to tell you, so I'll keep it short: [LIST] [*] Determine which Key is a priority (and re-assess and re-task periodically) and work on it. [*] Improve your putting. It's not that difficult. [/LIST]

Thanks for sorting the posts/ images out. As far as the key system goes: 1: Used to sway all onto back foot (so head moved), don't do that now so pretty sure this is covered 2: 70% there I would say, this is a bit of a by product of 1? 3: I think I might flip with the 5i, and 6i, less so with other clubs, never really thought about this, my pro has never mentioned it. 4: Think I'm better at this than no 3! 5: nope

Chris 

Ex-field hockey player with a few things on my list to correct/ sort out:
1:  Flipping, 2: Overswing, 3: Stop being Tin Cup

Been playing properly since May 2014, got the bug now, so I'm here forever. Must have watched a billion hours of youtube videos, seems to help!

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I wish you the best of luck, I'm hoping to get there maybe by the end of next year or the year after. I'm shooting for a bit slower pace so that I don't get discouraged like I have in the past.

KICK THE FLIP!!

In the bag:
:srixon: Z355

:callaway: XR16 3 Wood
:tmade: Aeroburner 19* 3 hybrid
:ping: I e1 irons 4-PW
:vokey: SM5 50, 60
:wilsonstaff: Harmonized Sole Grind 56 and Windy City Putter

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Thanks for sorting the posts/ images out.

As far as the key system goes:

1: Used to sway all onto back foot (so head moved), don't do that now so pretty sure this is covered

2: 70% there I would say, this is a bit of a by product of 1?

3: I think I might flip with the 5i, and 6i, less so with other clubs, never really thought about this, my pro has never mentioned it.

4: Think I'm better at this than no 3!

5: nope

I really doubt it, particularly given your other "scores" for the other areas of your game, and this chart: . Maybe you're an exception, but it's awfully unlikely.

Post a Member Swing thread. Let's see. Until then, you're not going to be able to get much out of this, or nearly as much as you could.

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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I wish you the best of luck, I'm hoping to get there maybe by the end of next year or the year after. I'm shooting for a bit slower pace so that I don't get discouraged like I have in the past.

Thanks :beer: I play and practice probably more than most so I would expect to get the easier strokes off quicker and will be taking lessons every month along the way. I've had a lot of years swinging a field hockey stick to what you would call state standard (I imagine), and had one of the hardest shots so should have some power in the tank, just need to harness it and get confidence swinging near max, I think it's coming though :) Good luck with your goals.

Chris 

Ex-field hockey player with a few things on my list to correct/ sort out:
1:  Flipping, 2: Overswing, 3: Stop being Tin Cup

Been playing properly since May 2014, got the bug now, so I'm here forever. Must have watched a billion hours of youtube videos, seems to help!

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I really doubt it, particularly given your other "scores" for the other areas of your game, and this chart:  [CONTENTEMBED=/t/67014/keys-vs-handicap-share-your-data layout=inline]​[/CONTENTEMBED] . Maybe you're an exception, but it's awfully unlikely. Post a Member Swing thread. Let's see. Until then, you're not going to be able to get much out of this, or nearly as much as you could.

1: It takes 17.5 to keep a steady head? Saying that, you are probably right, but I think I stopped doing this at about 22 level I think, but below average areas of driving and putting were responsible for having me at that level. A lot of people I play with sway around all over the place. If anything my head raises up an inch but goes back to where it was on downswing. 2: I don't think I'm far off with this (probably because I don't turn back much) but this will need looking at to get me to 90% 3: Don't have a clue 4: I don't think I'm bad at this, but you lot seem to rate yourselves low, so maybe I'm misunderstanding 5: Certainly not good, but what is classed as success? <3 degrees to target? This is easily the hardest, obviously. So looking at that chart that would put me at about 12HCP at the minute, for the shots that the keys effect (not putting, which I'm terrible at) which I would say is close? I'll put a swing thread up from my next lesson, after my holiday.

Chris 

Ex-field hockey player with a few things on my list to correct/ sort out:
1:  Flipping, 2: Overswing, 3: Stop being Tin Cup

Been playing properly since May 2014, got the bug now, so I'm here forever. Must have watched a billion hours of youtube videos, seems to help!

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1: It takes 17.5 to keep a steady head?

The Key is called "Steady Head" but it's not literally and only about keeping a "steady head." It's about making a proper pivot. That means the rate at which your knees flex and extend, your hip slants and rotation, and lateral position, the rate at which your arms bend and load across your chest, your torso turning rates, etc.


The head is just a marker, a point of reference.

2: I don't think I'm far off with this (probably because I don't turn back much) but this will need looking at to get me to 90%

If you don't turn back much, you probably don't have Key #1.

Put up a Member Swing thread. Be careful about your camera angles.

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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Can I just add a tip about calculating your handicap? You say that if you play 9 holes and are -1 under, you just enter an 18 hole score in as -2 under par. A) Don't do that. Just save the 9 hole score and wait to combine it with your next 9 hole score. It's more accurate and the correct way to do it. B) How is a 15-18 handicap shooting -1 under par on 9 holes?
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Can I just add a tip about calculating your handicap?

You say that if you play 9 holes and are -1 under, you just enter an 18 hole score in as -2 under par.

A) Don't do that. Just save the 9 hole score and wait to combine it with your next 9 hole score. It's more accurate and the correct way to do it.

B) How is a 15-18 handicap shooting -1 under par on 9 holes?


You misread what he said about that. He said one under his handicap (i.e. +8 after 9 holes is one under a bogey golfer handicap…).

He's also in the UK. Different system.

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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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You misread what he said about that. He said one under his handicap (i.e. +8 after 9 holes is one under a bogey golfer handicap…). He's also in the UK. Different system.

Ahhhh. Thank you.

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Wishing you luck Chris. This site, with an added dose of determination, has delivered me some rapid gains.

My goal is to shoot 10 over or less from the whites by winter, so I'm warning you about some friendly competition here!

p.s. Looking over your game golf, it seems to me your putting is actually not bad, but driver can be unkind. If you can get your 3w to bullet, it can easily out perform a sometimes shape-y drive. Practicing more with it has the added bonus of hitting better 2nd shots on long par 5s. Not trying to tell you what to do here at all, as you are on your way for sure, just something to consider for the short term goal.

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Wishing you luck Chris. This site, with an added dose of determination, has delivered me some rapid gains.

My goal is to shoot 10 over or less from the whites by winter, so I'm warning you about some friendly competition here!

p.s. Looking over your game golf, it seems to me your putting is actually not bad, but driver can be unkind. If you can get your 3w to bullet, it can easily out perform a sometimes shape-y drive. Practicing more with it has the added bonus of hitting better 2nd shots on long par 5s. Not trying to tell you what to do here at all, as you are on your way for sure, just something to consider for the short term goal.

Good luck :)

My putting is really bad, the figures are masked as I chip better than I should, so get lots of chips to within 3 ft and end up 1 putting, I do this as much as I 3 putt, but those 3 putts are often from 15-25ft, which is poor. It's not often I'm putting from more than 30ft, so it would be hard even for me to 4 putt etc.

An average bogey golfer would save 3 strokes per round on me playing from where my ball lands on the green.

I strike the 3w pretty "ok" from the deck (they go very low mind) but just don't like using it from the tee as it's a really small head (to me), I should practice this. I would be better with a main driver and a 3 wood with a big head and 15 degrees of loft for tight holes. I might look into this.

With regards to some earlier posts:

Checked my swing this morning with some face tape on the 6i and 7i, yup the 7i is slightly in the heel and the 6 very much in the heel! Hit a few shots after, once the tape had disintegrated (was pretty wet) and got some to carry 161/162 with the 6I and still think I can improve on this as even then it didn't feel "solid". Dispersion went to 10y left (I always aim centre and draw it), rather than the 10 right it was on Saturday, which is more like it. Had some ball speeds up to 112mph with the 6 and my average launch angle went higher, this kind of explains a few things! :doh:

Chris 

Ex-field hockey player with a few things on my list to correct/ sort out:
1:  Flipping, 2: Overswing, 3: Stop being Tin Cup

Been playing properly since May 2014, got the bug now, so I'm here forever. Must have watched a billion hours of youtube videos, seems to help!

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It took me over 4 years & ~ 500 rounds, but I finally did it.   What worked for me ...

1. Keep all drives in bounds.

2. Get lag putts close, meaning no 3 putts

3. The approach shot is key ... gotta get it on or very close to the green.

4. Make 100% of the 3-4 footers - bear down and give the short ones 100% concentration.

5. Don't chunk drives on the par 3's (my problem)

Its a big jump from shooting around 90 to breaking 80 ... you'll need to see an awful lot of pars on your card, not too many bogies and only 1 or 2 doubles.

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John

Fav LT Quote ... "you can talk to a fade, but a hook won't listen"

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It took me over 4 years & ~ 500 rounds, but I finally did it.   What worked for me ...

1. Keep all drives in bounds.

2. Get lag putts close, meaning no 3 putts

3. The approach shot is key ... gotta get it on or very close to the green.

4. Make 100% of the 3-4 footers - bear down and give the short ones 100% concentration.

5. Don't chunk drives on the par 3's (my problem)

Its a big jump from shooting around 90 to breaking 80 ... you'll need to see an awful lot of pars on your card, not too many bogies and only 1 or 2 doubles.

1: I can drive further than I was a couple of month back, and accuracy has stayed the same with this increase (still not great though). I'm not sure whether it's better to keep trying to increase distance whilst on course or just tame it back and hit more fairways. Could be to practice and train for clubhead speed and knock it back a touch on course.

2: Yep! :beer:

3: I would say this is the best asset of my game, always room for improvement though

4: Yep! Last test I was 90% from 3ft out of 20 attempts, but I don't get that on the course. this si the closest I get to the pro's stats, then it gets messy from there.

5: I don't chunk par threes but I sometimes shank them. I've no idea why, I don't do this anywhere else :blink:

Chris 

Ex-field hockey player with a few things on my list to correct/ sort out:
1:  Flipping, 2: Overswing, 3: Stop being Tin Cup

Been playing properly since May 2014, got the bug now, so I'm here forever. Must have watched a billion hours of youtube videos, seems to help!

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