Amatuers NEVER hit enough club...

**Big_M** · February 5, 2008

Typical exchange between TV host and pro golfer...

Q: If you had one tip for amatuers what would it be

A: Use one club more, amatuers NEVER play enough club.

I am so sick of hearing pros say this that it makes me want to throw up... either that or thrash that particular pro's skull with my 4-iron.

When asked for a tip some pros always respond with this... I guess I should pull my 4-iron on the 190 yard back pin placement when anything long is in the woods. WRONG... I should hit a smooth 5!

It just drives me nuts when they lump all of us in one category.

**Warik** · February 5, 2008

I've heard that tip before and I agree it's stupid. The reason I come up short from 130-yd with my 9-iron is NOT because of poor club selection - it's because of poor swing selection.

I'd rather leave a bad shot with the right club in the rough or in a bunker short of the green than leave a good shot with the wrong club 30 yards over the green and never to be found again.

**rydaddy** · February 5, 2008

Next time tell them to read page 66 of Harvey Penick's Little Red Book.

**lovemylabs** · February 5, 2008

Next time tell them to read page 66 of Harvey Penick's Little Red Book.

what does it say? I guess I need to get off my lazy arse and go find a copy.

**Golf Yokel** · February 5, 2008

If I completely close my clubface, I can hit 125y with my PW...

That being said, I only hit my 4i roughly 180y on a solid hit...

So, if a pro had one word of advice for me... what would it be?

Not that a 32 handicapper is considered an "ameteur" (I still consider myself a novice), but I doubt that the same concept they threw out (go one club higher) would typically work for people like me.

With my relatively (sigh ) slow swing speed (80-90mph), the distance in my clubs don't even make a big enough difference for one club to matter a whole heck of a lot. I can hit a 5i and a 6i the exact same distance ... Unless that multi-thousand dollar simulator is lying to me... just clubing up one isn't the best advice for my game...

So yes, I can see your frustration in generalizations... ("You lifted your head!")

**TourSpoon** · February 5, 2008

The better way to get across the intended meaning would be to say "learn your distances, take enough club, and put a nice smooth swing on the ball."

I see enough people on the course air mailing the green to really call "take a lower club" a real tip. The real tip is knowing how far you consistently hit your clubs and then play accordingly.

I heard the same tip recently and of course I cringed.

**michaeljames92** · February 5, 2008

often i have too much club and roll off the end of the green.

**rydaddy** · February 5, 2008

what does it say? I guess I need to get off my lazy arse and go find a copy.

Harvey basically says that a lot of pro/teachers suggest to go one club up. However, he does not believe in it. I respect the man as a golf instructor so I'll put my money on him.

It makes sense to use the club you genuinely believe is the right one. Otherwise you have another voice in your head when you should be focusing on the target.

**wachesawgolfer** · February 5, 2008

A lot of time people are short because they do not take the elevation of the green into account. I agree though using the wrong club makes for a bad swing and result.

**Stuart** · February 5, 2008

I guess whenever I hear that, I figure what they really mean is that we swing too hard at the ball and should take a longer club and just be smooth. But I agree it's annoying that they always lump us all together. On the course I play its often a much better idea to be short than long. There are so many areas that are OB that's its scary to chance hitting it long. And whenever I try not to hit it hard, I hit it really far...lol.

**lamebums** · February 5, 2008

Agreed. I hit enough club. If I'm short it's because I've mishit - either I've hit it off the toe or I've hit it fat. Nine times out of ten I'd rather be short than long anyway, because trouble is usually behind the green.

Edit: However, there is merit to what the pros are saying. I have played with people that consistently come up short every time.

**allin** · February 5, 2008

When I hear this answer from a tour pro or TV announcer I feel it indicates laziness their part. They really don't want to think about it and come up with a thoughtful answer. In addition most of the higher handicap players a pro sees are probably in pro-ams where they are really nervous or are infrequent golfers, there for corporate or community reasons.

***iacas*** · February 5, 2008

I'm willing to bet that most of you guys are wrong and that the announcers and pros are right.

I'm betting your memory is not precise as you think it is.

I'm betting your mind is discounting those mis-hits.

I'm betting your mind is also thinking "on the green" is about the same as "pin high."

Part of the reason pros say amateurs don't take enough club is that they see y'all swinging hard every time. Sure you can hit your 8-iron 150 yards... but you should be swinging a bit more under control and using your 7-iron. You'll have less mis-hits.

When you swing hard and yank one left pin-high but in a bunker, that's another case where if you'd taken one more club and swung a bit easier, the pros have you pegged.

Put it this way: until you're beyond the flag as often as you're short of it, you're not taking enough club. Odds are, and based on the golf I've seen players of all handicap levels play, your ratio is more like 8:1 or 5:1 short vs. long.

Pros are good at golf, and most are pretty observational. There are bound to be exceptions to what they say, but I doubt every one of you is truly one of those exceptions.

In other words, your golf game is suffering because you're failing to accept reality.

**JaY_B** · February 5, 2008

I am quite regularly beyond the flag, and occasionally short, does that mean I should take 1 more club on every shot? no! It means I should pay more attention to the yardage, elevation, lie, weather conditions etc, Some people take this advice too literally, they are basically saying, 'get over your ego, and hit the correct club' the distance you end up from the hole (how close/accurate you hit the ball to the hole) is much more important than the number on the sole of the club.

Good example of this - Me, Tristan (member on here) and his brother were playing, his brother hit a very hard 8 iron left and long of the green, I hit a soft cut 6 iron to about 8 foot, which result would you rather have, I personally have no problem being out hit at the end of the day, as long as I out score you. When you step on to the golf course, Leave your ego at the club house.

**muskegman** · February 5, 2008

I am so sick of hearing pros say this that it makes me want to throw up... either that or thrash that particular pro's skull with my 4-iron.

Actually, I think you're under-clubbed for a beat down. I'd use a 3-iron.

**JaY_B** · February 5, 2008

gentle 3 iron or hard 4 iron??? I'd go for the 4 iron for increased power and higher head spin generated....

**Big_M** · February 5, 2008

When I hear this answer from a tour pro or TV announcer I feel it indicates laziness their part. They really don't want to think about it and come up with a thoughtful answer. In addition most of the higher handicap players a pro sees are probably in pro-ams where they are really nervous or are infrequent golfers, there for corporate or community reasons.

I think this is a good answer to my short rant. I just get sick of hearing this advice... tell me something interesting or unique... don't just repeat the same thing we have all heard 1,000 times. I'm not sure about everyone else... but my usual playing partner and I play similar games... and we both tend to miss long if more trouble is in front and short if the trouble is back. I often play more club from a shorter distance and make a 3/4 swing to do various things like shaping the ball or controling trajectory or spin. When pros say this I feel like they are saying "take enough club and get over your ego stupid amatuer"... and that is not how I play. I think my course management is pretty good, and the older I get the better it gets.

Iacas... I used to keep that stat... long v. short and I found I was close to 50/50 depending on the course (one of my regular courses favors being short, so I usually play it that way... most greens are uphill from front to back, small, and bunkered on the sides). Again this is indicitive of my playing smart golf... as long can get you in trouble on this course, where as missing short leaves an uphill and easy putt or chip. I don't know why it bothers me so much... but it does. I just wish they wouldn't say "all" or "never" as there are SOME of us that THINK while playing.

**TourSpoon** · February 5, 2008

In other words, your golf game is suffering because you're failing to accept reality.

OMG! If we accepted reality we would all be taking up ping pong.

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Amatuers NEVER hit enough club...

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