Would You Rather…?

[Vinsk]

36 minutes ago, iacas said:

Would You Rather...? #27: Assume you're told you're going to shoot a net even par round and play to your handicap. Assume you're also told you're going to shank three balls. Would you rather: a) shank them on the first three holes, b) shank them on the last three holes, or c) shank them randomly throughout the round?

Why?

I’ve done all three options in one round. I would probably choose the random as that’s what I’m most familiar with. 

[Double Mocha Man]

1 hour ago, iacas said:

Would You Rather...? #27: Assume you're told you're going to shoot a net even par round and play to your handicap. Assume you're also told you're going to shank three balls. Would you rather: a) shank them on the first three holes, b) shank them on the last three holes, or c) shank them randomly throughout the round?

Why?

I'm all for shanking those suckers early and getting the bitter taste out of my mouth.  Then, at the 19th hole, when asked, I can say, "Shanks, what shanks?"

42 minutes ago, Vinsk said:

I’ve done all three options in one round. I would probably choose the random as that’s what I’m most familiar with. 

You know Vinsk, when you die and go to golf heaven (which is at least 60 years from now) you will be presented with Pebble Beach, a new golf bag, a personal caddie and never another shank.

[sjduffers]

1 hour ago, iacas said:

Would You Rather...? #27: Assume you're told you're going to shoot a net even par round and play to your handicap. Assume you're also told you're going to shank three balls. Would you rather: a) shank them on the first three holes, b) shank them on the last three holes, or c) shank them randomly throughout the round?

 

I'd take the shanks early, perhaps even all 3 on the first hole, lol.  What, that's not one of my choices? Fine, on the first 3 holes then. After that, they'll be out of the way and I'd have to be pretty good the rest of the round to get to net par after such a starting disaster.

Incidentally, I have been having a little bit of a case of the shanks lately, post-shutdown, albeit seemingly randomly throughout the round, sometimes more than three per round, unfortunately. All with my partial wedges, sometimes from only 10-15 yards... I think because my takeaway is too far inside on those shots, as I may set up too open.

[dennyjones]

1 hour ago, iacas said:

Would You Rather...? #27: Assume you're told you're going to shoot a net even par round and play to your handicap. Assume you're also told you're going to shank three balls. Would you rather: a) shank them on the first three holes, b) shank them on the last three holes, or c) shank them randomly throughout the round?

Why?

I believe as painful as it would be, I'd chose to have them the first three holes.   I could then believe I had worked out the problem and reduced the possibility of shanks in future rounds.   If they were on the last three holes, I'd have to spend a considerable amount of time on the range trying to figure out where the heck my game was.   If they were random, it's time for lessons to help solve the issue.      If I had three shanks in a round, it's time to talk to the instructor.      

Playing net par is always good but I'd still come away not happy with my round.    Been there, done that.

[WillieT]

3 hours ago, iacas said:

Would You Rather...? #27: Assume you're told you're going to shoot a net even par round and play to your handicap. Assume you're also told you're going to shank three balls. Would you rather: a) shank them on the first three holes, b) shank them on the last three holes, or c) shank them randomly throughout the round?

Why?

For me "knowing" is the operative word here.  Since we would be foretold that three shanks would happen and when, I would rather get them out of the way early on for a couple of reasons as it would get the monkey off the back and second early on says that it won't be an issue later.  This plays into the mental side as well, as it frees the mind to know that after the first three holes, it will be relatively event free.   

[iacas]

13 minutes ago, WillieT said:

For me "knowing" is the operative word here.  Since we would be foretold that three shanks would happen and when, I would rather get them out of the way early on for a couple of reasons as it would get the monkey off the back and second early on says that it won't be an issue later.  This plays into the mental side as well, as it frees the mind to know that after the first three holes, it will be relatively event free.   

Sure.

FWIW, the point of the question is… if the three shanks come late, you would have been under net par for most of your round. If it was early, you would have been over net par and worked your way back.

[WillieT]

4 minutes ago, iacas said:

Sure.

FWIW, the point of the question is… if the three shanks come late, you would have been under net par for most of your round. If it was early, you would have been over net par and worked your way back.

Gotcha as the "dimly lit light bulb comes on".  The question for me now becomes, what is better  - to "lose" the net par or to "gain" it back.  In my life I have always cherished the recovery moments better than the have it in my grasp and lose it.  In recent rounds, seeing myself play better after disaster moments (shanks included) provided a deeper sense of accomplishment.  Great question Erik (@iacas) - have missed these questions. 

[Darkfrog]

4 hours ago, iacas said:

#27: Assume you're told you're going to shoot a net even par round and play to your handicap. Assume you're also told you're going to shank three balls. Would you rather: a) shank them on the first three holes, b) shank them on the last three holes, or c) shank them randomly throughout the round?

Why?

A) Shank on the first three holes.

I’d rather walk away with a decent score knowing I recovered from an early case of the shanks, than wonder what my score could have been if I hadn’t had the shanks for the last three or randomly throughout the round. 

[phillyk]

5 hours ago, iacas said:

Would You Rather...? #27: Assume you're told you're going to shoot a net even par round and play to your handicap. Assume you're also told you're going to shank three balls. Would you rather: a) shank them on the first three holes, b) shank them on the last three holes, or c) shank them randomly throughout the round?

Why?

C, I think. I feel like if it is consecutively, then something is seriously wrong. If it is random, then it could be just stupid mistakes. Honestly if I shanked 3 holes off the bat, I’d be going back to the clubhouse.

[boogielicious]

13 hours ago, iacas said:

Would You Rather...? #27: Assume you're told you're going to shoot a net even par round and play to your handicap. Assume you're also told you're going to shank three balls. Would you rather: a) shank them on the first three holes, b) shank them on the last three holes, or c) shank them randomly throughout the round?

Why?

I would rather it happen on the first three holes because it would tend to make me focus more for the rest of the round.

[David in FL]

15 hours ago, iacas said:

Would You Rather...? #27: Assume you're told you're going to shoot a net even par round and play to your handicap. Assume you're also told you're going to shank three balls. Would you rather: a) shank them on the first three holes, b) shank them on the last three holes, or c) shank them randomly throughout the round?

Why?

Shank them in the first 3 holes.  That means I settled down and played net under par for the last 15 holes.  Not only am I pleased that I corrected and overcame the deficit, but it also leaves me feeling positive moving forward...

 

15 hours ago, Vinsk said:

I’ve done all three options in one round. I would probably choose the random as that’s what I’m most familiar with. 

As soon as I saw this question I had to look for your response!  

Edited June 8, 2020 by David in FL

[gbogey]

17 hours ago, iacas said:

Would You Rather...? #27: Assume you're told you're going to shoot a net even par round and play to your handicap. Assume you're also told you're going to shank three balls. Would you rather: a) shank them on the first three holes, b) shank them on the last three holes, or c) shank them randomly throughout the round?

Why?

I'm going with "c" throughout the round because that's what happened to me last year.  I shanked on holes #1, #4, and #9 and yet birdied twice near the end of the round to shoot 75 (6.1 which pretty much matches my handicap).  Amazingly, two of the shanks happened in front of water hazards but were so bad I missed the hazards and saved bogey.  Also can't get over the fact that the previous day I set a PR with five birdies and no shanks, yet shot a stroke higher 76.

[ChetlovesMer]

1 hour ago, David in FL said:

Shank them in the first 3 holes.  That means I settled down and played net under par for the last 15 holes.  Not only am I pleased that I corrected and overcame the deficit, but it also leaves me feeling positive moving forward...

This.

[billchao]

18 hours ago, iacas said:

Would You Rather...? #27: Assume you're told you're going to shoot a net even par round and play to your handicap. Assume you're also told you're going to shank three balls. Would you rather: a) shank them on the first three holes, b) shank them on the last three holes, or c) shank them randomly throughout the round?

Why?

A. I know they’re coming, right? I just want them out of the way. I can also say I’ll feel better because the fresh memories are holes I played well.

C is basically the inverse of that and I’ll walk off the course feeling annoyed that I struck the ball poorly at the end. B doesn’t work for me because I know they’re coming but not when so I’ll have that constant feeling of dread over the entire round wondering if the next shot will be the one.

[boogielicious]

18 hours ago, Vinsk said:

I’ve done all three options in one round. I would probably choose the random as that’s what I’m most familiar with. 

It’s sad my friend, but whenever I shank one, I think of you!

[Vinsk]

1 hour ago, gbogey said:

Amazingly, two of the shanks happened in front of water hazards but were so bad I missed the hazards and saved bogey. 

The nerve......

10 minutes ago, boogielicious said:

It’s sad my friend, but whenever I shank one, I think of you!

Yes, yes. It’s a curse the Gods bestowed on me years ago. I’m Kalibus from Clash of the Titans.

[ejm1994]

Would You Rather...? #28: Use only a driver for the entire round or only a putter for the entire round? Why?

[David in FL]

15 minutes ago, ejm1994 said:

Would You Rather...? #28: Use only a driver for the entire round or only a putter for the entire round? Why?

Driver.  Primarily because I’d destroy a putter in a few holes...