My game, tips/advice requested

[JPTinHershey]

Hey guys, first post here but ive been lurking for a few weeks now. I recently took a 5 year hiatus from golf and just got back into it this summer. I am able to play 5 times a week and I take down stats to help me see how to improve my game. I have some questions for you guys as to what you think would help my game MOST at this point.

First, im 22 years old, and all the clubs in my bag were purchased when I was 17 or younger. This is what is in my bag:

1, 3, 5 wood from a set I bought when I was very young. I still hit the 3 wood and keep the others in the bag even though I don’t use them

Taylormade Firesole Driver, This is the driver that I use(Too often probably)

Cleveland TA-7 irons 3-PW

Odyssey mallet putter

None of my clubs were fitted for me, but I feel I hit them very solidly. My 3 iron goes 210 yards down to my PW 140. I have a very high trajectory with little to no spin on my short irons. I hit my Driver about 250 yards carry average on a solid hit, and yes I know that most people exaggerate their drives which I take into account in my estimation.

This year Ive played about 30 rounds already and the stats from those rounds are as follows:

93 scoring avg
2 putts per hole
20% GIR
40% Fairways hit

I generally shoot about 92 on an average course, 88 on an easy one, and 98 on a hard course. I have shot low 80s on several easy courses which puts my handicap calculated by a website i use at 17.4.

From my stats, I can see that a big problem is the short game. My putting is always around 36 putts and never lower than 34. Im not a bad putter, so I think this is more of a result of my poor chipping. And seeing as Im only making 20% of GIR, I feel my short game is costing me A LOT of strokes. You will notice that in my bag I have no wedges other than a PW.

Ok sorry for being long winded but I wanted to try and describe everything well so people had a good idea of my game. Now here is what I am thinking of doing.

1. Buy a 56 degree wedge to use from sand and to fill the sizeable gap in my game
2. Buy a new driver(My old driver is a regular flex and I need a stiff)
3 Possibly get fitted for new irons, although I feel I strike my current irons very well

So what do you guys think about those things? Any of those not worth doing or should I be doing something else all together?

Thanks in advance for any help.

[Jack_2251]

I would reccommend firstly getting a 56 or 60* sand wedge, and then when you get the money buy a new driver with a stiff shaft and a 460cc head.

[Avid Golfer]

I have some questions for you guys as to what you think would help my game MOST at this point.

Statistical reseach shows that

greens in regulation has the highest correlation to scoring . (see the links at the bottom) When it comes to putting there is a lot to factor into the equation: distance from the hole and condition of the green(s) being two key ones. The farther away from the hole, and the lower the quality of the greens the less chance (statistically) you will have of making the putt. re: #1: I agree with your assessment that you should get a wedge (preferably with a flange - aka: sand wedge). re: #2: The driver may not be worth it at this point (getting fitted for a driver is usually more beneficial for getting optimal distance, but usually doesn't effect accuracy significantly). re: #3: Once you get fitted your clubs are build for the impact position you had on that day. If your swing is inconsistent, you plan to change your setup and swing, or plan to take lessons then your custom fit clubs will no longer fit your swing/impact. That is why I don't recommend you get fitted until you are extremely happy with the way you swing the club. Here are a few studies that may give you a little more insight into statistical differences between different players skill levels. Take them with a grain of salt, as there isn't much information to show that the data was collected in a statistically sound method, or that it has been validated by trust worthy sources. http://probablegolfinstruction.com/P...ws09-07-04.htm (scroll down to "Golf Statistics Part 2: Statistical Analysis of the Average Golfer") http://www.qualityamerica.com/knowle...pgaarticle.htm http://thesandtrap.com/columns/the_n...eur_in_numbers (This apparently was composed by Dave here on the sandtrap, and according to his bio this was written the same year he first became a scratch golfer). Finally, here are some pro stats from a while back relating GIR, proximity to the hole, and one putt % to birdie or better %: http://www.pgatour.com/story/9398365/ You can use Golf Digest's Challenege website to track your progress. http://www.golfdigestchallenge.com//progress.php

[beung]

I agree with Avid, GIRs are where it's at.

Even if you hit 100% of the fairways but only hit 20% of the GIRs, your score wouldn't change. Every additional green you hit will probably shave atleast one stroke from your score considering you are 2 putting every green anyways.

Get a single wedge for now, I would say an SW. Work on your chipping, the better you chip the less putts you will need. I am not saying you need to be inside 6ft everytime but the odd one you get inside that will give you more real chances at one putts.

Get better at your approach shots with your 6-8 iron. If you hit a pretty good driver, weather you are on the fairway or just in the rough, you need to know how to hit the green. Even if you are 70 ft away, generally that's better then being 30 ft and on the fringe, especially if you are an ok putter.

Play a safer approach shot, play for your misses not for a prefect shot. Play your draw/fade or whatever your ball flight is to make sure you end up on the green, not by the the pin.

[sonicblue]

It's not really up for debate that GIRs are THE key stat. I mean, really, that says, "it's really good to get really close to the hole in two shots less than par." How to do it, or what to do when you can't do it, is what's key.

The fact is, hitting GIRs is pretty hard. The idea is simple, but it's hard to do consistently. From simple distance control, to mishits, to bad bounces, etc... Short of serious swing advice, I'd offer this: don't sell yourself short when you're greenside. When you're 150 yards out, it's not reasonable to expect to throw a dart to four feet. But, when you're on the fringe, with a clear span of 50 feet between you and the hole....c'mon, it's just rolling a little white ball.

Don't get hung up on mechanics of those little shots. Visualize a path whereby the ball goes in the hole. You are wholly capable of bumping that little ball with a club and rolling it along that path, far enough and with proper speed, to get it really darn close. Moreover, if you have a subsequent putt, that's even easier.

I've said it before: most of us amateurs tend to overestimate our abilities on 250-yard shots, yet set the bar way too low on 25-yard pitch shots, bump-and-runs and putts. Make consistency and safety priorities in getting to the green, then narrow your focus and get it in the hole.