How much does a caddie help?

[Jeremie Boop]

I think you'll get the most benefit from a caddy when you are playing a course you don't know. They'll be able to tell you where to hit the ball, distances on blind shots,where the trouble is, what tier of the green you want to hit for the pin placement, etc. However, if you are playing a course you already know, then maybe the caddy could help you with reading some putts IF that caddy is good at reading greens.

[Lihu]

I think you'll get the most benefit from a caddy when you are playing a course you don't know. They'll be able to tell you where to hit the ball, distances on blind shots,where the trouble is, what tier of the green you want to hit for the pin placement, etc. However, if you are playing a course you already know, then maybe the caddy could help you with reading some putts IF that caddy is good at reading greens.

That's true, and I certainly wouldn't have a caddie on a course I really know.

[Gunther]

I think you'll get the most benefit from a caddy when you are playing a course you don't know. They'll be able to tell you where to hit the ball, distances on blind shots,where the trouble is, what tier of the green you want to hit for the pin placement, etc. However, if you are playing a course you already know, then maybe the caddy could help you with reading some putts IF that caddy is good at reading greens.

My assumption is that the caddy knows the course, knows my swing and has decent green-reading skills. I'm not sure how often he'd change my mind on a read or a club selection, probably a few, and each time that happens wouldn't result in a stroke gained. I think the key benefit to me would be reassuring that I have the proper read, proper club or that I'm aimed at the right target. I'm occasionally unsure of these things and there's nothing worse than being unsure over a shot.