Do you sacrifice your score for improvement?

[Williamevanl]

Another post just got me thinking about this and I wondered if anyone does/is similar. Simple question really, do you attempt to do things you aren't good at on the golf course in order to get better.

For me its always pitching from 20+ yards off the green when I know I can easily bump and run a 7 iron close, trying to push draw with almost every shot even though I have a stock 1-5 yard fade that is deadly accurate, chipping two inches off the green in the fringe when clearly a putt would be easier, etc...

Does anyone else do this? I don't ever play for money and I play and practice so much that I hate doing things I know I can do. I can play good golf playing percentages 'maybe a 7 handicap' but I feel like I'll never be really good if I just fall into the groove of doing whats easy or the most likely to work out.

I do this every time I play golf and my score is somewhere between 78 and infinite. If play my stupid fade/bump and run/just putt it close, I have a glimpse at scratch but is it really scratch?

[Parker0065]

Just my opinion on how I have improved over the years: The golf course is not the place to be practicing new or untested ideas. Basically in order to properly execute a shot you have to have confidence in your ability to pull off the shot. This should be developed on the practice tee where you can attempt the shot numerous times until you have mastered it.

Think of it this way, if you attempt a new shot on the course and it doesn't come off, you have to write that big score down on your card and it reduces your "Golf Esteem" and your confidence in trying that shot again. If you attempt the shot on the practice tee and fail, you rake over another ball and try again.

I make shot making decisions on the course all the time based on my own confidence of pulling off the shot. You see a great example of this in 4-man scrambles. As a Team Captain I always tell my guy's to play the shot they are most comfortable with!

[zeg]

Every time? Seems like too much to me -- I'd think most of the time you ought to try to score what you can score, which means playing to your strengths, not your weaknesses. Of course, if you think it's more fun trying to challenge yourself with shots instead of scores, then play the game how you enjoy it.

The only issue I'd see other than that is if you're playing that way for rounds you turn in for a handicap and then play a different style for score in competition. Then it'd be closer to sandbagging than I'd be comfortable with. Of course, it sounds like you just play with yourself ( ) so that's not an issue.

[goblue107501]

I won't say I do it all the time, but I will do it. It can be fun sometimes to try a shot that you wouldn't normally try. Especially when the right situation comes up. Sometimes you just need to know what shots need more practice (trying to play a big hook for instance). I'll hit a flop shot instead of a regular chip shot sometimes just to do something different and see if I can pull it off. I know there will be times I need to hit that shot, so I like to know if I can do it.

[Zeph]

Every time? Seems like too much to me -- I'd think most of the time you ought to try to score what you can score, which means playing to your strengths, not your weaknesses.

True, but it is also important to get rid of those weaknesses.

I'm an agressive player, which probably is why I often blow up a round on a couple of holes. I'm always trying to improve, doing it on the range is not the same as doing it on the course. The best way to ingrain something is to work on it a lot on the range, then start using it on the course also. I don't care about my score really, I primarily play to get better, which of course will bring my scores down. It's not about taking risks and trying to reach every par 5 in two, but to play the way I want to and not assume I'm going to make errors. If I'm 20 yards from the green and have a good lie which mean I can use my 58º, I will use it. That doesn't mean I will always use it, but if I see that it's the best way to get close, I will do it. I chunk some and hit some thin, but it's a part of the prosess in getting better. If I have to hook or fade it around a tree, I'll definately give it a try. I might end up worse than if I played safe, but like I said, I don't care too much about my score. If I'm working on my long game, 3 putting every hole doesn't bother me much. I'd much rather do well what I'm attempting to do and not score well than playing not so good and saving a shot here and there. Ultimately I want to get better at every aspect of the game, combine them and shoot below par. Same thing at the range really. If you work on one part of the swing, the ball may not go where you want, but it's not the part you want to focus on. Playing on the course is about getting the ball in the hole, but it's also a good place to see how the changes you are working at hold up outside the range.

[deronsizemore]

I just try to play to my strengths and take what the course gives me. Each lie is different and typically my lie will dictate what kind of shot I play. If the lie is good, I'll play the shot that I feel I have the best chance of getting it close with; not one I'm simply practicing for that day. When I'm on the course, I'm there to shoot the best score that I can, not practice shots.

When I'm swinging well, I hit a draw on pretty much every shot. I like to play a draw and unless I simply have no other choice (blocked by a tree, etc), will play a draw into every green regardless of pin position.

[ND Fan]

practice off course what you need improvement with and when playing do what ever is needed to supply the best possible result. If its not a tournament then don't worry about score, honestly a friendly round means nothing. Just know that there is no absolute proper shot for any given situation the best shot is always the one you're most comfortable with.

[TN94z]

I sacrifice score for improvement because of my swing changes. I have been changing my swing to get it more consistent and that has caused me to score a little worse. I don't work on my game alot at the course.

[lumpuckeroo]

I would say there was a point in time were I did sacrifice score for learning/expermenting on the course. For example, when 60 degree wedges became popular I got one, spent some time practicing with it and took it to the course, only to find out it was not for me. Same with the hybrids!

Now I really work to play to my strengths, if I am faced with a shot that I don't have in my bag, I play the best shot for me. IMHO, as a new golfer or young golfer you should try and experment on the course, find out what you are capible of accomplishing.

I started playing with a group of guys when we were in our late 20's/early 30's, back then we were much more agressive and willing to take a chance. As we have gotten older we tend to play more to our strengths and not take as many chances or experment as we once did.

[O.B. Right]

I play to get better and to have fun. What fun is it to play it safe at a crappy muni course? Some day I hope to play in some local tournaments so course management is something I will have to practice eventually. Right now, though, there is no reason not to go for it on every shot on every hole.

[James_Black]

not really.
I leave practising and experimenting for the range.

I do competitions with friends on the course

[flopdarock]

if im playing a regular round... im trying to get that score as low as possible and the way i 'try' to do that is with shots i have absolute confidence in even if the result isnt what i expect...
there have been times where ive quit during a round for several reasons the most obvious is utter frustration (slow play... outright duffing... etc etc) and i go into practice mode and try shots with a few balls just to see if i can do it... 1 ball hero shot... 1 ball regular shot... 1 ball super safe shot...
then there are times where the whole round is just one big practice round (not enough time to finish a whole round... anticipating playing someone in a few days... etc)

so i wouldnt say i sacrifice score for improvement cuz when im working on improving... the score doesnt matter if im even scoring at all

[uttexas]

Yes, after grooving a repeatable swing for 20 years, I finally got some lessons (didn't think I could improve without grip and swing changes). My scores suffered for nine months while changing my stance, grip, and swing mechanics.

[Neil]

I play to my strenghths in competition and practise my weaknesses when playing for fun.

[Where's the Cart Girl?]

Anything I've ever even attempted to do on a range is fair game to be pulled during a casual round if the situation is right. I don't care what happens to the score in most cases. Matches are different, and if I was on the cusp of a best round I would probably approach things more conservatively down the stretch (invariably leading to my destruction ).

Shots are questions. The course is asking you a question; there are good, better, and best answers in all cases.

Range sessions are homework, rounds are tests, and then - how much do you care about grades? I try to always give the best answer I can on a test even if I didn't do my homework. It's not always the best overall, but if I'm 1/4 on a shot - I'm still takin it. I play to improve everytime, not just rehearse. Course, range, wherever.

[Jay-Bird]

I always try to score the best I can.

My approach to a round/hole/shot might change depending on the situation.

I can't tell you today whether two weeks from now I'll be going for the green from 240 out with water short and left or if I'll be laying up to the right.

I utilize range time to work on things I'm not good at.

If I have the course to myself I will often play 2 balls and play different styles of game with each (conservative "make par" attitude with one, and aggressive "they're all 'birdie holes'" with the other).

[sean_miller]

Anything I've ever even attempted to do on a range is fair game to be pulled during a casual round if the situation is right. I don't care what happens to the score in most cases. Matches are different, and if I was on the cusp of a best round I would probably approach things more conservatively down the stretch (invariably leading to my destruction

I thought golf was supposed to be fun.

[Williamevanl]

So you guys with home courses do you always just elect to play the same shot on say, every par three.

Maybe thats it, I was playing the same course everyday in college and it seemed really lame to always hit my stupid 8 iron fade every single day on the same hole.

I wanted to learn different trajectories and shot shapes and the course is a lot different than the range. I can get anything going on the range because I have so many chances.