Calling all 10 - 12 handicappers...

[jhawker23]

What is the biggest factor (aside from playing time) in your game that keeps you from breaking into the single digits?

• Driver Distance
• Approach Shots
• Pitching/Chipping Green-side
• Putting

Also, are you motivated to move into single digits? Is it important to you?

[mapa94]

Interesting poll....I'm a 12 handicap who made it to single digits (9) over a three month period last summer when I was playing twice a week from the "white" tees. I voted "pitching and chipping" because that is the weakest area of my game but all 4 facets are important. We know that GIR's have the strongest correclation with your score so approach shot might be the best choice.

This year I've been playing from the "blues" because my regular 4 some has a couple of long hitters who are single digits. My average drives are 225-230 yds so my lack of distance (choice 1) makes my approach shot (choice 2) much tougher. My mediocre chipping (choice 3) leaves me with long putts (choice 4) which has resulted in a steady climb in handicap.


All categories are important and interelated. I might need to go back to the "whites" if I want to be a single digit anytime soon. I want to be a single digit but I'd prefer to do it from the blue tees if I can.

[woodzie264]

while I was a 12 during last year's summer season (now a 14 in the off-season), it was my approach shots that hurt me the most...averaging 15-25% of GIR. My putting average ranges b/w 1.67- 1.78, so if I can hit the green, I make par.

[right handed phil mickelson]

I was a 10 handicap early last year believe it or not. The only thing that really got me to single digits was my chipping/pitching. Still, I'll hit maybe 1 or 2 greens on 9 holes and can still shoot an even round easily. To all the 10-12 handicaps, work on pitching/chipping. Thats what will lower your scores and drop you into that nice single-digit bracket.

[jhawker23]

I have to contribute my drop back to double digits to putting. I focused a lot on this last fall. I have a unique alignment problem. The pro said he's never seen anything like it. I can find my line behind the ball, mark it about a foot in front of the ball. Set up and I will be lined up an inch or two to the left of the line. We spent a lot of time, different ways of setting up, different putters, every time I'm lined up left. I question his ophthalmologist training but he thinks it has to be my vision. Well, there's not a lot of training I can do there.

So, like righty phil said, I'll just need to chip within a few feet of the flag for confident putting...

[jamo]

I might be a 3 now, but when I was a 10 handicapper, the biggest thing for me was driving accuracy, which you don't have as an option. When I hit the driver straighter, I have fewer shots from the woods, when I would have to pitch out or go for the miracle shot, either way basically a guaranteed bogey OR WORSE. The more fairways I hit, the more greens I hit, and the more greens i hit the more likely I am to make par or better. To me it was/is all about eliminating the big numbers, and hitting the fairway lets you do that.

Even now, when I need to hit a fairway I grip down on the driver a little and that allows me to make a bigger swing. I know that's sort of counterintuitive, but choking down gives me more confidence.

[Zeph]

I was a 10 handicap early last year believe it or not. The only thing that really got me to single digits was my chipping/pitching. Still, I'll hit maybe 1 or 2 greens on 9 holes and can still shoot an even round easily. To all the 10-12 handicaps, work on pitching/chipping. Thats what will lower your scores and drop you into that nice single-digit bracket.

Like always, there is no definitive answer to this. Individual differences is what matters. Doesn't matter if the average 11 handicapper feels the approach shots is the problem if you can't putt for crap. Some players are great with the short game, but are so rarely on the green, they can't save it every time. The birdies are also rare.

Just because something worked for you, doesn't mean it will for everyone. Look in your own game, record every useful stat, then find out where you struggle. Get stats on fairways hit, greens hit, number of putts, number of up and downs, length of putts.

[MI Rob]

Last season it was approach shots and then putting. Had my first round yesterday and it was the same way, driving accuracy and distance were better than before and is my best club in the bag.
I'm highly motivated to become a single digit handicap myself.

[thrasher]

It's driving accuracy for me, without a doubt. I have no problem with distance, and if I'm in the fairway I am confident that I will make no worse than par, at least if I'm within about 180 yards. The problem is that I only hit around 15-25% of fairways because I have ZERO confidence with my driver. I know that once I get my driving under control again I will easily be back into single digits...it's funny, I could probably get my handicap into single digits no problem by taking not carrying a driver!

[The Recreational Golfer]

For me, it's not a matter of shots. I have the shots to go single-digit. It's knowing how to play the game--choosing the right shot, choosing the right club, avoiding doubles and triples, those sorts of things. I can be 2 over on fourteen holes and still come in with an 82. I have to learn how to score.

[ElWagonne]

Me personally, it's a toss-up between putting and approach shots. I really am working on getting my average # of putts down to around 32 or 33 a round. Also, I would've added Course Management to this poll.

[Shorty]

I am puzzled as to why "driving accuracy" isn't an option.

[CarlSpackler]

It's good to know since pitching, chipping is precisely what I am working on. Thanks for the encouragement.

[Shorty]

Still, I'll hit maybe 1 or 2 greens on 9 holes and can still shoot an even round easily.

Nothing like a bit of exaggeration!!!

[dblbgy17]

approach shot, definitely. my driving acc. is about 50%, i'm ok with that. my greens roams between 35-40%, i'm not ok with that. especially when i recap on my round and think of the easy shots i had to hit the green. bounced a 30yd shot over the green yesterday for example, no excuse. other than these shots, if i miss i'm on the fringe or something like that, which is fine with me. just need to be more confident in my yardages and more consistent with my swing. but approach shots for sure...if you're getting GIRs you're good to go...just don't 3 putt every hole, haha.

[sean_miller]

I said "approach shot" because that's what all shots to the green are - whether or not they're in regulation. Fewer missed greens - and better misses - would be nice. A handicap is only the top 50% of rounds played, and I have good driving days more often than not. I wish my putting was better, but the odd 3-putt isn't a huge problem, as long as there are a few one-putts in the mix. My pitching and chipping is usually solid.

I'm serious enough about improving that I'm finally taking lessons. I never realized how poor my swing was until today, but at least I've taken the first step.

[ET-Taylor]

Im speaking on behalf of my dad (11 Hcap) I said driving distance it is more accuracy because he doesn't play enough now to groove a consistent swing. When he used to play all time time (5-6 times a week) he played off of 9 Handicap. He knew where the ball would go off the tee as soon as he aimed at where he wanted to put the ball. Now he can be all over the place meaning maybe one OB every round and a few chips out of the trees. He is still a demon around and on the greens he makes 30 footers maybe at least twice a round.

[uppi]

Without a doubt its pitching/chipping for me with putting a very close second. If most 10-12 handicaps just improve marginally in both those areas they can all easy drop to a 6-7 no problem. Once you get to that then I think it becomes approach shots because you need to start making more birdies and less mistakes to get lower. Last year mid summer I got as low as 9.5 before going back up to a 10, and when I was a 9.5 I was striking the ball pretty much the same as I am now, maybe even worse, but I was always getting up and down. Last year I purchased a range pass and thats pretty much all I did was hit balls. No range pass this year, I plan to just hang out by the greens all day when I go to practice, because I know thats whats needed for me to get to the next level at this point.