Calling all 10 - 12 handicappers...

[tm22721]

I am stuck at 10 because I prefer to hit greens so I use a 7i even for driving.

What good is distance if I am always hitting off a bad lie ? That only drives up my score.

[Rebel_Golfer]

I'd love to move into single digits, yes. Approach shots are what really kill me, the longer the more it hurts me. Going to take a series of lessons this year with ball-striking being my primary focus.

[jhawker23]

Its a tough call... More iron shots into the green, fewer "difficult" chip/pitch shots. For the sake of discussion, consider the game of a 9 - 12 handicapper. Its good golf but I think if you're hitting fewer greens and putting more pressure on the skills of chipping/pitching its going to take A LOT more work to develop the skills to handle the numerous situations you can get yourself into on any given course.

Now, I'm not saying this isn't an important skill, its just an opinion that more greens in the beginning can drop you into the high single digits but its the solid chipping/pitching that takes you to the real low numbers. I concede that each person's game is different, that's why I put up a poll. I think its interesting to see if there is an area where a majority of us are in our game.

From an objective view it would seem that fewer scenarios (missing greens which brings in numerous factors) would get the 9 - 12 handicapper lower scores more quickly than developing the chipping/pitching game which can get you into short putt range out of an infinite number of lies.

Its all important. My personal path is more greens while developing more skill with the wedges and green-side shots.

[enis750]

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.

EXACTLY my advise.....

i struggled a good part of the beginning of the year, getting off the T once i got my driver figured out, I started making WAY more birdies, therefore lower scores i too choke down about 1/2" on the driver and have waay more accuracy from there, it was now the short game to work on no doubt chipping from 20-120 yds is key...spend a tonn of time on this and your scores will DROP big time

[sean_miller]

I believe what I need most to shoot better 18-hole scores, is to work on my fitness (putting practice doesn't count). I struggle to be physically and mentally fit enough for ~ 36 well struck full shots. Throw in the 40+ partial shots (including putts) and we're talking about a lot of chances to F up.

Look at a few slow motion swing videos on youtube, and it's obvious to me that a golf swing is physically demanding. It's jarring on the muscles, joints, and bones. It's tiring to do the same shots over and over again on the range, even though some repetition is necessary to develop [proper] muscle memory. I've seen people over practice, then when fatigue sets in, any muscle memory being gained is that of a lazy stroke destined to fail on the course. Practice with a purpose, and when something is accomplished, take a break, move on to something else, or shut 'er down. That's how it works on the course - hit a drive, walk to the ball, hit an approach, walk to the green, chip or lag it close. Voila.

[natp0wers]

For me, i would say control off of the tee. I was 1 under through four the other day then lost it off the tee the next two holes and went to 3 over. If i could eliminate the big numbers, double and triple bogey, i would be much happier with my game.

[right handed phil mickelson]

Nothing like a bit of exaggeration!!!

Hah, it's not, if my short game is going good that day.

[Where's the Cart Girl?]

I doubt I could play to my posted HC at this point because I've taken a few lessons over the Winter and my swing is pretty much in limbo at this point.

But I voted pitching/chipping because when I was tracking my stats last year I was spending half my strokes or more around/on the green.

So while putting is a huge part of that, getting it inside of 5 feet when I'm less that 20 yd from the pin more often was what I know was holding me back.

[The Recreational Golfer]

If you read the posts on this thread from the golfers who have done it, the keys are driving accuracy and short game. That makes so much sense. If my tee ball misses the fairway by too much, especially if I'm playing on a course with trees, I'm now playing for bogey. My short game gets those 20-30 yard chips to within 8-10 feet, and I need to cut that distance in half. I had a few lessons this winter about how to do that. Also, short game includes putting, IMO. I call it the green game. Your chip is only as good as the next putt.

There's also the component of game management, and blow-up holes. I've had two rounds in my life, TWO, in which I did not have a double bogey. A lot of times I'll come home and say I could have broken 80 if I hadn't done X, not, if I hadn't hit those bad shots.