Top High Handicapper Mistake

[iacas]

Ball striking.

I think we had a thread on this awhile back. IIRC, it had a poll and someone asked what the biggest difference was between the higher handicappers and the lower handicappers. My choice wasn't on the list, I think... Can anyone help find that thread? I'd like to merge them.

[Bryan SD2]

For me, the driver is the LEAST important, not only for the fact that you only hit the big stick 14 times a day, but a good player can easily overcome a drive that is 10 yards off line, maybe a little off the toe, etc. As long as it is not in the lake that is.

If you are a 10, you probably have a decent game already. I'll put the top five things needed to move to scratch at this point, in order, imo

Hitting more greens in regulation.
Better first putt - make more and leave fewer testers when you miss.
Learning to hit draws AND Fades well
Getting up and down from nearly everywhere
Course management, knowing when to get in the passing lane and when to leave it on cruise control.

[Joeyvee]

they dont understand their swing. that means that they cannot have consistent success because they cant make adjustments when their swing gets bad. and the adjustments they try to make are swing tips from magazines or from other high handicap friends.

Ding ding ding,. Theres my problem. I strengthen my grip and hit 2 good ones then 2 bad ones. then I will change my stance and hit two good ones then two bad ones. Then Ill get mad and see how hard I can hit it and hit a good one then 10 bad ones. UFCK I dont know why I try and play this game. i should jsut stick to surfing.

[bwdial]

I have to agree with iacas and ShanksAMillion.

My major issues come from my inconsistent ball striking. Here while back, I determined (on my own... not via professional help... because I'm a high handicapper) that I wasn't allowing my hands to release. Yes... I began flipping on purpose out of blind ignorance. I was hitting the ball straight and very high. Very, very high. I figure that I've been turning my six iron into an eight iron. I've been reading a lot of the threads on here in an attempt to synthesize the instruction to help my game, and I've applied some aspects of the Stack and Tilt pattern. I've seen a marked improvement in my ball striking, but I'm still inconsistent.

The inconsistent ball striking leads to doubts over a shot. Is this an eight or a nine? Or maybe a seven? As if it really matters when your swing bottoms out before you contact the ball.

[JackLee]

This thread is depressing. I understand my high handicap is caused by my out to in swing. And, you guys seem to know it as well. The problem, for the life of me, is how to fix it. After visits to one top 50 instructor at 120 an hour twice, and many, many visits to my local pro at the club (at least 10 in the last 12 weeks) , I am still chasing the elusive in to out swing path. I have tried it all. My ball striking sucks and every now and then I get lucky. The lucky shots keep me trying, but I really don't know where to proceed from this point of non-progression.

The easy and cheep way to a good swing is somewhere in this thread. Did you miss it, or did you dismiss it?

[Carts]

I think the #1 mistake effects all players. And that mistake is anger/tension.

[tm22721]

I fight all of the typical OTT/flipping/fat problems caused by over-acceleration from the top, swaying off the ball and lack of weight shift. These problems can be minimized by setting my weight mostly left, bracing the right leg on the instep, making a complete shoulder turn into my right leg, and a brief pause at the top before starting down. The pause gives the club enough time to settle onto a lower plane (but still not low enough this is a work in progress). Took years to diagnose and try various fixes. Despite all this I still hit a fade. Cannot hit a draw.

[atthepin]

Being honest with themselves about their inability to make a shot is the first step to improvement.

Well then I can mark off step #1. What is #2? Because i just want to improve already.

[atthepin]

Most high handicappers are so focused on just getting the clubhead into contact with the ball that they don't have room for any other thoughts. Every player who stays with the game eventually crosses a bridge where he can suddenly see beyond the golf ball to the target. Actually see and focus on the target because his swing is sufficiently automatic that he doesn't have to freeze over the ball any more. The worst thing a player can do on the course is think about swing mechanics, yet that is all the high handicapper usually does.

So true. When i started this year, my buddy i play with who is an 8 HC...he told me i would get to the ball, then freeze and stare at it, then swing all tensed up. He taught me to take a few practice swings, step up to the ball, look at the target, and swing away. Help me greatly..

[bwdial]

So true. When i started this year, my buddy i play with who is an 8 HC...he told me i would get to the ball, then freeze and stare at it, then swing all tensed up. He taught me to take a few practice swings, step up to the ball, look at the target, and swing away. Help me greatly..

At least you weren't freezing up during the downswing like Charles Barkley. :)

[Stretch]

Bobby Clampett says he eventually had to quit his gig writing advice columns for the golf magazines because he didn't feel like he was giving value for money. Not much mystery about what his answer would be to this thread, either.

[heyscuba]

What do you think it is, why it's holding us back from shooting good scores, and how to improve in this area.

I think it's when a high handicapper has like 210-230 yards to the green and 'automatically" pulls a 3 wood,... it's rare that a HH can hit that shot with an control, and if they do it'll go wide left or right giving them a shot from some rough or a sand trap further getting them in trouble,... I've often suggested a HH hit something they know they can hit well (5 -7 iron) just to keep it in the fairway even if it's short of the green, then chip on and maybe 1 putt for par or 2 putt for bogey at the least,... (if they can mange the approach and chip that is,...)

[atthepin]

I think it's when a high handicapper has like 210-230 yards to the green and 'automatically" pulls a 3 wood,... it's rare that a HH can hit that shot with an control, and if they do it'll go wide left or right giving them a shot from some rough or a sand trap further getting them in trouble,... I've often suggested a HH hit something they know they can hit well (5 -7 iron) just to keep it in the fairway even if it's short of the green, then chip on and maybe 1 putt for par or 2 putt for bogey at the least,... (if they can mange the approach and chip that is,...)

That strategy had definitely worked for me. like you said, 9 out of 10 times i will not be on the green with my 3 wood. I have started to just try for a bogey on every hole which equals 90. Par 3, on in 2 and 2 putt. par 4, on in 3 and 2 putt. par 5, on in 4 and 2 putt. It really makes each hole more manageable for me, puts lets pressure on my, and lets me make smarter decisions to keep it in play rather than going for the green. If i can get this down, then throw in a par here or there i am in the 80s, which would be awesome for me.

[Zeph]

Bobby Clampett says he eventually had to quit his gig writing advice columns for the golf magazines because he didn't feel like he was giving value for money. Not much mystery about what his answer would be to this thread, either.

He's right, getting a forward swing bottom should be a concern for most high handicappers. The problem is making it happen. He claims he could improve the swing bottom 1-3 inches in 30 minutes. Perhaps he can get a couple of shots in, but to fix something like that, 30 minutes is not enough.

Getting the hands in front of the ball at impact, preventing the flip, is something I'm working on, but it's no easy feat. I have so far not even found out how I should work on it, let alone gotten any time to make the change permanent.

[iacas]

He claims he could improve the swing bottom 1-3 inches in 30 minutes. Perhaps he can get a couple of shots in, but to fix something like that, 30 minutes is not enough.

Zeph, I can move a person's swing bottom forward six inches in three swings (or less). I have no doubt he can move it forward in 30 minutes.

[sean_miller]

He's right, getting a forward swing bottom should be a concern for most high handicappers. The problem is making it happen. He claims he could improve the swing bottom 1-3 inches in 30 minutes. Perhaps he can get a couple of shots in, but to fix something like that, 30 minutes is not enough.

I like to pick the ball (sweeper/hacker), but for some reason at the range yesterday (different range - worse balls and firmer turf - not sandy at all) it wasn't working for me.

After one too many thinned shots, I decided to hit down a bit more and take a bit more of a divot, with the focus on contact then divot. I didn't have an instructor to help me so it took a bit longer to start stiping them again - about 6-10 balls.

[inthecup]

Zeph, I can move a person's swing bottom forward six inches in three swings (or less). I have no doubt he can move it forward in 30 minutes.

Do tell, how?

[iacas]

Do tell, how?

Weight forward.