The Dan Plan - 10,000 Hours to Become a Pro Golfer (Dan McLaughlin)

[Big C]

The icing on the cake was his penalty for an "airshot"... sorry Dan, single figure golfers don't have do airshots.

What is an airshot? I haven't heard that term before.

It sounds strange to say about someone who is living the life most of us would dream about, but I actually feel sorry for him. He's halfway through his project and nowhere near the level he would need to be at in order to seriously think about competing professionally. His driving is terrible (I can relate, but then again I haven't spent anywhere near 5,000 hours working on my game) and his play under pressure is spotty at best.

Plus, from the sound of his most recent posting, he is going through some personal issues as well. It wouldn't surprise me if he's starting to look at his last 3-4 years as "wasted" time. He's dedicated his life to this craft and he's no closer to being a professional than many of the guys right here on this forum. I still wish him the best, but my optimism for him is starting to fade.

[Golfingdad]

Plus, from the sound of his most recent posting, he is going through some personal issues as well. It wouldn't surprise me if he's starting to look at his last 3-4 years as "wasted" time. He's dedicated his life to this craft and he's no closer to being a professional than many of the guys right here on this forum. I still wish him the best, but my optimism for him is starting to fade.

While this could be true ... it kind of surprises me.  I thought I understood the entire point of the exercise to be a bit of a science experiment.  It didn't seem like it would matter in even the slightest whether or not the experiement "succeeded."  The goal from the beginning (I thought) was to do the experiment and write a book, and the book was the real "craft he dedicated his life to."  But maybe he actually (somehow, miraculously) let himself believe he could succeed at this.

And I'm guessing "airshot" means "whiff." :)

[Big C]

Drew, I think you are right about the stated goal of the project, but still....... How demoralizing would it be to spend 3+ years of your life on a craft and still be fairly mediocre at it?

[hopefulhacker]

And I'm guessing "airshot" means "whiff." :)

And I'm guessing "whiff" means "airshot" :) Make an intentional swing at ball, miss ball but hit plenty of air. (1 Stroke Penalty)

[Golfingdad]

Drew, I think you are right about the stated goal of the project, but still....... How demoralizing would it be to spend 3+ years of your life on a craft and still be fairly mediocre at it?

Easy answer:  Very.

There is another thing at play here for me too.  Everybody always talks about pro golfers with envy because they get to play golf for a living.  "I wish I could do that."  Well, not me.  I would be afraid that if I wsa doing it ... and HAD to do it ... every single day for work, it would cease to be as fun as it currently is.

And I'm guessing "whiff" means "airshot" :)

Make an intentional swing at ball, miss ball but hit plenty of air. (1 Stroke Penalty)

Yes.  Except, technically, its not a penalty stroke, its just a stroke.  Right?

[chriskzoo]

I love when this thread bubbles back up and am also feeling sorry for the guy - I do not believe his 4.1 index for a second, especially when looking at the stats posted at the bottom of the Statistics page on his website:

• He's hitting 28% of fairways and an equal distribution left and right when missed.  In other words, he has no idea where his misses will be.
• He's hitting 32% of greens in regulation, let's just call that 12 missed greens a round.  To keep a 4.1 index, of those 12 missed, he'd have to be getting up and down on those 12 missed 4 or 5 times a round. Note that his scrambling is only 25% and he's 4.5% from the bunker.  These statistics defy belief for a 4.1 index.
• 0 Eagles

Time to stop fudging the numbers and face up to reality, Dan.

[Dave2512]

I love when this thread bubbles back up and am also feeling sorry for the guy - I do not believe his 4.1 index for a second, especially when looking at the stats posted at the bottom of the Statistics page on his website:

He's hitting 28% of fairways and an equal distribution left and right when missed.  In other words, he has no idea where his misses will be.

He's hitting 32% of greens in regulation, let's just call that 12 missed greens a round.  To keep a 4.1 index, of those 12 missed, he'd have to be getting up and down on those 12 missed 4 or 5 times a round. Note that his scrambling is only 25% and he's 4.5% from the bunker.  These statistics defy belief for a 4.1 index.

0 Eagles

Time to stop fudging the numbers and face up to reality, Dan.

Really? If those are his stats you're right it doesn't add up.

[chriskzoo]

Those stats are apparently from around July of last year, when he had around a 5.6 index, but they still don't hold up.  And I should have said he'd have to get up and down 7 or 8 times a round on those 12 missed greens, not 4 or 5.

When he somehow gets to scratch, he can give me a call and I'll play him with my 6.7 straight up.

[hopefulhacker]

Yes.  Except, technically, its not a penalty stroke, its just a stroke.  Right?

True it's just a stroke, except technically it is not always a stroke :) the golfer has to have intent, you could have a "whiff" were you started your swing with intent but pulled out before reaching the ball (a shout of fore, general noise, dangerous to hit ahead etc) No penalty :) and no stroke either in that instance. The club head can go past the ball in this instance. (I have just supplied a few excuses for a get out of jail card for anyone that likes to bend the rules)

[David in FL]

Easy answer:  Very.

There is another thing at play here for me too.  Everybody always talks about pro golfers with envy because they get to play golf for a living.  "I wish I could do that."  Well, not me.  I would be afraid that if I wsa doing it ... and HAD to do it ... every single day for work, it would cease to be as fun as it currently is.

Yes.  Except, technically, its not a penalty stroke, its just a stroke.  Right?

Maybe, but it would make for a great job........

......and then, you'd just have to find something else to do for fun!

[Golfingdad]

Maybe, but it would make for a great job........

......and then, you'd just have to find something else to do for fun!

Maybe engineering would be my new passionate hobby.

[hopefulhacker]

Maybe Dan can work on getting a REAL HC for fun :)

[Lihu]

I love when this thread bubbles back up and am also feeling sorry for the guy - I do not believe his 4.1 index for a second, especially when looking at the stats posted at the bottom of the Statistics page on his website:

He's hitting 28% of fairways and an equal distribution left and right when missed.  In other words, he has no idea where his misses will be.

He's hitting 32% of greens in regulation, let's just call that 12 missed greens a round.  To keep a 4.1 index, of those 12 missed, he'd have to be getting up and down on those 12 missed 4 or 5 times a round. Note that his scrambling is only 25% and he's 4.5% from the bunker.  These statistics defy belief for a 4.1 index.

0 Eagles

Time to stop fudging the numbers and face up to reality, Dan.

Those stats are apparently from around July of last year, when he had around a 5.6 index, but they still don't hold up.  And I should have said he'd have to get up and down 7 or 8 times a round on those 12 missed greens, not 4 or 5.

When he somehow gets to scratch, he can give me a call and I'll play him with my 6.7 straight up.

I never thought about stats before, but the way you describe how to use them now starts to make sense to me.

Plus according to various other threads, a 4 index should have a swing speed of about 104mph, have 3 full keys, carry a 4i about 190 yards, be able to draw any club, etc. etc.

[jsgolfer]

Maybe engineering would be my new passionate hobby. :beer:

What's wrong with Engineering, I'm an Engineer. LOL ;-)

[David in FL]

What's wrong with Engineering, I'm an Engineer. LOL ;-)

So is Golfingdad..... :-)

[jsgolfer]

So is Golfingdad..... :-)

[/quote] :-D

[slightlymad]

Wow, the swings from some of his latest videos look very mediocre indeed. Even if hes not a legit 4.1 still gives me hope i can get way way down from my 15 hehe

[slightlymad]

Its kind of sad actually, but as stated the 10k hours is off anyway and also the age thing i think is hindering him the most. Its just so much easier to ingrain something in your system when you are younger.