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

[MS256]

So, is your assertion that some percentage of the 50% of all people can be scratch? Is it 1% or do you think the 0-5 range is more evenly distributed, like 8.33%?

In any case, you are stating that 50% of all people should be able to get to a 5 handicap, and I still think that sounds a little bit too optimistic. Only 13.3% of men who carry a handicap are 5 or less, and only 2% of women.

50% of all people aren't coordinated enough to chew bubble gum and walk down a sidewalk at the same time.

Half of the other 50% are head-cases who will never reach their potential. The type that would rather hit the ball in the water 6 times in a row than to admit that maybe it's a little more than they can chew.

[nevets88]

Quote:

Originally Posted by nevets88

I respectfully disagree. An "average" person on the coordination skill, is not going to throw a 90 mph fastball, but is more coordinated than 50% of all persons, is pretty coordinated.

I think that one would think it isn't possible speaks to how bad overall golf instruction is and has biased the general consensus.

So, is your assertion that some percentage of the 50% of all people can be scratch? Is it 1% or do you think the 0-5 range is more evenly distributed, like 8.33%?

In any case, you are stating that 50% of all people should be able to get to a 5 handicap, and I still think that sounds a little bit too optimistic. Only 13.3% of men who carry a handicap are 5 or less, and only 2% of women.

0-5, no specific distribution just a range. And of course I'm no authority - this is just my opinion, you're entitled to yours, respectfully. Remember, this is a person doing sort of a Dan Plan, devoted exclusively to this, not working a full time job and is working with an effective instructor in year round sunny weather.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lihu

So, is your assertion that some percentage of the 50% of all people can be scratch? Is it 1% or do you think the 0-5 range is more evenly distributed, like 8.33%?

In any case, you are stating that 50% of all people should be able to get to a 5 handicap, and I still think that sounds a little bit too optimistic. Only 13.3% of men who carry a handicap are 5 or less, and only 2% of women.

50% of all people aren't coordinated enough to chew bubble gum and walk down a sidewalk at the same time.

Half of the other 50% are head-cases who will never reach their potential. The type that would rather hit the ball in the water 6 times in a row than to admit that maybe it's a little more than they can chew.

Well, of course I'm assuming also that a person who is doing this is no dumb dumb and will work hard.

[Lihu]

0-5, no specific distribution just a range. And of course I'm no authority - this is just my opinion, you're entitled to yours, respectfully. Remember, this is a person doing sort of a Dan Plan, devoted exclusively to this, not working a full time job and is working with an effective instructor in year round sunny weather.

I don't actually have any opinion on this matter, I just suspect that yours is a little over optimistic based upon the data that I have seen.

Do you have some a priori way to back up your theory? I have to admit that it is an interesting hypothesis.

[nevets88]

Quote:

Originally Posted by nevets88

0-5, no specific distribution just a range. And of course I'm no authority - this is just my opinion, you're entitled to yours, respectfully. Remember, this is a person doing sort of a Dan Plan, devoted exclusively to this, not working a full time job and is working with an effective instructor in year round sunny weather.

I don't actually have any opinion on this matter, I just suspect that yours is a little over optimistic based upon the data that I have seen.

Do you have some a priori way to back up your theory? I have to admit that it is an interesting hypothesis.

That's it, it's just my opinion. I can't prove it and I'm not saying I'm right, it's just my gut feeling.

[Shorty]

Only 13.3% of men who carry a handicap are 5 or less,

Where does that statistic come from?

I doubt whether it would be 1%.

[Lihu]

Where does that statistic come from?

I doubt whether it would be 1%.

Note, that this is only the men who carry a USGA handicap.

http://www.usga.org/handicapping/articles_resources/Men-s--Handicap-Indexes/

Guessing 1.33% of the general golfing public?

In retrospect, I also doubt this optimistic a figure. A 5HC male player is really good.

[Pretzel]

I would tend to agree that Dan doesn't talk about golfing like he is a 2 handicap. I haven't really noticed the rough, besides a slight distance and spin loss, since I dropped below a 10 handicap (with one of the courses having been used as a U.S. Open qualifier course before, that one I did notice a bit more distance loss on). Dan's talking about how the rough is forcing him to just hit a pitch shot back to the fairway, but I have never seen any rough shorter than knee-high that truly requires you to play in such a manner. Even if the rough is 6 inches deep (as the second cut is at Indian Peaks Golf Course, where the league I have played in plays) you can often still attempt to hit the green from inside of 150 yards. Outside of 150 it can be difficult, but you are far from just hacking out. I would be very interested in seeing Dan hit balls in person. If he really does have problems with tree roots (he was afraid of breaking his hand on a 1/2" root, which my swings would tear to pieces) and moderately thick rough I would like to see how he is swinging that these are issues.

[MSchott]

Note, that this is only the men who carry a USGA handicap.

http://www.usga.org/handicapping/articles_resources/Men-s--Handicap-Indexes/

Guessing 1.33% of the general golfing public?

In retrospect, I also doubt this optimistic a figure. A 5HC male player is really good.

Agree. I know a lot of golfers, some are very good and often break 80. I can't think of one who is a 5.

[nevets88]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shorty

Where does that statistic come from?

I doubt whether it would be 1%.

Note, that this is only the men who carry a USGA handicap.

http://www.usga.org/handicapping/articles_resources/Men-s--Handicap-Indexes/

Guessing 1.33% of the general golfing public?

In retrospect, I also doubt this optimistic a figure. A 5HC male player is really good.

I qualified my statement by saying if the person was dedicated to golf full time, had top notch instruction, year round great weather and was no dumb dumb and had a good work ethic in addition to the relatively athletic requirement. I'm not saying this for average person with a full time job and crap instruction.

[Lihu]

I qualified my statement by saying if the person was dedicated to golf full time, had top notch instruction, year round great weather and was no dumb dumb and had a good work ethic in addition to the relatively athletic requirement. I'm not saying this for average person with a full time job and crap instruction.

I still don't know about this. All the 3-5 handicaps I met had been scratch players who "let themselves go".

5 handicaps have at least 8 chances at birdie every round making on average 2.

[nevets88]

Quote:

Originally Posted by nevets88

I qualified my statement by saying if the person was dedicated to golf full time, had top notch instruction, year round great weather and was no dumb dumb and had a good work ethic in addition to the relatively athletic requirement. I'm not saying this for average person with a full time job and crap instruction.

I still don't know about this. All the 3-5 handicaps I met had been scratch players who "let themselves go".

5 handicaps have at least 8 chances at birdie every round making on average 2.

Yep.

[Shorty]

Note, that this is only the men who carry a USGA handicap.

http://www.usga.org/handicapping/articles_resources/Men-s--Handicap-Indexes/

Guessing 1.33% of the general golfing public?

In retrospect, I also doubt this optimistic a figure. A 5HC male player is really good.

If they are as free and easy with their handicapping (vanity) handicapping as our good friends Dan with their "official" handicap, and count rounds playing on their own and ignore bad ones, then I'm not surprised.

On the other hand, if you lined up 100 random golfers I'd be very surprised if one in 20 was a consistent 70s shooter.

A lot of these "5s" are actually 15s.

[Lihu]

If they are as free and easy with their handicapping (vanity) handicapping as our good friends Dan with their "official" handicap, and count rounds playing on their own and ignore bad ones, then I'm not surprised.

On the other hand, if you lined up 100 random golfers I'd be very surprised if one in 20 was a consistent 70s shooter.

A lot of these "5s" are actually 15s.

Maybe 15 is a bit of an exaggeration, but yeah, I get your point.

[flopster]

If they are as free and easy with their handicapping (vanity) handicapping as our good friends Dan with their "official" handicap, and count rounds playing on their own and ignore bad ones, then I'm not surprised.

On the other hand, if you lined up 100 random golfers I'd be very surprised if one in 20 was a consistent 70s shooter.

A lot of these "5s" are actually 15s.ate

What? Being a 5 is not as earth moving as some may think it is, play at a tough course like I do ( rate 73.7 slope 139) and only 5 of your 10 revision rounds even need to be in the 70's.

[Shorty]

What? Being a 5 is not as earth moving as some may think it is, play at a tough course like I do ( rate 73.7 slope 139) and only 5 of your 10 revision rounds even need to be in the 70's.

Which makes you a legitimate 5.

There are posters all over golf forums who have a handicap of 5 who ask about what to expect in their first tourney or seek clarification on OB and casual water. They are not 5 markers. They are vanity handicappers who wouldn't break 90 on a 139 slope course but will tell their friends they had 73.

I'm talking about the Dan McLaughlins of this world.

[flopster]

Which makes you a legitimate 5.

There are posters all over golf forums who have a handicap of 5 who ask about what to expect in their first tourney or seek clarification on OB and casual water. They are not 5 markers. They are vanity handicappers who wouldn't break 90 on a 139 slope course but will tell their friends they had 73.

I'm talking about the Dan McLaughlins of this world.

ok

[nevets88]

This was a recent comment on his blog.

You Go Dan! you are in uncharted waters, a true Pioneer. No one else has had the idea or commitment to do what you’re doing. You are, indeed, an living advertisement and if manufactures want to supply you with their wares, and they should, all the better for your budget. The challenges (most will never know) you face and the incredible job you’re doing to apply a theory is ‘ground breaking’. Your goal of playing in the PGA is the heart of a professional.when you get paid for making that first Cut then you’re a “Professional” Keep up the good work!

I hope to see you on the golf series “The Big Break” someday. I think that would be Cool.

Hang in there Dan, Perhaps you will be proven in the last hours of you journey when you are rewarded for all of your work and dedication when “it all comes together” . That’s how true winners are made! Keep going and never look back!

[David in FL]

This was a recent comment on his blog.

It's this type of thing that really contributes to making it hard to take the whole effort/process seriously.......