Best Way to Improve Your Game

[Beau F]

Wanted to see what the popular opinion was on the best way to improve your game (from an equipment standpoint).  Obviously getting out and practicing is the best way, but I want to see what you guys think it is from an equipment point of view.

Please explain your pick.  Thanks!

[Tubby]

well obviously its got to be the GPS and rangefinders.
That and a bt of practice and you know EXACTLY which club to hit from a given distance.
Of course with practice one can account for the variations in thee condition of th course. Humidity, temperature, Green condition, elevation, wind etc etc.

Having said that, my second pick would be a better ball, mainly because you get a lot more feel in your short game. and if your short game is good, you can shave a few strokes off every round.

[PaladinsPhotographer]

The obvious answer that will be repeated over and over is get fitted...but aside from that....

I think it varies based on the skill level you are starting from....If you can't make reasonably consistent contact with the ball and score under 100, you should grind out time with irons and any wood that you can consistently use to move the ball forward. Also, keep diligent notes on how far you hit each club.

If you are under a 25 handicap, I personally look at it from green to tee....Find a putter that is comfortable and instills a lot of confidence. Next, find a wedge (or iron) you can consistently chip with. Next look for a wedge(s) you can approach with from 40-100 yrds. Finally find irons which are fairly predictable in flight and distance.

I put the least stock in drivers (again assuming you have the ability reasonably get off the tee box). Many folks above a 10 handicap, would do just as well hitting a fairway wood or hybrid off the tee box.

Just my .02 worth....

[Double Bogey]

I voted other, because in my opinion a fitted/weighted putter would be the best.  The range finder would be a distant second

[Cut68]

I voted club upgrade, but I was refering to Fitting

[Topper]

  PaladinsPhotographer said:

Originally Posted by PaladinsPhotographer

If you can't make reasonably consistent contact with the ball and score under 100, you should grind out time with irons and any wood that you can consistently use to move the ball forward. .

What Paladins said...play more golf.  Since I'm a beginner, I spend a lot of time on par 3 and shorter full-length courses to emphasize work on irons and hybrids.  Driving range only if grass is available.

[sean_miller]

  Topper said:

Originally Posted by Topper

What Paladins said...play more golf.  Since I'm a beginner, I spend a lot of time on par 3 and shorter full-length courses to emphasize work on irons and hybrids.  Driving range only if grass is available.

Why no mats? How's that any worse than hitting all your full shots off a tee?

Anyway, on topic, I vote for a good driver, a good wedge, and a good putter, then a rangefinder to dial in the driver and wedge distances.

[newtogolf]

Voted for club upgrade, but assumed that also included fitting.  Buying random clubs without a fitting isn't likely to help much.

[Beau F]

Topper you completely missed the point of the thread. It's obvious that getting out and playing will improve your game. From an "EQUIPMENT" stand point, what is the best way to improve your game? Getting out and playing is not what I'm looking for. That's a no brainer. I totally agree about fitting clubs.

[goodguy96]

If You don`t learn how to hit the ball then a $300 Driver won`t do you any good...... i say Just learn the basics of the swing then buy really nice Clubs.

[Beau F]

Maybe I need to reword the thread question.  Assuming that you strike the ball pretty consistent and have a pretty good swing, what EQUIPMENT would help you to improve your game?

Disclaimer:  This thread was not started for me to figure out how to lower my score, but to see what people's thoughts were on what equipment they think would help to lower a score.  It is completely objective, not subjective.  I believe that it is pretty obvious that practicing/playing/lessons will help to lower a score, that is not the subject of what I am polling about.  It is just simply about equipment.

Thanks!

[ochmude]

I voted club upgrade.  My first set of clubs, purchased when I was a teenager, was a boxed set of Dunlops I got at Walmart for $90 (1/3/5 wood, 3-PW irons, and a bag).  My current 3W and 5W are still from that original set.  I have literally never hit a clean shot with either of those off the fairway.  They are okay off the tee, but not once in about 15 years have I managed to get them airborne from grass.  As such, I have a massive yardage gap between my driver and my [recently purchased] 3H.  A 1H or decent fairway wood is definitely in my future.

[boogielicious]

Rangefinder helped me go from a 20+ to a 14 last year.  Knowing your distances and where trouble is really helped me plan my shots.

[RichWW2]

Voted "other". Meant to vote club upgrade. Getting my clubs fitted was the best thing I've done for my game. Once you find clubs you are comfortable with, you can develop a consistent shot and then you can find a ball that suits your playing style.

[Clambake]

  Beau F said:

Originally Posted by Beau F

Topper you completely missed the point of the thread. It's obvious that getting out and playing will improve your game. From an "EQUIPMENT" stand point, what is the best way to improve your game? Getting out and playing is not what I'm looking for. That's a no brainer.

  Beau F said:

Originally Posted by Beau F

Maybe I need to reword the thread question.  Assuming that you strike the ball pretty consistent and have a pretty good swing, what EQUIPMENT would help you to improve your game?

Beau F, you're new here so I'll save you some time and frustration and explain how TST forum usually works. For any given thread started, here are how it will be responded to:

• 40% don't actually read it carefully or don't comprehend English well enough and answer with something that's very different, sort of like the old "Emily Litella" skits on SNL (the ones where Gilda Radner would say " What's all this fuss about Presidential erections?    Oh, elections?  That's very different.   Never mind .")
• 25% will respond with something that doesn't actually say anything, but they're just doing responding to increase their post count.   Example -   Q: Has anyone tried the new KBS shaft? A: I haven't
• 15% will respond with a non sequitur from your question.     Example -  Q: I've tried every iron and after a thousand hours of hitting have narrowed it down to either the Callaway Xforged or Titleist AP2; anyone have experience with both of these? A: I've never tried either one, but you should try the new Foot Joys
• 10% will hijack the thread completely to bash Tiger in some way, claim that Tiger needs to switch to a different coach, or change his diet, or change equipment, or is washed up
• 5% will use the opportunity to tell you that a player of your handicap shouldn't try blades (even if you're posting about shoes)
• 5% may actually provide a useful answer and be helpful

Knowing the above will save you endless frustration, and a side benefit is that you can play a little game as you go and figure out which category any posts fit into!

Oh, and I answered "Clubs" because I also connect that with getting fitted to the right sticks.....

[Beau F]

Clambake, great post!  Thanks for the info.  I was beginning to wonder if I was speaking the right language for a bit.

[nevets88]

I wouldn't use the word upgrade . Just because it's new doesn't necessarily mean better. I think it's more like club chemistry . You might play better with clubs that fit your eye, have a particular weight distribution, or just that they're different clubs might make things fresh.

Obviously fitted clubs and a putter and driver that you are extremely comfortable with. Maybe mixing up your equipment may help. I have different make irons in one set, my short irons are not the same manufacturer as the long and medium irons.

I think grips are underrated. Sometimes we're a little lax in replacing  grips or there may be a particular grip that is better for your usage.

[lumpuckeroo]

I voted club upgrade, with the thought in mind that you would have the correct clubs that help you improve your ability to get up and down from 100 yds and in.  Get wedges with the correct loft, lie, and bounce for you and your game.