Been stuck with a 5 handicap too long, please help

[irishlad88]

Hi I'm new to this forum my name is Barry from Ireland. I'm 22 but I've been playing off a 5 handicap since I was 17 years old and have not moved on to the next level. I took a hiatus from the game for 3 years and have started playing a lot since April and am pleased with my quick progress. However I can never seem to get to 4 it always seems to be out of reach. Any help would be appreciated. I am straight off the tee, 270 yards average, my ball striking is as good as a 5 handicap should be and I have a good putting stroke. I just need advice on how I can lower my handicap because 5 years ago I could not see myself being off the same handicap and it's frustrating. Thank You.

[Robato]

A lot of players would love to have your problem. Do you keep stats when you play? I've recently broken through a barrier similar to yours, and I'd say that my stats really helped to reveal what I needed to work on. Find your weaknesses and work hard to get rid of 'em.

[delav]

I'd make sure you are keeping stats, and concentrate 70-80% of your practice time to short game.  The ability (or inability) to get up and down is where my strokes seem to be determined.

[rebby]

30 minutes a day to lowering your handicap. My 7 day plan. [list] [*][b]Day 1, Short Putting[/b] - Everything inside of 5 feet - I start by finding a nice straight and, preferably, level 4 to 5 foot putt. I'll stick a tee in the ground at my chosen point and grab 3 balls and proceed to stroke putt after putt. I LISTEN for the ball to fall in the hole, especially to start with. I want my head to be still and my stroke to be fluid and free of any compensations (no manipulations of the hands and/or wrists). My goal is to make at least 25 in a row and no fewer than 58 out of 60. After a while you'll find that sinking 60 in a row isn't that difficult as long as you don't lose your concentration (another great side affect of this drill). After 60 putts I move on to my next drill. As you improve, bump this number up a bit, try 90 in a row, then 120. I think that my personal best is right around 250 in a row and I didn't miss, I ran out of sunlight. - For my next drill I grab another 4 or 5 balls and circle the hole with them. I'll try to find a hole on a slope with some nice movement all around. I'll start at about 2 feet and move from ball to ball (pulling balls out every 3-4 putts) until all putts are holed. If I miss any of the putts, I put the balls back in their original spot and try again. If I make all putts, I'll do the same drill over with a slightly bigger circle. Rinse and repeat 3 or 4 times with the final circle at about 5 feet. The goal here is to hole every putt on each revolution. - For the last drill of the day, find a 4 footer with a lot of break and grab 3 balls. For the first putt, try to get the ball to just barely drop into the top edge of the cup before stopping. Hit the second putt to fall into the heart of the hole with (what you determine) is the ideal speed. Hit the last ball even harder, have it hit the back of the cup with authority. Repeat 2 or 3 times on various putts (uphill, downhill, left and right breakers). [*][b]Day 2, Short Chips[/b] - Between 7 and 15 yards from various lies - Take 3 balls at a time and a drop them in a 5' circle, drop them and play them as they lie, don't bump them or place them, drop them. Grab the club that you'd be most likely to use from this location on the course and chip all 3 balls. Rinse and repeat twice more (9 total chips) from 2 other locations in the 7 to 15 yard range. If at least 7 of the 9 are not within 3 feet and/or 1 lies outside of 6 feet, do the whole thing over. - Do the same drill but this time vary your club selection. If you think the best club from a given location is a sand wedge, try a pitching wedge instead. By varying your club selection you'll improve your feel and you'll become more creative in your shot making. - Alternate between fairway and rough lies. - Vary the hole locations from shot to shot if you can. [*][b]Day 3, Short Pitches[/b] - Between 10 and 25 yards - Like the above drill, you want to start with 3 balls in a small circle. Again, drop them and play them as they lie. Rinse and repeat twice more (9 total pitches) from 2 other locations within the 10-25 yard range. Your goal here is to get 8 of 9 within 5 feet and all 9 within 8 feet. If you don't make your goal, do it again. - Like with the chipping drill, change up your clubs a bit and do it all again. - Alternate between fairway and rough lies. - Again, vary the hole locations from shot to shot if you can. [*][b]Day 4, Lag putting[/b] - 25+ footers - I start by putting to the fringe from various locations on the green. I like to do this drill with a single golf ball and zig zag my way across the practice green, back and forth. I'll pick a spot to putt to, a dead clump of grass, a leaf or something of the like on or near the collar and stroke putts to it. My goal is to have the ball gently come to rest against the collar of the green. I'm working on my speed here, not so much my direction. - After 10 minutes or so I'll start putting to specific targets. I like to use those flagsticks that they put on the greens to simulate a hole instead of an actual hole (I never like to practice putting where I'm not holing the vast majority of my putts, by not putting to a hole, I can't hole any of them and, thus, no mental "damage" is created via practicing). If I can't find something like that, I'll putt to a few balls that I'll scatter across the green to use as targets. - For my final 10 minutes I'll do a "ladder drill." I'll start by picking a target about 30 feet away on the collar of the green and I'll putt to it. Like the first drill, I want my ball to gently come to rest against the collar. For my next putt, I want it to stop roughly 2 feet shorter than the first. The next putt, 2 feet shorter than the last and so on and so forth. I'll usually do this drill with 4 or 5 balls. [*][b]Day 5, Bunker shots[/b] - Bunker shots between 5 and 20 yards - Hit bunker shots to various locations, from various lies. Hit 3 balls at a time and keep things interesting. Short side yourself, hit from plugged lies, hit shots that need to stop quick, others that need to roll out, hit them from the far side of the bunker from a downhill lie to a short sided pin, etc, etc. Really vary things up. Hit groups of 9 balls, 3 at a time. You're goal should be to have 6 of the 9 inside of 6 feet with all 9 inside of 10 feet, regardless of the location, regardless of the lie. Rinse (this time literally) and repeat... [*][b]Day 6, Short Approaches[/b] - Short wedge shots from 80 to 100 yards - Basically a repeat of day 3, only this time from a bit further out. This time you want 8 of the 9 within 10 feet and all 9 within 15 feet. - Vary your clubs, your trajectory, your spin into the green, and the hole location (if you can). - Alternate between fairway and rough lies. [*][b]Day 7, Skill Review[/b] - Repeat where you need the most work. - Repeat whichever drill gave you the biggest headache over the week. It makes much more sense to practice what you're not good at than to practice what you're already good at. Optionally, take the day off. [/list] Regardless of your success with a given drill, spend at least 30 minutes on all of them. If you finish one, start over until the 30 minutes is up. If you can't finish a drill within the 30 minutes, no big deal. Don't rush it, rushed practice is worse than no practice. If it takes longer than 30 minutes that's fine, spend 45 minutes, an hour, or however long it takes (without jeopardizing your job and/or marital status that is). Given goals are simply a suggestion, alter these to fit your game but, keep them challenging. The harder the goal, the more it forces you to focus on EVERY shot, sound familiar? Also, if you're not doing it already, start keeping your stats. You'll quickly identify the parts of your game that need work. Focus on the "low hanging fruit" and go from there. In addition to the 30 minutes a day that I suggested above, be sure to spend some time on the range working on your ball striking and shot shaping. Vary your trajectory, your spin, the shot shape, etc. Hit every ball with a purpose and a specific target in mind. Every time you are on the range, use alignment sticks. There is no excuse for having an incorrect setup or alignment. In addition to the above drills, I like to carpet putt, a LOT. I'll usually concentrate on 6 to 8 foots to a small target (usually another ball or the leg of a chair). I'll hit 2-3 balls at a time and really focus on making a smooth stroke. I try to do this a few times every day for at least a couple of minutes at a time. I'll do this during commercials while I'm watching TV or while I'm waiting for my popcorn to start popping or whenever else I might have a few minutes to spare... You get the idea. Again, make sure that you're not rushing things. One smooth stroke is better than 3 rushed ones. I keep a few putters in strategic locations throughout my house to help facilitate my carpet putting obsession. Give these drills a few weeks of dedication and I guarantee that you're handicap will drop.

[awmgolfer]

You really need to track your stats, if you don't already. You may find a weakness in your game you never realized or else it will just firm up some things you may already know. Once you see your stats it should give you a clear picture of what is needed to improve.

[CPT]

Agreed on stats tracking.  To shave these 5 strokes off your handicap, it should be something very delicate and extremely difficult to fine-tune.

I regularly play with a few buddies in this handicap range (0-7) and I think the biggest different from the 5-handicapper and a scratch golfer is the ability to save strokes on and around the greens, especially putting.  This is the area that should be focused, rather than spending time on the long game.

A 5-handicapper can strike the ball fairly-well and can definitely hit a few good approaches in a round.  On a good putting day, breaking par is very much a possibility.

[cougar978]

First thing you may want to consider is what I call the 'crosshair drill' on a putting green.  Putt 3 balls from 4 ft 3 times, then move back to 8 ft, 3 balls from 8 ft 3 times, then move back to 12 ft, 3 balls from 12 ft 3 times.  Then, move to the left of the hole, back of the hole, and right of the hole, and repeat (the pattern looks like crosshairs).  If you can get between 15 and 18 of 27 to fall on each repetition, you've done okay.  Anything under 10, you know where your problem lays.

[Pope33]

I can relate......I have been stuck at a 3 for over ten years now. My problem isn't my short game or my long game, it's my irons. I currently gave up on my previous swing because I became so frustrated......people couldn't believe it! I am in the midst of a complete swing change, which hasn't panned out yet, but I'm going to stick with it (remind you of someone??). Anyway, my moral is don't just beat a dead horse, don't be afraid to change it up!

Good Luck

[NBGolfer]

For me to make that jump I worked on 2 things.

First was scrambling, really trying to work on those shots you need to get yourself out of bad situations and get some distance out of those situations to allow yourself a chance at par.  Looks kinda funny on the range hitting low punch hooks etc.. but it can pay off

Second thing for me was I was always trying the low percentage shot to try and save a bad drive.  Typically those only compound the problem.  My game sorta moved a bit when I took my medicine and got back into play rather then trying a low percentage shot to try and recover.

Stats tracking is also an important thing that I noticed as I just started doing that as well to try and make the next big jump.

[BuckeyeNut]

Originally Posted by irishlad88

Hi I'm new to this forum my name is Barry from Ireland. I'm 22 but I've been playing off a 5 handicap since I was 17 years old and have not moved on to the next level. I took a hiatus from the game for 3 years and have started playing a lot since April and am pleased with my quick progress. However I can never seem to get to 4 it always seems to be out of reach. Any help would be appreciated. I am straight off the tee, 270 yards average, my ball striking is as good as a 5 handicap should be and I have a good putting stroke. I just need advice on how I can lower my handicap because 5 years ago I could not see myself being off the same handicap and it's frustrating. Thank You.

You're very young and just came off a 3yr layoff from the game.  Just give it some time!!......you haven't hit a wall yet because you're just getting started.  You are doing very well to be back to a 5 so quickly and I wouldn't be talking about hitting a wall until you're stuck as a five for a few more years after continuing to play a lot. And I emphasize this because you need to keep playing  a lot.......playing sporadically won't improve your game.

I've hit some walls that lasted 10yrs and was able to play through them without ever practicing.  I haven't hit a bucket of balls since 1995........LOL  Just keep on playing and all facets of your game will improve if you keep playing.  Just playing on weekends probably won't do it... Keeping stats will help you to focus on your weaknesses.  If you're going to practice, spend most of the time on the short game.

Good luck...

[kevin.chan]

At 5 handicap , mostly you already have decent skills. The focus will still be Reduce error Recovery Equipment

[TourSpoon]

Originally Posted by delav

I'd make sure you are keeping stats, and concentrate 70-80% of your practice time to short game.  The ability (or inability) to get up and down is where my strokes seem to be determined.

I tend to find that this makes the difference lately. If I have a decent ball striking round, its the ability to make routine up/downs that dictates my score.

[BIRDIEBOY25]

This is honesty the best answer anyone has ever put up here thanks for the in depth answer and tips because this guys question that you answered will also answer every question i had and i know will improve my game dramatically

[dove694]

any luck with this @irishlad88? i know this thread is from several years ago, so I am interested to hear about your progress. i have the same predicament at the moment! what did you work on?

Edited May 15, 2016 by dove694

[SavvySwede]

4 hours ago, dove694 said:

any luck with this @irishlad88? i know this thread is from several years ago, so I am interested to hear about your progress. i have the same predicament at the moment! what did you work on?

If you look at his profile you'll notice he hasn't logged in since July 2012.

 

[Lihu]

4 hours ago, dove694 said:

any luck with this @irishlad88? i know this thread is from several years ago, so I am interested to hear about your progress. i have the same predicament at the moment! what did you work on?

@rebby seemed to have a plan that worked. He's currently listed as a 0.7

[kevin2]

Get your body into peak shape, stretching, yoga, proper muscle strengthening. I see young adults that I play with that are is worse physical shape then I am at 52. I mean, they are expecting to play the universes hardest physical and mental game with a body that is made of fast food & sitting on the couch OR in front of the computer far to much. If this is an issue with you, then address it.

 Then start really practicing your short game, 125 in. NOBODY is going to get to scratch with a short game that is a mess.

Find out where you are honestly wasting strokes. Mental mistakes? Course management? Honest short comings in parts of your game? Physical shortcomings! If you really want to get better, then being honest with yourself is the place you'll find the answers.

 

With that said, 99% of golfers will never sniff an honest 5 handicap. It ain't all bad...

[iacas]

2 hours ago, kevin2 said:

With that said, 99% of golfers will never sniff an honest 5 handicap. It ain't all bad...

http://www.usga.org/Handicapping/handicap-index-statistics/mens-handicap-index-statistics-d24e6096.html

I don't know about that one.