Had an epiphany about separation today

[Duff McGee]

I just got back from one of the weirdest rounds I've ever played. Had to start on 10 for some reason and I hate that. Felt ok, didn't lose a ball, nothing out of the ordinary. Played from the blue tees. Shot a 48 on the back. I just kept double bogeying for some reason. It was so strange bc I was striking the ball ok and had no penalty shots. I kept double checking to see if I added it up right. Not really any three putts to speak of either. No duffs. Then I shot a 39 on the front finishing with 2 bogeys for an 87. I kept sinking these monster bending putts. It was crazy! These people I got paired with thought I was the best putter on earth lol. And they weren't straight. They were like "aim 5 feet to the right of the hole, big benders. I still can't really figure out what separated the two 9's honestly. If I had to say, I hit a few greens in regulation with flighted shots which landed right by the pin that bounded off on the first 9 and then I switched up to hitting extremely lofted shots on the second 9. The greens were fast and very dry. Epiphany: the difference between a 48 and a 39 is not as gaping as it seems. Usually I can point to OB, horrible decision making, etc. as to why one 9 went better than another. I've never had a round like this where I golfed basically the same on both sides and had two such drastically different results.

[saevel25]

Usually I can point to OB, horrible decision making, etc. as to why one 9 went better than another. I've never had a round like this where I golfed basically the same on both sides and had two such drastically different results.

Sounds like you gave your self chances for birdies and pars by hitting more greens and taking the big number out of play.

Better ball striking, even if that means just no OB's or a few more shots that ended up near the green for an easy shot.

That and your putter got hot.

[Duff McGee]

Sounds like you gave your self chances for birdies and pars by hitting more greens and taking the big number out of play.  Better ball striking, even if that means just no OB's or a few more shots that ended up near the green for an easy shot. That and your putter got hot.

Yeah the putter was big. It's just weird how deciding to hit SW instead of PW and things like that really got me more looks. I've always been told that in drier, faster conditions, you want to play bump and runs more than lofted clubs. Yet lofted was the key this time.

[SavvySwede]

Yeah the putter was big.

It's just weird how deciding to hit SW instead of PW and things like that really got me more looks. I've always been told that in drier, faster conditions, you want to play bump and runs more than lofted clubs. Yet lofted was the key this time.

Playing the bump and run has more to do with the design of the green complex than its firmness. Though you originally mentioned "flighted" shots which are nothing like the bump and run. My guess is you are simply more comfortable with a stock full swing than the "flighted" technique currently.

[Duff McGee]

Playing the bump and run has more to do with the design of the green complex than its firmness. Though you originally mentioned "flighted" shots which are nothing like the bump and run. My guess is you are simply more comfortable with a stock full swing than the "flighted" technique currently.

Actually I was spot on distance and accuracy-wise with the flighted shots. I am way more accurate with them but nothing was sticking.

[Oz Max]

Had you warmed up? I usually find I have better rounds if I have time to hit a small bucket and/or some chipping before. If I don't,the first few holes can be at best mediocre

[Duff McGee]

Yeah unfortunately I hit a bucket lol. And I actually started off fine with a par on a somewhat difficult par 5.

[Oz Max]

Maybe, having scored a not so good front 9, you just relaxed, thinking less about the score and played without the pressure of posting the round of your life?

[Duff McGee]

Could be. I've felt like a great round is right around the corner.

[Oz Max]

Could be. I've felt like a great round is right around the corner.

Yup I know that feeling... it usually occurs just before a double bogey, or an OB drive!

[Grumpter]

Had to start on 10 for some reason and I hate that.

This might be due to league play. There is not much worse, IMO, than being in a league that plays one 9 most of the time.

[akpklarson]

I often find this true as well.  I play quite a bit, and some days I feel like I hit the ball great, but the score didn't reflect it.  Others are the opposite, I didn't hit it well, but scored really well.

You can hit a great drive, and nice lofted iron / wedge shot in that appears to be on target, but it runs out, or maybe you miss left / right a few feet.  Everything felt great, but you are left with a long put or an additional chip.

Next day could be filled with drives that missed left / right, not much but just didn't feel good.  You are left with a longer iron, or having to play out of the rough.  You hit it fat or thin and somehow roll it close and then knock down a put for birdie.

That is kinda of the extreme, but certainly happens.  Great putting can equalize a score in a hurry, but is often overlooked when you analyze "how you played".

[turtleback]

Quote:

Originally Posted by SavvySwede

Playing the bump and run has more to do with the design of the green complex than its firmness. Though you originally mentioned "flighted" shots which are nothing like the bump and run. My guess is you are simply more comfortable with a stock full swing than the "flighted" technique currently.

Actually I was spot on distance and accuracy-wise with the flighted shots. I am way more accurate with them but nothing was sticking.

If you truly were spot on with the distance and accuracy with your flighted shots then the real problem, IMO was course management and shot selection.  You can't just hit lower shots into greens without taking into account their receptiveness.  In this case it seems to me that your distance was off because you weren't allowing for the greens' lack of receptiveness.  Distance and accuracy have to be assessed based on where the ball ends up, not how close it comes to the hole when it lands, IMO.

[RayG]

I thought this would be about leaving the wife and being able to play more golf... :-)

[mdl]

This doesn't sound too mystifying.  First 9 you hit what, 18-19 putts, plus a couple holes where you misjudged the receptiveness of the greens and played a lower shot that skipped through the green.  Second 9 you dominated with the putter, so maybe 14 putts, plus you switched to high approach shots and didn't skip any through the green.  There's a 7 shot swing.  Never forget how much better a hot putter can make your score (and make you feel about how you played) relative to your ball striking!  Throw in another GIR on an open approach and a single extra tee shot that didn't require a play not to the green and there's your 9 strokes!

[Lihu]

Quote:

Originally Posted by SavvySwede

Playing the bump and run has more to do with the design of the green complex than its firmness. Though you originally mentioned "flighted" shots which are nothing like the bump and run. My guess is you are simply more comfortable with a stock full swing than the "flighted" technique currently.

Actually I was spot on distance and accuracy-wise with the flighted shots. I am way more accurate with them but nothing was sticking.

I doubt that. Even a 7.2 handicap can't really say this. . .

I thought this would be about leaving the wife and being able to play more golf...

I thought this was a different topic as well, more golf related though.

[Duff McGee]

Yeah you guys are definitely right. But that brings it back to my initial point that the difference between a 48 and a 39 is not always as much as people assume. No lost balls and no penalty strokes. No three putts on either side,similar accuracy and ball striking, yet 9 strokes difference. Golf truly is a game of inches. That just shows how much concentration and realizing that each shot is equal and important really matters.

[Lihu]

Yeah you guys are definitely right. But that brings it back to my initial point that the difference between a 48 and a 39 is not always as much as people assume.

No lost balls and no penalty strokes. No three putts on either side,similar accuracy and ball striking, yet 9 strokes difference.

Golf truly is a game of inches. That just shows how much concentration and realizing that each shot is equal and important really matters.

Recently, I shot something similar 47/41. The 41 also had a 4 putt brain freeze. The 47 had OB and all kinds of crazy crap including a glow ball that went dead and needed to be replaced. Then I went off and shot 78 on a harder course. Not much difference between the two for me either, but strokes do add up if you're not careful. . .