Big improvement, what's next?

[brettfan]

2015 has been a good year for me on the golf course.  I've always had a decent short game/putting and could hit it a long way but I always struggled to get off the tee... would loose 3-5 balls a round off the tee and that translates to 6-10 shots lost (my course has TONS of OB... if its not within 10 yards of fairway its OB).

Earlier this year I started hitting a "stinger" with a 3-wood off the tee.  Can hit it 220 and usually rolls out to 250... plenty long enough to play my course well... and I am (almost) never in trouble off the tee.  The "stinger" really revolutionized my game, I use it on almost every non par 3.  As such, I've gotten my handicap down from 14 to 6.9 (I'm estimating that's what it will be when it comes out in a few days).

So, my question is... what's next?  I feels like every aspect of my game is good but not great.  I don't keep detailed stats... should I start doing this to help me figure out what to work on now?  What stats should I keep?  I don't want to get too involved in this because I've tried keeping stats in the past and it felt like I was doing bookwork while I was trying to have fun.

The last thing is that I want to continue to improve but I'm really scared to change anything in my game.  I've seen such improvement that I'm afraid that if I change anything the whole thing will come crumbling down and I'll be right back where I was before.

Thanks in advance for the input.

[Grumpter]

Maybe this thread is worth a look - http://thesandtrap.com/t/80995/gamegolf-users-how-do-you-use-the-results

[Slowcelica]

Figure out your driver, what happens when you play a course where you cant hit "stingers" off the tee?

[DaveP043]

What exactly is your stinger?  Is it a reduced backswing, smoother-tempo thing where you're not trying to kill the ball?  If so, that general idea might just work for every club in the bag, potentially including your driver.  If you can put what feels like 80% effort in, and get a significantly higher percentage of solid contact straight shots, you'll be giving up almost nothing in distance for a big return in scoring.

[Slowcelica]

What exactly is your stinger?  Is it a reduced backswing, smoother-tempo thing where you're not trying to kill the ball?  If so, that general idea might just work for every club in the bag, potentially including your driver.  If you can put what feels like 80% effort in, and get a significantly higher percentage of solid contact straight shots, you'll be giving up almost nothing in distance for a big return in scoring.

I think he means basically a line drive, low shot that runs a lot.

[DaveP043]

I think he means basically a line drive, low shot that runs a lot.

Quite possibly, but my suggestion still may have some merit.  Consistently solid contact and straight flight with every club in the bag is a pretty good thing.

[brettfan]

Thanks for the input. My stinger is not an 80% shot, it's a very low, boring shot that never gets very far off the ground but runs forever. I learned it from this instructional piece: http://www.golf.com/instruction/hit-tigers-stinger I agree that hitting the driver would help in the abstract but hitting that club scares the crap out of me. Going to the stinger on tight fairways was responsible for a half-dozen drop in my HC. I only use driver on the two par 5s that are pretty wide open and I only gain about 30 yards with it (280). I can go 3W and wedge or short iron on most holes now. Anyway, thanks for the input.

[Jameson]

I need a Stinger !!!

[dave s]

Sounds like a good time to start collecting some stats from each round and focusing in on a couple of areas for improvement.  Here's a couple I've focused on over the past few seasons:

1. Par 3 scoring.  It was miserable at just under 4.5 strokes per hole.  Went to range and worked on hitting straight shots the proper distance (used the Bushnell a LOT on this exercise) with everything from 9-iron (120-125) through 5-hybrid (about 165).  Now, my scoring average on par 3 holes is 3.7.  That's 3 stokes a round gained.

2. Getting up and down around the greens in two strokes rather than three.  This was a combination of getting better wedges, learning some shots and a LOT of practice with 8i - LW from all angles and all lies.  Practice Green Drill:  Take 3 balls.  Hit the same shot with all 3 balls.  If you get up-and-down in 2, you get to keep the ball.  If not, you have to put one away.  See how long you can play with 3 balls.  Key:  getting your initial pitch/chip shot ALL THE WAY TO THE HOLE!  Trust me on this.  When you hole out of chip, you get a ball back!

3.  Hitting greens from 125 and closer every time.  My make rate on this is well above 80% now.  Sure, I have the occasional shot where I leave the blade open and miss right, or pull one left that doesn't stay on the putting surface, but by and large, these shots are pretty much automatic for me now.  During yesterday's round with the wife, I had a 'dart-throwing' day with the short irons.  From the fairway, I was able to stick 3 wedges, a 9- and 8-iron inside 10'.  Chips were mostly inside (or past hole) 5 feet.  I'm usually a really solid short putter.  Missed every birdie attempt and only made 2 of about 10 shots putts 10 feet.  And again, several were inside FIVE feet.  Horrible putting day yesterday.

4.  Pick up strokes with your putting. When you review a round, how many 3-5' putts did you miss?  For me, it used to be 2-4 a round.  I call those 3-5 footers makeable putts need to make every one of them.  I practice 2-, 3- and 5-foot putts before each and every round.  Two balls from each distance from 3, 6, 9 and 12 o'clock around a hole.  I do this drill twice before heading to the first tee.  It's like a big man in basketball who plays around the rim all day.  When he receives the ball in the block, it's drop-step to the basket, off the backboard an in for two.  It's automatic.  This is what these putts need to become for us.  3-5 footer?  Automatic 'make' range.

Not sure if the above fits your game, but all were definitely areas for improvement in my game.  Good luck shaving those last few shots from your hdcp.

dave

[vangator]

If you're getting your ball in play off the tee, then I'd attack GIR. You need to start sticking your ball on the greens. This week I'm working on my driver, putting and flop shots.