Equipment to lower handicap

[Garnet Haze]

I've been playing golf for only a few years. I've had several lessons. I've upgraded my clubs. I've read books on the mental game (Zen Golf & Zen Putting). I practice my short game about 3 times a week, and I play at least once a week.

I started last year with a goal of breaking 90, which I did early on. Then I thought if I could only consistently shoot in the 80's, I would be content...and I've also been able to do that. I've broken 80 a couple of times and have significantly lower my handicap from the beginning of last year.

Now that I've had a small taste of success - I want more. My goal is to be a single digit handicap this year.

In order to do this, should I upgrade my clubs again? I don't think I'm good enough to play blades. Should I look into getting a GPS device to help with more precise distances? Any advice would be very much appreciated as I have become somewhat obsessed with improving my game (as most of us are).

[naples golf18]

clubs and gps wont lower your handicap, just practice.

[hawkeye]

yep - you can't use GPS in a qualifying round anyway - if you worry about how far away the pin/green is - play more/practice more on the course.

if the clubs you have can get you from 90+ to 80- then the same clubs can get you (and keep you) in single digits.

Something i was told as a youngster/beginner when i had a really good set of (2nd hand) irons - "There's nothing wrong with these arrows - keep using them till you get down to 5 and then if you want something more playable, get something fitted." It ain't the arrows, its the Indian.

Get a set of lessons - say one a month for 3/4 months. Perhaps even just a short game lesson. If i practices my short game as much as you i'd be couple shots better!

Play more! - on different courses. Give yourself new challenges.

Try play with half a set - improves your versatility. Try play without your lobwedge - Tom Watson never played with one. Some higher handicaps often say "i can't play without my lobwedge" - chances are they pull of the shot 2/10 times when their sandwedge - they would put the ball closer to the hole on 5/10 of those times. My observation anyway!

Work on your course management. Par 5 comes up - 3 wood off the tee, rescue club/5 iron to comfortable position. full shot (wedge or whatever) in - 2 putts, par. Or, take a driver out (wider dispersion than 3W), go for the green or as much distance as possible - increasing your chances of going in water/bunker/trees/rough - it may produce the odd birdie - think risk versus reward.

Don't go for pins. Try to hit the middle of the green. The key to par golf is getting pars. Not birdies. We all make mistakes - but we can all hole the odd putt

[bogeyme]

Something i was told as a youngster/beginner when i had a really good set of (2nd hand) irons - "There's nothing wrong with these arrows - keep using them till you get down to 5 and then if you want something more playable, get something fitted." It ain't the arrows, its the Indian.

That's some good advice there. Well maybe not advice but a good way to look at things.

Now that means I'll never get a new/better set of clubs.

[neudi]

My advice would be to get out on the course more often, once a week is hard to lower your handicap.

[Shindig]

In order to do this, should I upgrade my clubs again? I don't think I'm good enough to play blades. Should I look into getting a GPS device to help with more precise distances? Any advice would be very much appreciated as I have become somewhat obsessed with improving my game (as most of us are).

Many pros don't play blades; I don't see why you would want to if you aren't confident with them. Now, if playing blades makes you more confident, great, go for them: there are good amateurs who play them.

Forget GPS, forget new clubs. Play more often on a variety of courses. I need to stop making that mistake - I play very well on my 'home' course, but when I get to a course with more undulating fairways, I play far worse than my handicap indicates. Play more often and take lessons. Do some statistical analysis of a few rounds and see where you need to practice. I've spent the last few weeks doing some practice in the 20-30 yard range pitching, and I believe I've saved myself a few strokes on that. Unfortunately, other parts of my game didn't stay constant and my score didn't significantly improve. But that's with time. Treat yourself to a 'nice', but tough, course. See how you do. See what hurts you on harder courses, and go practice it. Then go back. It'll cost you less than the new clubs, it'll be more fun, and you'll improve more.

[lamebums]

I've been playing golf for only a few years. I've had several lessons. I've upgraded my clubs. I've read books on the mental game (Zen Golf & Zen Putting). I practice my short game about 3 times a week, and I play at least once a week.

If there's any one piece of equipment that will improve your golf game, I think it's one of those swing trainers. I don't know what it's called, but it looks like a 2 iron on steroids with the center hollowed out and the outer part is yellow plastic. And the shaft looks like it's just lost a fight with a tree, or something. But it weighs, five times, maybe more, than a normal club. I can't name it, but I think swinging one of those around will help you build up your golf muscles, especially for adding distance and control over your swing. (The actual swing itself, of course, will take practice and time with a pro, but this will help with strength and control.) I can probably drive a ball about 300 yards if I catch it good now, compared to some forty yards less a few months ago.

[Crafty]

You said that you read the Zen Books. May I suggest reading Golf Is Not A Game Of Perfect by Bob Rotella. Its an excellent book and will really help you.

[FIJIGolf23]

I disagree on the GPS comments. I have only used my Skycaddie SG3 in one round so far, and I am completely confident that I would have shot around 75-76 instead of a 72 had I not had it with me.

And also, they are becoming more and more friendly. Some tournaments allow you to use them according to "local rule."

The other places I would say to improve would be short game and course management. I know you said that you practice your short game 3x per week, but practice are you practicing correctly? Are you just going out there hitting shot after shot after shot or are you taking your time, going through a routine, etc before hitting each shot?

Course management is huge. This helped me get from around a 3 handicap to 0.0 this year. Don't haul off on driver on every par 4 and par 5. This is something that a Skycaddie could help you with as well. Find out what your ideal approach distances are and "lay up" to that yardage.

[TourSpoon]

If there's any one piece of equipment that will improve your golf game, I think it's one of those swing trainers. I don't know what it's called, but it looks like a 2 iron on steroids with the center hollowed out and the outer part is yellow plastic. And the shaft looks like it's just lost a fight with a tree, or something. But it weighs, five times, maybe more, than a normal club. I can't name it, but I think swinging one of those around will help you build up your golf muscles, especially for adding distance and control over your swing. (The actual swing itself, of course, will take practice and time with a pro, but this will help with strength and control.) I can probably drive a ball about 300 yards if I catch it good now, compared to some forty yards less a few months ago.

It's called the Matzie Assist. I have one and it lets you feel the release of the clubhead.

I would tell you to hold off on new clubs and really start working on distance control and strategy. Instead of always thinking "middle of the green" yardage, try to account for where the pin actually is and hitting your ball pin high or slightly below the pin. It is amazing that when my distance is on, I can score and leave my self reasonable chances.

[kafka01]

Hey,

i´m in the same boat as you are - i´m 14 Hcp and want to get my (offical) single digit Hcp. this year. This year i promised myself- DONT buy any new stuff cuz what i have already will get me there easily.
In the winter months i often play at sunnier places with the locals there - sometimes they show up with "stonage"-clubs - nobody at my club would consider to play or expect to shoot a good round with it - and at the end they finished par and I had "a couple" over par with all the fancy stuff i could buy for money.

It´s actually intresting how you think about getting your Hcp. down. Why not looking into the weaknesses of your game, analysing them and practicing them more intense instead of "eliminating" things from your game which brought you success so far. Are your clubs a weakness so far?

[neudi]

A perfect example of equipment doesn't always help is a kid that is a member at my course.

His parents buy him whatever clubs he wants, probably goes through 4 or 5 drivers a season along with irons and you don't want to know how many putters. Yet his handicap isn't going down any. So don't always think that it is the equipment, just practice more, you'll see improvements.

[Shindig]

A perfect example of equipment doesn't always help is a kid that is a member at my course.

This happens frequently, I believe. A buddy of mine has a friend who gets a new driver every six months, bragging about how much better it is than his last one. It's too bad he's left handed, otherwise my friends and I would be getting new drivers a bit more often

Shiny clubs and a vanity handicap indicate that you think you can buy your game. When my handicap reaches teens, I'm going to get irons that are more fit to that (instead of clubs for super-game improvement, I'm going to game-improvement), and then I'm keeping those for a great many years.

[The Rambler]

The duel hinge medicus looks very promising

[neudi]

A prime example, the only time pros get new clubs is when it is in their contract or if they break one, but if they break one they get the exact same one and there are even people that are able to wear the face to exactly what the other clubs face was to have the same feel. Its sick.

[Shindig]

A prime example, the only time pros get new clubs is when it is in their contract or if they break one, but if they break one they get the exact same one and there are even people that are able to wear the face to exactly what the other clubs face was to have the same feel. Its sick.

It is worth noting that they break them more often than you or I do. They aren't throwing them or (deliberately) wrapping them around trees, but the quantity of balls they hit can cause a slight defect to cause a problem. I think Brandt Snedeker's driver broke on the 17th tee yesterday. Almost needless to say, Bridgestone was ready with a replacement after the round.

[Bowker]

I would recommend getting some lessons to help iron out any kinks in anything; and also practice, practice, practice!!

[hawkeye]

yeah - what kafka01 said - focus on your weaknesses.

here is something our college coach is getting us to work on - after each round note these statistics:

- realistic birdies opportunities (e.g inside 15/20feet, putting)
- birdie opportunities converted (this won't include long putts/chip ins etc)
- scrambling (getting up and down from anywhere inside 100 yards - includes anywhere around the green - say you hit it in a bunker from 80 yards, then get up and down - that's a point).
- total putts (good statistic if you focus on long run results - everyone has bad days)
- penalty shots - (out of bounds/water hazard/unplayable lies - can be a sign of poor course management, trying the ultimate shot etc.)
- gross score (this is what you want to reduce at the end of the day)

In general, the better you score in the top 5 stats golfwise (less putts/less penalties etc) the lower your gross score will be.

Fairways hit don't really tell you anything about the scoring part of your game. Greens hit tell you slightly more but the above stats will tell you where you are losing shots.


Noting these statistics can help you focus your practice sessions on your weaknesses.