True Potential

[iacas]

  On 1/24/2019 at 5:12 PM, Swooshgolf said:

I do think potential is something that can be seen in someone.

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I dislike that definition quite a bit.

Two people could see a vastly different potential in someone. Who is right? Or is their actual potential simply not something you can see?

I think that potential is inherent in the person, not something other people can judge.

[Club Rat]

  On 1/24/2019 at 5:12 PM, Swooshgolf said:

I simply feel my mind is stopping me from reaching my current potential with respect to my physical abilities.

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There are many other factors which you should consider.
One being experience and the other being knowledge.

Often, actually every shot, will be different due to conditions.
Not knowing your golf history, it's impossible for anyone to explain why you feel your mind or thoughts
possibly hinder your expectations.

 

[gbogey]

  On 1/24/2019 at 5:12 PM, iacas said:

I think those of you arguing against your handicap index are not really doing so fairly.

But that's just your potential that day. It doesn't say anything about your long-term potential.

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Agree.

When I think of potential I look at my charts and stats to figure out where I can routinely get better / shave strokes.  If I'm being honest, I think the max I can do today is 2-2.5 strokes per round.  Given that I have been between a 6.5-7.5 for the last 4 years, I think I can get to 4-5.  Nevertheless, if I ever were to get to a 5, I might find another stroke or two of potential improvement - it's happened before.

On the other hand, coincidentally, whenever I've played with others who were below 5 handicaps there is a measurable distance gap between my game and their's.  So I've always believed that getting below a 5 isn't realistic for me.

[DaveP043]

  On 1/24/2019 at 1:51 PM, Swooshgolf said:

How can one gauge their true potential? Do certain physical abilities prove that you have better golf? How much does the mental side overshadow ones physical abilities? I feel my mind is my weakest link as I tend to try and hit the right shot in every situation. 

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  On 1/24/2019 at 5:12 PM, Swooshgolf said:

I do think potential is something that can be seen in someone. This might never be met but it still is there. I simply feel my mind is stopping me from reaching my current potential with respect to my physical abilities.

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If I'm reading this right, you're saying that your decision-making is a problem.   You're saying that "trying to hit the right shot" is stopping you from reaching your current potential. We all "want to hit the right shot".  The problem is that we don't always understand how to choose the shot that is most likely to work out best.  We might choose the "perfect shot", even though its a shot we can't execute reliably, and it ends up costing strokes.  We might choose an excessively conservative shot to try to reduce the chance of a HUGE score, but one that actually increases the likely of a higher average score.  The trick is to choose the shot that is likely to result in the lowest score most of the time.  And here is where I'll plug Lowest Score Wins, a book that provides a very well thought out method for making those decisions, among a lot of other good things.  The book also discusses methods to evaluate your game and develop practice routines that can help you improve and get closer to your ultimate potential.

[Swooshgolf]

  On 1/24/2019 at 5:26 PM, iacas said:

I dislike that definition quite a bit.

Two people could see a vastly different potential in someone. Who is right? Or is their actual potential simply not something you can see?

I think that potential is inherent in the person, not something other people can judge.

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I respect that. I feel you can you can though. I guess these recruiters and coaches are selling false hope.

[iacas]

  On 1/24/2019 at 6:15 PM, Swooshgolf said:

I feel you can you can though. I guess these recruiters and coaches are selling false hope.

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They're just looking at what someone shoots and how they play in tournaments. They're not "seeing" potential. They're trying to, and they're making a guess… so that they can recruit a team.

And two college coaches may differ on what they see. Happens all the time in sports. And neither might end up being correct.

[Swooshgolf]

  On 1/24/2019 at 6:08 PM, DaveP043 said:

 

If I'm reading this right, you're saying that your decision-making is a problem.   You're saying that "trying to hit the right shot" is stopping you from reaching your current potential. We all "want to hit the right shot".  The problem is that we don't always understand how to choose the shot that is most likely to work out best.  We might choose the "perfect shot", even though its a shot we can't execute reliably, and it ends up costing strokes.  We might choose an excessively conservative shot to try to reduce the chance of a HUGE score, but one that actually increases the likely of a higher average score.  The trick is to choose the shot that is likely to result in the lowest score most of the time.  And here is where I'll plug Lowest Score Wins, a book that provides a very well thought out method for making those decisions, among a lot of other good things.  The book also discusses methods to evaluate your game and develop practice routines that can help you improve and get closer to your ultimate potential.

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1

I agree with you but I do know people that will play only their shot because they don't have the ability to hit any other shot. This can be a draw on a dogleg right, putting out of a bunker, chipping on a short side over a bunker. I should just be like those people and take my medicine.

[Swooshgolf]

  On 1/24/2019 at 6:23 PM, iacas said:

They're just looking at what someone shoots and how they play in tournaments. They're not "seeing" potential. They're trying to, and they're making a guess… so that they can recruit a team.

And two college coaches may differ on what they see. Happens all the time in sports. And neither might end up being correct.

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Do you think that maybe they end up not being correct because the player had a bad work ethic? I know this happens with college players in the NBA. They think they don't have to work anymore, that they've already made it. But again I am not saying you're wrong but I don't agree completely.

[iacas]

  On 1/24/2019 at 6:24 PM, Swooshgolf said:

I agree with you but I do know people that will play only their shot because they don't have the ability to hit any other shot. This can be a draw on a dogleg right, putting out of a bunker, chipping on a short side over a bunker. I should just be like those people and take my medicine.

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You should. It’s a better way to play golf.

[klineka]

  On 1/24/2019 at 6:24 PM, Swooshgolf said:

I agree with you but I do know people that will play only their shot because they don't have the ability to hit any other shot.

putting out of a bunker

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That actually happens? Does the ball actually get out of the bunker? How does it get airborne with virtually no loft? How can putting out of a bunker be considered "playing their shot"? 

I have so many questions, I'm so confused 

Edited January 24, 2019 by klineka

[iacas]

  On 1/24/2019 at 7:12 PM, klineka said:

That actually happens? Does the ball actually get out of the bunker? How does it get airborne with virtually no loft? How can putting out of a bunker be considered "playing their shot"? 

I have so many questions, I'm so confused 

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It can be done. Just need a bunker with some firmer sand and no real lip.

[Swooshgolf]

  On 1/24/2019 at 7:12 PM, klineka said:

That actually happens? Does the ball actually get out of the bunker? How does it get airborne with virtually no loft? How can putting out of a bunker be considered "playing their shot"? 

I have so many questions, I'm so confused 

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2

Yes and Yes. Some golf courses do not have fluffy sand and therefore its compact. Of course, it can't have a huge lip either. Their shot is whatever they can do. If they don't have the ability to hit a wedge it makes sense to putt.

[DaveP043]

  On 1/24/2019 at 6:24 PM, Swooshgolf said:

I agree with you but I do know people that will play only their shot because they don't have the ability to hit any other shot. This can be a draw on a dogleg right, putting out of a bunker, chipping on a short side over a bunker. I should just be like those people and take my medicine.

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You've been a little nebulous with your comments about your own game, and your own decision making.  Are you saying that you find yourself always trying to hit the shot you imagine that the pro would hit?  Are you always going for the low-percentage shot?   If that's the case, then yes, your mind is holding you back.  You need to learn your own game, you need to learn how to evaluate what the right shot is in a specific circumstance, and then you have to have the smarts to actually follow that plan.  And as I mentioned, LSW can give you some tools to do the first two tasks there.  The last one, you have to do that all on your own.

[Swooshgolf]

I always go for the shot that makes the most sense in my head. The shot that if I don't pull off will put me in the best position for my next shot. Sometimes this shot can be more difficult and lower percentage shot. I feel I know my game and have confidence but maybe too much. I appreciate the advice everyone has given and look forward to following these this 2019 season.

[iacas]

  On 1/25/2019 at 12:21 PM, Swooshgolf said:

I appreciate the advice everyone has given and look forward to following these this 2019 season.

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You can get off to a great start right here.