jshots

This question is hard to answer. The more I think about it though I think it would have to be, the player that has nearly every shot type in their bag. Like you are capable of shaping your shots LtR and RtL, you can hit low running shots and higher spinning shots. Whatever handicap that person is can best appreciate GCA (0-5 best guess). But on the other hand maybe a touring pro simply due to the amount they have to play. They have seen every possible type of shot, certainly they can best appreciate GCA.

You hit the two important points. Experience, and tee choice. Ideally you play a tee that fits your length so that you have to think through the choices the architect intended you to think through. Experience wise, using myself as a bad example. When I played my best golf at a fairly low handicap, in hindsight I had literally no appreciation for course strategy my mindset was - SMASH DRIVER, TAKE DEAD AIM at pin on every single hole. I would say that if you do appreciate course architecture, the fact that you are appreciating it probably means that you are thinking through your hole strategy which means that you are probably also shooting lower scores than someone who doesn't appreciate GCA.

Mobile & Home Golf Simulator | PhiGolf Your smart golf practice, enjoy golf with game. Anybody see or try this? They had a kickstarter that I missed, but they are adding WGT support to it so it should have some decent graphics and a bunch of awesome courses that you can play. Also the device just attaches to the end of you grip so you can use the stubby club they provide or your own club, and some reviews I've watched show that it has somewhat accurate results.

Yes so technology has clearly changed that, anyone can get elevation measurements on a phone today. Not allowing elevation measuring devices only disadvantages those who didn't write them down before the start of the round (ie your average amateur). Again, judging elevation change is not a "golf skill"... choosing a shot to play based on an elevation change is.

Hahaha I was over on twitter composing @usga a piece of my mind when I realized.

I am surprised that so far everyone has agreed that elevation measurement should be illegal. I thought for sure that people would see it as similar enough to distance measuring.

I see rule 4. I'm just joking mainly... but I thought that ultimately part of the reason for his drawing compass ruling was the fact that it was "unusual" Now maybe it would fall under "reduces the need for a skill or judgment that is essential to the challenge of the game"

Also I don't see any mention in the new rules prohibiting the use of "unusual equipment"... Someone get this information to Bryson asap

Haha, he would laugh at me trying to get my distance off of my phones GPS. "Back in my day, they didn't even have yardage markers or numbers on the sprinkler heads". 👴 Well regardless. I'm trying to write a review for the range finder I bought and am wanting to be sure of the ruling - is the distance measuring mode that also includes an angle measurement (does not display elevation directly) an illegal device? I'm saying that yes it is because it is because it is essentially the same as an elevation measurement. Just looking for some confirmation of that.

Haha well this is pretty epic regardless. I would tend to lean towards hole in one with maybe not enough information. I mean really come on, the ball clearly moves in the video. Sure that could mean the lip of the cup is rounded, but if that is the case what the hell is the actual definition of the lip of the cup? Is it the bottom of the lowest blade of grass or the top of the first bit of exposed dirt.... or is it an average of them. Is there a rule on the exact definition of the lip somewhere, I could not find one. Seems to me like the best definition for lip of the cup is the point at which a ball can travel no further without falling in the cup, which this ball has clearly passed. Therefore you owe us all a drink!

I turn 30 in September, I would like to post a red 18 hole round before that. I had a few rounds that were close in my early 20s (2 over par), and had several 9 hole rounds under par, but life has gotten in the way and I haven't played much golf in the last 7-8 years. Seeing as I'm currently a 10 hdcp and yesterday I shot an 86 this isn't gonna be easy, but I really think it is doable. I'm not trying to shoot consistently under par, just one time. Consistency is next year :P Step 1: Play more, practice more. Last year in March-May I was playing more frequently and by the end of May had posted a couple of good 9 hole rounds in the 30s. A couple of +3s a +2 and even a +1. But due to a new job I was unable to play much after that. This year that shouldn't be a problem. I think 2-3 days a week of either 9 holes or a driving range session will get me there. Step 2: Regain peak ball striking. During one of my best seasons in my early 20s I got to a point where I was able to hit GIR almost every time I hit a fairway. Consistent ball striking like that makes scoring much easier! Need focused ball striking work on the range weekly until I am there again! Step 3: Tame the driver. All of the above would get me back to where I was before, but this was my struggle in the past. During my very best rounds I was hitting nearly every GIR, but would almost always have a couple of holes with a very errant drive leading to a double or worse. I have always had issues with driver. Maybe I should see someone about this. Step 3.b: ...or put it away more often. Play smarter. This kind of ties in with step 3. Most of the courses I play, I do not need to hit driver at all. I tend to make dumb decisions on the course, at least in the past. Maybe I'll read LSW.

Before yardage markers, I would hardly call it realistic to pace off every single shot. My Grandfather used to tell me how they had no yardage markers and it was all feel and depth perception. Not to mention the difference between a walked off yardage marker +/- flag color and a laser rangefinder is immense. I think your logic for distance leads elevation to the exact same place. You can already lookup the elevation of any spot on a course. Its readily available public knowledge, just that your rangefinder can't be the one to tell you. Regardless, what do you think about the angle measurement function?

So the rules now allow distance measuring devices, I am currently trying out a budget laser range finder with modes for multiple sports... but I suspect it may not have a legal mode for golf and want some opinions. Mode 1: Gives "elevation adjusted 'golf' distance" automatically. Mode 2: Gives a straight line distance in yards as well as elevation in yards. Mode 3: Gives a straight line distance in yards as well as an angle in degrees from horizontal. Mode 1 and 2 are clearly out given the quoted rule part of rule 4.3, but mode 3 is suspect. Do you think that an angle measurement is legal or illegal? Rule 4.3 states that you can use equipment to help your play but bars equipment that does the following: I kind of think that the angle measurement wouldn't be allowed if elevation measurement isn't allowed, given that you could just calculate elevation from the angle. This raises the question though, why in the world would they allow distance measuring but not elevation measurement. The skill or judgement should come from the players ability to choose and execute a shot with perfect knowledge of distance and elevation, not from their ability to judge the elevation... It seems to me they got this wrong.

18Birdies app on android is all that I use. The distance can often be off by a bit but its better than checking and walking off sprinkler heads, overall a good app. If I played more often I would probably invest in a laser rangefinder but it's hard to beat a decent free app.

It looks like there are 92 players ahead of Tiger, so he needs 32 to drop to +10 out of a group of about 60 that haven't finished. Sounds tough but I count 29 that are between him and +6 yet to finish.

Anyone else digging these microphones picking up all of the sound on the greens like the putt dropping?

I read this a couple of weeks ago and was thinking about while practicing and at least anecdotally this has never been the case for me. I find that for "chipping" playing the ball further back results in more consistent contact and I'm not sure your point of simple geometry is accurate here. Sure if you move your hands backward to achieve the rear ball position you will steepen the angle of attack, but if you achieve it with a more extreme shaft lean where your hands remain in a similar position then your angle of attack shouldn't change all that much? It could be that a life time of chipping that way is the reason I chip better that way, but my thinking is that with slow club head speed of a chip, bounce is not your friend as it is in a pitch and reducing bounce creates better contact. What do you think?

This one really sucks, I hope next year they switch back to "MASHED POTATOES"

After dusting off my Titleist 695 CBs for the first time in 4-5 years I'm missing a PW. I figured rather than replace just my PW on a decade old set of clubs I would look for a decent set of less used clubs. So I'm looking for some tips on peoples favorite players irons over the past couple of years. Also looking to get a new (used (new to me)) 3 wood and 2-3 hybrid. Got any recommendations?

Arnold Palmer Inv is obviously expected but Valspar!? This dude wants to win again!

What are peoples thoughts on why the driver is so off? Also @iacas just curious if you notice increased traffic to thesandtrap.com when Tiger is playing.

You may be right about that, but every time I pull out a club other than the 60 im using a club that I don't know as well and therefore am less confident in hitting the right shot. Why not always use the club you're most confident in and focus all of your practice to make that club your goto. I would rather have a thousand reps with one club than 250 reps with four clubs.

I wanted to hear some thoughts on using 1 wedge for the majority of shots around the green. I find myself reaching for my 60 deg wedge for everything from a flop shot to a bump and run played a good distance behind my back foot. I find it so much more simple to develop muscle memory with one club than to try to learn distances and roll outs for 3 or 4 different wedges. I know a lot of people here used to preach the 12 shot program (lol), where you learn 3 shots with 4 different wedges to give you a repertoire of 12 shots for any situation. I think that is way more than necessary!

I enjoy watching the Players far more than watching the PGA.