jayisu

38, par 35, front nine of my course. The front is my bane, especially first 4 holes. Didn't play well and scored ok. 1 birdie, best knews is no doubles or higher!!!! Missed by inches on 3 birdie putts, missed two par putts by same amount, one was struck too hard and hit back of cup nestled on the lip. Could have been better. Striving to play front in par, but I need to be better than 3 over on the first 4 holes. Have to figure those out.

Shot 81 in twilight fun round (+10). Was tired and didn't play well, but had most birdies ever in a round. Hit only 2 fairways, led to big numbers. 3 birdies, 2 doubles, 1 triple. Iron play and accuracy was terrible and a couple of errant chips, but I figure I scrambled pretty well. Was working on playing aggressive for birdie and it either paid off or blew up on me.

I agree with this and have the same trouble on my course. The other day I was inside the 150 marker by 15 yards and the guy with the range finder said it was 157 out. No wonder I was hitting that shot short. I don't have the app, but I go on Google earth and measure with its device and am surprised at how close or long some of the distances I hit from are. I am trying to memorize some of the positions I am usually in and trust the Google yardage. Hard to gauge a shot when you don't have a reliable yardage to use.

It seems the lower handicappers have much greater distance. Probably consistent distance as well. My game has improved this summer (24 to 12) as my distance has improved. Driver -- 250-275max 3W -- 220-245 max 3h -- 200-210 3i -- never use it, except for low punch out of trees 4i -- 200-210, use hybrid instead 5i -- 190 6i -- never use it, mental block, choke down on 5 7i -- 160-170 8i -- 145-155 9i -- 130-140 PW -- 120-135, no control 56 -- 100 60 -- 65 I can only give a range because I don't consistently hit a certain distance. Try to control distance gaps with choking down and shorter swings with limited success.

I only saw one advocate for 5 iron which would be my choice. I can hit it 200+ on longer shots, choke down for knock down shots and distance control and it is good for greenside chips. The sand seems to be a concern, but if I don't have a good club for the sand, then I am going to avoid it by aiming away, over, or short of any sand. If I am in green side sand, then lay it open and choke down and you can get out. But, I think the added distance would be necessary to score on Par 4's of varying distance. If a 6,7,8i can get you around a course in par/bogey fashion, why do we higher handicappers insist on using a 14 club bag?

Shot a 79 (par 71) yesterday. 37, 42. Bogeyed the first two and parred 8 in a row before mishits charged forward. Had a triple on 14 with OB off the tee. Fatted drive on par 3 16 that went about 40 yards, two poor chips and a long putt to save bogey. Had 1 birdie, 5 bogeys, 11 pars, 1 triple. Very solid day for me. Hit 9 fairways and 7 greens. Chipped well and putted great (30). The birdie was best of the day. After 3 poor holes, triple, bogey, bogey, I had to have a birdie on Par 5 17 to get under 80. It is long and very narrow, fairway is about 20 yards wide with major trees on either side. Striped drive, mishit 3 wood to difficult rough behind tree. hit a hybrid grounder that ran up to the green for a GIR leaving 55 feet for birdie. Ran the putt in. Maybe highlight hole of my golf career.

In keeping practice session stats are you recording things after each shot? Do you create a gameplan or game? I tend to just bang it on the full range because of time restraints. When I chip I take ten balls and pick a location and pin. I get 1 point if it is within 4 ft. and I should be able to convert the u/d. I get 0 points if it is on the green in two putt range. I get -1 points if i miss the green. I pick hard locations and set a par for points based on difficulty. For instance, over the bunker, downhill slope to short side pin may be a 0. Fairway lie, 10 feet off, 30 feet total may be a 5. This has helped me hit more solid chips and realistic expectations on my chips, also developing different shots that get closer. Do you do the same and does the practice tracking help your game?

We should create a stupid shot statistic. The R (risk) factor. I miss greens for many reasons, but often, even from the fairway, I get too cute and try to hit a shot that I have a low percentage of executing. Actually, I can't think of one instance the cute shot has led to a lower score. I went OB in a good round (81 with an 8 on a 5) because I was tying to drive to a long distance and narrow landing spot to avoid water and have a shot at birdie. Instead it cost me 3 strokes and a round in the 70's because I didn't lay up like usual and just take my par. 1 R factor = +3 strokes. On average, I bet an R factor shot costs most of us +1.5 shots per hole increasing as the handicap of the player increases. The hero shot from the trees, trying to carry water, overswinging to hit a green in 2, the ill fated shot at the pin on a short side flag, the perfect bunker shot instead of just getting out. I am going to track the R factors in my next round.

I use The GRINT app and it gives me charts and trends and per hole analysis. I feel like a total nerd but love looking at it.

I am a 12 handicap on my course. I am hitting 45% of fairways, 35% of greens, get up and down at 40%, 31 putts per round, 2 penalty strokes per round. Average score is 83 on a par 71. My best is 77 with only 2 fairways hit, but 11 greens. Looking at it, I have to hit more greens, especially on par 3's. I also have to eliminate the OB or water ball that bites me each round, though my course is narrow and on a lake so the water and OB are in play on some holes with a reasonable miss. Putting is aided by the up and down, but I miss every stinking birdie putt. How important is it to improve on these numbers, or am I wasting mental energy trying to track and improve these numbers? Is improvement more a matter of playing each shot and striking it well with a good decision on club and shot type? Or, do I need to think fairway, green, 2 putt on every hole? For instance, on some greens and pins, I would rather miss the green and chip than have a 40 footer. Not good for the stats, but better for me mentally. Just wondered what folks thought, especially if you evaluate your rounds outside of the basic stats.

I have shot a 77. Since, I have shot 80,81,81,83,86. Shot 81 yesterday with an ob on par 5 that led to a mental meltdown and an 8. I hit 7 GIR and missed all of my birdie putts. Two stopped an inch away from falling in. My overall game was good enough, even with the mishits (fairway mishit lead to a double as well) to end up at 79. Mentally, I think I tighten up just trying to get that birdie. The 77 featured only one birdie out of 11 GIR. Geez.... I need to learn to putt.

Shot 81 (par 71, Emerald Bay in Bullard, TX is home course). 38 front was a personal best, 43 back was very disappointing. Par first and bogey on next three holes, which is pretty good for me because they are hard, narrrow, blind dog leg par 4's and a short par 3 where I struggle to hit the green. Then on 5 hit best drive ever on the hole and started a string of 6 straight pars missing birdie chances by inches which was frustrating. Then came 11 and 12. Mishit in fairway from 120 on 11 put me in tough spot for chip in rough that led to a double. Then par 5 12 with water encroaching, should have laid up off tee, but tried to go to left landing spot and went OB. Tree trouble resulted in a triple. Shot the wheels right off a career round. Played two over the rest of the way including a 20 yard drive on a par three that the recovery shot landed 15 feet, missed putt, but good bogey given mishit. Parred 17 and 18 which are very tough finishing holes, missed birdie on both by 2 inches. 0 birds, 11 pars, 5 bogeys, 1 double, 1 snowman. 81 with a snowman was pretty good. Drove the ball great, approaches were better (12 fairways or first cut, 7 gir). Needed to chip and putt better. A lot better.

I can definately feel the hardness. I guess I like that better because my old club was very mushhy. Interesting about what the bro got, he also used to use the Titleist. Good idea on the buy/sell.

What do you like? They were free and better than what I was using, but I have not hit many different drivers. I played with them and hit them well with about an extra 20 yards of distance, but I like to know what others like.

I have a similar issue. My most recent round I drove the ball better than ever, straight, where I was aiming about 250-270. My ordinary drive is probably 240, but I am using new driver for me and hit fits me and I have gained distance and accuracy. Then, being beitween 70 and 120 out, I completely fell apart. I am a 12 and getting close to or on the green in two even with an off center drive is fairly easy. It all came down to chipping and putting. On this day, I couldn't hit a green from 70 which is lousy and frustrating and compounded throughout the round. But, that said, I believe that chipping and long putts are the problem. Even the pros spray a drive and mishit an approach, but their ability to chip and make putts from 15 feet in sets them apart. For me, my inability to take a 10-30 yard chip and put it within 15 feet is crushing mentally and adds 5-10 strokes to my score. Also, say I hit the green, but have 30-50 feet to deal with, hitting a good lag to within 6 feet is rare. Often I am short, long, or just don't read the break right over the distance of the putt. I just have to be better getting closer to the hole. Shorter putts and good chips breed confidence and create good memories to rely on. Also, if you note it, when you are in a chipping situation, there are more variables to your shot selection and swing type than anywhere else on the course. You are trying to repeat one swing with a putter, driver, and iron. When chipping you can bump and run with different clubs, hit a soft chip, use a putting swing, have to hit down in the rough, hit from the sand, a flop shot, choose what degree wedge to hit, control backswing for distance, have a short side pin, a lot of green to work with, and then you have to make solid contact. I often make the wrong decision for the situation I am in and it adds a stroke or two per hole. I have practiced on chip and run and soft flip (not flop) shots and improved. Recently I started practicing using a putting stroke with a hybrid to run it up or out of the rough because it moves through the rough better and if I can control the distance then I may be able to closer on a hole without a big lip to deal with. I don't think I will improve my handicap much until I am able to execute 5 or 6 different shots around the green with a decent degree of proficiency.

Years ago, my playing partner who was a wild high handicapper was approaching a green trying to bend it around a tree. Like most courses, there were an abundance of squirrels. He topped it and hit a hot hopping worm burner near the tree. The ball promptly struck a squirrel square in the head. Ball deflected to the fairway and the squirrel lay dead in its tracks. It was as exciting as a hole in one!!!

I know everyone has different income levels and discretionary income. One of the barriers to getting better at the game is having the cash to invest to be able to play and practice regularly. At least, that is one of mine. How much do you spend on golf, meaning green fees, memberships, equipment, clothes, driving range, balls, etc...(excluding beer, haha)? I have never been able to play more than a couple of times a year in charity tournaments. I took five years off. Recently, I picked it up because I got married again and gained priveleges at the country club where we live. So, I don't pay anything for fees and there is a practice range there. I use found balls and borrowed clubs. So, I have bought some shorts and shirts and a couple of golf gloves. So far I would say I have spent about $100 and played about 15 rounds this year. So, I found a really cheap way to enter the game again. If it wasn't, I don't think I could play.

Quote: But if your a natural draw player it's weird to loose drivers to the right. This is the genesis of the thread. With the irons, I cannot put that fade on the ball. The longer the club though, the more the shot shape moves to the right culminating in the driver where I can hit some impressive boomerang balls that almost circle around back to the tee box. I am no expert, just trying to get better. Before I get too old, I would like to shoot a round of even par, if I ever do I may quit and just frame the scorecard. I agree that it is weird. Maybe a mental quirk, perhaps overswinging and being too tight. My setup is on the left heel with driver. The adjustment moving farther away from the ball seems to have made a significant difference though. We will see on my next round.

Quote: I'm totally new to golf so I shouldn't give advice or anything but what I read from jayisu post just asked for a comment. You are worrying about your driver distance yet you say you that as soon as it comes in the range of 60-110 you really have a problem. Should you then not focus on that part of the game instead of worrying about your driver distance. Also what kind of clubs do you have in the bag, sounds to me you might need 1 or maybe 2 more wedges to make up the distance below the 110 yard range. And if you hit your driver and you end up with a ball withint 110 yards why did you choose the driver then and didn't go for an other club instead? I agree. I didn't clarify. I am usually pretty good from 100 in. On that day I struggled mightily. I was using driver because my ordinary driving distance requires it, but I was getting more distance. I guess mentally, I just didn't adjust my game to how I was hitting it that day. You are absolutely correct that I need more wedges, just haven't found the hand me downs and don;t have the cash to go get some. I suppose there are other guys on the site that like to keep golf expenses low. I married in to a club membership and got some hand me down clubs, so my cost to play is pretty low. I like it that way so I haven't invested in upgrading the wedges. It is kind of the drive for show, put for dough conundrum. I am not long, but my course isn't either. I am like most and like to see a good drive fly instead of playing a smart hybrid to a better distance. That is just mental stupidity. If I am driving to that short range distance, I should be able to score and I just wasn't able to do it. More practice is definately the key and I am spending all my practice time this week on wedges, chips, and putts.

Shot an 83 on a par 71 course. 41-42. Three double bogeys, no birdies. Missed two birdie putts that were more than 25 feet and fell two inches short on line. Hit my driver awesome, but the approach game was non-existant. I was within 100 yards on every par 4 and could not find the club or shot to get close. Instead, I flopped by missing the green short because I don't have a gap wedge and couldn't adjust my lob or pitching wedge well enough. On number 13, I hit the fairway with a 260 yarder and was about 100 out to an uphill elevated green with a front pin. shoudl have been a choked down PW to the green. I fatted it badly and was left with 60 yards. Hit a full 60 degree fat and landed short and rolled down the hill. Chipped up and two putted for a double. One shot-- perfect, 5 shots inside of 100 yards. Pathetic. This was a change because I usually have trouble off the tee and scramble well to shoot high 70's and low 80's. I drove the ball well enough to score in the low 70's with just ordinary chipping and inside 100 approaches. I left 5 to 7 strokes on blade of my 60 degree wedge. Very frustrating round, but overall, drove and putted well enough not to blow up in to the 90's.

tough distance for me. I only have a PW and a 60. Too much for the 60 so I have to experiment with the PW. Often, I am too short or too long. Best result is the same shot you use, a 3/4 knock down PW that lands in front of the green and rolls up. Trouble is a lip that stops the roll or hitting green and having it roll through. I don't generate much backspin to check the PW. recently I obtained a new driver and am hitting well and farther putting myself at 70-120 from many greens on my course. 120 is ok, 110 is is wild and I must practice and get better from that distance. I know if I got a 56 I would improve because I would have a full swing shot at some of the distances and more control on the lesser swings than with the PW.

When I started shifting my weight to the left side through impact and rotation as opposed to pivoting on my right side. Also, got a new driver that fit my swing better. I agree on loosening grip pressure and relaxing the swing. Ball goes further when fluid and loose. As a beginner you probably feel like you won't be able to hit the ball or hang on to the club when getting loose, but clearing that mental hurdle will result in longer shots. Also, I have noticed that I try to place the shot instead of swinging and letting the result take care of itself. That gets me tight and makes it hard to hit a good ball with a good direction.

I only have a PW and 60. I use the 60 different ways by changing the loft angle at set up and using a chipping or wristy swing to hopefully control the release. I only have the 60 because I use borrowed clubs and that is all that was available for me. I don't have the cash to go get a new 56 right now. It really kills me because a 40-90 yard shot is very hard with the 60 and hard for me to have the touch with the PW. But, I practice a lot with my 60 learning how to hit it and what it will do. My opinion is that whatever you have in the bag, if you practice the shots you need to hit with any club, you can improve your chance to get close and score. I putt, drive and approach at an extremely average, but fairly consistent level. Chipping and 60 in is where I see 5 stroke swings in my score. If I am chipping well then up and downs are possible and if not, then I am on the bogey or double train. Pick a club for the chipping situations you find yourself in and learn to control it and how to hit it and you won't need that 60. You can lay a 56 open or use an 8 iron to bump and run.

So, I experimented with set up, backed away so that I had a very slight reach, maybe just extension with driver at set up. Where before i was in a position similar to my irons, now my arms were a bit more extended and the ball was toward the toe of the club, not towards the heel. I drove the ball straight and very long, probably 30-40 yards farther than my old driver and where I was aiming. That seemed to do the trick. Unfortunately, it put me inside the 60-110 range on most holes and that part of my game completely left me. I only have a PW and 60 degree and that distance is very hard. I couldn't get the 60 through the rough or the touch for a PW from that range. Too many long putts and resulted in an 83 instead a 70's round that it should have. Hard to believe an improvement due to a new club and figuring out a swing could blow my mind to the point that I couldn't adjust in the short game, but I guess that is why we love this game. We are never fixed, there is always something to work on.