faux_maestro
New
PROBABLY just a pipe dream?
I have gone 9 of 9....on a course with 2 par 5's that I can easily reach and the rest of the holes the longest I have is a 7 iron (including one par 4 that is almost reachable)....
18 holes
- Thread starter bcoak
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I have gone 9 of 9....on a course with 2 par 5's that I can easily reach and the rest of the holes the longest I have is a 7 iron (including one par 4 that is almost reachable)....
Billy McKinney
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Here's a little tidbit about putting that will save some strokes: Optimal capture speed is the speed that would make the ball roll 6 inches past the hole and not 17 like Pelz thought. It's not an opinion. The hole is about 4 times larger at the correct speed. This is according to Aimpoint Technology. Fall in love with the speed of every putt instead of just the line.
I could not have agreed more to that sentiment, even though our aspirations are to prepare for a good college career and stop at that level. It takes a very special breed of people to go even higher and my kids know in their hearts that they cannot make the sacrifice to fully commit. Spoiled kids!
Still, golf itself has been a wonderful teacher who humbles them each and every time.
Back on the topic: the best a driver can deliver is perhaps a split of the fairway, but the possibilities for a short approach shot is endless, a true game changer. Even my kids know that if they can dial it in that day, they don't have to be great putters. (It is only when they don't land the approach shots close that they must rely on long putts to go in) I think they realize that relatively speaking, it is much easier to dial it in close to the pin with a great approach shot than to make a long putt.
faux_maestro
New
Close to vertical shaft at impact, no huge shaft lean which brings the leading edge into play (and lots of dig into the turf).
Kevin Shields
Super Moderator
I would say mastering technique only for several different shots, Trackman-ing ur distances from different spots using several techniques from each spot. Then having the nads to actually put the shots into action when the bell goes off. You need different spin, trajectory and sole contact so you dont get caught out there with your pants down.
But.....realistically for the average player, one stock shot that you trust and know how to vary distance should go a long way.
The 45-65 yd range can still get me from time to time. Gotta practice more!
KGlennCole
New
You and I have talked about this several times.. I KNOW that's important, but *where* can one *really* practice the short game, especially here in Pittsburgh? I wish we had an Orange County National or a World Woods. Nevillewood had a fairly decent short game area as does Sewickley Heights. If you have $$$$$$ to join, great. For the rest of us,
. There is Possum Trot in Myrtle Beach.. a little far to drive.. works well for our annual PGT trip in early March, though. What are our options? Not just those of us in Pittsburgh, but for everyone else in similar situations?
Kevin Shields
Super Moderator
Anyone who has the means to buy a Trackman can join Sewickley Heights!
I think I'll comment back on the theory of improving GIRs. Generally if I am on in GIR, I'll make par 7/8's of the time. If I had better proximity then I'd get a few more birdies, but the misses tend to be 3 putts. However, depending on the day, on a missed green I'll make par 30-60% of the time.
So on the average day, score will be better with more gir's.
Of course that's from a guy who's h/c floats from 8- 13, so I'd think this would fit many typical recr golfers......while Kevin's theory is probably spot on for the 2 hc down to pro level.
So on the average day, score will be better with more gir's.
Of course that's from a guy who's h/c floats from 8- 13, so I'd think this would fit many typical recr golfers......while Kevin's theory is probably spot on for the 2 hc down to pro level.
KGlennCole
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Anyone who has the means to buy a Trackman can join Sewickley Heights!
Touche. Yeah, I could practice the short game but I wouldn't have a Trackman.
I want it all! I would buy a Trackman *if* the economics made some sense.. e.g., a 2-year payback at the most from rental or access fees. I am not going to buy one unless that is doable. I could use yours.. oh, forgot.. OK, maybe Matt at Golf Galaxy will let me rent theirs periodically, but hitting into a wall.. not ideal.
Back to the subject.. Those of use who do not have access to a short-game facility and want to practice the short-game (and who *need* to do so!) are at a loss as to how or where. Paying for a 9-hole rate, going off late enough so that we're 'last' and still having time to get to holes where the Pro Shop can't see us practice (e.g., #5 or #6 at Quicksilver) is logistically impossible. Heck, Quicksilver no longer allows chipping around the practice green at the Driving Range, same as the practice green near #1. Geez, it's not even a good practice putting green because of the guys who hit practice lob shots and/or bunker shots!
Any ideas?
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birly-shirly
New
I like this. I suspect I'm like a lot of folks here - in that I fancy my chances of hitting the green and 2-putting with a short to mid iron from the fairway better than my chances of getting up and down from pretty much anywhere other than the fringe. So having some basic control over ballflight to keep me in range of the green generally lets me shoot a decent (for me) score.
But then, I'm not at the point where "danger zone" play can make or break my round. I can afford to make an arse of those shots and it doesn't ruin my day. Nor am I at the level of averaging 12 or so GIRs, where diminishing returns on ballstriking tends to set in and you NEED to score with your short game.
Conversely, a bad ballstriking day has me finding spots where even a much better shortgame wouldn't put me within range of the hole where I could expect to make the putt.
The shortgame strikes me as HARD. There's no mystery there about why it separates out better players. I'm not in any real doubt that if I wanted to improve my scoring by a lot, then I'd need to put the work in. But for where I am, the time I have, and my current aspirations - I really think that my best return on investment is in keeping my ballstriking ticking over.
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