It seems to me that, as a higher handicapper, the full swing is more important, and that the pendulum shifts toward the short game the better you get. I'll give you an example. My brother and I played 9 today. I'm about a 25, he's a single digit handicap. On decent hits, length is about equal. Now my putting is a little better than his, particularly this early in the season (only the second round for both of us). Of course he dusted me. But I beat him on 2 holes, because I was able to match him on the full swing shots; only in those instances did the short game matter. On the rest of the holes, as far as our "competition" was concerned, my putting touch became a moot point, because I could barely get the ball airborne. My point? Most higher handicappers are such because they can't get the ball to go anywhere near where they want it to go on a consistent basis. When they can get around the green in regulation on a regular basis (the result of an improved full swing), then the short game's importance increases relative to the player's overall game. You could be a short game genius, but if you finally reach the green only after 4 or 5 shots, your score will still suck
It seems to me that, as a higher handicapper, the full swing is more important, and that the pendulum shifts toward the short game the better you get. I'll give you an example. My brother and I played 9 today. I'm about a 25, he's a single digit handicap. On decent hits, length is about equal. Now my putting is a little better than his, particularly this early in the season (only the second round for both of us). Of course he dusted me. But I beat him on 2 holes, because I was able to match him on the full swing shots; only in those instances did the short game matter. On the rest of the holes, as far as our "competition" was concerned, my putting touch became a moot point, because I could barely get the ball airborne. My point? Most higher handicappers are such because they can't get the ball to go anywhere near where they want it to go on a consistent basis. When they can get around the green in regulation on a regular basis (the result of an improved full swing), then the short game's importance increases relative to the player's overall game. You could be a short game genius, but if you finally reach the green only after 4 or 5 shots, your score will still suck
Amen Brother.
You have just spoken for 90% + of the golfing population, even though most of them are loth to admit it.
Only the remaining few % experience the joy that a decent short game can bring them.
why do people get lost in the stats?what do they REALLY tell you?
for example, ive played several times on my home course and hit 18 greens,great must have played well?usually yes,but i have shot level par for one of those rounds(one birdie and one 3 putt bogey),must have putted badly?NOPE!what did i work on after the game,putting right?NOPE!my irons,i dont three putt very often from ten feet,so i obviously wasnt hitting it close enough.
i hit wedges into 9 of those greens and only made ONE birdie BECAUSE of poor distance control.
if you take VJ Singh as an example,he hits driver long with left to right fade.bad shot is pull hook for him.when he hits that off the tee,he has to chip out or hit miracle shot,so after chipping out still has 7/8 or 9 iron left to scramble from.hence his poorish scrambling stats,ask anyone out on tour about his short game and they will tell you how good it is.
so,why do people get lost in the stats?
how important is the long game?very!
how important is the short game?very!
how important is strategy?very!
how important is fitness?very!
how do we get better?learn to improve all of the above slightly so that your bad shots are better and your good shots happen more often!then you will improve greatly!
happy golfing,
David McCallum
Head P.G.A Professional
MacGolf Thailand.
I have gone back on this topic, been all over the map.
Then I came across a study by Lucius Riccio, using all types of golfers, pros to hdcp, over 10,000 rounds were analyzed.
GIRs seem to have the most influence over your score followed by putting. His study does indicate that 'blow up' holes through most studies and his is well off.
I did a compare of his results against mine and it is scary how accurate it is.
Basically to break 80 you need 8 Girs and 32 putts.
Obviously being able to get a GIR means you need to keep the ball in play and no penalties.
why do people get lost in the stats?what do they REALLY tell you?
for example, ive played several times on my home course and hit 18 greens,great must have played well?usually yes,but i have shot level par for one of those rounds(one birdie and one 3 putt bogey),must have putted badly?NOPE!what did i work on after the game,putting right?NOPE!my irons,i dont three putt very often from ten feet,so i obviously wasnt hitting it close enough.
i hit wedges into 9 of those greens and only made ONE birdie BECAUSE of poor distance control.
if you take VJ Singh as an example,he hits driver long with left to right fade.bad shot is pull hook for him.when he hits that off the tee,he has to chip out or hit miracle shot,so after chipping out still has 7/8 or 9 iron left to scramble from.hence his poorish scrambling stats,ask anyone out on tour about his short game and they will tell you how good it is.
so,why do people get lost in the stats?
how important is the long game?very!
how important is the short game?very!
how important is strategy?very!
how important is fitness?very!
how do we get better?learn to improve all of the above slightly so that your bad shots are better and your good shots happen more often!then you will improve greatly!
happy golfing,
David McCallum
Head P.G.A Professional
MacGolf Thailand.
So very good points . . . question for you . . . do you think that the average guy may have a glaring weakness on one of the areas that you have listed above and thus could make a marked improvement just in that particular area reducing his handicap?
Obviously you have made a very good point that all areas are important but could some be more important than others to a particular player with regards to their improving in the shortest amount of time?
Hybrid Mode
