Golf Thread 2014 - All Things Golf!

[SpeckledJim]

Boydie88 said:

ManFromDelmonte said:

I guess, although a viable range would do. I assume it would be very difficult/almost impossible for someone to get from a starting point of mid-20s down to scratch only playing semi-regularly but it would be totally possible for them to get down to 20. I guess I was looking for a slightly narrower range than 0-20.

For reference though, I'm a good all-round sportsman, have played cricket to a decent level my whole life and am usually decent enough at anything new I try that relies on speed/hand-eye etc. I'm also good at understanding the technical aspects of sports and taking on feedback in lessons (which I'm prepared to have and am having). I don't suppose I can really give more than that without appearing in the cringe thread.

I've been playing for 18 months or so (full 18s for about 12) at roughly 2 or 3 rounds every 4 weeks and I'm now hitting low 90s consistently. Oddly seem to have lost all birdies from my game (haven't had one for a good 3 months) but I'm a good 20+ shots better than when I stated and very rarely will there be anything above an 8 on the card where as this time last year I was happy if I avoided a double figure. I want to get to a point where I'm touching 80 then will re access my equipment, possibly get a bit of coaching to see if I have the talent to start approaching a 5 handicap. But I want to get to a plateau before I look to any coaching to see what just my own talent can take me to.

Losing the birdies isn't necessarily a bad thing.

When you're a bad golfer, birdies come about from going for the Hollywood shot that only comes off once in 20. So you play the Rory shot, get a birdie and think you're ace. Confirmation bias means you ignore what happens when it doesn't come off.

When you're a middling golfer, you've started to understand that 1 birdie and 19 disasters isn't as good as 10 pars and 10 bogeys.

If you've got to that point, well done. Lots of golfers play for 40 years and never get that far.

"I shot 107, but I got 2 birdies!" Great. Actually, that's not great. That's pants. 106 with no birdies is better.

Then, once you're a good golfer, you'll be doing the maths on whether the Hollywood shot you're considering is a 1 in 20 or actually only a 1 in 3. And then you'll be sizing-up where it's likely to go wrong if it does.

And understanding that difference will shape your game

[Boydie88]

SpeckledJim said:

When you're a bad golfer, birdies come about from going for the Hollywood shot that only comes off once in 20. So you play the Rory shot, get a birdie and think you're ace. Confirmation bias means you ignore what happens when it doesn't come off.

And understanding that difference will shape your game

Spot on. I used to always be all or nothing, attempting every par 5 in 2 etc with a perhaps 1 in 10 success rate which felt great when they came off but I discovered hitting consistent scores is much more enjoyable - it would take a good 4 or 5 birdies to come close to making up for a double figure.

Hitting 90 as I am now, I think I could take at least 5, maybe 10 on some days off my round if I start practising my chipping around the green. Far too often just missing GIR (or GIR +1 if I've strayed off the tee) then chipping on to green but rarely close enough for the 1 putt. That seems to be the only bit of my game which hasn't improved over the 18 months.

[SpeckledJim]

Boydie88 said:

SpeckledJim said:

When you're a bad golfer, birdies come about from going for the Hollywood shot that only comes off once in 20. So you play the Rory shot, get a birdie and think you're ace. Confirmation bias means you ignore what happens when it doesn't come off.

And understanding that difference will shape your game

Spot on. I used to always be all or nothing, attempting every par 5 in 2 etc with a perhaps 1 in 10 success rate which felt great when they came off but I discovered hitting consistent scores is much more enjoyable - it would take a good 4 or 5 birdies to come close to making up for a double figure.

Hitting 90 as I am now, I think I could take at least 5, maybe 10 on some days off my round if I start practising my chipping around the green. Far too often just missing GIR (or GIR +1 if I've strayed off the tee) then chipping on to green but rarely close enough for the 1 putt. That seems to be the only bit of my game which hasn't improved over the 18 months.

There are two schools of thought on chipping:

1. (the wrong one) use the same club all the time and learn about varying how hard to hit it
2. (the right one! ) use the club that best carries the fluff and gets the ball on the green and rolling as early as possible.

2. is correct as the steeper the club, the more predictable the contact will be, and the less backspin will be imparted, giving a more predictable first and second bounce.

Rolling the ball is easier to control than lobbing the ball. That's why a putter is shaped the way it is. It also has a tighter dispersion. 10 30-foot bump and runs for me will finish much much closer together than 10 short but high pitches.

Make your chips as much like putts as you can.

Unnecessary flop-shots are for geniuses or dheads only. And even Big Phil plays a bump and run by preference.

[ManFromDelmonte]

dxbtiger said:

Aim for single figures within 5 years then.

How old are you?

31

I'd be very happy with single figures.

[dxbtiger]

ManFromDelmonte said:

31

I'd be very happy with single figures.

Only until you get to 9!

[kentlad]

dxbtiger said:

Only until you get to 9!

ha! sounds familiar...
me at 28...i'd be happy at 18
me at 18...i really want to get to 14, then i'll be happy
me at 14...i'll be happy if i could get to single figures (i know that won't be enough when i get there!)

Love this game.

Oddly, the lads i play with are all still playing at between 22-28...we all started at the same time, all athletically similar, decent background in sports...but i'm the only one who's had a handful of lessons...the rest want to 'figure it out' themselves...coincidence? ha!

[JamesNotJim]

My score from a couple of weeks ago. Finally down to proper single figures.
I started playing 5 years ago this month. I've had 5 lessons in that time which sorted grip and posture (that always will be an ongoing battle for any golfer)
Once you understand the components of a swing you can start to work and alter them.

[DuncanM]

JamesNotJim said:

My score from a couple of weeks ago. Finally down to proper single figures.
I started playing 5 years ago this month. I've had 5 lessons in that time which sorted grip and posture (that always will be an ongoing battle for any golfer)
Once you understand the components of a swing you can start to work and alter them.

Well played indeed, excellent standard in just 5 years!

[SpeckledJim]

DuncanM said:

JamesNotJim said:

My score from a couple of weeks ago. Finally down to proper single figures.
I started playing 5 years ago this month. I've had 5 lessons in that time which sorted grip and posture (that always will be an ongoing battle for any golfer)
Once you understand the components of a swing you can start to work and alter them.

Well played indeed, excellent standard in just 5 years!

Seconded. I'd guess that less than 1% of golfers will ever play to scratch. I certainly won't (at this rate, a mere 26 years in!)

[dxbtiger]

JamesNotJim said:

My score from a couple of weeks ago. Finally down to proper single figures.
I started playing 5 years ago this month. I've had 5 lessons in that time which sorted grip and posture (that always will be an ongoing battle for any golfer)
Once you understand the components of a swing you can start to work and alter them.

There is a score starting with a 6 lurking in there, 6 birdies is a lot by anyones standards

[Birdster]

kentlad said:

CasTiger7 said:

It's swings and roundabouts buying a cheap set, as they won't aid your game like some clubs can. So if you buy some cheap clubs that you can't hit well you're just making it harder for yourself to enjoy the game.

I'd check ebay out as there are some full sets that are better than the ones you linked for a similar price if not less.

be very careful with what you buy from ebay. Loads of fakes around.

Try golfbidder.co.uk - try to pick up a set of ping g10's or g15's in 'fair' condition and you'll be able to sell them on for almost the same money if in a month or two you decide golf isn't for you. you don't need a driver or fairwood etc just yet, concentrate on just using irons until you learn the game .

http://www.golfbidder.co.uk/models/3161/Ping__Iron... just an example of whats available.

I've had look at that golf bidder, thanks. I'm guessing it's a bit more respectable than eBay? I'm always adverse to buying used as I've always lost out to dishonest descriptions and faulty products?

How about these from golfonline?

http://www.golfonline.co.uk/callaway-strata-16-pie...

[kentlad]

Birdster said:

I've had look at that golf bidder, thanks. I'm guessing it's a bit more respectable than eBay? I'm always adverse to buying used as I've always lost out to dishonest descriptions and faulty products?

How about these from golfonline?

http://www.golfonline.co.uk/callaway-strata-16-pie...

As far as i know, Golf Bidder is the company that 'rate' their products and grade them. 95% of reviews i've seen on Golf Bidder have been positive and friends that have used the site have always been satisfied. But completely understand what you mean, nothing quite feels like 'new'...

[SpeckledJim]

kentlad said:

Birdster said:

I've had look at that golf bidder, thanks. I'm guessing it's a bit more respectable than eBay? I'm always adverse to buying used as I've always lost out to dishonest descriptions and faulty products?

How about these from golfonline?

http://www.golfonline.co.uk/callaway-strata-16-pie...

As far as i know, Golf Bidder is the company that 'rate' their products and grade them. 95% of reviews i've seen on Golf Bidder have been positive and friends that have used the site have always been satisfied. But completely understand what you mean, nothing quite feels like 'new'...

In my experience, Golfbidder are sensibly conservative in their descriptions. If it's rated a 6 or more, it'll be pretty nice.

They are a good company to deal with, IMO.

[Birdster]

SpeckledJim said:

kentlad said:

Birdster said:

I've had look at that golf bidder, thanks. I'm guessing it's a bit more respectable than eBay? I'm always adverse to buying used as I've always lost out to dishonest descriptions and faulty products?

How about these from golfonline?

http://www.golfonline.co.uk/callaway-strata-16-pie...

As far as i know, Golf Bidder is the company that 'rate' their products and grade them. 95% of reviews i've seen on Golf Bidder have been positive and friends that have used the site have always been satisfied. But completely understand what you mean, nothing quite feels like 'new'...

In my experience, Golfbidder are sensibly conservative in their descriptions. If it's rated a 6 or more, it'll be pretty nice.

They are a good company to deal with, IMO.

Thanks. So £200 should get me something reasonable from them to start with?

[Abbott]

I remember when i judged how well i played by the number of balls lost in a round.
I played last Sunday and lost balls off the 1st tee. Memories

[ManFromDelmonte]

Abbott said:

I remember when i judged how well i played by the number of balls lost in a round.
I played last Sunday and lost balls off the 1st tee. Memories

Haha, that's certainly something I still do. I completed the full 18 with the same ball last week for only about the second or third time but feel confident in doing that more in the future now I know what I am doing wrong.

[ManFromDelmonte]

I'll probably post this in the London forum too so apologies for the cross post but does anyone know of any pubs/bars in London that will definitely be showing the Ryder Cup on Sunday? Ideally we are looking for a decent screen with commentary and beer. Preferably not some giant Sports Bar 25 screen Orgasmatron place but if that's the only option then it'll do. Doesn't have to be massively Central, anywhere from Wimbledon to Whitechapel.

Thanks,

TMFD

[kentlad]

ManFromDelmonte said:

I'll probably post this in the London forum too so apologies for the cross post but does anyone know of any pubs/bars in London that will definitely be showing the Ryder Cup on Sunday? Ideally we are looking for a decent screen with commentary and beer. Preferably not some giant Sports Bar 25 screen Orgasmatron place but if that's the only option then it'll do. Doesn't have to be massively Central, anywhere from Wimbledon to Whitechapel.

Thanks,

TMFD

Have you had a look at Urban Golf mate? Pretty sure they'll show it....and you could even rent a screen to hit a few balls while you watch! There's a few of them in central London.

[ManFromDelmonte]

kentlad said:

Have you had a look at Urban Golf mate? Pretty sure they'll show it....and you could even rent a screen to hit a few balls while you watch! There's a few of them in central London.

Nice one, I'll take a look.

TMFD

[Jayyylo]

I posted here a few weeks ago about buying a set of ping clubs off ebay and since then I've spent some time on the range and an hour on a putting green. Tomorrow is going to be my first venture onto a course and I'm really excited but also apprehensive. I'm only playing the 9 hole course at trent lock but I think that'll be enough for my first time. I've decided to go alone so there's no pressure and no one to try and show off in front of.

Place your bets on how many balls I lose.