Golf Is a Series of Independent Decisions

Practical Golf Articles
#81

Oh absolutely - but knowing the stats and understanding expectations makes it at least somewhat easier!

I’m such a different putter (at least I think I am) now knowing I don’t “have” to make everything inside 10 feet. Yes I want to, but I’m not agonizing over a miss anymore. I’m also way more focused on speed.

I used decade some last year (10 rounds) and now some this year (9 rounds)
All rounds strokes gained putting (tour benchmark): -1.26
Last 10 rounds (pretty much since august, one round from last year): -.91
Last 4 rounds +.14

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#82

One thing I’d add is that I wouldn’t say I’ve been “flashy” in putting - not making bombs or making everything. Make one or two 12 footers a round, don’t 3 putt (again easier said than done but with focus on speed over line it’s easier), and you’ll probably (unless missing really short putts) be around 0 compared to tour which I think for most of us would be awesome.

edit to add: sorry to hijack this towards putting, but think the expectations management is a little easier to see on putting. if you can apply it there then it is mentally easier to apply it to the rest of your game.

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#83

I think discussing the stats (even professional level) helps brings thing into perspective. Years ago, I made the same assumptions that many golfers still make about the game. I think slowly but surely the truth is getting out there and golfers can certainly benefit from the info!

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#84

That is truly awesome!

My goal is bogey golf, and if (when) I hit a shot that’s less than perfect (often) I have to remind myself… “well it headed in the right direction towards the hole!”

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#85

As long as it didn’t go backwards we’re making progress!

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#86

I am a high handicapper and consider myself lucky if I don’t spray my tee shots all over the fairway from hole to hole. Hearing you folks talk about aiming at a certain part of the fairway sounds pretty inviting to me. My whole goal is just to get it on the fairway. Jon, your suggestion about aiming to the middle and back of the green has served me well. However I then often face long lag putts from those positions which leads to three putts. I’m working on it but I am glad to at least get on the green. Thanks for the article :slight_smile:

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#87

Ha!! lol smiley_face

Yeah it’s really about trying to play “smart golf” and avoiding trouble - and those big numbers…

#88

Yes, but… Work work work on your putting - (1) long, lag putting and (2) sinking 3 to 6 footers - and as your putting acumen increases so will your approach confidence :+1:

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#89

Ha! Yeah. Not trying to start a fight. Just curious what this group thinks. Seems so crazy to think Hogan could do that, but otherworldly ball striking weeks happen. Tiger has had a few of those as well.

#90

I agree. When I’m warming up for a round, I’m hitting a lot of 5-6 footers to get feel of the stroke, a couple 10-15 footers, and a pretty good amount of 30-40 footers to get the speed down. I’d say when I’m practicing putting it’s about the same ratio just in larger quantities

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#91

I think any pro golfer could do that for 4 rounds at some point. Can do they it for 80 rounds though? No chance!

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#92

So do you think he did it on purpose? My thinking is he probably did, but he probably also knew he’d make no worse than bogey with a miss in his usual shot pattern.

#93

:+1: it’s the six footers and in that give me the greatest problem. I’ve been using a Scotty 7M Futura for years but have had to compensate for the style of putter (straight swing not my style). I’m seriously considering purchasing the LAB putter Tried it out today and no matter what direction I hit the ball with the club face, the ball still went on my intended line. But my mechanics are wrong: I don’t get the sole on the green uniformly, either toe up or down :confounded:happens, and my grip is not consistent. Being ADD doesn’t help a putter, LOL.

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#94

Another great read. While I normally consider myself one not to dwell on past poor shots, there are some thoughts that creep into my noggin no matter how hard I try to forget them. I do feel that my overall course management strategy is pretty sound and take a realist approach to attacking pins.

In regards to try to place the ball in a certain position dependent on where the flag is, that thought rarely enters my mind since I know that at least 90% of the time, the driver is not going to produce the exact ball flight I would like. There are two short par 4s at my home course where I check the pin position to make my decision on what club to hit off the tee. My goal on those two holes is to have 90 - 100 yards to the pin for my 2nd shot.

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#95

He probably did (I’m guessing). But I don’t think it really proves anything. It’s too small a sample size and it was done with completely different equipment/ball.

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#96

@Craigers

https://www.google.com/amp/s/golfweek.usatoday.com/2018/11/27/ace-alert-tiger-woods-gets-his-first-hole-in-one-in-two-decades/amp/

Here’s the article about tiger. Not disagreeing with the hogan point but goodness gracious I could not believe tiger went 20 years without an ace

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#97

I think Hogan made that choice not to “chase angles” but to chase DISTANCE. As I mentioned, there are basically three choices: Hogan’s line between the bunker and the OB, the “safe” line to the opposite side of the bunker, bringing long fescue into play, and laying up off the tee short of the bunker. Most of those bunkers result in no more than a wedge to clear the lip, or maybe playing sideways, its just about a full stroke penalty. I don’t know how thick the fescue was at the time, but it can also be a full stroke lost. My guess is that he felt certain that he could take the left miss off the table, so he hit driver hoping to thread the needle, knowing that the worst that could happen is that he hits the bunker and has to play sideways, but also knowing that if he succeeded he’d be in the fairway with a chance to hit 3-wood near the green.
Also remember that he didn’t have computerized records of his driver dispersion, he just had his own eyes, and his experience practicing that week at nearby Panmure. He may have felt a confidence that modern players wouldn’t, with all of the information they have at their disposal.

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#98

I think a big reason for inconsistency with the putter is too much focus on trying to be consistent, trying to tell those small muscles to do the same thing even when the situation is different won’t create the same result. I think that’s where finding a comfortable putting mechanic and then not really thinking about it is key, because actively thinking about the putting stroke shape, etc won’t really help make good putts. From there, technology like the LAB putters or techniques like arm lock putting can help a bit with “consistency”.

#99

Aces are more luck than skill (clearly since I haven’t had one!) - can’t be surprising someone didn’t have an ace for 20 years. maybe with the number of shots he hit he the odds may have suggested he’d have one but seems odd to expect him to have one.

#100

He had made 19 aces prior to the 20 year drought…

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