Difficulty Going From 5 to Scratch vs....

[PowderedToastMan]

I spent an entire year on the driving range, almost four hours of practice a day, grooving one-shot shape that I could control, a go-to shot (every good golfer needs one). What I found was that I hit a lot of fairways and a lot of greens when I stuck to that shape. When you hit a lot of greens, you will find that your handicap drops quick. I went from 10 to 0 that year, and when I developed a short game the next year, 0 to +3. Develop good impact conditions, find a repeatable motion, and you can play this game very well.

 

Mental hurdles be damned when you just stick to a game plan and don't deviate. Heck, I barely play now, but still know I will shoot good scores because I only hit shots I know I can hit and therefore am putting for a lot of birdies. People trying to break through and play better golf need to watch old videos of Bruce Lietzke, who is the living personification of this concept.

 

What shot shape did you decide on and how did you decide? I'm in the process of that right now and am working on a draw because my "miss" is less severe than when I fade but the fade is more natural for me.

I went with a fade, because I always had an easier time making solid contact with irons hitting a fade. For my swing at the time, my miss was fat, and hitting a fade helped eliminate that, but that’s just me. I also fought hooks when I hit a lot of draws with driver, so fade helped me eliminate a lot of misses.

 

It’s been about 15 years since I implemented that strategy. I shape the ball now, and swing a little different, but still rely VERY heavily on the go-to shot.

 

As for your journey, sounds like you could go either way and be successful. Whatever you decide and stick with, you’ll do well. Just go with whatever shot you’re most confident in and hit solid. Hitting it solid is the most important deciding factor as a starting point I believe.

[A.Princey]

I think for me to really improve, playing more and practice on the regular is my only way to get close. I also need to be more patient and focused, if I get distracted pre-shot all bets are off. Wedge feel is huge lately for my improved scoring, I've got a couple go-to swings for each wedge that are dialed in under 100yd. That's been my golden ticket this year, but the feel is moot if I don't play much.

[8iron175]

Putting is crucial. Go see david Orr in north carolina, spend the day with him. Best day ever.

[HidekiWoods]

Going from 10 to 5 is killing the blow up holes. Doubles and triples and just generally becoming more consistent overall.

 

5 to scratch is still obviously more developing more consistency, but the big emphasis is on putting and 100 yards in.

 

When I used to to teach I would see certain decent players spend a huge amount of time hitting balls but little to no time in the short game area chipping, pitching, hitting bunker shots etc., and minimal time putting. Beating balls is fine, but after you’ve grooved your swing, which a 5 or 6 cap has essentially done, you need to get a wedge and a putter in your hands FAR more often than most people do.

 

When I decided I was going to make a serious effort to gun for the plus side of zero I was spending AT LEAST half my practice Time with a wedge or putter in my hand. Made it to +2 and passed my PAT on the first try but then stalled. I Never was a great putter no matter how much time or how many drills I did. I just don’t see break as well as most people. Still don’t. Very Frustrating. I can hit it right where I want, but too often the line is wrong.

 

Im a long time out of the business but I still spend at least 50% of my practice time with a wedge or a putter in my hand. Last week I did a 5 hour practice session. 2 hours on the range hitting 120 balls VERY deliberately with an alignment stick on every shot. About 70 of those balls wedge shots. Then 3 hours in the short game area and putting. I’ll never “forget” how to swing, but I will definitely loose my touch without lots of Reps.

 

Agree. No 3 putts and getting up and down most of the time (+50%) from 125 and in has brought me from a 4 to 2.5 in one month.

[Sean2]

I appreciate the support, but no one buys golf books anymore.

 

Might have to make a video :-)

 

I read...a lot. Prefer a book over a video. :-)

[Sean2]

I may not be the best person to answer this, but I have found having a very good short game can make up for a lot of sins, and the best thing about developing one is you don't need to be athletic or young. Most amateurs don't hit a lot of greens, so a good short game can shave off quite a few strokes.

 

Having dropped down to a 7 it's been mostly about short game and minimizing blow up holes. However, I would think to drop to scratch while having a good short game is important, hitting a lot of greens is a must. I have broken 70 four times and in each one of those times I have hit the majority of greens.

[LooperCon]

For me, it’s eliminating the 2-3 holes a round where I seemingly forget how to play golf - played yesterday and had 3 birdies & a bogey in 14 holes.....but the other 4 holes? 2 triples, 2 doubles for a 79.

 

Things aren’t usually THAT extreme for me, but it’s a perfect example of what’s holding me back.

[ClintDagger]

As someone who was scratch in HS and college and plays to about a 4 now, I would say the key to going from a 10 to a 5 is a combination of understanding your swing (ie being able to make adjustments) and course management. The key to going from 5 to scratch is time commitment.

[Barfolomew]

Just wondering what the best players here think the difficulty is in going from a 5hcp to scratch as it relates to say, going from 10 to 5?

 

I know scratch is really tough to attain, unless you have pure, natural talent, but is the difference here like chess vs checkers? Is it exponentially harder, where time spent practicing/playing has to double or triple?

 

scratchy here.....You'll prob gets lots of hitting tips above BUT as a 5 cap you're prob already striking it plenty good to play par golf.... I'd say the best way to drop 5 strokes is to lose the mentality that you showed in your post. Thats thinking its really tough...cause it aint. I dont think so and Im positive thats what got me to par golf so quick compared to most. Make hitting par normal in your mind like it aint no thang! You've put yourself behind the 8 ball with your attitude...

 

1 in the fairway and 1 to middle of green without even having to get aggressive and thats a par all day long! I figure you already have eliminated 3 putting and you'll pick up a couple birds by just finding the green in reg...

[Shilgy]

Going from 10 to 5 is killing the blow up holes. Doubles and triples and just generally becoming more consistent overall.

 

5 to scratch is still obviously more developing more consistency, but the big emphasis is on putting and 100 yards in.

 

When I used to to teach I would see certain decent players spend a huge amount of time hitting balls but little to no time in the short game area chipping, pitching, hitting bunker shots etc., and minimal time putting. Beating balls is fine, but after you’ve grooved your swing, which a 5 or 6 cap has essentially done, you need to get a wedge and a putter in your hands FAR more often than most people do.

 

When I decided I was going to make a serious effort to gun for the plus side of zero I was spending AT LEAST half my practice Time with a wedge or putter in my hand. Made it to +2 and passed my PAT on the first try but then stalled. I Never was a great putter no matter how much time or how many drills I did. I just don’t see break as well as most people. Still don’t. Very Frustrating. I can hit it right where I want, but too often the line is wrong.

 

Im a long time out of the business but I still spend at least 50% of my practice time with a wedge or a putter in my hand. Last week I did a 5 hour practice session. 2 hours on the range hitting 120 balls VERY deliberately with an alignment stick on every shot. About 70 of those balls wedge shots. Then 3 hours in the short game area and putting. I’ll never “forget” how to swing, but I will definitely loose my touch without lots of Reps.

 

Agree. No 3 putts and getting up and down most of the time (+50%) from 125 and in has brought me from a 4 to 2.5 in one month.

You are too good for this conversation. Tour players are much worse than you are from 125 and in. https://www.pgatour.com/stats/stat.361.2017.html

 

It may be good as a goal but certainly not an applicable stat.

[HidekiWoods]

Going from 10 to 5 is killing the blow up holes. Doubles and triples and just generally becoming more consistent overall.

 

5 to scratch is still obviously more developing more consistency, but the big emphasis is on putting and 100 yards in.

 

When I used to to teach I would see certain decent players spend a huge amount of time hitting balls but little to no time in the short game area chipping, pitching, hitting bunker shots etc., and minimal time putting. Beating balls is fine, but after you’ve grooved your swing, which a 5 or 6 cap has essentially done, you need to get a wedge and a putter in your hands FAR more often than most people do.

 

When I decided I was going to make a serious effort to gun for the plus side of zero I was spending AT LEAST half my practice Time with a wedge or putter in my hand. Made it to +2 and passed my PAT on the first try but then stalled. I Never was a great putter no matter how much time or how many drills I did. I just don’t see break as well as most people. Still don’t. Very Frustrating. I can hit it right where I want, but too often the line is wrong.

 

Im a long time out of the business but I still spend at least 50% of my practice time with a wedge or a putter in my hand. Last week I did a 5 hour practice session. 2 hours on the range hitting 120 balls VERY deliberately with an alignment stick on every shot. About 70 of those balls wedge shots. Then 3 hours in the short game area and putting. I’ll never “forget” how to swing, but I will definitely loose my touch without lots of Reps.

 

Agree. No 3 putts and getting up and down most of the time (+50%) from 125 and in has brought me from a 4 to 2.5 in one month.

You are too good for this conversation. Tour players are much worse than you are from 125 and in. https://www.pgatour.com/stats/stat.361.2017.html

 

It may be good as a goal but certainly not an applicable stat.

 

Didn’t mean to sound like I’m 50% all the time. Last couple of rounds where I shot under par or par, I was doing so. On average probably 2-3 times per round.

 

On another note, I definitely recommend using Golfmetrics app. It will show your strength and weaknesses and also compare you to a scratch golfer.

[xmanhockey7]

Depends on the person. Overall approach shots are typically the biggest difference, but in general the scratch golfer does everything a little better. Control the curvature on your shots and know your distances.