A tale of two best ball scrambles (A player and D player)

[vbb]

I've grown to dislike the 4 man captain's choice best ball scrambles over the years, but still play in at least one and sometimes two or three per year because of various organizations or charities I participate in. This year I played in 2 in the span of about 10 days.

 

The first I was the "A" player. I have a 14 handicap index, which is definitely not A player territory, but my group consisted of a guy who plays once a year, a guy who used to play more but is probably now a 20 (doesn't keep a HI), and a guy who is older and pretty straight off the tee, and plays to maybe a 16. There was something about hitting last and feeling the pressure that actually made me play better. We definitely used a majority of my shots from tee to green, though I only holed one putt of any significance (a crazy lucky 40 footer for birdie) and somehow managed to get to 7 under which was good for 1st place in the 2nd flight.

 

The second I was the "D" player. All the other guys in my group were single digit handicaps and I really thought we'd have a chance to win. One guy was heads and shoulders the best player... longest off the tee and also best with his wedges. I contributed a long approach shot on the very first hole (a par 5) and then went through a slump for about 7 holes where I might have rolled in one or two shorter putts as I was the first to play. On the back I finally started making golf swings again, and sprinkled in a few more approach shots and a couple of tee balls. We finished 16 under, which was good for T-2 (we were out of first by 1 stroke).

 

I definitely noticed I personally played better as the A player than as the D player. I had more confidence in my swing and felt way more comfortable even though I was playing with friends in both tourneys. Also, aside from the driver, I was the longest by at least one club and sometimes two out of my "better players" foursome. They'd have 9 irons in and I'd have a gap wedge, or they'd pull a "smooth 8 iron" and I'll hit a comfortable PW. I don't have jacked up lofts either... I just hit my irons farther. That all said, it was a lesson in distance not really meaning anything. They were more accurate with their 7 and 8 irons than I was with my wedges, and their wedges, especially the A player's, were inside of 6ft almost every time. A humbling lesson in the fact that hitting it for distance only matters for WRX humblebrags ;)

[Juice__25]

I feel, I am the opposite. I play better if I'm the D. I don't want to feel like the weak link. There's added pressure for me there. If I am the A then there's bound to be one decent to good shot before me, so I can try to swing out of my shoes off the tee and not feel I'm pressured to be accurate.

[jonflesh]

Feel like I play better as the D. Usually I play better when I play with better people or at least people playing well. I have had some awful rounds when playing with people who were hacking it all over the place. It's contagious.