Scratch V +3

[Top Dog]

What is the main difference between a scratch player and a +3 player (apart from 3 shots!). A scratch player can shape the ball, chip,well, drive well and can hit irons that cover the pin the whole way. So what seperates a scratch player from a + handicap player?

[DaveyH]

the plus handicappers have that ability to walk on any hole and know that its a birdie chance.

Scratch handicaps walk onto the tee with par in mind but birdie as a bonus.

Its all in the mind and how determined you are.

[thenextnumber1]

100 yards and in.

 

Scratch player at my club, isnt no where near as good as the pros from 100 yards and in.

 

He puts it too 12ft average from 100 yards. A +3 player will probably put it too 5ft average.

 

They stick it so close with 52,56,60* wedges its scary!

[drew123]

I'm a +2.7 at the moment and thenextnumber1 is spot on. IF you improve your 100 yards and in you will improve.

 

However, I don't agree that a scratch will avg 12ft and a +3 will avg 5ft from 100yds. the best players on tour avg like 11ft.

 

Here the key, never ever, I mean absolutely never make a bogey or worse from inside a 125yds and your scores will drop 2-4 shots easy I''ll bet.

[IH823PUTT]

Thenextnumber1----I don't mean to bash beacause you are correct in saying that the scratch player will have a far different short game from ANY + handicap player ( I'm currently a +2.3). However, look up the average distance a player on the PGA tour hits it to from 100 yards. Any Guess? Try 18 ft. And not 5 ft. :shok:

[DRGJR72]

I think it all depends on the guy.....If some chump is just recording his good scores he can be a plus 3 no prob.....Here is my deal...I have worked at some of the best courses in the US and have come across some of the better amateur players in America....The ones that I see touting the plus handicaps and talking about them are usually the guys that are the pretenders.....(just an observation.....don't bash me all you plus handicaps).....the guys with the 0 an 1 and 2 handicaps at the clubs I have been at can really play.....AGAIN THIS IS JUST AN OBSERVATION OF 15 YEARS IN THE INDUSTRY).....

 

There are obviously differences between a scratch and a plus 3....more often than not a true plus three will shoot under par, have a better scoring record at difficult courses...etc....

 

IF someone is an actual plus 3, they are completely legit and can play anywhere, anytime...no doubt in my mind.....That is the bottom line....The difference between them and the scratch is 3 strokes on average, does not matter where it comes from....it is a 69 versus a 72 and multiply that over four rounds and you have the difference between Tiger Woods and Sergio Garcia.....

 

DG

[hbear]

Quality of Short game and consistancy...

 

By quality of short game, I mean more tap ins for par from off the green, vs. grinding those 5-6' putts for par all the time.

And as mentioned wedge play. From 100 yards in the + guys are deadly....scratch guys are as well, but again 18-20' from the pin vs. 12' from the pin is pretty significant.

 

I'm surprised nobody mentioned putting...this is where I see the biggest difference.

The + guys just putt better.

 

As the tours guys always say...at their level the game is really just a glorified putting contest.