How Much Would a Pro Caddy Help the Typical WRXer?

[Naptime]

Looking at how much they read greens etc. I'm guessing I'd save 9 strokes a round just on putts.  Anyone have real life before and after experience on the same course?

[Bad9]

1 hour ago, Naptime said:

Looking at how much they read greens etc. I'm guessing I'd save 9 strokes a round just on putts.  Anyone have real life before and after experience on the same course?

 

I'd say half of that at most. Its one thing to get a read, its a whole other thing to take advantage of it.

[dasgrant]

43 minutes ago, Bad9 said:

 

I'd say half of that at most. Its one thing to get a read, its a whole other thing to take advantage of it.

this, unless the caddy is putting for me.

 
Along the same vein wonder how playing with a course green book helps scoring, anyone played with one vs a caddy? Are either that much extra help for normal people?

[elwhippy]

Never had a caddie in 43 years of playing. Would be fascinating to see what a really good professional could do. 

[2Bad4u]

I think the biggest benefit a pro caddie would give the average golfer is golf management. Simply getting a player efficiently around the course, and getting their player out of trouble when the player finds them self in it. My guess is that this would save the average player many more strokes than reading putts for a player.

[Naptime]

I figure a good reader would mostly eliminate my 4 putts.🤣

[MtlJeff]

On my home course wouldn't help, a course I'm playing for the first time I think it'd be worth a few shots

[PorkChopExpress]

Over 10 rounds you’ll probably see 1,2 strokes diff

 

Unless you’re a low handicap then maybe more? 

[Shilgy]

How is a pro caddy ever going to help the typical wrx’r on the course?  He has never ever experienced the shock and awe he would get watching the distance and precision with which the game can be played. 

 

on second thought…maybe he could help a bit with putting and short game.

[Bad9]

1 hour ago, Shilgy said:

How is a pro caddy ever going to help the typical wrx’r on the course?  He has never ever experienced the shock and awe he would get watching the distance and precision with which the game can be played. 

 

on second thought…maybe he could help a bit with putting and short game.

 

Given that putting is the only thing keeping so many elite ball striking Wrxers off tour you're probably right.

[Hawkeye77]

At my course - only if he putts for me, lol.

 

I've had caddies at a few pretty nice course across the pond and one pretty nice one out in California - I'd say over there way more valuable in terms of insights into shots to play, landing areas and reads, on the course "here" it was definitely the reads.

Edited September 26, 2021 by Hawkeye77

[pingfool]

If the “pro caddy” wants a good tip - he better help 2-4 shots no matter the handicap. That could be clubbing off tee or fairway and/or reading a putt or 2

 

[cadman88]

Years ago I played in an LPGA Pro Am and our pro's caddie was telling us where to aim the putts. I'd have to think that's where they'd make the biggest difference. And yes, he was tipped very well after that round by us weekend warriors..

[bgeorge24]

I think it depends on your skill level. Overall though I would say it would help a lot. They would be able to guide you around the course. Reading greens is a very small part, especially if you cant start the ball on line everytime. They can recommend club selection, which for a high handicap might be the biggest thing. 

 

Here is a link, Rick Shiels played a round with a tour caddy. I havent seen it in a while but I think he says he saves him 5 strokes? Something like that

 

 

[Fairway14]

I expect that the pro caddie would mostly be encouraging the player to swing 7-iron instead of 9-iron, 4-hybrid instead of 6-iron etc....

[doctorgriffo]

Been lucky enough to play Pebble and Cypress a few times with caddies, and they made a huge difference on the greens, and with club selection. If you have a good sense of how far you hit each club, and are honest with them, they know the course so well that they can give you the right club and the line (and let you know where you absolutely can’t afford to miss).

The greens at Pebble are so small that the long-term caddies know every break on every green. I have hands-down had my best putting rounds when playing with a caddie (I am appalling at reading greens).

[TheDominator273]

2-3 shots for a low cap, more for a mid capper

[RogerinNewZealand]

The cost of buying 3 new clubs a round based on New Advice could get expensive...and see a new trend, pull a mid iron,add a Second Putter....

[milesgiles]

 i think you have to distinguish between a 'pro' caddie and a 'local' caddie.

 

borrow a random pro caddie for a random course, i cant see it making a huge difference. Maybe if you really struggle reading any green at all..

 

a local caddie, especially on an Open rota links, for example? Yes, I could see 4 or 5 shots..

[Ghostwedge]

Not carrying my own bag is worth a shot or two right there. 

Thank a caddie.

[lefthack]

Other than carry my bags, I still don't fully get what a caddie does for me that I can't do myself. Maybe tips or hints on a course I've never played, but they don't know the first thing about my game other than I have too much crap in my bag. 🤣

[2bGood]

On a shoulder season trip to St Andrews I ended up with a European tour caddie who was making a few bucks between pro loops on my bag. Though it is impossible to really say how many strokes he saved me, I would guess it was around 4 or 5 a round. My round at the Old Course with him was pretty incredible. He was great at suggesting what to hit and the line to take. It did not take long before I trusted his judgement better then mine and it really freed my mind up. Of course this was links golf on courses I was not familiar with, so have a links caddie that really knew what he was doing was more valuable than in other situations. He was giving reads for all kinds of knocks down shots I would not have hit normally that worked out great and then of course the regular putt reading. I found at the Old Course I really even just general help on where the green was. 

 

Like other say on my home course a caddie might even hurt as I know the breaks better than they would and it would be added info I dont need.

Edited October 6, 2021 by 2bGood

[Obee]

Yeah, not even close to that, regardless of your ability or lack thereof.

 

For me, it's maybe .5 strokes a round -- if that.

[bladehunter]

Depends on how dumb you are. For me. Probably 2-4 shots some days.