How to improve from bogeys to par

Derek wrote:

I started tracking my shots when I got the Golfshot app on the iphone. The statistics in the game made me realise that my weaknesses were not exactly where I thought they were. I always thought that putting was costing me a lot of strokes, but analysis of the statistics is showing me that my GIR percentage is really bad (30%) and my scrambling is even worse (11.4% - which is combination of chips not close enough and missing 3-4 foot putts). My putts per GIR were actually not that bad (slightly more than 2 - i.e. occasional 3 putt).

I am using Golfshot apps on my iphone too..their statistics function is really useful

darenlim wrote:

New Blood is good, good to have some coaches here that follows up on their students.
Glad to know that you have aiming for that at the end of the year.
Tian wants to be a single handicapper too and Jon is aiming to be a scratch handicapper.
Im aiming to maintain mine

Good Luck Practise Hard! That is the only way you can achieve your goals.
There is no easy way out.

I don't actually bother about handicap. Just hope to play like SxxB enough Liao.
That's my aim but seems so far away from him everytime I play.
So demoralizing..... That's the way of life.

ChrisD wrote:

I don't actually bother about handicap. Just hope to play like SxxB enough Liao.
That's my aim but seems so far away from him everytime I play.
So demoralizing..... That's the way of life.

if u put in the time n effort, i dun see why not.......


couple of years ago, i give mowen 5-5, nowadays we play level, he has improved 10 strokes over this time....... so if your ah bui fren can do it, u can too.....

But my target is to play level with SxxB.
Abit unreachable, mowen still get 3-3 from him.
Guess it will take me another decade to do that.

ChrisD wrote:

But my target is to play level with SxxB.
Abit unreachable, mowen still get 3-3 from him.
Guess it will take me another decade to do that.

that takes time...

chris,
never say never
one day you will played like SxxB whoever that is

ask any coach, they will tell u that if the students give them time and effort, they can make them a better golfer.....

if u practise as hard as s70b, i dun see why u cant play like him or better than him....

personally, if i can devote much needed time to my game, i can/will/shall withdraw my $$$ in s70b ATM.....

I team up with him so no pay $$$ to him.... aircon bussssssss........ cool and nice.

last two game 3 putt every hole, some holes 4 putts and even a few 5 putts. Only manage a 1 putt for one hole....... frustrating cause last game miss 3 easy birdie putts (end up with 2 bogey and 1 double bogey!!!!!)

got any advise beside going for lessons? (no $ for lessons but got a bit of $ for new putter )

err...sorry hor, can someone educate me what is GIR?

GIR = Greens In Regulation

tronos wrote:

last two game 3 putt every hole, some holes 4 putts and even a few 5 putts. Only manage a 1 putt for one hole....... frustrating cause last game miss 3 easy birdie putts (end up with 2 bogey and 1 double bogey!!!!!)

got any advise beside going for lessons? (no $ for lessons but got a bit of $ for new putter )

if ur approach shot gets ur ball closer to the hole, u will not need to make long putts.

or practise lag putts

Its ok, I had seen worse off 6 putted, 6 on and 6 putts, 1 on 5 putts, etc...

weesern wrote:

tronos wrote:

last two game 3 putt every hole, some holes 4 putts and even a few 5 putts. Only manage a 1 putt for one hole....... frustrating cause last game miss 3 easy birdie putts (end up with 2 bogey and 1 double bogey!!!!!)

got any advise beside going for lessons? (no $ for lessons but got a bit of $ for new putter )

if ur approach shot gets ur ball closer to the hole, u will not need to make long putts.

or practise lag putts

the 3 birdie chance landed not so far out, about 5m (one was 3m out), but when putt, pass the hole and end up another 5m away on the other side, then putt 'softer', another 2m the other side and so on until reach 'cannot miss' distance of 2 feet (even then will miss once in a while). Was using mallet then switch to napa, both same result....

very frustrating especially after a good tee off and good approach.....whole day no birdie or par, even bogey is rare.

That's golf, got to concentrate on every shot and cannot lose concentration. Sometimes betting pressure will also runs in.....
So mental also applies. Therefore I will be going up the mountain to seek another level.

tronos wrote:

last two game 3 putt every hole, some holes 4 putts and even a few 5 putts. Only manage a 1 putt for one hole....... frustrating cause last game miss 3 easy birdie putts (end up with 2 bogey and 1 double bogey!!!!!)

got any advise beside going for lessons? (no $ for lessons but got a bit of $ for new putter )

Trunos,

Yup, could be really frustrating. had that before on some days. But love to share this with you, and see if it helps.

For distance calibration -
I remembered reading an article interviewing Paula Creamer on her putting drills, and I found this pretty useful, before a game, she puts 3 balls in line each about 10 feet apart and then she starts from the closest to the furthest. Adjust your grip strength of the day to get that right feeling.

For alignment calibration -
I do this little drill while waiting for others to go on, putt outside the green (NOT on the green as against regulation. I just drop two balls on the flat ground about 1 feet apart and I just smack them together like "GO LI". The impact should be almost square. Helps boost confidence as well.

Let me know whether this helps...

I 2nd the motion...
Short Game + Practice Putting.

eiji wrote:

short game!

Hi, guys

Really enjoying this thread. My take away from reading all these
1. Got to start analyzing my game by writing down codes on scorecard. Don't be lazy!
2. Improve on weaknesses based on analysis
3. Learn from good players how to handle different situations especially near green

I work as an engineer and usually we analyzed a lot to find root cause to tackle the issue. I realized I did not apply this to golf at all. Just go to the course and left disappointed without knowing the reason.

To those single handicappers, do you shape the shot a lot? I was wondering why many pros prefer to draw their shots.... Does draw shot has advantages over straight one? I am talking about both tee and approach shot here.

taskie wrote:

To those single handicappers, do you shape the shot a lot? I was wondering why many pros prefer to draw their shots.... Does draw shot has advantages over straight one? I am talking about both tee and approach shot here.

Looks cooler to shape shots!!!

The reason why we have to shape shots its because :-

1) we cannot hit it the other way round / or we cant hit it straight
2) depending on the approach for a green, we shape a shot so that we do not miss on the wrong side.
3) the hole requires us to shape it.

Personally, I shape a shot to a certain hole as I do not want to miss it on the wrong side. My natural shot for my driver and short irons are fade / long to mid irons are draw.

Meanwhile, if any of you guys have charted out your scorecards and need help in identifying weak areas in your game. Please feel free to scan your cards and send it to my email. darenlim@gmail.com

I take a very simplistic view of how to play good golf.....I categorized them into 3 sections...

#1 Mental

#2 Equipment

#3 Physical and swing and course management


for me, I console myself that I am mentally strong..ie I know what I want.....#2 I have super max forgiving equipment.....and only lacking is #3

In other words...I console myself that I am 2/3 to reaching my full potential......(PS: just that I have been at the same stage for a long long time)

if u analyse too much during the game, it will get worse, should do the analysis after the game and make adjustment for the next game.

agree with Daren, on shot shaping, sometimes either u try to shape your shot or lay up.

also u dun wan to miss the wrong side. for this bad shot is taken into consideration, if the safe area is on the left of the pin, u may try to fade the ball. even if the ball does not fade, you will not get into too much trouble.

Golf is a game of playing the percentages in terms of course management.

High handicappers like me try to pull off low percentage of success 'miracle' shots that usually end up in worse places than the original lies--like hitting from the rough thru some trees and end up back in the rough about 10 metres further cos the ball hits a tree branch.

Now I just pitch or punch it back into play on the fairway even if I have to hit it back towards the tee box.

Only one time in Thailand (Nichigo GC) did a ball hit a few branches and landed on the green AND rolled into the hole. My final score must have been 120+ but the caddies thought I was a skilled golfer!

for golf you need determination and hardwork which will then lead to success
and that depends on your desire

oned10t wrote:

for golf you need determination and hardwork which will then lead to success
and that depends on your desire

Well said