Played with my 70 year old mate yesterday, he’s about 5ft 5” and 10 stone. He’s still hitting the ball a country mile (got on our index 1 in regulation yesterday, 420 yards par 4, no run) but his short game is phenomenal, he played of 11 yesterday and scored 42 points.Ha! I’ve still got the distance I used to have (although I think that’s down to newer clubs and the ridiculous degrees they are nowadays!), just my short game has completely gone to pot. Going to try and spend some more time on it this year as I’m bordering on getting the yips with it.
Played with my 70 year old mate yesterday, he’s about 5ft 5” and 10 stone. He’s still hitting the ball a country mile (got on our index 1 in regulation yesterday, 420 yards par 4, no run) but his short game is phenomenal, he played of 11 yesterday and scored 42 points.
As you say, with some golfers like yourself you still have the long game as you get older but to maintain the level you’re at the short game is so important, worth that hour on the chipping area and putting green.
I play off 4.6 and in my late 50s I hit the ball just as far as I did in my 20s, when I was down to a 3. Two reasons: primarily technology, and secondarily Pilates. I'm not in the best shape but I've been doing flexibility training for years and it helps a ton. I hit the ball off the tee as far as the guys I play with who are often 10-15 years younger than I, though they hit irons farther -- but I hit very high iron shots and always have. My scores would be better if I practic(s)ed my short game though. But with relatively little time to play, I'd rather just play than practic(s)e. Hopefully that changes as I get near retiring. I will say I've played with a number of older guys with lower indices and their short games are what keep them so low. And they don't miss six-foot putts.All depends on the golfer. I play off 9.8 nowadays and it’s pretty much entirely down to my short game that I’m not lower than that (was better when I was younger!). Agree that you do need length too though.
The two people I normally play with shoot around 100, when I watch them the main issues I see are fundamentals not being right (the grip in particular) causing a lot of inconsistency and the other big thing is course management. Im just playing with one of them this weekend and I’m going to caddy for him as I’ve said I reckon I can get him to break ninety just by making some better choices. Going to be interesting :)
I play off 4.6 and in my late 50s I hit the ball just as far as I did in my 20s, when I was down to a 3. Two reasons: primarily technology, and secondarily Pilates. I'm not in the best shape but I've been doing flexibility training for years and it helps a ton. I hit the ball off the tee as far as the guys I play with who are often 10-15 years younger than I, though they hit irons farther -- but I hit very high iron shots and always have. My scores would be better if I practic(s)ed my short game though. But with relatively little time to play, I'd rather just play than practic(s)e. Hopefully that changes as I get near retiring. I will say I've played with a number of older guys with lower indices and their short games are what keep them so low. And they don't miss six-foot putts.
You mention the grip for your mates, Adam Scott puts the club away from his body (arms length to the side) and turns the club head to face inwards towards him, he then twists his left hand to grip the club, this gives him a natural grip showing two and half knuckles. get a club and take look see if could work for them.All depends on the golfer. I play off 9.8 nowadays and it’s pretty much entirely down to my short game that I’m not lower than that (was better when I was younger!). Agree that you do need length too though.
The two people I normally play with shoot around 100, when I watch them the main issues I see are fundamentals not being right (the grip in particular) causing a lot of inconsistency and the other big thing is course management. Im just playing with one of them this weekend and I’m going to caddy for him as I’ve said I reckon I can get him to break ninety just by making some better choices. Going to be interesting :)
You mention the grip for your mates, Adam Scott puts the club away from his body (arms length to the side) and turns the club head to face inwards towards him, he then twists his left hand to grip the club, this gives him a natural grip showing two and half knuckles. get a club and take look see if could work for them.
I’ve got a few pairs, wear them socially as well!Line up, waggle, drive, chip, chip, putt. Done.
Ridiculous keks.
When you miss blame someone elseLine up, waggle, drive, chip, chip, putt. Done.
Ridiculous keks.
This where I struggle. I’m off 10.2 and been in the 10s since coming back to golf 3 years ago. One other thing which I need to improve is bunker play , I can hit my 5 wood 200/210 but often ends up in green side bunkers and then I’m hit & miss I get out . It’s not good enough for my handicap .For a high handicapper , like he obvious is, to get down from 100 to 85 a round your best bet is to cut out the three / 4 putts and getting up and down a few times.
For 10 handicappers to get down to a low handicap you need to improve on your length. This where I struggle. I am consistent and straight but struggle at Par 4s over 400 yards.
I can relate to this . My mate who’s just turned 60 was in the Pro shop recently with his clubs , the young assistant said you got a bag full of headcovers ! Made me laughA departed golfer at our club had a saying about golfers:
“The older we get, the better we were”
I’m guilty of that, saying things like “I used to get to the 150 marker with my drive on this hole” and “in the past I could hit a 7 iron 150 yards” the latter is now a 19 degree rescue which usually lands anywhere other than on the green :-).
One of the differences between us hackers and the professionals is when they play a shot to a green they look at where is an acceptable miss and where they mustn't put it. Effective course management saves you a few shots over the round.This where I struggle. I’m off 10.2 and been in the 10s since coming back to golf 3 years ago. One other thing which I need to improve is bunker play , I can hit my 5 wood 200/210 but often ends up in green side bunkers and then I’m hit & miss I get out . It’s not good enough for my handicap
This where I struggle. I’m off 10.2 and been in the 10s since coming back to golf 3 years ago. One other thing which I need to improve is bunker play , I can hit my 5 wood 200/210 but often ends up in green side bunkers and then I’m hit & miss I get out . It’s not good enough for my handicap .
I think it's true to say that a lot of the great players weren't very popular with their peers. Of course, in those days, most of the players were pissing it up every night, so the likes of Faldo and Montgomery, who took the game seriously, were never going to fit in.Faldo and Montgomerie are ALLEGEDLY another couple of twats.
Spot on . That’s usually one of my strong points . I follow Sidekick Golfer on YouTube. His vids are all about course management and using your shots eg when you have a shot on a hole play for Bogey , possibly you could par it . Par 5s taking a club to put you on fairway, eg 6 iron 165 yards , then another 6 iron , probably left with something like 150 yards left to the green. Too many people instantly take their driver out on Par 5sOne of the differences between us hackers and the professionals is when they play a shot to a green they look at where is an acceptable miss and where they mustn't put it. Effective course management saves you a few shots over the round.
Yea I do generally. I tend to play bogey golf and my short game & course management keeps me to 10ish . Want to break into single figures if possible this season. Better striking , bunker play & putting needs to improve thoughDon't hit the ball so far than play a little chip shot onto the green, just play up short !
Play the course as it is not as you want it ;)
100% correct. It's imperative that you know your carry distances for your irons. Most amateurs think because they hit an 8 iron 150 once, that that's their stock yardage and invariably come up short. Invest in a laser range finder to give you a yardage to carry the crap at the front of the green and don't go flag hunting.The best tip i have ever had was take one more club into the green.
Played with Des Smyth in a pro am he was the one who told me that said pros hit 8 out of 10 in the centre of the club and amateurs 2 to 3 times out of 10 he said also all the trouble is mostly at the front of greens.Im a 14 hcap but if i paly 3 times a week i aim to get to single figures.