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My quest for scratch.


JBones

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Today, I start a journey to get to scratch.  I ended last season at a 3.5 handicap and my goal is to get to scratch.  I have not being entering winter rounds for obvious reasons.  You would think my scores from last week would be a set back, but it was rather eye opening.  It showed I need to spend all my practice time on the green.  I need to put the driver away and hit hybrid when I'm struggling off the tee (hit 5/5 FWs at about 255avg last week, yet still insisted on spraying the driver).  I also have nobody to impress, but myself.  Today is the first day of Mens League and I think I am prepared for this journey.  I will be updating this thread weekly throughout the season.

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You got this bones!

Driver:   :callaway-small: Epic 10.5 set to 9.5 w/ Tour AD-DI 44.5

FW:   :cobra-small: F6 baffler set at 16º

Hybrid:  NONE
Irons:   :taylormade-small:  3i 2014 TP CB  4-PW 2011 TP MC w/ TT S400

Wedges:   :nike-small: 52º :nike-small: 56º  :edel-golf-1: 60 º w/ KBS C-Taper XS Soft-stepped

Putter:   :ping-small: Sigma G Tyne 34 inches Gold dot

 

 

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We are in a similar boats bones. I too am on that quest and my cap isn't far from yours. This will be the first year that golf is my first sport so I have high hopes. Best of luck bones!

Driver- Tmag 2017 M2 tour issue 8.5* actual loft 7.8* w/ HZRDS Green PVD 70TX"
Fairway Metal- Taylormade SLDR Mini Driver 12* w/ Fujikura Rombax TP95-X"

Utility- Mizuno MPH5 1 iron w/ Aldila RIP 85X (depending on course/ conditions)

Irons- Mizuno MP- FLI HI 2i w/ Aldila Proto ByYou 100X
          Mizuno MP59 4i-6I w/ PX 6.5

          Mizuno MP69 7i-PW w/ PX 6.5

Wedges- Scratch 8620 Driver/Slider set.  50*, 54* bent to 55* and 60*

Putter- Taylormade Spider Tour w/ flow neck
Ball- Bridgestone Tour B X

Bag- Sun Mountain C130 Supercharged

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I think both of you guys can do it you are almost there anyhow. Back in my hey days I was always good on the short game and a good putter. Even now I would say I spend 90% of my practice time on the putting green chipping and putting. It does make a difference or it does for me anyhow. Back in my day if they had kept stats then my FIR and GIR would have really sucked. But I had the confidence in my short game that I could get it up and down anywhere from 100 yds in. When I hit a GIR my thought was positive hey you are on the dance floor with a putter in your hand. In those days I thought I could make every putt I stood over whether it was 7 feet or 70 feet. When you can wedge,chip and putt it takes a whole lot of pressure off of your overall game. that is how I played it

Driver ---- Callaway Big Bertha Alpha  Speeder 565 R flex- 5W TM V-Steel Fubuki 60r--- 7W TM V-Steel UST Pro Force Gold 65R----- 9 W TM V Steel TM MAS stiff---- Irons 2015 TM TP CB Steel Fiber 95 R--- GW Callaway Mack Daddy 2 52* shaft unknown junk pile refugee. SW Callaway PM Grind 56*  Modified sole grind--- KBS Tour Wedge-- LW Vokey 58* SM5 L grind--- Putter Ping B90I Broom Stick 

 

 

 G

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I think both of you guys can do it you are almost there anyhow. Back in my hey days I was always good on the short game and a good putter. Even now I would say I spend 90% of my practice time on the putting green chipping and putting. It does make a difference or it does for me anyhow. Back in my day if they had kept stats then my FIR and GIR would have really sucked. But I had the confidence in my short game that I could get it up and down anywhere from 100 yds in. When I hit a GIR my thought was positive hey you are on the dance floor with a putter in your hand. In those days I thought I could make every putt I stood over whether it was 7 feet or 70 feet. When you can wedge,chip and putt it takes a whole lot of pressure off of your overall game. that is how I played it

 

Same with me.  As my short game goes, so goes my score.

We don’t stop playing the game because we get old; we get old because we stop playing the game.”

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You are on the right track and short game is the way to go.  I have been a scratch to a plus most of the last 15 years and when I stopped playing for about two years I came back as a solid 6.  Working on putting and short game got me back to scratch in about a season and I have stayed there for two or so years.  I spend very little time hitting balls these days and the little practice time that I get is from 100 yards and in as well as on the putting green.  Good luck and I am sure you will get there.

WITB 2024

   Qi10 LS 9* HZRDUS RDX Smoke Blue 60g 6.5

   M5 15* Evenflow Black 75g 6.5

   Sim Ti 22* HZRDUS Red 75g 6.5

   Sim2 Rescue 22* Diamana Thump 100x

   X Forged CB 5 - PW MMT 105 TX 

   Jaws Raw 50*, 54* & 58* TTDG "OG" Spinner

   Toulon Madison BGT Fire 34.75"

   Z Star Diamond

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You would think my scores from last week would be a set back,

 

Nah, all it takes is the next 20 rounds at par, simple as that.

:ping-small:G430LST 10.5° on     T P T    POWER 18 Hi Driver 

:ping-small:G430MAX 3w  on     T P T    POWER 18 Hi Fairway 

:ping-small:G425 3H on     T P T    POWER 18 Hi Hybrid 

:taylormade-small:P790 Black 4-A 
on :kbs: TGI 80S
 

:mizuno-small: ES21 54-8° & 58-12° on :kbs: Hi Rev

:L.A.B.:DF2.1 on :accra: White

:titelist-small: ProV1  

:918457628_PrecisionPro: Precision Pro  NX7 Pro

All Iron grips are BestGrips Micro-Perforated Mid

Driver, 3w, 3H are JumboMax JMX UltraLite XS 

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Got off to a decent start in both my quest and league.  I learned that I'm not quite in shape for walking 18 yet.  I was even through 14 and shot +4 over the last 4, including a bogey-double bogey finish, for a 76.  I was -2 on the par 5s, with a horrible bogey on one of them; the tee on 2 was moved up due to soft conditions and the hole was only playing 480.  It is a 90* dogleg left with trees right and left and OB left to keep people from cutting the corner.  I hit my driver high, so I can cut off a lot, usually have less than a 5i, even when the tees are back at 515.  I didn't cut enough off and went behind a tree, then hit another tree with a punch, then had to punch again to get a nasty lie 40yds short of the green, I chunked one out of the rough to 20' and two putts later had a bogey.   All in all, shooting 76 on wet turf and bumpy greens, is a good start to the season.

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Good luck Bones. I would highly recommend reading every shot counts if you haven't as yet. It would suggest really analyzing your scores to determine where you are losing strokes and working on that area.

 

Scratch is very tough because it takes both talent and time. I play with a guy who was a DI player and played in a couple of US amature plus made it through some layers towards the US Open. He has game but not time so he's not scratch but if you catch him on one of those days he still looks like it.

 

It's really tough to get there and stay there though.

Taylor Made Stealth 2 10.5 Diamana S plus 60  Aldila  R flex   - 42.25 inches 

SMT 4 wood bassara R flex, four wood head, 3 wood shaft

Ping G410 7, 9 wood  Alta 65 R flex

Srixon ZX5 MK II  5-GW - UST recoil Dart 65 R flex

India 52,56 (60 pending)  UST recoil 75's R flex  

Evon roll ER 5 32 inches

It's our offseason so auditioning candidates - looking for that right mix of low spin long, more spin around the greens - TBD   

 

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I am in a similar position trying to get down to scratch, and I am also a victim of the pointless driver spraying when you could just hit a solid fairway wood.  Except for the fact that my 3 wood probably only goes about 230-240 on a solid strike.  Best of luck to you!

Driver:  Taylormade 2017 M2 9.5 degree head played at 8 degrees.  Fujikura speeder evolution tour spec x flex shaft tipped 1/4 inch.  

 

3-Wood: 15 degree M2 tour.  Fujikura pro 73 tour spec X flex shaft.  

 

Mizuno H5 2 iron.

 

4 iron: mizuno mp h4 4 iron dynamic gold s300

 

5-pw iron: mizuno mp 54 dynamic gold s300

 

52, 56, 60 wedges: cleveland 588 rotex cavity

 

putter: 34 inch nike method 00 half circle mallet putter

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I am in a similar position trying to get down to scratch, and I am also a victim of the pointless driver spraying when you could just hit a solid fairway wood.  Except for the fact that my 3 wood probably only goes about 230-240 on a solid strike.  Best of luck to you!

What burns me up the most is that I built my hybrid purely to be a FW finder, when my driver is off.  I wanted a guaranteed FW at around 260.  I took my 17* Nickent 7dt head and put it on a low spin shaft and cut it to the length of a steel 2i.  I can darn near pick a blade of grass to land it on............yet I still just keep banging the driver.  Ugh, that damn ego thing.

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What burns me up the most is that I built my hybrid purely to be a FW finder, when my driver is off.  I wanted a guaranteed FW at around 260.  I took my 17* Nickent 7dt head and put it on a low spin shaft and cut it to the length of a steel 2i.  I can darn near pick a blade of grass to land it on............yet I still just keep banging the driver.  Ugh, that damn ego thing.

 

I have seen a few pros that would love to have fairway finder.  It seems like I am always watching them pull a 3W, 5W or hybrid out because they need a straight shot, then they hit it into the woods!  

 

The pros have egos, but it shows up as "I can get it up and down from any lie," not so much that they can hit the fairway with the big dog.

We don’t stop playing the game because we get old; we get old because we stop playing the game.”

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I hate to contradict Kenny but this will be one of those rare moments.  I don't believe that a touring pro will ever hit less than driver because its a case of needed accuracy.  I think they hit it because its a case of wanting to have a certain leave or indirectly accuracy related because a driver goes will bring some sort of penalty into play that's not worth the risk.  If they don't learn to check their egos or learn to use their egos in a positive manner they don't make a living.

 

When we were younger the chicken stick or 3 wood was more accurate than the driver - that's not the case any more.

 

Bones - I have a suggestion for you that might help.  Put together a written game plan before you go and play as to what club you intend to use off of each tee and what your reasonable expectation will be for your leave.  I'm the opposite of you - I have to keep reminding myself to use driver even when I'm tempted not to.  So for a while I made a written plan - now its habit - I know what to look for on those rare occasions when I won't be hitting driver.

Taylor Made Stealth 2 10.5 Diamana S plus 60  Aldila  R flex   - 42.25 inches 

SMT 4 wood bassara R flex, four wood head, 3 wood shaft

Ping G410 7, 9 wood  Alta 65 R flex

Srixon ZX5 MK II  5-GW - UST recoil Dart 65 R flex

India 52,56 (60 pending)  UST recoil 75's R flex  

Evon roll ER 5 32 inches

It's our offseason so auditioning candidates - looking for that right mix of low spin long, more spin around the greens - TBD   

 

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I have watched many pros coming down the stretch in the lead that pull less than driver and not only NOT hit the fairway, NOT hit the rough!  Can't remember who did it, but in the last couple of weeks, someone in the lead hit an iron into the trees.

 

I agree that when pros play for position, they will use a particular club that puts them into position for the next shot.  Unless the yardage is different from day to day or the wind changes, they will stick to that plan all week.  That's one of the things they figure out during the practice rounds.  So, making the written plan and sticking with it is a great idea.

We don’t stop playing the game because we get old; we get old because we stop playing the game.”

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Agreed all the way around except I can't recall anyone backing off down the stretch recently unless they were backing off all week.  The modern driver is easier to hit straight than fairway wood so why not?  The only reason to back off is if the driver runs the risk of finishing in some sort of trouble that the fairway wood/iron won't. 

 

In years past I remember it but not recently and certainly not recently where someone kicked it away by hitting less than driver.

Taylor Made Stealth 2 10.5 Diamana S plus 60  Aldila  R flex   - 42.25 inches 

SMT 4 wood bassara R flex, four wood head, 3 wood shaft

Ping G410 7, 9 wood  Alta 65 R flex

Srixon ZX5 MK II  5-GW - UST recoil Dart 65 R flex

India 52,56 (60 pending)  UST recoil 75's R flex  

Evon roll ER 5 32 inches

It's our offseason so auditioning candidates - looking for that right mix of low spin long, more spin around the greens - TBD   

 

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Agreed all the way around except I can't recall anyone backing off down the stretch recently unless they were backing off all week.  The modern driver is easier to hit straight than fairway wood so why not?  The only reason to back off is if the driver runs the risk of finishing in some sort of trouble that the fairway wood/iron won't. 

 

In years past I remember it but not recently and certainly not recently where someone kicked it away by hitting less than driver.

 

I am not certain, but I think it was Emiliano Grillo in the Puerto Rico Open.  He and Curran were tied at -8.  Both made bogeys and lost in a 5 man playoff to Cejka.  The 18th is a par 5 and I think I remember Grillo hitting an iron and missed the rough even.  I remember at the time thinking if you are going to hit an iron off the tee, at least hit the fairway!   There have been others in the past, but I will have to watch more carefully as I am sure it will happen again.

We don’t stop playing the game because we get old; we get old because we stop playing the game.”

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What burns me up the most is that I built my hybrid purely to be a FW finder, when my driver is off. I wanted a guaranteed FW at around 260. I took my 17* Nickent 7dt head and put it on a low spin shaft and cut it to the length of a steel 2i. I can darn near pick a blade of grass to land it on............yet I still just keep banging the driver. Ugh, that damn ego thing.

I would suggest you take the temptation away, to start, leave the driver at home, you clearly don't even need to have it, if that is to difficult, then I suggest you get rid of any driver you have, if you are truly dedicated to getting to where you want to be, you will do whatever it takes to do so, put the ego down, and leave the driver at home.

Lefties are always in their Right Mind

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  • 2 weeks later...

Have only had time for a 9 hole practice round in the past two weeks, but shot a +1 37.  Again lost at least two strokes due to poor pitches from sloppy conditions.  I don't have an official handicap yet, but going off of my rounds so far, it's going to be around 3 to start.  I'm ready for the ground to firm up, so I can actually take advantage of my length.

 

On another note, I had a breakthrough with the driver and I'm hitting it much more accurately (had let the ball position drift back in my stance).  The hybrid is still the play when I absolutely have to hit a fairway.  I also played a 540yd par 5 with the hybrid, just to see what I would be looking at if I go "sans driver"; with absolutely zero roll, I never left the center stripe with my two hybrid shots and only had a 43yd pitch left......only made par (pitch from mud had no spin and went 12' by), but it was a tap in par.

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Well, my round this week didn't go so well.  We have had about another 10" of rain, so the course was a swamp, and the day we played, we had 20-30mph winds.  There were a few dry days before the rain came in and it gave them a chance to double cut and roll the greens.......they were like putting on glass.  I had two holes that were detrimental to my score.  The 4th is a pretty tight driving hole and instead of playing smart, I pulled the driver and two times, then 30mph cross wind blew my drive OB; I took an 8 on that par 4.  Then on the 204yd par 3 9th, I smoked a 3i, just as the wind stopped blowing for the only time that day and sailed my tee shot 30yds over the green; the chip I was left with was short sided, down wind, down hill....I didn't get it within 30' and then 3 putted.  I threw in some birdies on the back, but ended up with a +7 79.  I have enough rounds to get an official handicap on 5/1, but the trend is 1.8, so we'll see in a couple weeks.  I can't wait for dry ground.

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Sounds like a solid start to the season.  Good luck!

Driver:  Taylormade 2017 M2 9.5 degree head played at 8 degrees.  Fujikura speeder evolution tour spec x flex shaft tipped 1/4 inch.  

 

3-Wood: 15 degree M2 tour.  Fujikura pro 73 tour spec X flex shaft.  

 

Mizuno H5 2 iron.

 

4 iron: mizuno mp h4 4 iron dynamic gold s300

 

5-pw iron: mizuno mp 54 dynamic gold s300

 

52, 56, 60 wedges: cleveland 588 rotex cavity

 

putter: 34 inch nike method 00 half circle mallet putter

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Well, my official handicap came out yesterday and it was better than I expected. This is a good start in my quest. Now I just need to throw down a couple 69s in competition and I'll be there. Match Play starts next week, which will be interesting, since I'm up against the + handis. Hopefully some of them get intimidated by distance, because I have been killing my driver lately; drove a 370yd par 4 with a stiff tail wind last week.

 

image.jpg

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Good to hear Bones! I on the other hand am slacking. I need to get some more practice in. Keep it up and good luck in match play.

Driver- Tmag 2017 M2 tour issue 8.5* actual loft 7.8* w/ HZRDS Green PVD 70TX"
Fairway Metal- Taylormade SLDR Mini Driver 12* w/ Fujikura Rombax TP95-X"

Utility- Mizuno MPH5 1 iron w/ Aldila RIP 85X (depending on course/ conditions)

Irons- Mizuno MP- FLI HI 2i w/ Aldila Proto ByYou 100X
          Mizuno MP59 4i-6I w/ PX 6.5

          Mizuno MP69 7i-PW w/ PX 6.5

Wedges- Scratch 8620 Driver/Slider set.  50*, 54* bent to 55* and 60*

Putter- Taylormade Spider Tour w/ flow neck
Ball- Bridgestone Tour B X

Bag- Sun Mountain C130 Supercharged

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Well, my official handicap came out yesterday and it was better than I expected. This is a good start in my quest. Now I just need to throw down a couple 69s in competition and I'll be there. Match Play starts next week, which will be interesting, since I'm up against the + handis. Hopefully some of them get intimidated by distance, because I have been killing my driver lately; drove a 370yd par 4 with a stiff tail wind last week.

attachicon.gifimage.jpg

It's a start but it will take more than a couple weeks of 69's in competition. The key is to eliminate any high number in the scores being used to calculate handicap. That's why it's so hard to get to scratch. The 10/20 need to all be under 3 above course rating and then thereneeds to be some -2 or so sprinkled in. It's really hard and almost impossible to keep because it requires sustained played for a two month period of time to get there and then sustained play to keep it. It's likely to take a couple of sub 69 scores and lots of scores under 74 to do it.

Taylor Made Stealth 2 10.5 Diamana S plus 60  Aldila  R flex   - 42.25 inches 

SMT 4 wood bassara R flex, four wood head, 3 wood shaft

Ping G410 7, 9 wood  Alta 65 R flex

Srixon ZX5 MK II  5-GW - UST recoil Dart 65 R flex

India 52,56 (60 pending)  UST recoil 75's R flex  

Evon roll ER 5 32 inches

It's our offseason so auditioning candidates - looking for that right mix of low spin long, more spin around the greens - TBD   

 

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  • 10 months later...

Resurrecting this thread. At one time I played my handicap down to a 1.3 and won one of the tourneys with a 69 that could have easily been a 65 (was 1/6 on birdie putts between 10-15'). Then in late July, I partially separated my shoulder water skiing. I kept trying to play after taking two weeks off (going against Drs orders, but I have an almost superhuman pain tolerance) and it was not pretty. I don't think I broke 82 the rest of the season. I ended the season with a 5.3. I overhauled my swing this winter and the results are astounding. I've maybe lost 10-15yds (hard to tell with wet shaggy conditions), but in the one full round I've played I hit 13/14 FWs. For me to succeed I have to hit FWs, as my irons are always solid. I'm also putting my old "players" irons back in the bag as they have a much smaller head and I'm a much better ball striker than I was 4-5 years ago. It's going to be an interesting season. Going to take some solid work to get back down from a 5.3 handi, but I'm much better prepared this year than I was last year.......barring any injuries.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using MyGolfSpy mobile app

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Hoping it goes well my friend!

Driver- Tmag 2017 M2 tour issue 8.5* actual loft 7.8* w/ HZRDS Green PVD 70TX"
Fairway Metal- Taylormade SLDR Mini Driver 12* w/ Fujikura Rombax TP95-X"

Utility- Mizuno MPH5 1 iron w/ Aldila RIP 85X (depending on course/ conditions)

Irons- Mizuno MP- FLI HI 2i w/ Aldila Proto ByYou 100X
          Mizuno MP59 4i-6I w/ PX 6.5

          Mizuno MP69 7i-PW w/ PX 6.5

Wedges- Scratch 8620 Driver/Slider set.  50*, 54* bent to 55* and 60*

Putter- Taylormade Spider Tour w/ flow neck
Ball- Bridgestone Tour B X

Bag- Sun Mountain C130 Supercharged

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Bones... I see that you have a 3.5 hcp already. I'm guessing you'll make your goal within a few months or so. Good luck. Go low.

My Sun Mountain bag currently includes:   TWGTLogo2.png.06c802075f4d211691d88895b3f34b75.png 771CSI 5i - PW and TWGTLogo2.png.06c802075f4d211691d88895b3f34b75.png PFC Micro Tour-c 52°, 56°, 60 wedges

                                                                               :755178188_TourEdge: EXS 10.5*, TWGTLogo2.png.06c802075f4d211691d88895b3f34b75.png 929-HS FW4 16.5* 

                                                                                :edel-golf-1: Willimette w/GolfPride Contour

 

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Good luck Bones!!  Be the ball.   Good decision making, trusting your swing, and of course...  putting will get you there.

We don’t stop playing the game because we get old; we get old because we stop playing the game.”

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