A part of the problem

[revkev]

How can a top player get on the first tee on a course that she has played the last two days in the same light wind and have to back off the ball to ask her Caddy about the line?

 

The USGA should have done it's while we're young commercial by showing footage from a variety of your and NCAA events because that's where the chief culprits are.

 

Seemingly the younger the player the more likely he or she will play slowly. Its not a good trend.

 

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[jbil8802]

Agreed. It's really painful to watch sometimes. I'm a huge Spieth fan but he can be difficult to watch at times. I think it's important to have a solid pre-shot routine and trust it. Once I step up to the ball that's it, barring anything unusual that causes me to step off (usually some type of flying insect that wants to land on my ball). The less time I spend over the ball the better. One look at the target and go.

[jbil8802]

A couple guys at my club got into a heated discussion in the bar post round a few weeks ago. One guy goes through his pre-shot routine then stands over the ball for a minimum of 20 seconds. Every shot, every putt. It took the group he was in 4 hours and 30 minutes to play 18 holes. The guy that brought this to his attention was stuck in the group behind him. 20 seconds times 85 shots (on a good day) is roughly 28 minutes.

[JudgeSmails]

I notice this alot in the LPGA, I think alignment should be the players responsibility.   Lydia Ko does this on every putt with her caddie, she sets up and he gets behind her and tells her when she's line up right.  ( I like Lydia, just using her as an example).  I don't see it nearly as much in the PGA

[Kenny B]

Yes, the LPGA is horrible.  I believe that most of it is lining up all shots, not just putts.  I don't see that with the PGA.  Stacey Lewis complained in Round 1 of the Olympics that it took 5 1/2 hours to complete the round.  Last groups played near darkness, and there are only 60 players competing.  A couple of groups were warned, but no penalties.  Slap a penalty on one or two and it would quickly change.

[jaskanski]

Tough call sometimes. Basically a player is looking for some sort of confirmation from their caddie that they're making the right choice. How that manifests itself in their actions or words is somewhat confusing sometimes, but they're basically looking for reassurance - thats the caddies job after all. The times you hear, "so I've got the right club, right?" is painful sometimes.

With reference to Speith too, I recall him "overruling" his caddie in this years Masters in the final round. His caddie called the shot but Speith challenged his call and made his own mind up of the play - he made the right choice too. So it works both ways. Some players are confident and positive with their choices and set up approach, some players are nervous and insecure and it shows. 

It doesn't necessarily contribute to slow play, but I'd rather listen to players talking to their caddies than watch a player with a set up routine with constant nervous twitches, club waggles, regrip after regrip and finally a shot that makes the second cut of rough and the caddie gets the blame...

[Golfspy_CG2]

I'm not a big fan of the caddie helping align the player, In my mind that is part of hitting the shot.  I know we have all probably done it a time or two when we see one of our buddies aimed directly at the trees on the tee box and may say something.  But I would never think of having someone stand behind me on every full shot and tell me how to line up. 

[StrokerAce]

Great points all around... one I'd like to throw in there is just because that's the way the pros do it doesn't mean that's the way the Joes/Janes should do it

 

I'm sure not many of us play with caddies, but if this is in reference to speed of play you don't need to take 5 minutes to hit a single shot.

Play ready golf.

Pick your club, get your line and go.

 

Shoot!  Just slipped off that soapbox!!  

[revkev]

I notice this alot in the LPGA, I think alignment should be the players responsibility. Lydia Ko does this on every putt with her caddie, she sets up and he gets behind her and tells her when she's line up right. ( I like Lydia, just using her as an example). I don't see it nearly as much in the PGA

She was the offending party that prompted my post. And I love watching her play but come on girl! She had to go to bed last night knowing her line

 

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[Fireinthehole]

This is why I can't stand watching Jordan spieth

 

 

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