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Where to miss


Rusty1885

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I just played a round with another member this morning. He's a 20 handicapper and been at our clubs since 2012. We chat in the restaurant from time to time and finally we get to play for the first time.

 

He said that he has a hard time setting up each hole so I walked him thru the landing position and option. Then he said the magic word, he doesn't know where to miss. It clicked. Then I started pointing out the good place to miss for recoverable approach.

 

Something must have clicked for him and he absorbed it like a sponge. After a few holes started putting the ball in play. He missed 2 short par putts for final score of 81. I was so excited for him. I collected my caddy fee in the form of a nice lunch and promised to be on his bag again next Sunday.

 

It's a great morning indeed.

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I just played a round with another member this morning. He's a 20 handicapper and been at our clubs since 2012. We chat in the restaurant from time to time and finally we get to play for the first time.

 

He said that he has a hard time setting up each hole so I walked him thru the landing position and option. Then he said the magic word, he doesn't know where to miss. It clicked. Then I started pointing out the good place to miss for recoverable approach.

 

Something must have clicked for him and he absorbed it like a sponge. After a few holes started putting the ball in play. He missed 2 short par putts for final score of 81. I was so excited for him. I collected my caddy fee in the form of a nice lunch and promised to be on his bag again next Sunday.

 

It's a great morning indeed.

Great story, may need you in FL sometime

 

 

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Rick

 

 

Left Hand, 

Driver; PXG 0311XF Cypher 50 gr Senior  
5 wood; Ping 425, Senior Shaft 55 gr       
7 wood; Ping 425, Senior Shaft 55 gr      
5 hybrid; Cally Steelhead, Hazardous R2     
Irons; Mizuno JPX 923HM 7-GW Recoil 460 F2
Wedges; Titleist S9 54*, Mizuno SW 56*

Putter; Waaay too many to list

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Some people wound up so tight and leave no room for perceived mistakes in addition when they know that it's ok to miss the swing with more confidence and authority. This guy knows this course really well he just doesn't know how to connect the dots.

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Great story, may need you in FL sometime

 

 

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You have me - I can show you how and where to miss all day!!!!

 

Not here

 

 

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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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You have me - I can show you how and where to miss all day!!!! attachicon.gifIMG_0581.JPG

 

Not here

 

 

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I think I've been there, on every course

 

 

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Rick

 

 

Left Hand, 

Driver; PXG 0311XF Cypher 50 gr Senior  
5 wood; Ping 425, Senior Shaft 55 gr       
7 wood; Ping 425, Senior Shaft 55 gr      
5 hybrid; Cally Steelhead, Hazardous R2     
Irons; Mizuno JPX 923HM 7-GW Recoil 460 F2
Wedges; Titleist S9 54*, Mizuno SW 56*

Putter; Waaay too many to list

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Nice job.....course management is something most of us need to work on more often.

 

 

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Great job of caddying. Course management is a huge part of scoring. Knowing where to miss is as important as your main target.

Driver: Cobra F8 Tour length

3W: Cobra King F7 3/4 Wood

5W: Cobra King F7 5/6 Wood

Hybrid 3/4: Cobra F7 20.5*

Irons: 5 to PW Taylormade P790

A Wedge: 48* Vokey SM6 F grind

S Wedge: 54* Vokey SM6 M grind

L Wedge: 58* Vokey SM6 M grind

Putter: Rife Two Bar Hybrid 35" P2 Aware Tour grip

Ball: Taylormade TP 5X

Bag: Hot Z Canadian flag 🇨🇦

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Seriously this is a great target. There's more to it than simply knowing where to miss. Knowing your typical dispersion pattern from the spot you're playing from is huge too. Knowing that I can aim for a spot that keeps my typical dispersion safe and maximize my score over the long run.

 

We used to have a nice shoot out in the men's club at the course I belonged to in Indiana. Ten teams, best and worst handicap paired and so on to the middle two guys.

 

I always got a mid/high guy 14 or higher. I was surprised at the stuff those guys worried about when we talked over strategy. One time I made my partner tap his putter off the tee so that I could hit the shot over the water on the par 3. I knew that we could make bogey 90 percent of the time and move on where as we were going to make double or worse if he tried to carry the water at least half the time.

 

We made an easy 4 and moved on only to be eliminated when he hit it into the bushes on the next hole - I told him to just hit 7 iron because I could put it in a safe spot by the green with a fairway wood where he would hit it.

 

He just couldn't grasp the concept.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using MyGolfSpy

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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..........

Knowing your typical dispersion pattern from the spot you're playing from is huge too. Knowing that I can aim for a spot that keeps my typical dispersion safe and maximize my score over the long run.

.......

 

^ THAT is really key!

 

But .. really only comes to you after a lot of on-course experience. I'm finally starting to figure it out a little bit; eg. ok I'm on this kind of sidehill lie where I tend to fade it out to the right, so I'm going to adjust for that.

WITB of an "aspiring"  😉 play-ah ...
Driver...Callaway Paradym (Aldila Ascent PL Blue 40/A)
5W...Callaway Great Big Bertha (MCA Kai'Li Red 50/R)
7W...Tour Edge Exotics EXS (Tensei CK Blue 50/R)

4H...Callaway Epic Super Hybrid (Recoil ZT9 F3)
5H...Callaway Big Bertha ('19) (Recoil 460 ESX F3)
6i-GW...Sub 70 699 V2 (Recoil 660 F3) 
54°, 60°...Cleveland CBX2, CBX 60 (Rotex graphite)
Putter...Ev
nRoll ER5 or MLA Tour XDream (P2 Reflex grip on both)
...all in a Datrek bag on an MGI Zip Navigator electric cart. Ball often, not always, MaxFli Tour.

Forum Member tester for the Paradym X driver (2023)
Forum Member tester for the ExPutt Putting Simulator (2020)

followthrough.jpg

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Seriously this is a great target. There's more to it than simply knowing where to miss. Knowing your typical dispersion pattern from the spot you're playing from is huge too. Knowing that I can aim for a spot that keeps my typical dispersion safe and maximize my score over the long run.

We used to have a nice shoot out in the men's club at the course I belonged to in Indiana. Ten teams, best and worst handicap paired and so on to the middle two guys.

I always got a mid/high guy 14 or higher. I was surprised at the stuff those guys worried about when we talked over strategy. One time I made my partner tap his putter off the tee so that I could hit the shot over the water on the par 3. I knew that we could make bogey 90 percent of the time and move on where as we were going to make double or worse if he tried to carry the water at least half the time.

We made an easy 4 and moved on only to be eliminated when he hit it into the bushes on the next hole - I told him to just hit 7 iron because I could put it in a safe spot by the green with a fairway wood where he would hit it.

He just couldn't grasp the concept.

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Thanks for sharing, love the putting off the tee story.

 

I agree. Most high handicappers I play with seems to aim the middle of the fairway and they are almost always miss the fairways right unless there are ob on the left or water then the ball would go there. The course I just play in the tournament 2 guys in my group has been slicing all day til the 17th par 5 with ob on the left sure enough both sent high draw right over the fence.

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^ THAT is really key!

But .. really only comes to you after a lot of on-course experience. I'm finally starting to figure it out a little bit; eg. ok I'm on this kind of sidehill lie where I tend to fade it out to the right, so I'm going to adjust for that.

I'm quite lucky, my favorite local muni is a mountain course and there's no flat lies anywhere. I made enough miss on every holes it's second nature for me by now. Thank god for all those misses.

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Generally speaking you can figure out the safe spots after two or three rounds if you are looking for them.

 

As tough as Bayou is I've learned to score reasonably well there by forgiving out the must avoid places.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using MyGolfSpy

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 never really started thinking about good places to miss, until this season. Still working on it, may need to just go with a different club on some holes. Score may have improved by only a few strokes, but I definitely lost less balls this season

 

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A few months after I joined the club I was trying to breakthrough and shoot consistently shoot low scores and I apply mountain biking, well racing in general, strategy to golf. You have to learn to brake hard in order to go fast.

 

My plan was to shoot a bogey on every holes once a week, easier said than done for a 5 handicapper as lipping put par putts don't count. It took some solid planning of every shots to hit each hole. It taught me plenty. I learn not to panic when I miss the green or didn't hit a solid drive. I learn that I can save the hole when I'm not on in regulation.

 

The trick is not to throttle down with conventional targets but to pick more conservative targets use different clubs and swing aggressively. In addition, I learned to listen to the signals that the brain tells me what shots I have in the bag, when I do it delivers.

 

The focus of going low all the time can be exhausting and it builds pressure taking a hard brake, and trackstand while you consider the option will make your game better.

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A few months after I joined the club I was trying to breakthrough and shoot consistently shoot low scores and I apply mountain biking, well racing in general, strategy to golf. You have to learn to brake hard in order to go fast.

 

My plan was to shoot a bogey on every holes once a week, easier said than done for a 5 handicapper as lipping put par putts don't count. It took some solid planning of every shots to hit each hole. It taught me plenty. I learn not to panic when I miss the green or didn't hit a solid drive. I learn that I can save the hole when I'm not on in regulation.

 

The trick is not to throttle down with conventional targets but to pick more conservative targets use different clubs and swing aggressively. In addition, I learned to listen to the signals that the brain tells me what shots I have in the bag, when I do it delivers.

 

The focus of going low all the time can be exhausting and it builds pressure taking a hard brake, and trackstand while you consider the option will make your game better.

Great, great piece of advice...

Plan to shoot Bogey.

 

You'd said something similar in a previous post and .. tho I'm not there yet (ie. making Bogey on each hole) .. I have taken the idea to the course and am working on hitting the shots that I can hit (at this point in my game) to a "safe" target and not trying to hit bigger shots for par (well, not always .. once in a while if I have a good lie and feel like I can make a good swing I'll "go for it" with a longer approach shot).

 

Score hasn't dropped by 10 (yet ) but am losing fewer balls and keeping the ball more in play more often. Thx!!

WITB of an "aspiring"  😉 play-ah ...
Driver...Callaway Paradym (Aldila Ascent PL Blue 40/A)
5W...Callaway Great Big Bertha (MCA Kai'Li Red 50/R)
7W...Tour Edge Exotics EXS (Tensei CK Blue 50/R)

4H...Callaway Epic Super Hybrid (Recoil ZT9 F3)
5H...Callaway Big Bertha ('19) (Recoil 460 ESX F3)
6i-GW...Sub 70 699 V2 (Recoil 660 F3) 
54°, 60°...Cleveland CBX2, CBX 60 (Rotex graphite)
Putter...Ev
nRoll ER5 or MLA Tour XDream (P2 Reflex grip on both)
...all in a Datrek bag on an MGI Zip Navigator electric cart. Ball often, not always, MaxFli Tour.

Forum Member tester for the Paradym X driver (2023)
Forum Member tester for the ExPutt Putting Simulator (2020)

followthrough.jpg

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Knowing where to miss can save many strokes on the course. It's difficult to play for a miss, but I look at it as where I don't want to hit it, so if the bad place to be is long then I will play a shorter club to make sure I don't go long. So I really try to control where I don't want to be, rather than say where I want to miss.

Lefties are always in their Right Mind

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When you get greedy the golf gawds will spank that arse. Take what the course will give ya.

 

 

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Ping G430 Max Driver 10.5 Degree
Titleist TSR1 4, 5, & 6 Hybrids 
Titleist T350 Irons 7 - W48 
Cleveland
CBX ZipCore  52 56 & 60 Degree Wedges

LAB Mezz Max Broomstick Putter / TPT Shaft  (Platinum @ 45/78)

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

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When you get greedy the golf gawds will spank that arse. Take what the course will give ya.

 

 

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in that context, unfortunately, I must report that I must still use my BAS (bunker avoidance shot).   If a green is well protected by bunkers no one will ever call me "pin seeker".

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in that context, unfortunately, I must report that I must still use my BAS (bunker avoidance shot).   If a green is well protected by bunkers no one will ever call me "pin seeker".

Shoot for the back of the greens. You'd play 17 holes of golf to see one water or bunker back of the greens. Course designers get the most bang for their bucks putting most of the hazards in the front where they serve best psychologically as most golfers come up short on their approach.

 

Choosing to hit to the back of every greens increase the gir chance by at least double, if you eliminate 3 putts you just improve by 5-7 strokes minimum. Most greens are 30 yards deep which means about 3 clubs difference between front-middle-back if you are committed to the process you'll be choosing 2 extra clubs on some holes but it's well worth it. All you are doing is conditioning your brain to always seeing ball on the green.

 

You won't be in the back of every greens, most likely you'd be short like everyone else but if your aim is to the back of the green you may still end up on the green. Keep practicing and soon you won't be practicing anymore you'd be doing it.

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Shoot for the back of the greens. You'd play 17 holes of golf to see one water or bunker back of the greens. Course designers get the most bang for their bucks putting most of the hazards in the front where they serve best psychologically as most golfers come up short on their approach.

 

Choosing to hit to the back of every greens increase the gir chance by at least double, if you eliminate 3 putts you just improve by 5-7 strokes minimum. Most greens are 30 yards deep which means about 3 clubs difference between front-middle-back if you are committed to the process you'll be choosing 2 extra clubs on some holes but it's well worth it. All you are doing is conditioning your brain to always seeing ball on the green.

 

You won't be in the back of every greens, most likely you'd be short like everyone else but if your aim is to the back of the green you may still end up on the green. Keep practicing and soon you won't be practicing anymore you'd be doing it.

Interesting concept. I'll do a round trying that method .

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using MyGolfSpy

Rick

 

 

Left Hand, 

Driver; PXG 0311XF Cypher 50 gr Senior  
5 wood; Ping 425, Senior Shaft 55 gr       
7 wood; Ping 425, Senior Shaft 55 gr      
5 hybrid; Cally Steelhead, Hazardous R2     
Irons; Mizuno JPX 923HM 7-GW Recoil 460 F2
Wedges; Titleist S9 54*, Mizuno SW 56*

Putter; Waaay too many to list

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Interesting concept. I'll do a round trying that method .

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Yep, and to complete the circle I also learn to love downhill putts since most slope slope from back to front. Downhill putts are much easier than uphill putts, all you have to do is pick the line and start the putt with smooth stroke, gravity takes care of the rest, it comes in handy in a stressful situation where you are probably leave most putts short. Uphill putts require extra effort and usually ends with pull or push or worse pop the stroke.

 

That's my story and I'm sticking to it. :)

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Shoot for the back of the greens. You'd play 17 holes of golf to see one water or bunker back of the greens. Course designers get the most bang for their bucks putting most of the hazards in the front where they serve best psychologically as most golfers come up short on their approach.

 

Choosing to hit to the back of every greens increase the gir chance by at least double, if you eliminate 3 putts you just improve by 5-7 strokes minimum. Most greens are 30 yards deep which means about 3 clubs difference between front-middle-back if you are committed to the process you'll be choosing 2 extra clubs on some holes but it's well worth it. All you are doing is conditioning your brain to always seeing ball on the green.

 

You won't be in the back of every greens, most likely you'd be short like everyone else but if your aim is to the back of the green you may still end up on the green. Keep practicing and soon you won't be practicing anymore you'd be doing it.

Wish I could do that at my home course. As you say all the hazards are short but the greens are not deep and mostly pitch back to front. Go long and you're staring at the hazard again. Nicklaus' penchant for precise iron play is nothing new, but he does take away some scrambling and creativity. You either hit the shot or you don't

 

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Wish I could do that at my home course. As you say all the hazards are short but the greens are not deep and mostly pitch back to front. Go long and you're staring at the hazard again. Nicklaus' penchant for precise iron play is nothing new, but he does take away some scrambling and creativity. You either hit the shot or you don't

 

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I'm not a fan of Nicklaus courses.   My perception is that he thinks a golf course is a gauntlet to be run, not a venue to be enjoyed.   I like Gary Player courses, because he designs them so that they can be fun for most and a gauntlet if so desired.   

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I'm not a fan of Nicklaus courses. My perception is that he thinks a golf course is a gauntlet to be run, not a venue to be enjoyed. I like Gary Player courses, because he designs them so that they can be fun for most and a gauntlet if so desired.

I don't disagree. Jack does not seem to be able to see what he's doing to higher handicap players when he challenges the elite player with obstacles. A lot of forced carries and a lot of fairway bunkers that start in that 200-220 yard range and stretch to 260. Doesn't bother the scratch player a bit but makes it all but unplayable for a higher handicapper or senior with low ball speed.

 

Sent from my Nexus 6P using MyGolfSpy mobile app

:callaway-small: Rogue SZ 10.5 *NEW* Fujikura Pro Green 65 X

:callaway-small: Rogue 15 degree Evnflow Blue 6.5

Back in the Bag :srixon-small: Z765 4-G Nippon Modus 120 Stiff

:vokey-small: 54 and 60

 

:bobby-grace-1: Amazing Grace Ass Kicker

 

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I'm not laying up! No way! ... Splash. LoL

WITB: 

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Adams Super LS 17*

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Wilson Staff Ci7 4-PW

Adams wedges: 52/7 56/13 60/7

Wilson Staff Infinite Southside putter/Odyssey DualForce 660 putter

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So this lead to a trash talking on both the guy I caddied for and myself, we ended up with a friendly bet and heavy heckling, love it. My guy went up against his friend who's a 10 handicap and he gave my guy 2 stroke a side. Needless to say we won easily he shot 40-42 and won by 5 strike, he'd won straight up. I've created a monster.

 

When it was over after a quick stop for a refreshment and yet more gloating we walked to the parking lot and he gave a starter set of kids club to my daughter and promise that he'd give any set to her when she beats him straight up. I'm looking forward to collecting that bet.

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So this lead to a trash talking on both the guy I caddied for and myself, we ended up with a friendly bet and heavy heckling, love it. My guy went up against his friend who's a 10 handicap and he gave my guy 2 stroke a side. Needless to say we won easily he shot 40-42 and won by 5 strike, he'd won straight up. I've created a monster.

 

When it was over after a quick stop for a refreshment and yet more gloating we walked to the parking lot and he gave a starter set of kids club to my daughter and promise that he'd give any set to her when she beats him straight up. I'm looking forward to collecting that bet.

Sounds like you and this high capper are long lost brothers. I'm glad I've stumbled upon this thread.

 

To add another feather in the hat of playing to your strengths and playing it safe--my home course has a great par 5 to finish off the round. The hole features what is probably the most elevation change on the course and it really comes into play on the approach. I used to always hit 3 wood approach to end up at the bottom of the hill for a third shot with a wedge that has to ascend 40 ft or more of elevation to get on the green (I never hit this shot well) or have a miss w/ the 3 wood and go OB.

 

One day a light bulb came on and I decided to play a safe iron shot and leave my self with 130 yard equal elevation approach to the green (still third shot). Eureka, the first time I've ever been on the green in regulation. Now when I miss, I've got a much easier chip or pitch from the side of the green and strokes almost always saved.

 

 

 

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