How low can you go?

[JerryB]

Was thinking about how for me whenever one aspect of my game goes hot, another area inevitably goes cold.  It got me wondering...what could I shoot if I caught lightning in a bottle for one round?

I generally shoot in the 90s with consistency being my biggest downfall.  If I can play well for an entire round, I think I could break 85 and if I get that one in a million round, I could break 80 at my current ability.

What about you?  If everything really, really clicks, what are you scoring?

[goaliedad30]

On a day where I'm striking the ball well, and putts are dropping, I certainly could shoot 66. 

[Vegan_Golfer_PNW]

26 minutes ago, JerryB said:

Was thinking about how for me whenever one aspect of my game goes hot, another area inevitably goes cold.  It got me wondering...what could I shoot if I caught lightning in a bottle for one round?

I generally shoot in the 90s with consistency being my biggest downfall.  If I can play well for an entire round, I think I could break 85 and if I get that one in a million round, I could break 80 at my current ability.

What about you?  If everything really, really clicks, what are you scoring?

I have never had it happen, but i bet i could shoot sub-80 if everything clicks. Like you I am a 90s shooter and usually have 1-2 things going well/ok per round.

[TR1PTIK]

If everything ever came together in one round, I honestly think I'd be able to shoot somewhere around even par or maybe less. My absolute best is pretty dang good even if I'm not the longest hitter.

EDIT: Looking at my SG stats on Shot Scope, my very best in each category compared to a 0 handicap is -0.01 off the tee, +1.19 approach, -0.15 short game, +0.28 putting, for an overall of +1.31.

[Kenny B]

If everything is really, really clicking, that means everyone hit every fairway, every green in regulation, didn't 3-putt, and made putts that pros make.  Sounds like an under par round to me...   Did it last year.

[GolfSpy TCB]

I guess my current answer is equal to the lowest round I ever shot a few months back... 3 under 69.  Hit most of the fairways and was able to recover from the ones I missed.  Hit most of the greens, and was able to get up and down on all but one I missed.  Made all the putts I should make, and a few I had no business making... one bogey, 4 birdies.  I'm not sure I could expect to have a better day than that... especially with the 5 inches between my ears getting in the way of my game.

[THEZIPR23]

Somwhere around 65-67. Shot 2 67's last year, one where I made everything and the other where I hit every iron close. Combine the two and it could be better but I would probably freak out. 

What has been working for me latley is scoring close to the same no matter what game I bring. My last 10 rounds at my club have all been between 71-74. Consistent scoring is a huge confidence booster. 

[edingc]

At my home course, realistically, perfect day, I could shoot 69. That would be hitting 40-50 percent of putts inside of 10 feet, which is no small accomplishment. It would take a lot of luck due to the green conditions and pin placement. 

I've done even par 72 twice this year I believe, and have recently done 76 with a triple and double bogey in that round. 

Anywhere else and that would probably translate to somewhere around 73-75 if everything is working really well.

 

[GolfSpy TCB]

7 minutes ago, edingc said:

Anywhere else and that would probably translate to somewhere around 73-75 if everything is working really well.

That is a great point... I'm now wondering if being oblivious to the course (or at least... not so familiar with where the trouble lies at my home course, that I'm freakishly drawn to it) would actually be beneficial to my "lights out" potential?!?!

[ncwoz]

Over the last 10 rounds in Arccos, my best SG relative to 6 hcp are +3.9 Driving, +1.4 Approach, +4.1 SG, +4 Putting. So on an "average" difficulty course, that might result in something like 8ish strokes? Not totally sure the translation, but on a course where I get 6 strokes to shoot 2 under seems somewhat in the range of "everything's on fire" territory I suppose  

[edingc]

3 hours ago, ncwoz said:

Over the last 10 rounds in Arccos, my best SG relative to 6 hcp are +3.9 Driving, +1.4 Approach, +4.1 SG, +4 Putting. So on an "average" difficulty course, that might result in something like 8ish strokes? Not totally sure the translation, but on a course where I get 6 strokes to shoot 2 under seems somewhat in the range of "everything's on fire" territory I suppose  

With your putting ability, I'd say 70 wouldn't be out of the question on your best days when everything else is working. And that's a 70 on 6,400+ with real greens running at respectable speeds.

[Shankopotomous]

Interesting question.  It got me wondering why i dont score to my max ability....or more accurately why do i get on a bogey streak?  

Anyway i had 9 holes after our league night this year where all cylinders were firing and i shot a 32 on the back.  The best i shot on the front 9 this year was a 34.  So i guess 66 is my limit on that course which is on the shorter side of 6100 yards. 

I usually shoot 8 - 10 shots higher than that there.  Seems like i need to concentrate a little better!

[dlow206]

Shot a 41 on the back 9 last week in the rain, and a total of 87.

there were a few shots i wish i had back. think i could shoot an 84 right now. maybe a couple shots lower in prime PNW weather. 

[ncwoz]

3 hours ago, edingc said:

With your putting ability, I'd say 70 wouldn't be out of the question on your best days when everything else is working. And that's a 70 on 6,400+ with real greens running at respectable speeds.

Maybe! It's a tricky question to try and answer, because being "on" still has some variance associated, but you might be right. Played 9 tonight at a course that's average-ish difficulty, and shot a 38. I had a double bogey from a 125 yard center of the fairway gal wedge I bladed into a terrible spot past the green, a bogey after having to chip out backwards from a tree, and another bogey after driving just barely into the woods. If I was "on" and didn't have those miscues, that theoretically could have been around 35. 

But man is that hard to imagine doing for all 18! Haha

[GolfSpy TCB]

12 hours ago, Shapotomous said:

Seems like i need to concentrate a little better!

that is the rub for me Shapo.  I have a point of not only diminishing returns, but counter productive returns if I am "concentrating"... which for me is thinking about my swing and positions... Pardon my 3rd person reference here... but Tim gets his Groove Back.... when I'm not focusing on those things... just playing shot to shot.  Some of my best rounds I had one swing thought that I used as a mantra.  "Hit the fairway, Hit the green, Make the Putt".  So I guess that is concentrating on the the right things, not the things that will send my off the deep end.  

One thing I have noticed about myself is that I tend to lag birdie putts (to protect par) and grind on the par putts.  referencing concentration... I "concentrate" on making the par putts, and make more of those with similar or greater distance than some birdie putts, that I "concentrate" on not 3 putting.  

Long story to say... I agree with you Shapo... I just need to learn "HOW" to concetrate to score better.  

[Stuka44]

I believe I came close to mine about 3 weeks ago.  Shot 72 on a par 70.  Now it is a smaller, somwhat flatter course that I played at 5900 yards.  It was one of very few rounds where everything seemed to work.  I had 28 putts, normally 34, 9 one putts, ones of 7 &14 to save par, and another of 7 to save bogey.  I had 2 birdies on par 4's that I hit to within 2 feet on approach, and one on a par 5, made the 6 footer.  My average first putt distance for this round was 10.2 feet, when it normally averages 16-18 feet.  It was just one of those magical days.  Could have saved one stroke I guess and not 3 putted from 39 feet on the second hole.

[Golf2Much]

Your question got me thinking about what's the best I've shot in the past and what I'm physically capable of doing now.  I'm a notorious short hitter (who's playing partners will not allow to move up to the golds) which limits the realistic scoring possibilities.  For me to score, my approach, chipping and putting all need to be spot on.  On our par 70 course (69.5/129), I've shot 76 five times.  One of those 76's I had two doubles, but that was 12 years ago.  So realistically, I'd have to say 74-75 (as long as I don't have to pee in a cup after the round and have it drug tested).

[Tom the Golf Nut]

If I am fully invested in the concentration I can normally shoot low. Low is different for everyone. Last season I had 12 rounds in the 60's at my home course. But there has been a wall that I can't break through. All of those rounds were either 68 or 69. This year there has been less in the 60's but they are still there but again nothing is getting past that wall. Maybe that is all I can do at my course. If I played a flatter course which also had less undulating greens, maybe that would get me lower. But that would take away from the challenge.  But you know how that goes! If I got to 67 then I will look back and say I could have shot 66 if I didn't miss that birdie putt on hole "X".

IT NEVER ENDS!!!!!!!! 

[Stuka44]

1 hour ago, Golfspy_TCB said:

One thing I have noticed about myself is that I tend to lag birdie putts (to protect par) and grind on the par putts.  referencing concentration... I "concentrate" on making the par putts, and make more of those with similar or greater distance than some birdie putts, that I "concentrate" on not 3 putting.  

This is a very interesting comment which struck me.  Now I keep track of my first putt distance.  I know my 50/50 make distance is about 6 feet.  But what you said gave me pause to think.  Similar to you I am aware that based on pro's putting percentages, and what mine actually are I should't "expect" to make many 9-14 footers, but is my current philosophy of "on anything over 10 feet, just don't 3 putt", based on the numbers a bad philosophy.  Should I just be confident, that I won't 3 putt from under 20 feet, and be thinking "I can make this".  Keeping my expectations realistic based on the actual liklihood of making it.  But will the change in thought process help me make a few more  10-15 footers, which may be birdie putts.  HMMMMM!!!

[GolfSpy TCB]

19 minutes ago, Tom the Golf Nut said:

IT NEVER ENDS!!!!!!!! 

More true words were never spoken Tom!

[JerryB]

Some good responses thus far.  I was half expecting a few scramble-level numbers!

I was going through Shot Scope's new Course Analysis feature where it can show you some hole by hole info and shows your best score on each hole.  Here's an example of the 4th hole at my home course.  LOL, look how ridiculous my best effort was!

Taking all of my best holes, my best effort would be a 65.  I'm better than I thought!

As the above picture shows, my game is predicated on luck moreso than skill, it would appear.

[MyWifesSwingCoach]

My best round was 76 but that was in high school, now I would probably be in the low 80s until I start putting in some real intentional practice and focus on my course strategy.

That being said... When I first saw this thread title, this is the first thing that came to mind LOL

[GolfSpy TCB]

1 hour ago, JerryB said:

Some good responses thus far.  I was half expecting a few scramble-level numbers!

I was going through Shot Scope's new Course Analysis feature where it can show you some hole by hole info and shows your best score on each hole.  Here's an example of the 4th hole at my home course.  LOL, look how ridiculous my best effort was!

Taking all of my best holes, my best effort would be a 65.  I'm better than I thought!

As the above picture shows, my game is predicated on luck moreso than skill, it would appear.

Well, if I took all my best scores from each hole at my course... I would be -17 (one hole eludes me on my birdie hunt).  So I guess that would be a 55    That said... my best score and the round with the most birdies is one in the same.

[Mr. Mushball]

Still waiting for a repeat of my best ever round.  I think it's possible, but totally up to too many variables at this point for me to say when.  Shot 19 under my previous low score at my home course for a new low of 94.  Couldn't tell everything was clicking, but it definitely was.  It was just a couple of months ago and have only had chance to get out a few times since then. I'm so close to making that the new norm, then can hope for a new click to take effect.

I have a goal of getting myself some new irons once I can break 100 4 out of 5 times out.  The new set I'm looking at gives me quite a bit more distance over my current irons and will help me get better into scoring range.  Tee and approach are definitely my weak spots.  Suck at long clubs, but my injuries are a good scapegoat for that.  I think if I can get the ball closer and more on target to start it should go a long way to dropping my score even more.  I think that's what was going on with my current best.  Stopped using driver and teed off with 5 Hy.  Got it out straight about as far as my driver average.  Easy approach second shot, no duffs.  Good short game as usual, and better than average putting.  

[Middler]

My best round ever was 39-34-73, but that was 49 years ago. In the last 5 years I have had 76 several times, but don't seem to be able to go lower. Past years I break 80 about 5% of the time, this year 14% so far - still trying to do better. My last 76 I was 4 over after 3 holes, and even for the other 15

[David Leighton Reid]

My best ever round was 70 (-2) and that was a few years ago.  If I have a golden day, then breaking 70 would be a possibility.  

[GolfSpy_KFT]

On 9/6/2022 at 12:02 PM, JerryB said:

Was thinking about how for me whenever one aspect of my game goes hot, another area inevitably goes cold.  It got me wondering...what could I shoot if I caught lightning in a bottle for one round?

I generally shoot in the 90s with consistency being my biggest downfall.  If I can play well for an entire round, I think I could break 85 and if I get that one in a million round, I could break 80 at my current ability.

What about you?  If everything really, really clicks, what are you scoring?

Such a fun question to speculate about. I typically shoot in the 100-105 range, but then I'll randomly reach a par 5 in two with a great drive and second shot into the green with a hybrid. I think if I was firing on all cylinders, a round in the mid 80s would be achievable. Someday, somehow, I will break 90 and reach my pinnacle 

 

I should also note, I lose most of my strokes off the tee and 2nd shot (think lost golf balls so taking drops), and putting is usually my strong suit.