Guessing a handicap

[JMiller]

I always try to have a little fun when I go to the golf course and on the range watch everyone make swings, then attempt to guess their handicap. How about we do our own little version of this for fun. If you have a video of someone or yourself post it hear and we will take a wild guess at what handicap we think that person is. Try not to identify who the person is just want handicap you think they are.

 

I'll start it out with this video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PljW_F1cBis

[silver & black]

10 handicap.

[revkev]

I'll look at the handicap later but for fun you should post Miller Barber's swing.

 

It's not always as easy as you think to tell someone's handicap based solely on their swing - for starters the full swing only supplies about half the shots hit and for seconds there is the mental element that can't be measured by watching a swing and for thirds there is the repeatability element.

 

Rough guess but I'd say a full swing on the practice tee is about 25 percent of the equation.

[JMiller]

I'd probably give the guy a 5 to 10 handicap. It's not that bad of a two-plane full swing actually, it would come down to short game and putting.

 

If someone wants to post a different video feel free keep it going. I sort of want to guess a few handicaps of some Members here at MGS.

[Sluggo42]

I'll go with 7.5, the same as me. Because we are opposite. He he tall and lanky and young. I am old, short, and ummm stout.

[MmmmmmBuddy]

I'm gonna have to say a bit lower.. like 2-4.. Kid seems to repeat fairly well, chips well, and I didn't see one thrown club...

[The Dansome]

Found a good one:

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wsBsReV84Mk

[revkev]

18 plus on that last one.

 

I'll go pretty low on the first one - around a 2 perhaps, nice swing, great balance, looked like that last one was going to go a bit left and I saw an approach that I thought might be a bit right (miss the green right) but overall you're looking at a good golf swing, nice posture, consistent preshot routine. Notice how he looks at the target at he settles in. It's a better player's look beyond a doubt.

 

Dan and JMiller do you know the handicaps?

[MmmmmmBuddy]

Found a good one:

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wsBsReV84Mk

Whats the max??

[whiskey golf]

I'll say around 9 for the first one but may be a little lower. For the second one I'll say at least a 20 no doubt.

[JMiller]

Found a good one:

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wsBsReV84Mk

 

I stopped the video in the practice swing OMFG that was funny... max is 36.4 for men that's his handicap.

[JMiller]

That is another funny concept, watching the practice swings and making a judgment on the players ability. You know you all have done it, you are standing on the tee on a packed course with a group teeing off in front of you and you think to yourself after someone's practice swing "oh s*** this is gonna be a long ass day."

[SeeRed]

I suppose I ought to post a video of one of my recent swings here...but I'm not sure I could stomach the replies! There's NO WAY you would guess "13" based on the swing. 30 maybe.

[wbealsd]

Found a good one:

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wsBsReV84Mk

Crap! That guy has the same setup and swing as my boss.

 

I guess I would seldom outplay him by more than 1 or 2 strokes, regardless of his handicap

[JMiller]

I suppose I ought to post a video of one of my recent swings here...but I'm not sure I could stomach the replies! There's NO WAY you would guess "13" based on the swing. 30 maybe.

 

Well that is the downfall of guessing a handicap based on full swing alone, short game / putting almost always has a bigger influence on handicap.

 

If you have a 15 handicap hit the first two shots on par 4s and par 5s then have say Tiger Woods take over that 15 handicap would be more like a 5 handicap.

 

If you have Tiger Woods hit the first two shots then the 15 handicap take over, that player might get down to a 10 handicap.

[Sluggo42]

Whats the max??

 

Yes, the max... Easy.

Imagine 4 like this, 6 open holes in front of you as a single, and they Won't let you through...

[jaxbeachpackerfan]

On the first one, I would say a 12 or so. Good looking swing, but there was only one swing where he looked like he hit it where he wanted to. I saw him looking significantly left on a couple and there looked like a couple of pushes or push slices in there. So, I'd say hits it long enough, but in trouble frequently.

[revkev]

That is another funny concept, watching the practice swings and making a judgment on the players ability. You know you all have done it, you are standing on the tee on a packed course with a group teeing off in front of you and you think to yourself after someone's practice swing "oh s*** this is gonna be a long ass day."

 

It's not just the swing itself, it's the sense of purpose behind the practice swing that reveals tons about the player. What I liked about that first video was the fact that the preshot routine was consistent and that he was locked into his target or at least appeared to be.

 

+ 1 to your comment about putting and short game - exactly the point that I made before making my first guess. Other than penalty shots a multitude of golfing sins can be covered with a good short game and of course a 5 can turn into a 10 plus in a heartbeat with some blades, chunks and yips interspersed.

[JMiller]

New video

[jaxbeachpackerfan]

To me, the swing looks good, but it seems his feet are lined up just a tad right and his shoulders are lined up left at address, which would lead to pulls. He seems to look a bit left after most shots. Maybe just the camera angle. Guessing a 12 again.

[revkev]

Average 14 or so

 

A bit far away from the ball which is producing a flat swing plane - first 3 wood swing was very bad, second one was a predictable correction that produced a block - not as smooth a swing as the first guy IMO.

 

JMiller you still haven't answered the question of whether or not you actually know the handicap of these guys.

[Sluggo42]

Too far from the ball, I wish I had that flexibility, but I think it's hard to control. I'll go with 18

 

What's the point of this is the actual caps aren't known? Just sayin...

[RookieBlue7]

I'm curious how many times that kid has done a face plant finish after his swings? Look at his heels, they're off the ground the whole time and he's all on his toes.

[revkev]

His balance is clearly off - everything has to be perfect for him to hit the ball solidily - not much margin for error I think.

[whiskey golf]

I'm curious how many times that kid has done a face plant finish after his swings? Look at his heels, they're off the ground the whole time and he's all on his toes.

 

Yeah I noticed that too. I didn't know if that was just an illusion or what

[JMiller]

JMiller you still haven't answered the question of whether or not you actually know the handicap of these guys.

 

Nope I have no clue I found these videos randomly on youtube, that's part of the fun I don't even have the correct answer.

[JMiller]

This last video the guy has a MASSIVE over swing, plus the balance sucks, you can see him have to move his feet a couple times to keep from falling on his face.

 

I give the guy an average 15 to 20 I don't think he as consistent as it might appear to be.