Practice The Truth

FixdePitchmark · 20-04-2014 9:48pm #1

I'm trying to see is there a relationship between amount you practice and play versus your handicap. Put handicap and if you are improving . Staying the same or not. Might give us a feel for what is realistic with our time and effort.
.
So put down amount of time you spend at golf.

If it is a round put it as 4 hours. For comparison.
9 holes = 2 hours.

So me 3 rounds a week = 12 hours
2 range sessions = 2 hours
1 putting/short game = 1 hour

Jaysus that is 15 hours.
Handicap 7
Improving

Macker1 · 20-04-2014 9:58pm

Some amount of time and commitment but well worth it as it obviously works for you.

ForeRight · 20-04-2014 9:59pm

I play 2 full rounds a week. Competition golf= 8 hours

2-3 evenings a week I hit the course on my own also. Play practice golf playing 2 balls off the tee traversing around the course wherever I feel but try play the low index holes if possible. If nobody behind I hit 3-4 balls into the greens from lots of different positions. Putt 3-4 balls from all different positions. Don't keep track of scores etc I just work on visualising different shots and trying to pull them off. About 90 mins each night I go up so approx 4-5 hours.

All in all about 12-13 hours or so actually hitting shots and putting.

Getting close to 4 handicap now after a cut the last three rounds to go from 5.6-4.8

spacecoyote · 20-04-2014 10:04pm

ForeRight wrote: »

I play 2 full rounds a week. Competition golf= 8 hours

2-3 evenings a week I hit the course on my own also. Play practice golf playing 2 balls off the tee traversing around the course wherever I feel but try play the low index holes if possible. If nobody behind I hit 3-4 balls into the greens from lots of different positions. Putt 3-4 balls from all different positions. Don't keep track of scores etc I just work on visualising different shots and trying to pull them off. About 90 mins each night I go up so approx 4-5 hours.

All in all about 12-13 hours or so actually hitting shots and putting.

Getting close to 4 handicap now after a cut the last three rounds to go from 5.6-4.8

at the moment basically a round a week plus about 15 mins on the practice green beforehand.

Range max twice a month for about an hour each time, so say 2 hours over 4 weeks = 0.5hrs a week on average.

So 4.75 hrs a week playing off 12 & going sideways.

Jesus I really need to get more practice time in!!!

FixdePitchmark · 20-04-2014 10:10pm

We will see how it goes. But i feel and know from a few other sports that elite will be about 20 hours.

Now that is not possible for most. But would be interesting to find one.

well done ForeRight. Interesting that it is similar to me.
You are getting far more use of your time then me . As I love a round the score.
(As you may have gathered lol).
Perhaps I need to go 2 ball more.

ForeRight · 20-04-2014 10:15pm

FixdePitchmark wrote: »

We will see how it goes. But i feel and know from a few other sports that elite will be about 20 hours.

Now that is not possible for most. But would be interesting to find one.

well done ForeRight. Interesting that it is similar to me.
You are getting far more use of your time then me . As I love a round the score.
(As you may have gathered lol).
Perhaps I need to go 2 ball more.

I try keep my scoring rounds limited as I find constantly chasing a good round a bit counter productive mentally. It's so difficult to maintain that level of concentration.
I found that just trying different shots far better for enjoyment and stopped me getting disheartened.

Say I have 100 yards to a green I'll take out my 52 wedge. Try throw 2 in high all the way to the pin and then two low bouncing in short. Feels great when they come off and then when in your competitive round you know you can do different things depending on where you are, your lie, obstacles in the way etc. the advantage is in practice if you make a mess it's no big deal, if playing for score you beat yourself up I find.

FixdePitchmark · 20-04-2014 10:31pm

I like beating myself mentally. No ,interesting and working for you.
I guess I was always targeting a score. And also felt it necessary to learn how to put a score together.
But maybe time to rethink. Your flying it ForeRight.

This thread could actually be useful. Get a paper out of this .

GreeBo · 20-04-2014 10:52pm

ForeRight wrote: »

I try keep my scoring rounds limited as I find constantly chasing a good round a bit counter productive mentally. It's so difficult to maintain that level of concentration.
I found that just trying different shots far better for enjoyment and stopped me getting disheartened.

Say I have 100 yards to a green I'll take out my 52 wedge. Try throw 2 in high all the way to the pin and then two low bouncing in short. Feels great when they come off and then when in your competitive round you know you can do different things depending on where you are, your lie, obstacles in the way etc. the advantage is in practice if you make a mess it's no big deal, if playing for score you beat yourself up I find.

I've given up doing this lately, it doesn't matter how well you hit them in practice of you can't do it with a card in your hand, when practicing they're is no pressure of you are hitting multiple balls so I find a lack of focus and routine, so it doesn't help on course as much as it could

dan_ep82 · 20-04-2014 10:55pm

After moving to a club less than 5 minutes away ive gone from 6hrs a week to around 16 to 20. 3 to 4 games, the rest is practice.

ForeRight · 20-04-2014 10:55pm

GreeBo wrote: »

I've given up doing this lately, it doesn't matter how well you hit them in practice of you can't do it with a card in your hand, when practicing they're is no pressure of you are hitting multiple balls so I find a lack of focus and routine, so it doesn't help on course as much as it could

That's why I try different shots from the same position. It makes me concentrate on each shot induvidually instead of hitting for the sake of it.

I understand what you are saying though but I haven't found it a problem so far and I've been scoring very well when I play a comp this year doing what I'm doing.

GreeBo · 20-04-2014 10:57pm

ForeRight wrote: »

That's why I try different shots from the same position. It makes me concentrate on each shot induvidually instead of hitting for the sake of it.

I understand what you are saying though but I haven't found it a problem so far and I've been scoring very well when I play a comp this year doing what I'm doing.

I think it's the feeling that I know I can just drop another and try again,, since I practice more than I play I don't want to promote this feeling

ForeRight · 20-04-2014 11:00pm

GreeBo wrote: »

I think it's the feeling that I know I can just drop another and try again,, since I practice more than I play I don't want to promote this feeling

Well that makes sense. Horses for courses I suppose.

FixdePitchmark · 20-04-2014 11:03pm

dan_ep82 wrote: »

After moving to a club less than 5 minutes away ive gone from 6hrs a week to around 16 to 20. 3 to 4 games, the rest is practice.

So Dan great going . I think I know answers.

But handicap and improving ?

I'm trying to find figures for handicap range / improving / practice time.

PARlance · 20-04-2014 11:03pm

Hard to say for me as I haven't a settled routine over the last year.
Have really ramped it up this year, trying to get as much improvement in before second sprog comes along.

2014:
I was at the range about 4 days a week each week in Jan & Feb with a round thrown in.
So maybe 8 hours per week.(4 Course, 4 Range)

Averaging about 2 rounds a week in March with 2 hours at the range and 1 hour in the kitchen - Putting mat.
So 10-11 hours.
Probably more than that really, a day doesn't go by without a club in hand, I'll spend 10-15mins swinging out the back garden (trying not to break any windows) and the same on the putting mat if it's a no golf day.

Two little cuts so far this year and I think the signs are there that it's paying off.
HC 17 but will consider it a failure if I don't drop 3-4 shots.
Feel 100% better about swing & game.... But obviously still not happy

Senna · 20-04-2014 11:03pm

At the moment I'm getting in 18 holes once a week and 2 practice rounds of 9 holes each.
The 18 holes are 4 hours, but my 2 9 holes are 1/1.5 hours each, so 7 hours a week max.
Would love to play more but with work and family, my 7 hours are even pushing it.
13 hcp at the moment but game is on the right track, still aiming for single figures by end of summer.

PARlance · 20-04-2014 11:09pm

I don't know if a round is really 4 hours practice though.
I'm only hitting (non putter) about 50 shots.... Is that really 4 hours practice.

My 1 hour by myself at the course last summer in the evenings, dropping a few balls was more useful imo.

galwaylad14 · 20-04-2014 11:22pm

I haven't really had a settled routine for a while but I'll try my best. I play off 5 and I'd have to say I'm not really improving just at the moment. Not playing enough really. Probably play a competitive round once a week and then maybe 9-12 holes another evening and maybe the range once a week too. So that's probably about 7 hours a week I suppose. For me anyway that's not enough to improve from the level I'm at.

Last year I dropped 5 shots and when I was going right well I was probably playing a competitive round each week, playing 9-12 holes twice a week and then maybe another session where I hit balls and do some chipping and putting for a total of maybe 2 hours. That was probably maybe 12 hours. If I could get back to that level of golf I feel I could shave another shot or 2 this year.

FixdePitchmark · 20-04-2014 11:36pm

PARlance wrote: »

I don't know if a round is really 4 hours prvaluable
hough.
I'm only hitting (non putter) about 50 shots.... Is that really 4 hours practice.

My 1 hour by myself at the course last summer in the evenings, dropping a few balls was more useful imo.

I know . But I wanted reference for everyone.
Yes you are right. But dealing at a macro level to get a number.
We can look at that when I have a list.
Clearly ForeRight and his 250 shot hacking up the place. Is far more value

(Joking).

But stick with 4 for moment.

Yes it is very little golf. But a round of golf is practice for a very important part of the game. The sequence. The club ing. The concentration

Rikand · 21-04-2014 12:07am

FixdePitchmark wrote: »

.
So put down amount of time you spend at golf.

If it is a round put it as 4 hours. For comparison.
9 holes = 2 hours.

So me 3 rounds a week = 12 hours
2 range sessions = 2 hours
1 putting/short game = 1 hour

Jaysus that is 15 hours.
Handicap 7
Improving

handicap 5
playing = 10 hours
range time = 0 hours
putting/pitching = 5 hours

total = 15 hours

FixdePitchmark · 21-04-2014 12:13am

Improving / staying the same Rikand ?

Rikand · 21-04-2014 12:20am

FixdePitchmark wrote: »

Improving / staying the same Rikand ?

staying the same. It's tough at the top

FixdePitchmark · 21-04-2014 12:27am

Your not at the top Rik .

pink is.

Anyway getting a nice picture. I need more short stuff. But knew that. Lol.

Looking like 12 to 15 so far.

But early days.

Nice if we get a little couplet or rule of thumb like.

If your not in double hours
You'll stay in double figures.

Obviously work in progress.

spacecoyote · 21-04-2014 4:49am

I'm not jealous at all of you lot getting in 10-15hrs of golf time a week

scrubber72 · 21-04-2014 7:10am

Gonna have to have a chat with the missus cause just one round a week isn't doing me any favours.
Off 17 and heading north.
The little one is taking all my mid week daytime which is a necessity but membership is pointless if only getting out once a week.
Last year played maybe 3/4 times week but course was on door step and wife wasn't working. Now live 20 mins away and i am housebound mid week.

Rant over.
Now have to sneak out without waking the house.

galwaylad14 · 21-04-2014 7:46am

Just to show there's no hard and fast rule though, guy I know who's one of the best golfers in my club plays probably two competitive rounds a week and that's it and he plays off 2 or 3. Would never really go play 9 holes or practice short game or go to the range etc. He just likes playing competitive golf and that's all the golf he plays really. Never had a lesson either. Talented guy.

ForeRight · 21-04-2014 7:56am

galwaylad14 wrote: »

Just to show there's no hard and fast rule though, guy I know who's one of the best golfers in my club plays probably two competitive rounds a week and that's it and he plays off 2 or 3. Would never really go play 9 holes or practice short game or go to the range etc. He just likes playing competitive golf and that's all the golf he plays really. Never had a lesson either. Talented guy.

Imagine how good he would be if he practiced

Having the raw talent that guy has is brilliant and once he is enjoying his golf why change anything I suppose.

galwaylad14 · 21-04-2014 7:58am

ForeRight wrote: »

Imagine how good he would be if he practiced

Having the raw talent that guy has is brilliant and once he is enjoying his golf why change anything I suppose.

Ya I know, good and all as he is if he put even 2 hours a week into pure short game practice you'd have to imagine he could get close to scratch as his ball striking is top class.

FixdePitchmark · 21-04-2014 8:58am

galwaylad14 wrote: »

Ya I know, good and all as he is if he put even 2 hours a week into pure short game practice you'd have to imagine he could get close to scratch as his ball striking is top class.

No hard and fast rules - but you may see a general shape.

Perhaps this individual did play for a long time a week at a certain time.
Also - you may find that there is a difference in improving golfers and ones that are maintaining a handicap .

Will see.

Danny dyers double · 21-04-2014 9:58am

One round a weekend and 9 holes on Wednesday .

6 hours . I could get out maybe one more evening as the Mrs is not too bad but as I work 9 to 5 it means our little fella is down in bed when I get home . I even hate doing it Wednesdays but I know I need the practice .

I plan on in the height of summer to go around for 9 holes most nights we put him up because my reason for joining the club was to play as much as possible .

I'm abit like parlance as in iv a club in my hand at least once a day . It's swinging out the back or playing chip shots or putting up on our landing .

I'm made a huge improvement since Xmas but it's down to learning to do the right things more so then been out practicing . My grip being the main change .

I was giving a HC of 21 and that's just about what I'm playing to if maybe not quite there yet .

I know at my level it's easier to drop shots then most of you guys so my target is 18 before next March .

Rippeditup · 21-04-2014 10:37am

I am not getting enough golf in at all and it is showing with my consistency being non existent..

I bought a pitching matt for the garage and a pitching net so I am trying to do that every day along with some putting practice. Long game I am practicing more than playing, with work and the baby I am playing 18 every 2nd weekend and then hitting the practice ground for 3/4 hours per week max. Working on something at the moment so really working on ingraining it into my swing before trying to score as I have found myself getting pretty frustrated.
Also spending 1 hour a week on the putting green, using the Pelz putting board with the barings to ensure a square stroke for 50% of that time and then 20% long putts and 30% holing 3ft - 6ft putts

Hoping to get a few evening sessions in over the next while. 14 - 16 hours a week is a dream at the moment.

fullstop · 21-04-2014 11:15am

So far this year, one round a week (if even) and haven't been to the range yet. Playing ****, surprisingly :rolleyes:

Danny dyers double · 21-04-2014 6:46pm

Had a bit to do around the house today and when I finished the other half said " you should head around the golf club for a couple of hours "

I declined the offer . Up high on the list of worst decisions of my life .

What is wrong with me , I'm normally in the car before she finish that sentence

PARlance · 21-04-2014 6:59pm

Danny dyers double wrote: »

Had a bit to do around the house today and when I finished the other half said " you should head around the golf club for a couple of hours "

I declined the offer . Up high on the list of worst decisions of my life .

What is wrong with me , I'm normally in the car before she finish that sentence

Danny, you've gone down in my estimations

I've felt like declining once before but I still got into the car, drove to the range and sat in the car for an hour listening to off the ball.

You may have messed up there big time

Rikand · 21-04-2014 7:02pm

The only time it's okay to do that is when you're trying to build up brownie points for something else even bigger!

Like playing in the Boards society and being gone for 10 hours on a Saturday cause it's a 3 hour drive there and back

Danny dyers double · 21-04-2014 7:06pm

PARlance wrote: »

Danny, you've gone down in my estimations

I've felt like declining once before but I still got into the car, drove to the range and sat in the car for an hour listening to off the ball.

You may have messed up there big time

I feel ashamed of myself , I can't even use bad weather as an excuse . But I didn't totally waste the day as me and my 52 wedge have been out the back garden for the best part of an hour .

I bet it lashes rain Wednesday on the night I do get around to play

Ciaranra · 22-04-2014 11:25am

Play 18 weekend 9 holes mid week and practice 2x20 min sessions hitting short irons
handicap 10, work and family commitments its hard

Anatom · 22-04-2014 11:35am

I'm managing a full round every second weekend these days with virtually no practice in between, apart from some chipping in the front garden some evenings (20mins a time). Unsurprisingly, my game is going nowhere, but with getting home late from work most nights, as well as two small ones who need attention, I can't see this changing too much in the near future...

Rippeditup · 22-04-2014 11:46am

Anatom wrote: »

I'm managing a full round every second weekend these days with virtually no practice in between, apart from some chipping in the front garden some evenings (20mins a time). Unsurprisingly, my game is going nowhere, but with getting home late from work most nights, as well as two small ones who need attention, I can't see this changing too much in the near future...

I am in the same boat.. Baby and getting home late from work really plays havoc with the game. I have a few weeks paternity leave to take while my other half goes back to work so I will have the little fella all day so will get a few evenings to myself so I can go hit balls/play a few holes.

It has gotten so bad I bought a matt & net for my garage so I can at least be practicing pitching while not getting to play.

alxmorgan · 22-04-2014 12:39pm

Jaysus this thread is the antithesis of the positivity thread isn't it

benny79 · 22-04-2014 12:47pm

I play once a week, range twice,a lesson once a month or 2 months, Practise on a putting mate for half hr 3/4 times a week. HC 21, and going up!

really struggling off the tee which is killing me! have 2 or 3 bad drives a round and hole is scratched. starting to get out for 9 once during the week with the long evenings. sometimes I think I have turned a corner and than bam have a shocking round...

after reading this I think I'll skip the range and try and play more even for an hr. good thread, I really just want to go in the right direction when I joined my club for the first time this been my 3rd yr I really taught I'd improve but have gone out and out!!

BoardsMember · 22-04-2014 1:47pm

Pretty jealous of people on here. I'm lucky if I get out for a comp every 2 weeks. Sometimes I sneak in a few holes on the way home, like maybe 1 hour per week. And September to March I dont play at all. I do some chipping on the carpet at home occasionally. I'd say I average about 2.5 hours per week all in all. Very occasional range visit, maybe 4 per year, I dont find it very useful, I dont get lessons so I could just end up practising bad habits rather than good technique. Playing off 9, never been lower, but it is very much a case of .1s all summer long with 2 good rounds that have kept me off 9 the last 3 or 4 years. Have the ability I think, I just need the time to practise!

charlieIRL · 22-04-2014 2:02pm

Don't feel too bad BoardsMember, in an average month i'll get to play the society outing and maybe 2 visits to the range - thats it!!! I get some chipping practice at home whenever I can but mainly in the week or two before the event.

Only once in the last year or so have i got to play more than twice a month (and typically it was twice in one week so nothing for the rest of the month!!!)

Keano · 22-04-2014 5:37pm

I should be practising a lot more but am a lazy shít to put it mildly. No appetite for the game since the start of the year and no idea how to even shake myself to get going!

lester76 · 22-04-2014 8:51pm

Great idea this,im lucky enough my club is less then 5mins frm the front door, wrk shift so plenty of time to play,not big on practice which really needs to change.Hence im still at 18 annoyingly. Got out thur comp,fri comp,sat 9 hole comp,sunday off the blues & champange scramble monday to end my wkend of golf. I really need to get a life

FixdePitchmark · 22-04-2014 9:49pm

Rikand wrote: »

handicap 5
playing = 10 hours
range time = 0 hours
putting/pitching = 5 hours

total = 15 hours

Lads - If you could keep answers a bit like above it would be great.

Also need Improving or dis-improving.

Going to graph answers and see if we can see a trend.
Sad - but interesting.

It is a more simplistic 10,000 hour idea.

I think there must be somebody on here at 20 hours a week

Pink ?

pinkdoubleeagle · 23-04-2014 8:07am

FixdePitchmark wrote: »

Lads - If you could keep answers a bit like above it would be great.

Also need Improving or dis-improving.

Going to graph answers and see if we can see a trend.
Sad - but interesting.

It is a more simplistic 10,000 hour idea.

I think there must be somebody on here at 20 hours a week

Pink ?

No Fix

Play once at the weekend and might get about 3/4 hours practice in during the week. Play the odd Wednesday when my sister takes the kids.

Have two boys aged five and seven who are into everything so they have the monopoly of my time.

They are starting to get into the golf too so they could be my excuse for getting out more.

PARlance · 23-04-2014 8:44am

The least you could have done was lie to us Pink!!!

Instead, you've made the whole forum depressed

ForeRight · 23-04-2014 9:03am

PARlance wrote: »

The least you could have done was lie to us Pink!!!

Instead, you've made the whole forum depressed

Naturally lethal at golf.

Juanker

*joking pink

FixdePitchmark · 23-04-2014 9:46am

PARlance wrote: »

The least you could have done was lie to us Pink!!!

Instead, you've made the whole forum depressed

makes a balls of me graphs - lol.

Bad data mr pink.

FixdePitchmark · 23-04-2014 10:13am

So all joking aside pink.

2 X 4 = 8
3 to 4 = 11 - 12 total ?

We are still seeing the 12 as the key number so far.
This bad science experimentation could have something.

pinkdoubleeagle · 23-04-2014 10:16am

FixdePitchmark wrote: »

So all joking aside pink.

2 X 4 = 8
3 to 4 = 11 - 12 total ?

We are still seeing the 12 as the key number so far.
This bad science experimentation could have something.

My opinion is that it is more about the quality of practice rather than quantity. Now to apply that to the putting

Practice The Truth

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