This tip/stat from GolfIsRuiningMyLife to drop your handicap is true. You’re not gonna like it but it’s true…
In case you didn’t watch, the difference between a scratch golfer and a 18 handicap golfer when it comes to birdies per round. 1.8. In other words, a scratch vs an 18 how many more birdies does the scratch golfer make per round? Less than 2. So if you’re above or around 18 in your handicap then don’t worry about the huge drives or hitting your 9 iron 175yds. The only thing you need to do to drop your handicap? Play boring golf. Worry about staying in play and making good golf shots. I know, it’s lame…
I’m not a golf pro, not by a long shot. But I’ve improved incrementally since I’ve taken golf serious. I’m flirting with a single digit handicap and I don’t find this stat to be that surprising. I just got roasted on the course by a guy 40 years older than me with zero hip turn and every time he bent down to pickup a putt there was a solid groan. But, he played boring golf. When he sunk his par putt on the 18th solidifying a 5 shot win over me I had to hold back a swift kick as he did a celebratory shimmy.
My shortcomings aside, the theory holds true. That old bastard was easily 40 yards behind me on every tee shot. At least the ones I kept in play. Only problem was, all of his tee shots were in play and in a decent spot. His swing was smooth, short, and consistent. He played boring golf. 12 over par for him and a bad day of +17 which lead to frustrations and the urge to boot a perfectly nice elderly gentleman like I was Ray Finkle.
If you want to lower your handicap keep it in play. The big over-swing very rarely works out, that gap through the trees is smaller than you think, and on tricky putts leaving a tap-in par is better than smashing a birdie putt that turns into a bogey. So swing steady, swing easy, and play boring golf.
Hit ‘em straight.
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