Here's one: How many strokes a round do you add to your score with a stroke that leaves you in no better a position (or even worse)? I'm not including rule book stroke penalties. Have to punch out sideways that gets you no closer? Stroke penalty. Leave your attempt to get out of the bunker back in the bunker? Stroke penalty. Run a 5 foot putt 5 feet past the hole? Stroke penalty. Skull a chip shot across the green and leave it the same distance off the green? Stroke penalty.

I had 7 of those today. Did I mention I only played nine holes?

This belongs in the F Golf! thread but I couldn't find it. Y'all must be playing well this Spring.

snowaggie said:

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Here's one: How many strokes a round do you add to your score with a stroke that leaves you in no better a position (or even worse)? I'm not including rule book stroke penalties. Have to punch out sideways that gets you no closer? Stroke penalty. Leave your attempt to get out of the bunker back in the bunker? Stroke penalty. Run a 5 foot putt 5 feet past the hole? Stroke penalty. Skull a chip shot across the green and leave it the same distance off the green? Stroke penalty.

I had 7 of those today. Did I mention I only played nine holes?

This belongs in the F Golf! thread but I couldn't find it. Y'all must be playing well this Spring.

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Mark Brodie calls these "awful shots" in his book "Every Shot Counts".

Quote:

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Any shot with a strokes gained between -0.8 and -1.3 is classified as an awful shot. Awful shots include advancing the ball less than 80 yards, hitting into a penalty situation, hitting into a position where a recovery is needed for the next shot, skulling a chip over the green, hitting into the sand from 50 yards out, or a complete whiff. In short, these are shots where a single swing makes almost no progress to the hole. Worse still are double-awful shots: those shots with strokes gained less than -1.3. These are single swings that lose about two strokes, and include shots out of bounds, lost balls, or balls hit into water where the drop is taken close to the initial position.

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I had 8 of these in my best round so far this year (SG compared to a 15 hdcp, and 4 of them were putts) and shot an 87. Minimizing awful shots is crucial. While Brodie is right, we golf hackers have to be careful not to fall into the negative swing thought trap of "don't screw up this shot." Research shows that the subconscious doesn't understand the distinction between a positive "do this" thought and a "don't do that" thought. Focusing your swing thoughts on the positive goal of the shot is more effective.

Oh yes...the mind set is crucial. It's awkward wording, but when I start to play well, I play better. When I start to play bad, I play worse.

I'm a 15 hcp and was going to start figuring out my swing low point misses. So whether it's fat or thin, not sure at what handicap I'll get this under 5 or so but in my last round which was a scramble I had 9 I can remember. This includes chips. F golf when you split the fairway with a good drive and chunk the <100 yd approach shot.

I am also a 15 handicap, and wednesday I played 9 and suffered two of these awful shots in one hole. The real *****? It was a 396 yard par 4 and I hit my drive perfectly where it hit the middle of a very tight fairway and rolled down to 348 yards (I am at elevation so not nearly as much of a bomb as it would seem).

50 yards out, little half swing with my 60* and I should be putting for birdie. Completely duff my shot. Squibbles out at a 45* angle 20 yards into the rough. Chip up to an 8' easy putt. Miss that ***** by 3". Perfection of a drive to a bogey.

I can't escape the "awful shots" in my rounds. 1st commandment of my golf game "Thou Shalt not hit two good shots in a row"

Always good for a couple of these a round, or more on a really bad day. Getting a lot better at brushing it off so it doesn't compound and continue to unravel. I shot an 81 last week, and probably only had 2 of these types of shots the whole round. One was a skulled wedge from just off the green that shot well past the hole. Ended up two putting to minimize the damage. The other was a duffed wedge shot from about 100 yards out that maybe traveled all of about 50 yards (lucky it kept rolling). Next shot landed maybe 5 feet from the hole.

Its not the same for everybody, but what got me in trouble for a long time was just assuming with my pitching wedge and gap wedge that hitting full shots was going to put me well over the green and always past the hole. Tried to compensate by hitting half or 3/4 timid shots and that got me nowhere. Said F it and just started taking full shots every time and its paid off in a big way. Also, learning how to punch out of trouble with a hybrid.

Related, my least favorite of these type of shots are the sand wedge chips from just off the green that go nowhere or all of about a foot from the original placement due to a mi**** or as previously referenced a timid shot. Drives me friggin nuts.

Intended to be helpful input… no 15 Hcap should carry a 60* wedge. Way too easy to mis- hit. You'll play better using the lowest lofted club you can get away with for the shot.