Talking of that, let's start with product reviews. As you'll see I've done two recent golf ball reviews on the Vice Drive two piece offering see the video here Vice Drive and the Taylormade Project (S) which is a three piece model. Again see what I made of it here (Project (S). As always I'll be doing a more in depth review on both in the near future and go into more detail on how I felt each performed. For now though enjoy the video, subscribe to the channel, give the video a thumbs up and if you want to know more or have any questions leave them in the comments section of the video and I'll respond
One thing I wrote about a while back was reducing the amount of tuition I am taking. It got to the point where I felt I was almost always working on some change or another from a piece of coaching and that my game and my swing never really had a chance to settle down and for myself to give me a chance to play with what I have. For the most part I've stuck to my word. However, having struggled in the last month or so, I went back to Andy Piper at Lavender Golf Centre in Ascot for a thirty minute MOT. The good news was, for the most part what I have is functional. However I'd become way too active with the hands and wrists on the takeaway and it was too "snatchy" which meant I took it too far inside while lifting it. The simple solution was to work on a one piece takeaway and work on one very, very old but effective drill. Put a club (short iron) in the belly button, assume the address position and and turn, keeping the club in the navel. Then repeat that with the actual swing. Very simple and something that I can return to as an initial starting point.
Now the astute amongst you will have seen the title. No, it's not me doing my best Britney Spears impression (and you should be very thankful for that, trust me).
I'm referring to my handicap. It's clicked back over to 14.5. It makes that "Quest For Single Figures" seem forever way. However what I feel I need to remind everyone of is that I started 2018 at 14.2 and so in the grand scheme of things my handicap has moved 0.3 all season. Hardly a disaster. Granted it's not where I want to be, and definitely not where "The Quest" was planned to be by this stage of 2018.
That brings me to my main point of this post and one I hope will produce some debate. Should the handicap be regarded as the sole indicator of how a player is performing. According to some research conducted by HowdidIdo, in strokeplay, from some 3,601,169 rounds entered into their system, only 26% of these were inside the buffer zone. In stableford, from a total of 3,818,527 rounds that spiked but only to 31%. They then broke that down into handicap category to show how often each section achieved buffer,
Category 1 - (5 handicap or less) = 36%
Category 2 - (6-12 handicap) = 32%
Category 3 - (13-20 handicap) = 29%
Category 4 - (21-28 handicap) = 26%
Category 5 - (29 handicap and above) - 19%
That means for my level of play I'm expected to hit buffer zone no more than 29% as an average. That means I could be three over handicap (net 73 in medal events at my golf club) without a handicap cut. I would suggest if HowdidIdo drilled further, the average per category, of times players play and get a cut would significantly reduce further.
This brings me to the crux. Based even on this very basic breakdown, is the handicap a true reflection of how a player is given at any given time? I've written many times on here of how I feel I am striking the ball really nicely but managing to chuck one or two bad holes in that means I may miss buffer, even by a single shot. I totally accept we have to have the system to manage the handicaps and allow each and every one of us to play on an even playing field (we won't even mention bandits, that's a whole separate blog).
Of course we have days when it doesn't go well. If it's going to go wrong it will. I'm talking about those nearly days where it was so good for so long. What happens, if like me you work on the game, and perhaps have tuition. This all takes time to bleed in from a change in the lesson to something that feels comfortable and works on the course. If you look at a string of 0.1 increases on the handicap, the casual observer would be forgiven for thinking this player is in a rut. In fact, the opposite may be true. That player could have had a lesson, been making the changes and getting better but not quite had the breaks or found a way to hold it together under the pressure of card and pencil in hand.
For me, it's about the ability to combine everything on one day I find difficult. I've written about the mental side of golf and the work I've been doing courtesy of Golfhacker magazine (Golfhacker website) with James Lambdon to improve my thinking and resilience. It's very early days into a long process but so far the results are proving very encouraging and it is definitely making me stronger. I am getting into the mix more in roll up games (and have taken a few quid recently), had a win and a second in 2018. That said I am still chucking a car crash hole into the equation. That is where the focus of my next session with James will be centred.
If you factor in things like golf tuition and the player making swing changes, I'd argue the handicap simply doesn't provide the full picture. Now there isn't (or shouldn't) be anything other than the handicap system but there will be people seeing my handicap has reached 15 and think I won't see 12 again let along single figures. They may, in the fullness of time be proved right. However for everyone working so hard on their games, it is reaching their own personal goals and objectives that drives them on. This means handicaps will increase as they work on their own changes. Hopefully though, when the good times come, the handicap cuts will be significant and there will be some successes in there.
We (well me as a Category 3 player) will only hit buffer just 3/10 times on average and as I surmised, get a cut less often than that. Does it really mean all category three (and factor in for your own standard) players are really playing that badly for the other 7/10 times they don't hit buffer? Let's assume that amongst those seven games I don;'t make the buffer I chuck in two really bad games and disregard those that's five games where I don't make the zone and the handicap goes up. In medal play in particular, that could be down to one hole. I played yesterday. fresh from my lesson on Thursday changing the takeaway into a medal yesterday and shot net 77 (+7). I had an 8 (+3) on a par 5, a 5(+2) on a par three and a 6 (+2, and caused by chipping from the fairway into a bunker but let's not go there). That means for the other fifteen holes I was a competent player despite the new swing change and played to handicap. This where I struggle when people look at 0.1's. We are NOT consistent enough.
When we improve, so in my case getting to category 2 is my first objective, then that level of consistency should begin to improve. However as the figures show, even then buffer is only a fairly meagre 32%. Granted the buffer figures are a fraction higher for stableford play but even then for the most part we don't play to our handicaps. That doesn't stop each and everyone of us going out week in, week out, in all types of weather to try again believing this game in "THE ONE" where it clicks. Perhaps that's why when we do get this rare handicap cuts we wear them as badges of honour. Maybe you've got a cut this weekend (and if so well done) but logic (and the figures) will say it may be a while until the next one. Even when we hit those ever so rare purple patches, I think many will agree the trough we hit at the end of it comes as a sudden and painful hit and seems to last even longer before the next sign of progress.
So there you go, a slightly different post for you to contemplate. Do handicaps provide an accurate and honest assessment of where a player is with their game? Please let me know what you think.
Don't forget to look at the reviews for the Vice Drive and Taylormade Project (S) and subscribe to my channel while you are there. As always my game gives me joy and frustration in equal measures. Handicap wise it's a step back but there is some good in there. I've a few big events left in 2018 to make and impression and compete as well as getting the cuts I desire. Stick around for full product reviews on the two golf balls and more updates on where my game is. Thanks for reading, and play well.
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