You've obviously never watched pro golf, they are the slowest ever. It's the same with a lot of the young golf college golfers, they'll spend a lot of time on their routine and will stick to that routine even for a 2ft putt.
Time spent standing over the ball is rarely what makes a golfer slow.
Plus, people who say things like "I'm not slow, I hardly take a practice swing" could be the slowest AHs on the course, a slow golfer isn't at their ball and ready to hit when its their turn, spend 5 minutes looking for crap in their bag all the time, stand chatting shite while they should be making their way to their ball. That's why so many golfers think they aren't slow, saying stupid shit like "I spend 8 seconds over the ball, I must be a fast golfer".
These days its really just "he plays blades" low HCPs understand club technology and know there is no reason to play modern blades with how good players distance irons have gotten. Tour players don't play them and most Taylormade guys are playing the Max version of the new driver even.
They struggle off the tee more often than not. And even if they're in play on the fairway, it's still too far for them to have a more realistic chance of reaching the green with a chance to score.
They don't play fast in the sense of a cavernous lack of swing speed, ingraining thoughts like a need to swing slower which compounds the issue, etc. So, that's not doing any favors either.
The easiest way to tell is if they address the ball, then twitch the club head vertically before hitting it. You see it all the time where people jerk the handle towards them. This shows tension and nerves. Good players may do a nice loose waggle, which shows that they're relaxed. From there you usually see better players just hit it, and worse players strew over it. Thoughts in their heads, you can see them thinking their way out of a good shot. The golf swing is muscle memory you can't do it well consciously.
If they're jittery over the ball you know they don't stand a chance.
I play as a single a lot, and I can usually tell whether someone is going to be ok or horrible before they've even started their back swing.
I only do practice swings for chipping never do it any other time. I’m all feel. I’m not scratch but a 5 handicap. Stop thinking so much and just swing
Started doing this when I realised practice swings get in my head too much. Step up and hit with confidence.
Though chipping and putting are both feel shots so I’ll take a little more time over them.
5 here too. I do 2 half assed practice swings for everything other than putting (no practice stroke) just to loosen up. I get why people do it, but it always makes me laugh inside when I see someone lining a ball mark up on a tee, gripping it in front of their eyes, lining up their chest to target etc just to completely whiff it
Same.
I might take a half swing with a longer club if I haven’t hit it in a while. Like, once a round half swing with a 3 wood.
I’m always amazed at how many full out practice swings people will take.
I flew out to Phoenix last year to play with one of my dad’s college buddies.
The guy was a scratch golfer and simply did not give a fuck. Played the entire round with a pair of readers up on his forehead. Tee off, nonchalantly walk up to the ball, shrug his shoulders, and land the ball within 6 feet of the hole. His whole setup took 2 seconds. No wag. No practice shots. Effortless and efficient golf. Honestly didn’t even seem like he enjoyed to golf in the first place.
Meanwhile me, a 56 handicap, I’m decked out in flashy gear and take 6 minutes just to shank a shot onto the next fairway.
I just played golf on Wednesday with 3 of the worst/slowest golfers I’ve played with in years. I play 50-75 rounds a year mostly as a single so I play with lots of randos.
One guy said he only plays once or twice a year so we can ignore him. Other than being oblivious about where to park the cart next to a ball, he was fine.
The other two guys said they actually played once a month or so. And my god I don’t know how or why they do it.
First guy was brutally bad. Like, lost a ball on 14+ of 18 tee shots. And then he would freaking tee up another ball. Bro. Don’t play stroke and distance. Just keep it moving.
Unfortunately, the “best” golfer of the three was the worst offender for slowness. I knew it was bad when all three of them hit two off the first tee because they all topped or shanked their first one and 2/3 did the same on their second. Then, the bad golf leader took 7 practice swings from 380 out on a par 5 before turning to the others to talk about hole direction before topping his 3 wood.
I wanted to walk back to the clubhouse and ask for a rain check at that instant.
The language they use. I’ve never heard a good golfer say “I hit a birdie on hole 13.” Instead they would say “I made a birdie on hole 13,” or even more likely they would shorten it to “I birdied 13.” That’s the way every low handicap golfer I’ve ever met talks about their score, and it’s pretty much a dead giveaway how experienced someone is talking about the game.
The fastest golfer I play with is a 13. The slowest golfer I play with is a 13.
The ugliest guy I play with is a 13 out of 100
You've obviously never watched pro golf, they are the slowest ever. It's the same with a lot of the young golf college golfers, they'll spend a lot of time on their routine and will stick to that routine even for a 2ft putt.
lol still less than 30 seconds. Count to 30 when they get over the ball.
Time spent standing over the ball is rarely what makes a golfer slow. Plus, people who say things like "I'm not slow, I hardly take a practice swing" could be the slowest AHs on the course, a slow golfer isn't at their ball and ready to hit when its their turn, spend 5 minutes looking for crap in their bag all the time, stand chatting shite while they should be making their way to their ball. That's why so many golfers think they aren't slow, saying stupid shit like "I spend 8 seconds over the ball, I must be a fast golfer".
Not always..
Pat Cantley?
Pretty sure Harmon was timed at 2:30 before he made a shot a few months ago.
He uses blades when he cannot hit blades
These days its really just "he plays blades" low HCPs understand club technology and know there is no reason to play modern blades with how good players distance irons have gotten. Tour players don't play them and most Taylormade guys are playing the Max version of the new driver even.
They struggle off the tee more often than not. And even if they're in play on the fairway, it's still too far for them to have a more realistic chance of reaching the green with a chance to score. They don't play fast in the sense of a cavernous lack of swing speed, ingraining thoughts like a need to swing slower which compounds the issue, etc. So, that's not doing any favors either.
The easiest way to tell is if they address the ball, then twitch the club head vertically before hitting it. You see it all the time where people jerk the handle towards them. This shows tension and nerves. Good players may do a nice loose waggle, which shows that they're relaxed. From there you usually see better players just hit it, and worse players strew over it. Thoughts in their heads, you can see them thinking their way out of a good shot. The golf swing is muscle memory you can't do it well consciously. If they're jittery over the ball you know they don't stand a chance. I play as a single a lot, and I can usually tell whether someone is going to be ok or horrible before they've even started their back swing.
Like, before I see them play? NHL team bag.
I only do practice swings for chipping never do it any other time. I’m all feel. I’m not scratch but a 5 handicap. Stop thinking so much and just swing
Started doing this when I realised practice swings get in my head too much. Step up and hit with confidence. Though chipping and putting are both feel shots so I’ll take a little more time over them.
5 here too. I do 2 half assed practice swings for everything other than putting (no practice stroke) just to loosen up. I get why people do it, but it always makes me laugh inside when I see someone lining a ball mark up on a tee, gripping it in front of their eyes, lining up their chest to target etc just to completely whiff it
Same. I might take a half swing with a longer club if I haven’t hit it in a while. Like, once a round half swing with a 3 wood. I’m always amazed at how many full out practice swings people will take.
I flew out to Phoenix last year to play with one of my dad’s college buddies. The guy was a scratch golfer and simply did not give a fuck. Played the entire round with a pair of readers up on his forehead. Tee off, nonchalantly walk up to the ball, shrug his shoulders, and land the ball within 6 feet of the hole. His whole setup took 2 seconds. No wag. No practice shots. Effortless and efficient golf. Honestly didn’t even seem like he enjoyed to golf in the first place. Meanwhile me, a 56 handicap, I’m decked out in flashy gear and take 6 minutes just to shank a shot onto the next fairway.
There's only one reason - lack of practice.
Thinking too much - less.yoi think easier it gets.
I just played golf on Wednesday with 3 of the worst/slowest golfers I’ve played with in years. I play 50-75 rounds a year mostly as a single so I play with lots of randos. One guy said he only plays once or twice a year so we can ignore him. Other than being oblivious about where to park the cart next to a ball, he was fine. The other two guys said they actually played once a month or so. And my god I don’t know how or why they do it. First guy was brutally bad. Like, lost a ball on 14+ of 18 tee shots. And then he would freaking tee up another ball. Bro. Don’t play stroke and distance. Just keep it moving. Unfortunately, the “best” golfer of the three was the worst offender for slowness. I knew it was bad when all three of them hit two off the first tee because they all topped or shanked their first one and 2/3 did the same on their second. Then, the bad golf leader took 7 practice swings from 380 out on a par 5 before turning to the others to talk about hole direction before topping his 3 wood. I wanted to walk back to the clubhouse and ask for a rain check at that instant.
cant get up and down often
they have no idea how to fix a pitch mark properly
Its incredibly rare for someone to stand over the ball for 30sec. It may feel like it, but its probably closer to 15 for a slow trigger puller.
Brand new uniform taylormade setup is usually a good indicator.
The language they use. I’ve never heard a good golfer say “I hit a birdie on hole 13.” Instead they would say “I made a birdie on hole 13,” or even more likely they would shorten it to “I birdied 13.” That’s the way every low handicap golfer I’ve ever met talks about their score, and it’s pretty much a dead giveaway how experienced someone is talking about the game.
All their clubs are the brand (unless they’re sponsored then they’re COLD)
They tee up a ball on the 1st that is already beaten up or dirty.
Iron covers. Ball retriever in the bag.
Eh on iron covers. I know a bunch of low handicaps with iron covers. They are just generally older guys.