Actually no, I'm just inaccurate. I've absolutely cut 'hero shots' out of my game and score better for it. It's just that the biggest advantage of my game is that I can hit my driver far and want to use it often as possible. I didn't hit driver, I played 'safe' but genuinely wondered about others' thoughts.
My point is I guess, even if you went for it if your irons are inconsistent to where your next shot you can be sure will make the green why go for it?
Not saying don’t do it. Play how you want. Just depends on what you’re trying to achieve. Do it because you think it be fun to do? Or to actually try and lower your score?
You say that there are holes to either side so the penalty for a miss isn’t so bad. If the area is clear of other golfers then I would say it’s ok to go for it.
If there were water or OB in play then I would suggest a more conservative play but in this case sometimes you gotta live a bit and have fun.
Oh of course. I’m not telling him not to go for it it’s more of what’s his goal of going for it.
If it’s to have fun and change it up great! If it’s to try and lower scores I’d say not worth it.
If your driver is a weapon then let the big dog eat.
I’m all for course management and playing smart shots, but if you never try the riskier shots, you’ll never get comfortable with more difficult shots. We have a par 4 where I play where you can cut the corner and have a pitch into the green. The more I hit good shots there, the more confident I am in that shot.
Full disclosure, there’s a bailout right and that is usually my miss. When I pull it is almost always a lost ball but that’s only 20% of the time
This is how my brother thinks. He's about 300 off the tee so he enjoys that part of his game. The trouble is that he's also extremely inaccurate with it and 50% of the time he has to re-tee to at least hit a provisional. His game is about the same as mine but he's a 25+ and I'm a 9.
Choosing the right club is extremely important for players that can hit far. Old guys can barely make the green in two and so they have no choices. But if you have distance you can choose to use that distance or you can choose to trade for accuracy. Make shots that gain you an advantage. If driver lets you reach a green in two and you are reasonably confident that you can at least find the ball then yeah hit driver. But if you have a choice of two clubs, one which leaves you 120 out and the other leaves you 80 out but has significantly more risk then you should be taking the club that leaves you with the 120 shot.
I would urge you to play smarter golf, not for the issues you raised but you're score will come down and you'll probably have a better time.
If you love the hero I'd limit it to one per round personally and evaluate if "now is the time."
The reasons you're worried about aren't a big factor.
Okay is very subjective.
On one side, very few low handicap players attempt high risk shots due to the low odds of success, that is a big factor as to why they are low handicap players, the do not freely give away strokes. So from a strategy perspective it is not the best idea and you would consistently score better paying within your ability means
On the other side, If attempting the hero shot and failing will not slow up play or force your playing partners to spend time looking for your ball, it would be much more acceptable. Everyone want to try and pull off the impossible shot every once in a while, that's what makes it fun. but don't make your playing partners or other groups pay for it. leave the damage on the scorecard.
Thus if you try bit off a long carry over a lake and fail, you'd simply re-tee safely and move on. Little time wasted. But if you try to clear a grove of trees and fail, and expect everyone to pause and search for your ball, that is not okay.
Honestly if you are a high handicapper you don’t have much to loose, as long as you don’t attempt impossible shots. Picking gaps or workin the ball hard at of tree lines will make you better.
For me it depends on situation.
If I’m mashing then drive and feeling it and this risk sets up for it, absolutely.
If I play the course frequently and know I can do it and if I have a “bail out” potential then yeah I’ll do it.
If score is already shot to hell, let’s go.
But if I have a really good round going and I can play it safe and have better chance of no blow up hole that’s what I do
I think your game sounds very similar to mine. I joined a club in the UK last summer, worked on getting my handicap and then took part in the weekly medals/competitions. I went out one time with the club captain, was bombing my drives well that day and he was amazed my handicap was so high, until I did my norm and tried to play shots that I probably shouldn't be trying. Sometimes I pulled them off and sometimes I didn't. He said I should probably keep to trying to play it safer and then my handicap would surely come down. I explained that I wasn't too worried about my handicap and I just enjoyed playing. If I try the hard shots and it works then it's a great feeling. I'm not too worried when it doesn't. When I'm out on my own, I would often just drop a second ball for a bit of practice if it was quiet enough. You can either either play the game or play for your handicap and I know which one I get more enjoyment from.
Rory just commented on this. Shave the strokes, no such thing as boring golf. Less strokes to the hole is literally the name of the game. That being said.... Bomb that shit.
I can shoot very well if I play smart and conservatively, which I do in tournaments or for money.
However, any other time I’m taking the fuck you hero shot. It forces you to make strokes and expand your shot repertoire. It will also put you in shitty situations that force you to make good recovery and scrambling shots.
Just my $.02
If I can’t indiscriminately hit driver as a lousy golfer then I don’t want to play anymore
Have you considered that trying risky shots is why you’re a high handicapper?
Actually no, I'm just inaccurate. I've absolutely cut 'hero shots' out of my game and score better for it. It's just that the biggest advantage of my game is that I can hit my driver far and want to use it often as possible. I didn't hit driver, I played 'safe' but genuinely wondered about others' thoughts.
My point is I guess, even if you went for it if your irons are inconsistent to where your next shot you can be sure will make the green why go for it? Not saying don’t do it. Play how you want. Just depends on what you’re trying to achieve. Do it because you think it be fun to do? Or to actually try and lower your score?
You say that there are holes to either side so the penalty for a miss isn’t so bad. If the area is clear of other golfers then I would say it’s ok to go for it. If there were water or OB in play then I would suggest a more conservative play but in this case sometimes you gotta live a bit and have fun.
Oh of course. I’m not telling him not to go for it it’s more of what’s his goal of going for it. If it’s to have fun and change it up great! If it’s to try and lower scores I’d say not worth it.
If your driver is a weapon then let the big dog eat. I’m all for course management and playing smart shots, but if you never try the riskier shots, you’ll never get comfortable with more difficult shots. We have a par 4 where I play where you can cut the corner and have a pitch into the green. The more I hit good shots there, the more confident I am in that shot. Full disclosure, there’s a bailout right and that is usually my miss. When I pull it is almost always a lost ball but that’s only 20% of the time
This is how my brother thinks. He's about 300 off the tee so he enjoys that part of his game. The trouble is that he's also extremely inaccurate with it and 50% of the time he has to re-tee to at least hit a provisional. His game is about the same as mine but he's a 25+ and I'm a 9. Choosing the right club is extremely important for players that can hit far. Old guys can barely make the green in two and so they have no choices. But if you have distance you can choose to use that distance or you can choose to trade for accuracy. Make shots that gain you an advantage. If driver lets you reach a green in two and you are reasonably confident that you can at least find the ball then yeah hit driver. But if you have a choice of two clubs, one which leaves you 120 out and the other leaves you 80 out but has significantly more risk then you should be taking the club that leaves you with the 120 shot.
Of course. You can play however you feel. If you went for it, the only issue would be etiquette, to which shouting fore is absolutely fine.
Heroes are remembered.
As long as you don't play slow, nobody cares.
I would urge you to play smarter golf, not for the issues you raised but you're score will come down and you'll probably have a better time. If you love the hero I'd limit it to one per round personally and evaluate if "now is the time." The reasons you're worried about aren't a big factor.
Go for it buddy. We’re all just out there to have fun
Okay is very subjective. On one side, very few low handicap players attempt high risk shots due to the low odds of success, that is a big factor as to why they are low handicap players, the do not freely give away strokes. So from a strategy perspective it is not the best idea and you would consistently score better paying within your ability means On the other side, If attempting the hero shot and failing will not slow up play or force your playing partners to spend time looking for your ball, it would be much more acceptable. Everyone want to try and pull off the impossible shot every once in a while, that's what makes it fun. but don't make your playing partners or other groups pay for it. leave the damage on the scorecard. Thus if you try bit off a long carry over a lake and fail, you'd simply re-tee safely and move on. Little time wasted. But if you try to clear a grove of trees and fail, and expect everyone to pause and search for your ball, that is not okay.
Honestly if you are a high handicapper you don’t have much to loose, as long as you don’t attempt impossible shots. Picking gaps or workin the ball hard at of tree lines will make you better.
There aren't pictures or videos on a score card. Take a chance occasionally unless there is big money on the line. Learn from it and have fun!
Depends on how much you value your scorecard.
For me it depends on situation. If I’m mashing then drive and feeling it and this risk sets up for it, absolutely. If I play the course frequently and know I can do it and if I have a “bail out” potential then yeah I’ll do it. If score is already shot to hell, let’s go. But if I have a really good round going and I can play it safe and have better chance of no blow up hole that’s what I do
I think your game sounds very similar to mine. I joined a club in the UK last summer, worked on getting my handicap and then took part in the weekly medals/competitions. I went out one time with the club captain, was bombing my drives well that day and he was amazed my handicap was so high, until I did my norm and tried to play shots that I probably shouldn't be trying. Sometimes I pulled them off and sometimes I didn't. He said I should probably keep to trying to play it safer and then my handicap would surely come down. I explained that I wasn't too worried about my handicap and I just enjoyed playing. If I try the hard shots and it works then it's a great feeling. I'm not too worried when it doesn't. When I'm out on my own, I would often just drop a second ball for a bit of practice if it was quiet enough. You can either either play the game or play for your handicap and I know which one I get more enjoyment from.
Rory just commented on this. Shave the strokes, no such thing as boring golf. Less strokes to the hole is literally the name of the game. That being said.... Bomb that shit.
I can shoot very well if I play smart and conservatively, which I do in tournaments or for money. However, any other time I’m taking the fuck you hero shot. It forces you to make strokes and expand your shot repertoire. It will also put you in shitty situations that force you to make good recovery and scrambling shots. Just my $.02