How important is the Full Swing in Scoring Low?

[mb6606]

Check out the PGA stats for par 5 birdies.
Seems to be the most revelant stat other than scoring average.
Long and straight off the tee and fairway seems to rule.

[lagster]

I heard Mr. Nicklaus talking about this once... he said he practiced his long clubs the most...Driver--Long irons. He thinks driving it long and straight is very important.

[Delaware Golf]

Check out the PGA stats for par 5 birdies.
Seems to be the most revelant stat other than scoring average.
Long and straight off the tee and fairway seems to rule.

Don't agree. I believe the more important stat is GIR. The long hitters on average out drive the short hitters by 20 to 30 yards and they tend to have better GIRs. When they're in the short grass they can have one to two less clubs into the greens (the second shot advantage). So, let's hit'em LONG AND STRAIGHT.

DG

[Bigwill]

It seems to me that, as a higher handicapper, the full swing is more important, and that the pendulum shifts toward the short game the better you get. I'll give you an example. My brother and I played 9 today. I'm about a 25, he's a single digit handicap. On decent hits, length is about equal. Now my putting is a little better than his, particularly this early in the season (only the second round for both of us). Of course he dusted me. But I beat him on 2 holes, because I was able to match him on the full swing shots; only in those instances did the short game matter. On the rest of the holes, as far as our "competition" was concerned, my putting touch became a moot point, because I could barely get the ball airborne. My point? Most higher handicappers are such because they can't get the ball to go anywhere near where they want it to go on a consistent basis. When they can get around the green in regulation on a regular basis (the result of an improved full swing), then the short game's importance increases relative to the player's overall game. You could be a short game genius, but if you finally reach the green only after 4 or 5 shots, your score will still suck

[Burner]

It seems to me that, as a higher handicapper, the full swing is more important, and that the pendulum shifts toward the short game the better you get. I'll give you an example. My brother and I played 9 today. I'm about a 25, he's a single digit handicap. On decent hits, length is about equal. Now my putting is a little better than his, particularly this early in the season (only the second round for both of us). Of course he dusted me. But I beat him on 2 holes, because I was able to match him on the full swing shots; only in those instances did the short game matter. On the rest of the holes, as far as our "competition" was concerned, my putting touch became a moot point, because I could barely get the ball airborne. My point? Most higher handicappers are such because they can't get the ball to go anywhere near where they want it to go on a consistent basis. When they can get around the green in regulation on a regular basis (the result of an improved full swing), then the short game's importance increases relative to the player's overall game. You could be a short game genius, but if you finally reach the green only after 4 or 5 shots, your score will still suck

Amen Brother.

You have just spoken for 90% + of the golfing population, even though most of them are loth to admit it.
Only the remaining few % experience the joy that a decent short game can bring them.

[drewitgolf]

A good long game (full swing) will lower the highest score you are going to shoot.

A good short game and mental approach will lower the lowest score you are going to shoot.

[Burner]

A good long game (full swing) will lower the highest score you are going to shoot.

A good short game and mental approach will lower the lowest score you are going to shoot.

In a nutshell.

[Bigwill]

A good long game (full swing) will lower the highest score you are going to shoot.

A good short game and mental approach will lower the lowest score you are going to shoot.

Great point. Won't get too much disagreement on that.

[BerntR]

The long game makes a big difference.

There is a clear relation between handicap and ball striking distances.