Played with a 5 handicap player today...wow

[Geeve1008]

Yep, it's a HUGE difference. I remember playing with a club pro a few years ago and there was no comparison between his game and mine around the green. His chips were accurate and close to the pin guaranteeing a one-putt whereas mine were mostly leaving a good chance at a two-putt unless I made a lucky putt.

From a personal standpoint --- I've been playing awful for the past 3-4 weeks because of some minor back issues. My handicap has gone from a low of 1.9 up to to 4.7 in a month (with about 25 games played during this time).

Granted, some may say 4.7 is still pretty good but the difference in how I've been striking the ball between now and then is very, very noticeable.

id have to disagree with this statement, I play to about a 3.4 right now and a friend of mine is about a +3. something. I wouldn't say his ball striking is "better" then mine but his constancy is. if you took his flushed 9 iron or driver and compared it to my flushed 9 iron or driver you'd be hard pressed to tell who is who the difference really comes with consistency and short game.

that's where he really separates himself from a low single digit, he doesn't hit the bad drive... he pures almost every iron shot and the ones he "misses" still manage to find the green.

when he does miss the green up and down is almost automatic and it feels like if he's on the putting surface he's got a chance of draining it from anywhere. I don't think the quality of ball striking is a fair relation of handicap. I know guys who pure it with the best of them what shoot high 70s in tournaments and older guys who bunt it around that shoot par. being able to hit it pure is only a part of the game, sure there is a correlation between better player and how they hit it but when you're referring to guys that are a legit 5 handicap most of them hit a pretty good ball its the game as a whole that will determine your handicap from that point

[High cut]

Wait until you play with someone who is a "plus" handicap as in +1, +2, etc. The ball striking difference between a 5 handicap and +2 handicap is night and day.

The difference between a plus 2 and a tour player is almost as big. Not best vs best but the consistency and even more in the ability to get it in the hole the few times they put themselves in trouble. They can make par from jail where the +2 will make bogey and I'd make a quad....

[High cut]

id have to disagree with this statement, I play to about a 3.4 right now and a friend of mine is about a +3. something. I wouldn't say his ball striking is "better" then mine but his constancy is. if you took his flushed 9 iron or driver and compared it to my flushed 9 iron or driver you'd be hard pressed to tell who is who the difference really comes with consistency and short game.

that's where he really separates himself from a low single digit, he doesn't hit the bad drive... he pures almost every iron shot and the ones he "misses" still manage to find the green.

when he does miss the green up and down is almost automatic and it feels like if he's on the putting surface he's got a chance of draining it from anywhere. I don't think the quality of ball striking is a fair relation of handicap. I know guys who pure it with the best of them what shoot high 70s in tournaments and older guys who bunt it around that shoot par. being able to hit it pure is only a part of the game, sure there is a correlation between better player and how they hit it but when you're referring to guys that are a legit 5 handicap most of them hit a pretty good ball its the game as a whole that will determine your handicap from that point

There is some truth in this. I play from time to time with a 0 that would legit be in the top 10% of PGA tour driving stats but the closer to the hole the bigger the sepperation. Long irons, not quite average, short irons not close and chipping and putting not in the same league.

I also play with a low single digit player that would be close in the short game but not in the same conversation outside of 30 yards... there are likely more of these guys then the first group but the bottom line is you have to be great at everything.... and have a one way miss to play at the top level.

[Mr22putt]

Reminds me of the random game I had with Trust Chen Pow:

https://gtaamtour.com/players/12293/trust-chen-pow

And what happens if you don't "trust" Chen Pow?

[Mr22putt]

“Dominate” on tour, if you please.

Diece is unfortunately MIA.
Maybe he's just too busy to play golf nowadays....now partnering with Digital Machine scheming to make $10,000+/month working only part-time on some on-line business.

[Mr22putt]

I don't think the quality of ball striking is a fair relation of handicap.

Yup.

IMO...I'm a lousy ball striker, lousy chipper and so-so putter and a 7 cap.
Yes, I've had some delusional golfers ask if I'm a pro....obviously these golfers don't need much to impress them.
Played with a guy today and he asked if my driver SS is 110.....lol.....I said 94-97 mph

[Arthur Dailey]

Just about everyone I play with now is better than me. Thankfully I have also been able to play with some wonderful players. A long time Head Pro at some prestigious clubs. Another teaching pro who just missed the course record at Lionhead Legends during one of our rounds. The Assistant Pro at Mill Run when he set the then course record. The Head Pro when he tried to beat that record. An ex Canadian Tour Pro who if I remember correctly equaled the then course record at Hunters Glen. Plus a couple of players who had NCAA scholarships at schools with good programs.

As others have posted what I noticed most about their games were a) their consistency, b) their short game, c) their ability to 'read' a course, and d) their patience with a 'hacker' like me. On nearly every occasion they made me so comfortable that I played above my head.

What I did not find that remarkable was their length, as I have played with some 12+ handicap players who hit their driver just as long or longer, and another player who hits his wedges/short irons far longer than the PGA tour averages (as of 2009). https://golftips.golfweek.com/averag...ive-20080.html

But then distances hit by pros have increased dramatically over the past 25 years.

A 2003 Golf Digest article noted that the average PGA Tour drive traveled 260.4 yards in 1993, 279.8 yards in 2002 and 287.8 yards in 2003.

[The Rifleman]

Glad to hear you had fun. Those players are special. A few friends played D1 and ended up playing mini tours. Fun playing with them and seeing what good golf looks like, as opposed to what I do. One of them is now in the casino business and plays to a +3 and because of his job plays in pro ams and gets eaten alive by the big guys. When he plays with celebrities, he does well.

[ARL67]

IMO...I'm a lousy ball striker, lousy chipper and so-so putter and a 7 cap.
Yes, I've had some delusional golfers ask if I'm a pro....obviously these golfers don't need much to impress them.
Played with a guy today and he asked if my driver SS is 110.....lol.....I said 94-97 mph

I'm with you too. I'm not the prettiest thing hitting balls around the course, but get my fair share of mid & high 70's rounds.

Playing along-side guys who are super long is always fun to watch first-hand, as is someone who pures their irons consistently ( be they a short or long hitter ). The sound of a pured iron is delightful !

[Mr22putt]

I'm with you too. I'm not the prettiest thing hitting balls around the course, but get my fair share of mid & high 70's rounds.

Playing along-side guys who are super long is always fun to watch first-hand, as is someone who pures their irons consistently ( be they a short or long hitter ). The sound of a pured iron is delightful !

As a public golfer....it's rare to get paired up with an amazing golfer...at least in my situation.
In 51 years of golfing.....I think I've paired up with less than 5 golfers that I really thought had game.