My new year's resolution is to take ten strokes off of my handicap. Is this a reasonable goal?

Question

What should I work on and how often to accomplish this? Right now I'm a seventeen handicap and have been playing golf for 18 months now. I'm 23 and have the ability to hit drives 330, but to keep it straight around 280. My six iron is my 175Y club. I'm open to all serious answers. I am taking a lesson every two months with my first being last week. any other suggestions?

Answer 1

I'd work on the short game a ton. That's what shaves the strokes off of any game. Man, I wish I hit the ball 280. I'd be a scratch golfer. I'll stick with my 6 hdcp though.

Answer 2

Shaving shots is going to require a lot of skill around the greens, getting up and down and making putts consistantly.

Sounds as thou length is not a trouble, 175yd 6 iron is pretty well on par with the average golfer. Being 17 you will notice you will become stronger with in your swing therefore that figure may be at 190 by the time your 20.

When your practising give yourself games too play while shot making... eg: pick two trees (say 150yds away), grab ten balls, hit your six iron at least 7 / 10 times thru the trees.

Round the green, create an up an down game... Chip up to the hole and down the putt. 18 balls, your aim is too get below 36 shots for the 18 balls (1 chip 1 putt).

Good Luck with it all :)

Answer 3

Ten strokes off a 17 handicap is a very reasonable accomplishment for a year. Your drives and mid irons seem to very good. As I have preached in any other helpful tip about lowering ones handicap, chipping and putting is where you will realize most of the 10 stroke reduction. Practice chipping and putting daily and you drop more than 10 strokes. No magic involved. Just do it.

Answer 4

Practice short game, short game, short game

Answer 5

yes it is > > >

Answer 6

I think its going to be tough though, im currently off a 9 handicap and I hit it about the same distances as you. The only reason im of 9 and not 17 is that im pretty decent from 50-60 yards, id probably get up and down 6/10. You dont mention anything about your short game, if you hit the ball 280 of the tee then you should really concentrate on your putting and chipping. The reason that Tiger and Mickelson are so good is down to there ability to get the ball up and down, Tiger rips it but his short game is just out of this world. Hope this helps.

Answer 7

Yeah for sure! If you need any motivation I went from a 23 to a 9 in one year, its definately possible!