Post by cocowboy on Sept 26, 2010 17:47:56 GMT -5
If you are like me, then you'd like to be able to shoot par in a round. Then -1, -2 ... -18. The question is: How do I improve my TPX scores? Over on the EA forum, I've seen some thoughts about where to go next to shave strokes off the final score.
The first thing that you must do is make an objective evaluation of your current abilities. Think back to the last few rounds. Where did you bogey? Why did you bogey?
You might say to yourself, "I hit bad pitches from the bunkers." If so, ask yourself why you ended up in bunkers to begin with. The reason might be that you mis-hit, misjudged, or were trying low percentage shots. It might be that you hauled out the big lumber at the tee which you put in the rough in a tight situation, or OB. Maybe you did everything right and just missed the par putts. In short, make an honest assessment of where you went wrong.
Very often we saddle ourselves with how we think the game ought to be played. Typically, that is driver and a wedge to the green, or maybe its how you think Tiger Woods would play it. One time, on a Saturday afternoon, I took a 5, 7 and putter out to play a quick nine holes. I shot a couple of strokes better including a birdie on a 590 yard par 5.
In doing this we often take shots that have a low percentage of success. In a few WiiGA fun matches, I have driven with 1 Iron on a hole to everybody elses' driver. Some were in the fairway too with wedges to my 5 or 7 iron, but I ended with birdie while some didn't. With the exception of tie break, a thumper birdie scores the same as holing a 20 foot putt for birdie.
Then think about the pars you made, and why they weren't birdies. In the case of par 5s or D4s, why was it birdie and not eagle.
Now that you have established that bit of thought or even data recording. Look for the most common reason. That will be the best thing to fix in order to shave the most strokes.
Lets say it is putting. Take yourself out to a course offline with mulligans on. Get on the green and try to make the putt. If you miss then punch the mulligan button, and try to figure out how you could have read the green and the beads, so you could have made it. Don't just aim differently or adjust your speed. If you get close, then putt the ball to another part of the green, and try it again with your newly found understanding.
Maybe you have trouble with the rough. Put yourself in the rough, and try to make the next shot. Maybe its trying to figure out how somebody else got a thumper and you didn't. Maybe its making a consistent O/I and/or open closed shot that you know you can hit most of the time.
Basically, use the game to design yourself a method of working on your current weakness. When you've made your current weakness into a strength, then move on to your next weakness.
The first thing that you must do is make an objective evaluation of your current abilities. Think back to the last few rounds. Where did you bogey? Why did you bogey?
You might say to yourself, "I hit bad pitches from the bunkers." If so, ask yourself why you ended up in bunkers to begin with. The reason might be that you mis-hit, misjudged, or were trying low percentage shots. It might be that you hauled out the big lumber at the tee which you put in the rough in a tight situation, or OB. Maybe you did everything right and just missed the par putts. In short, make an honest assessment of where you went wrong.
Very often we saddle ourselves with how we think the game ought to be played. Typically, that is driver and a wedge to the green, or maybe its how you think Tiger Woods would play it. One time, on a Saturday afternoon, I took a 5, 7 and putter out to play a quick nine holes. I shot a couple of strokes better including a birdie on a 590 yard par 5.
In doing this we often take shots that have a low percentage of success. In a few WiiGA fun matches, I have driven with 1 Iron on a hole to everybody elses' driver. Some were in the fairway too with wedges to my 5 or 7 iron, but I ended with birdie while some didn't. With the exception of tie break, a thumper birdie scores the same as holing a 20 foot putt for birdie.
Then think about the pars you made, and why they weren't birdies. In the case of par 5s or D4s, why was it birdie and not eagle.
Now that you have established that bit of thought or even data recording. Look for the most common reason. That will be the best thing to fix in order to shave the most strokes.
Lets say it is putting. Take yourself out to a course offline with mulligans on. Get on the green and try to make the putt. If you miss then punch the mulligan button, and try to figure out how you could have read the green and the beads, so you could have made it. Don't just aim differently or adjust your speed. If you get close, then putt the ball to another part of the green, and try it again with your newly found understanding.
Maybe you have trouble with the rough. Put yourself in the rough, and try to make the next shot. Maybe its trying to figure out how somebody else got a thumper and you didn't. Maybe its making a consistent O/I and/or open closed shot that you know you can hit most of the time.
Basically, use the game to design yourself a method of working on your current weakness. When you've made your current weakness into a strength, then move on to your next weakness.