Tour Pros vs. "Scratch" Players

[Forged4ever]

[quote name='trbgolfer' timestamp='1416421736' post='10473139']
I am coming off the best season of my life - I don't have a USGA handicap (I know...) but I've computated one online for my own interest. I play mostly muni's - always from the back tees. I play the ball down and the courses I play are not overly difficult - the 2 I play the most are 71.8/129 and 72.2/131. I have very little, and none in recent years, tournament experience. I have had 30 rounds of par or better this year and 17 rounds in the 60's - my low being 65. I say all that to say that even I am astonished at the shots I will occasionally hit that are just terrible. On the season I hit 50.58% FIR and 61.78% GIR, averaged 28 putts and had an average score of 70.09. It all sounds good on paper but these are not difficult course and no pressure besides what is self-inflicted

My point is that after playing golf for 20+ years and having friends and family say "You're so good - you should go pro." I realize now, more than ever, I am so far from actually being able to do it. I'm a good golfer and that's it. A good recreational golfer and that's it. To the OP - thanks for sharing your experience. It really helps looking at my game and makes me want to play with people better. You are a fortunate man to have the opportunity. Thanks for allowing us to vicariously live it through you

Great thread - I have really enjoyed it. WRX is pretty special

Have a great day and happy holiday season.
[/quote]GREAT post!!

Welcome to the forum!

Continued Success and I hope that You enjoy the Board, a lot of Great Gals and Guys like Obee

Fairways & Greens My Friend,
Richard

[Albatross85]

[quote name='Forged4ever' timestamp='1410298158' post='10091585']
[quote name='RRFireblade' timestamp='1410115872' post='10080045']
Rather be 20' +/- on the right side of the hole than <10' on the wrong side any day of the week and twice on Sunday's.

This is a concept (not exclusive to greens) that I think is one of the biggest differences between Pros and Ams.
[/quote]THIS is the biggest difference that I've seen in the difference in a Tour Pro's game and even an Ultra-elite Mid Am. They almost automatically miss on the "right" side/area, be it fairways, greens or wherever.

My one Bud that I spoke of in Isaac's thread does use the circle, though he uses 15' and then he also plays for what he refers to as the "ring" or ringers, which is 8'.

These guys are just so damn consistent because they've been doin this for so long under such immense pressure, and as you noted, the harder the track, whether it be set-up, length, green speed or all of the above, the greater the separation.

The mental game is another area where they separate themselves, even against an ultra-elite Mid Am.

Just take a look at the practice line on any Web.com, Champion's Tour or PGA event on Wednesday afternoon.

Nearly every individual standing there hitting balls is hitting beautiful, almost perfect shots.

Nearly Every single one-

Probably half those guys are gonna be leavin town on Friday evening.

What's the difference in those that stay & play and those that exit early?

Why can't those Pros take it from the practice tee to the course?

What changes?

It's that 4-5" between their ears.

Sure, the physical game is a manifestation of their mind set and mental make-up.

But why do drives fly straight and true on the practice tee on Wednesday afternoon yet find the left trees come Thursday afternoon? Why does he throw darts with his 7i on the practice tee, yet leaves himself 25-30'ers with that same 7i on Thursday afternoon? Or why do 8' putts that fell like rain on the practice green on Thursday morning burn the edges on Thursday afternoon?

[u][i][b]Millions of balls hit translate to a subconscious muscle memory control and a mental mastery that allows their minds to go totally blank except for the vision of the swing/shot to come and the successful outcome to follow.[/b][/i][/u]

We always want to quantify everything, whether it's a launch angle or a spin rate or if you do this, that, and this great then you'll be at the door step and it gives us a sense of if we cover the bullet points or do A, B & C, then we're there, yet, that ain't the way the game is played. At least, not at THE highest level. Forget thin air. You'd need an O2 tank just to walk the fairways, lol(I am not directing this at you Obee. I'm included here also, lol).

Having played on the plus side as recently as the end of '12, and been fortunate enough to play with a few Players, I would say that the greatest difference is the supreme confidence that they have that no matter what the lie, what the shot or what the situation, they've been there, done it millions of times(or at least hundreds of thousands) and this is just one more shot.

Excellent thread!!

Continued success Obee

My Best,
Richard
[/quote]Underlined above is a fantastic quote Richard. I'll be putting that one in my range journal.

[Rbel]

[quote name='RRFireblade' timestamp='1410115872' post='10080045']
Not a fan of the "Circle" concept.

Rather be 20' +/- on the right side of the hole than <10' on the wrong side any day of the week and twice on Sunday's.

This is a concept (not exclusive to greens) that I think is one of the biggest differences between Pros and Ams.
[/quote]

I think it's more a right spot concept. I've had rounds where I hit 16 greens and shot a few over because I was often in the wrong spot on the green. Had other rounds where I've hit a few greens and show much better since the misses and the good shots where all in the correct spots.