Do you play better when you play faster?

[braincramp52]

I actually had one of my better years last year scoring and the biggest reason for that was the speed in which I hit my shots. From the time I get my ball teed up or when I line up a iron shot was almost always under 10 seconds. It seems to me the less time I take,the less time I try to think too much and results are a better shot. Anybody else find this to be true?

[shakey]

To an extent. I like to play fast. But I sometimes get to the point where I'm not even lining up I'm going so fast. Usually play bad at that point.

[braincramp52]

[quote name='shakey' timestamp='1389702718' post='8457363']
To an extent. I like to play fast. But I sometimes get to the point where I'm not even lining up I'm going so fast. Usually play bad at that point.
[/quote]

True,that can happen. And it doesn't work with the putter!

[Sean2]

Not faster so much as when I don't have to wait on any shots.

[indyvai]

[quote name='Sean2' timestamp='1389703866' post='8457433']
Not faster so much as when I don't have to wait on any shots.
[/quote]

Me too... I don't like to be rushed, but if my group is slow or we're waiting on the group ahead, I consider it getting slow played... usually my round suffers.

[Desert Golf]

I definitely play better when I'm in a rhythm an my game struggles when I'm constantly waiting between shots. I don't like to play "fast" but I want to keep moving.

[Fourmyle of Ceres]

Back when I used to take lessons on a regular basis, in fact back before I could break 100 routinely, my time over the ball was quite excessive. My golf teacher used to do a drill where we'd go to the driving range and simulate various shots on the course.

I'd start from standing beside my golf bag and when I was ready to hit I'd pull an iron from the bag. Once I had the club in hand he'd start his stopwatch. If I had not struck the ball within 16 seconds he say "Start Over" and we'd go back to the club in the bag and try again.

It took a lot of practice before I quit freezing over the ball and/or fidgeting around shuffling my feet before getting set. Back then, without the stopwatch I would easily take 20, 25, even 30 seconds from pulling the club to starting my swing. Which is ridiculous. It never seemed that long.

Eventually I got it down to 13-14 seconds on most shots. It takes about eight seconds to step up and get my feet set so there's only maybe five seconds left actually over the ball. Any longer than that produces a lot of tension and doubt.

[CactusGolf]

I wouldn't say I play better when faster. I play better when it is a constant speed without waiting for each shot.

I don't spend much/any time reading or lining up putts. Just a quick glance behind the ball when I'm waiting for others putt.

I don't have a "pre-shot" routine either. Just a practice swing and good to go.

[inked]

In sports and life, rhythm is everything.

I never play alone. In fact, I've only played one round by myself. On that one day, I was playing my best golf. I was even par coming into 9 when I caught up to a group. As I approached them when the 3rd guy hit off the tee, I noticed the group was 3 old high school teachers of mine. They invited me to join their group. My round slowed and my game suffered. I was in such a rhythm, not even long enough to think about my game. I had a fun back nine, but only wish I could have finished the round in the rhythm I was in.

[Greenie]

I'll agree with most of the above posters. For me it's not playing faster so much as it is keeping my rhythm. Hitting my ball, going to it, and hitting it again without waiting very long. You could say I play better faster because I don't take long to select a club and pull the trigger. I don't play better being rushed though.With my group we are the ones usually waiting on the groups ahead but in some cases a group behind might be pushing us. I am the first one to offer to let them play through.

[Fourmyle of Ceres]

[quote name='CactusGolf' timestamp='1389706610' post='8457643']I don't have a "pre-shot" routine either. Just a practice swing and good to go.
[/quote]

As Bob Rotella said in his first book, most people have a pre-shot routine. If you always take "a practice swing and good to go" then your routine is "a practice swing and good to go". Whatever you do consistently before hitting a normal shot is your "pre-shot routine" because it happens prior to each shot "pre-shot" and it happens every time "routine".

What you don't have is a pre-shot "Pontifical High Mass with Cherry On Top and Extra Fidgets" like some of the emotional cripples you see playing on television. Be thankful.

[blaird]

Like what has been said above its a rhythm thing. I dont even mind periods of a short wait but I cannot stand waiting a good bit on every shot. I have a little ADD so when that happens I kind of wander around and make a bunch of practice swings.

I have also played in a tournament where we played too fast. This was also pointless because there were so many people on the course, you would hit, hurry to the ball and then wait a while for the next shot.

[minimal45]

The faster the better slow play will destroy my round.

[blaird]

[quote name='Fourmyle of Ceres' timestamp='1389709845' post='8457919']
[quote name='CactusGolf' timestamp='1389706610' post='8457643']I don't have a "pre-shot" routine either. Just a practice swing and good to go.
[/quote]

As Bob Rotella said in his first book, most people have a pre-shot routine. If you always take "a practice swing and good to go" then your routine is "a practice swing and good to go". Whatever you do consistently before hitting a normal shot is your "pre-shot routine" because it happens prior to each shot "pre-shot" and it happens every time "routine".

What you don't have is a [b]pre-shot "Pontifical High Mass with Cherry On Top and Extra Fidgets"[/b] like some of the emotional cripples you see playing on television. Be thankful.
[/quote]

This should be trademarked!!

[minteq]

I started walking all my rounds a couple of years ago to get healthy and I got tired if paying cart fees. I really feel like the walking slows the game down for me, in a cart it felt like I was racing to the next shot and it seemed like I waited on every shot, which made me play worse.

Walking has allowed me to pace myself and I really enjoy it more now, plus waiting has seemed less.

[atlanta golfer]

My experience is the same as most posters above I don't like to "play fast" but I lke a steady pace without having to wait around. Somewhere in the 3.5 hour to 4 hours and 10 minute time frame usually feels about right. I am talking about a 4-some, usually with some side bets where some pressure putts may be involved.

[Apex93]

Fast while walking is ideal. Slow while walking is second. Fast while in a cart third. Slow in a cart = kill me.
Carts just throw my rhythm off - fast, then slow as opposed to one pace.

[Kaysquare]

I usually do not play my best golf when I have to wait on every shot on people who obviously have no clue about pace of play. The pace doesn't have to be super fast, but I play better if the pace keeps moving along with no delays.

[robnplunder]

Too fast or too slow can mess up my game. So, playing faster doesn't help much.

[RedDevilWheezy]

I play better when I don't have to spend 10 minutes waiting to take my next shot. I wouldn't call it fast, but I wouldn't call it slow either.

I have found that when I'm on an empty course I need to slow myself down to avoid making dumb descisions, and ensure I have proper alignment, especially when putting.

My best rounds have come at a normal pace, neither fast or slow.

[KILLEDBYASHANKEDWEDGE]

[b] Do you play better when you play faster?[/b]

YES

[tembolo1284]

I play best when I don't have to wait on any shots for sure. I feel like I take my time and hit away...without waiting. 3.30 at worst.

When I wait and I have to think about my shot for 5 or more minutes....starts to go downhill.

[Jarri]

I play better tee to green when I play fast

I chip / pitch / putt better when i take my time

[2putttom]

[quote name='KILLEDBYASHANKEDWEDGE' timestamp='1389717708' post='8458765']
[b] Do you play better when you play faster?[/b]

YES
[/quote] +1

[Conradmacdonald]

I like to play relatively quick for all full shots, makes me not second-guess myself. However if I am really trying to play my best I will take a long time on the green especially staring at my line. I know it pisses people off sometimes, but looking at my putt for a full minute gives me the confidence to hit the putt how I want (and I putt a lot better when taking time).

[braincramp52]

What I was getting at in my initial post was not really about pace of play but more about the time I spend over the ball. I do agree about one thing,slow play just destroys any chance of me having a good round.

[backtees]

A good average helps most - not too fast, not too slow. Ideal is a kind of constant flow: no waiting, no speeding up. A constant flow to get into that flow.

[atlanta golfer]

[quote name='lawsonman' timestamp='1389723752' post='8459467']
What I was getting at in my initial post was not really about pace of play but more about the time I spend over the ball. I do agree about one thing,slow play just destroys any chance of me having a good round.
[/quote]

Now that you've clarified that, I can say that playing with people who stand over the ball for a long time before starting the backswing makes me bat-sxxx crazy. I remember at least one prior thread on this. I'm not sure what a proper time is for a pre-shot routine including maybe one practice swing, getting aligned, looking at the target, and pulling the trigger is ... certainly less than 30 seconds I would think, probably closer to 20. It is my understanding that the better players, certainly the ones on the pro tour, are amazingly consistent with the amount of time they take doing this, especially when under pressure.

[markheardjr]

The course I grew up on I played 54 holes a week easily. It got to a point I would hit a drive, know what iron was left in before it landed. Drive the cart to about 2 feet right of the ball. Hop out, line up, hit, and go. I could play a full 18 in under 2 hours. It required little thought and was all about the swing and the result.

Now that I live in Los Angeles, I rarely play the same course once every 3 months. The rounds take 5+ hours because you are ALWAYS waiting for the next group. I play worse when I have to wait that much. A comfortable pace, is under 4 hours. Anything over and I'm getting antsy (sp?)

I'd say I play best when I don't have to wait on a shot and the course doesn't require you to look at a flyover to figure out sight lines or landing areas. If it's all in front of you and you can move quick, 3 to 4 hours should be all you need. Mid west courses were more empty, especially summer days when most people were at work. Back then the longer rounds didn't bother me as much though. 9 years of 5-6.5 hour rounds are starting to drag on me. Anymore I have to go crazy early and chase the rabbits at dawn. But then it's usually cold. I like it hot and fast.

[arnold palmtree]

[quote name='minteq' timestamp='1389710562' post='8458007']
I started walking all my rounds a couple of years ago to get healthy and I got tired if paying cart fees. I really feel like the walking slows the game down for me, in a cart it felt like I was racing to the next shot and it seemed like I waited on every shot, which made me play worse.

Walking has allowed me to pace myself and I really enjoy it more now, plus waiting has seemed less.
[/quote]

My girlfriend and I were just talking about this. We feel like we have a much more enjoyable experience when walking together. It seems like everything slows down and we just enjoy our day. We talk more and it feels like we spend more time with each other.

When we are in a cart it's like everything is rushed. We don't talk as much because as soon as we sit down in the cart we are eying down the next shot and have little interaction with each other.

Walking is a much better rhythm.