Article #29
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Dear Jitterbug:
I read somewhere that the average handicap hasn't changed in four decades. This seems unfathomable considering the advances in balls, clubs, and turf conditions. What's the deal?
George, Jitterbug fan
Jitterbug:
George, I believe it has to do with the misguided work ethic of golfers, both past and present.
On average, golfers spend 90% of their time practicing the full swing, 7% putting (usually while waiting to tee off), and 3% with chips and pitch shots.
If you stop to consider that putting, chipping, and pitching combine to make up close to 70% of the game, it's easy to understand why the average handicap hasn't changed.
I'd even go as far as to say that golf courses with the lowest average handicaps are the ones that don't have a driving range. The players at these courses develop a great short game- not because they're so clever, but because they don't have a place to hit full shots. If they want to practice, short game is all there is.
So, in answer to your question, the average handicap probably won't change as long as the relative time spent sharpening different areas of the game doesn't change.
Mr. Vaughn:
Yes, today's golfers hit the ball farther, but that don't help the average golfer a bit when it comes to scoring.
Keep in mind, George, that if you shoot 100 or higher, you're suffering from one of two problems: you either got a lousy short game or you're wild off the tee (or a combination of the two).
If it's the wild tee shot that's causin' you trouble, the last thing you need is more length. In fact, the only people who could use more yards are golfers who hit the fairway at least 75% of the time. That's why this era of PGA and LPGA Tour stars is shootin' better than ever; because they're accurate, so extra length is beneficial to them. But, if you aren't accurate, you're better off to hit the ball not as far; at least, you'll stay short of the trouble that way.
Lord Berry:
Modern-day turf conditions, regardless of how pristine, play only a limited role in reducing the average handicap. Of course, greens roll truer than in years past, but being truer, in most cases, means they're also faster.
Fast greens require greater precision when reading putts (deciding how much break to borrow). They require more caution when selecting the correct approach club (you don't want to be above the hole), and, in general, demand greater delicacy when finessing short shots near the green.
So again, George, better turf conditions don't make the game easier. Only practice can accomplish that.