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How do you measure how well you're playing?

Score is a big factor of course, but if I'm not out chunking or blading chips, leaving putts way short and hitting iron shots dead right, I am usually playing well.

I can be hitting well except maybe Brian Skatel'ing (hitting too pure!) a lot of shots and not score great, although I would much rather be able to scramble and get a good score when I am not playing with my best stuff.
 
At the end if the day the score tells me the story.

During the round I can feel if it's going to be one of those days where I have to grind out the score or if it will come from a good ball striking day. The most telling thing for me is my short game. To me this isn't a particular yardage, but more what my results are with scoring clubs & putter.

While I agree it's better to be lucky than good and have "good misses" during a round, I just don't like them because it's an indication of a poor swing.
 
Were my shots successful, i.e. did they turn out as planned. All inclusive of long game, short game, and putting.
 
Until I read JB's post(s), I wouldn't have said score. I would've said ball striking is the determining factor of whether I feel like I am playing well or not. I think I need to look at my game from a completely different point of view.
 
Score for me as well. However I don't get nearly as upset with myself when I score badly and have a good ball striking day as I do when I just completely suck and I can't do anything, but that's obvious.
 
Other than score, for me it is about keeping driver in play and distance control. If I do those two things, I'll have a good round.
 
Yes score is a great answer, as the entire reason it exists is to measure how you played. Beyond that though and for the sake of discussion, I may be in the minority that I'd want a higher score with better hit shots than a lower score I lucked into, because that luck is going to run out at some point and I'll be left with a terrible swing, hoping for more miracles. I'd rather see that my practice is paying off and that I'm able to hit the ball where I'm aiming than thin a shot that some how runs up to the hole. I agree score is the major component, but I measure how well I play by how consistent I am with my swing, how I manage to get out of trouble and how well I manage my emotions out there. They all seem to go hand in hand though.
 
I do think there is a difference between scoring well and playing well. I've had days when my score was far better than I thought I played, and vice versa. To me playing well is primarily hitting fairways and greens, and having good speed and line on my putts. Whether I'm scoring or not will depend on a handful of those putts falling....or not. Unless I'm playing in a tournament - in which case I truly don't care how the ball gets into the hole - I'd rather play well than well because I think it's a better indication of how I'll play the next time, and the time after that. I can live with a higher than desired score if I hit 11/12 fairways and 14/16 greens because I know next time I play there's a better chance for a low score than if skulled an approach to tap-in distance or clanged in a chip shot that really should have rolled 30 feet past the pin, etc.

Again, if the stakes are high I'll take the low score any day, but generally speaking I feel better leaving the course knowing I hit the ball well than if I had a lower than deserved score.
 
I think it depends where one is currently at.
I think the obvious answer is score. As been said that is what counts. My goal is to score better and be more consistent with the scoring but at my level and the current pains I've been going through last year and this year with my swing and its changes I've made I am looking for good ball striking so I also would very much judge myself on how well I am hitting good, crisp shots. A round which consisted of a lot of well struck balls and more consistent swinging would be great to me even if the end score was not one of my better ones. But thats only because of where i am at currently at this time.
 
MUTiger said:
I do think there is a difference between scoring well and playing well. I've had days when my score was far better than I thought I played, and vice versa. To me playing well is primarily hitting fairways and greens, and having good speed and line on my putts. Whether I'm scoring or not will depend on a handful of those putts falling....or not. Unless I'm playing in a tournament - in which case I truly don't care how the ball gets into the hole - I'd rather play well than well because I think it's a better indication of how I'll play the next time, and the time after that. I can live with a higher than desired score if I hit 11/12 fairways and 14/16 greens because I know next time I play there's a better chance for a low score than if skulled an approach to tap-in distance or clanged in a chip shot that really should have rolled 30 feet past the pin, etc.

Again, if the stakes are high I'll take the low score any day, but generally speaking I feel better leaving the course knowing I hit the ball well than if I had a lower than deserved score.
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Is there really though? If we examine it, I am not sure one can say that. Lets say you think you are putting the ball really well, and burning edges all day. Did you putt well? Actually no, you did not.

Hitting the ball well, but missing intended targets, to me means one is not playing well. If the goal is hitting the ball well, why keep score? Why keep handicaps? Why play competitive rounds?

I think as die hards we view things differently, but at the end of the day, each and every one of us, is only doing one thing. Trying to score against what is viewed as even (par). If hitting the ball well and not scoring was acceptable for us (as diehards), we would never list handicaps, never keep score and frankly I think most of us would give up the game.

Use this example. Lets say you are on the range before a round and hitting the ball really well. First approach shot, you hit it to 5 feet. Why putt? Lets take it a step further and say you miss the putt and make par. Next hole you hit a bad approach shot, chip on, but not great and have 25 feet left for par. You make the putt.

Both pars.
 
Simple answer is score. If I'm hitting the ball well, but scoring poorly, then obviously my putting/short-game was crap. I think you have to look to all areas of your game to measure how well you are playing.

So overall to measure how my game is, I look at the score.
 
While score is definitely the obvious answer, I think something can be said for consistently executing the shots we intend to hit. That doesnt always add up to score though. On the courses I play often, just a few yards in any direction can be the difference between a short birdie putt and ending up in a collection area. If I had to choose between a "boring" 72 where ya 2 putt a bunch of GIRs or a wild one with a mixed bag of birdies, bogeys, bad misses and great shots, then ill take the boring one every time. Id feel better knowing I put myself in position to score and not over scratching and clawing to a good number. Id still be happy with a 72 anyway it comes though, so it still comes down to the final score in the end.
 
JB said:
Is there really though? If we examine it, I am not sure one can say that. Lets say you think you are putting the ball really well, and burning edges all day. Did you putt well? Actually no, you did not.

Hitting the ball well, but missing intended targets, to me means one is not playing well. If the goal is hitting the ball well, why keep score? Why keep handicaps? Why play competitive rounds?

I think as die hards we view things differently, but at the end of the day, each and every one of us, is only doing one thing. Trying to score against what is viewed as even (par). If hitting the ball well and not scoring was acceptable for us (as diehards), we would never list handicaps, never keep score and frankly I think most of us would give up the game.

Use this example. Lets say you are on the range before a round and hitting the ball really well. First approach shot, you hit it to 5 feet. Why putt? Lets take it a step further and say you miss the putt and make par. Next hole you hit a bad approach shot, chip on, but not great and have 25 feet left for par. You make the putt.

Both pars.
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I get your point, and in individual cases like tournament or other higher stakes play, would agree with it. But from my vantage point today's round is just one page of one chapter of one book in my library of golf rounds. If you and I were playing in match play I really wouldn't care if my quality of play wasn't an artistic success as long as I won. If that means I skulled my 150 yard approach shot to 2 feet or thinned my sand hot into the flagstick, then so be it.
However, I would feel much better about the prospects of tomorrow's round if I shot a 75 today while hitting fairways and greens in comparison to that same score during a round in which I hit some lucky shots I could in no way purposefully repeat.

I've been fortunate enough to have three holes-in-one. Two of them were beautiful shots that were perfect replicates of what I had in my mind's eye, the other was a thinny/skully aberration that nearly knocked over the flag stick before jumping down into the hole. On the card they were all 1's - and I sure as heck have all three balls in my golf display - but to say I feel the same about all three shots would be a lie, even though the result was the same. Two of the shots I take great pride in because I know I couldn't have hit them any better, the third is more of an embarrassment that I chalk up to a fluky lightening strike by the golf gods. Again, if you and I were playing in a match I'd much prefer the lucky bounce opposed to the beautifully struck shot with the wrong club, but in the long run I know solid play will be rewarded more than luck.

If there is any life left in this beaten horse, I'd also add my opinion that it is possible for perfectly hit shots or stroked putts not to end in success. Going back to vagaries of the aforementioned golf gods, we've all experienced shots heading for the middle of the fairway hit sprinkler heads, 150 yard sticks, or settle into deep divots. Likewise we all know what it feels like for a perfectly rolled putt to somehow go around the hole after it hits a ball mark, aeration hole, leaf, etc., etc., etc. Conversely - though it doesn't seem to happen nearly as often (but probably does) - we've all had shots heading for the creek hit a rock and end in back in the fairway or miss our mark by inches only to have our ball carom off someone's ball mark and into the hole. Is the ONLY thing that matters the number we scribble into the little box? Not as far as I'm concerned.

I feel much better leaving the golf course knowing I hit the ball solid and had good speed on my putts, even if that means my score today wasn't what I hoped it might be because I know if I can repeat tomorrow, and the day after that, the scores will come. That feels better thank knowing I pretty much hit ball all over the place but somehow scratched out a better than deserved score.

Would I rather win a match with my B-game opposed to losing one with my A-game? Sure. No question. Would it feel as good to me? Nope.
 
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Bottom line is score but I will be just as happy with solid ball-striking.
 
MUTiger said:
I get your point, and in individual cases like tournament or other higher stakes play, would agree with it. But from my vantage point today's round is just one page of one chapter of one book in my library of golf rounds. If you and I were playing in match play I really wouldn't care if my quality of play wasn't an artistic success as long as I won. If that means I skulled my 150 yard approach shot to 2 feet or thinned my sand hot into the flagstick, then so be it.
However, I would feel much better about the prospects of tomorrow's round if I shot a 75 today while hitting fairways and greens in comparison to that same score during a round in which I hit some lucky shots I could in no way purposefully repeat.

I've been fortunate enough to have three holes-in-one. Two of them were beautiful shots that were perfect replicates of what I had in my mind's eye, the other was a thinny/skully aberration that nearly knocked over the flag stick before jumping down into the hole. On the card they were all 1's - and I sure as heck have all three balls in my golf display - but to say I feel the same about all three shots would be a lie, even though the result was the same. Two of the shots I take great pride in because I know I couldn't have hit them any better, the third is more of an embarrassment that I chalk up to a fluky lightening strike by the golf gods. Again, if you and I were playing in a match I'd much prefer the lucky bounce opposed to the beautifully struck shot with the wrong club, but in the long run I know I know solid play will be rewarded more than luck.

If there is any life left in this beaten horse, I'd also add my opinion that it is possible for perfectly hit shots or stroked putts not to end in success. Going back to vagaries of the aforementioned golf gods, we've all experienced shots heading for the middle of the fairway hit sprinkler heads, 150 yard sticks, or settle into deep divots. Likewise we all know what it feels like for a perfectly rolled putt to somehow go around the hole after it hits a ball mark, aeration hole, leaf, etc., etc., etc. Conversely - though it doesn't seem to happen nearly as often (but probably does) - we've all had shots heading for the creek hit a rock and end in back in the fairway or miss our mark by inches only to have our ball carom off someone's ball mark and into the hole. Is the ONLY thing that matters the number we scribble into the little box? Not as far as I'm concerned.

I feel much better leaving the golf course knowing I hit the ball solid and had good speed on my putts, even if that means my score today wasn't what I hoped it might be because I know if I can repeat tomorrow, and the day after that, the scores will come. That feels better thank knowing I pretty much hit ball all over the place but somehow scratched out a better than deserved score.

Would I rather win a match with my B-game opposed to losing one with my A-game? Sure. No question. Would it feel as good to me? Nope.
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I would get much more pride out of hitting the ball all over the place and still putting up a decent score. I would feel as though if I can put up a decent score while hitting it all over the place, imagine what I can do if I was hitting it great.

Neither of us is right or wrong, just two different approaches to the game.
 
JB said:
Sure but at the end of the day the only thing that matters on the card, in a competition or to a handicap is score.

I'll take an ugly 73 vs a sweet swinging 80.

Would you rather have a thinned ball roll up and give you a hole in one or a beauty of a shot that will land 15 feet away from the pin?
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Agree 100%. I've had hundreds of great ball striking rounds where I have shot 3 or 4 strokes over my index. I had a two rounds last year where I hit 17 greens and shot 2 and 3 over. One of those rounds I lipped out 8 birdie putts. :banghead: It still makes my blood pressure rise thinking about it. Nothing leaves a sour taste in my mouth like taking 45% of my strokes with the putter. Ball striking is my strength and making putts over 10 feet is my weakness so I always appreciate the rare days when the putts are finding the hole.
 
Mulligan9111 said:
I would get much more pride out of hitting the ball all over the place and still putting up a decent score. I would feel as though if I can put up a decent score while hitting it all over the place, imagine what I can do if I was hitting it great.

Neither of us is right or wrong, just two different approaches to the game.
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Yes, but that assumes that you hit some good recovery shots; not got lucky and bladed 6 chips off the bunker rake and in the hole.
 
you have to take the good luck with the bad luck. Its all part of how one may score and it all counts. But i can relate to what "MUTiger" is saying. If I get lucky and a not so good hit ends up giving me reward and a good score I am certainly happy about it but at the same time I also dont feel proud of it. It was poor imo and I got lucky. There is something to be said for feeling very good for doing something right even if it it ends up being unlucky. I would certainly rather do things correctly more often than get lucky more often. In a competition I'll take the luck but it wouldnt feel the same to me. But again, for me at this time and the place i am at I need and desire more of the correct consistant things and they will mean more to me right now by far vs the not so good things that simply end up better.
 
Score
because if one part of you game is not on that will tell you
 
I will answer this with my Morgan Cup preperation in mind. Yes, score matters and yes I would love to shoot an 'ugly' even par score, but right now I am focused on improving and implementing the swing changes on the course. It gives me more confidence right now to strike the ball consistently, hitting it straight off the tee, and feeling confident with my swing because I know if I continue to work at it, the score will drop.

My scores have not reflected it as of late, but I feel like I am making improvements. My attitude will be different in July and in the upcoming months, as I will want to see lower scores but as now, I am not overly concerned with it.
 
huhhh said:
Yes, but that assumes that you hit some good recovery shots; not got lucky and bladed 6 chips off the bunker rake and in the hole.
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If I ever bladed 6 chips off the bunker rakes and in the hole in one round, I would immediately go and buy a lottery ticket and hit the casinos.
 
"Neither of us is right or wrong, just two different approaches to the game."[/QUOTE]

Agreed.
 
Over the long term score (like money) is a by-product of excellence (or inexcellence). If I'm hitting the shots I want to hit the score will take care of itself.
 
Jeff Spicoli said:
I will answer this with my Morgan Cup preperation in mind. Yes, score matters and yes I would love to shoot an 'ugly' even par score, but right now I am focused on improving and implementing the swing changes on the course. It gives me more confidence right now to strike the ball consistently, hitting it straight off the tee, and feeling confident with my swing because I know if I continue to work at it, the score will drop.

My scores have not reflected it as of late, but I feel like I am making improvements. My attitude will be different in July and in the upcoming months, as I will want to see lower scores but as now, I am not overly concerned with it.
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Agree so much with the bolded, success for me is taking the swing to the course and doing it repeatedly.
 
Just by the contact I am making with the ball. If I'm striking it solid the score usually follows. I usually feel I'm striking it well when my clubs go the distance I play them at and also the sound and feel the when I hit the ball.
 
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