I am a scratch golfer...every time I hit a shot I scratch my head and think..."What the hell was that?!?!?!" 🤣

Thanks for that great tip about “missing high instead of low,” because of how “anything missing low gets further and further away.” That just may be the word that helps get my putting back on track. Thanks again.

1 - Hit one shot shape: ❌ 2 - Have a safety shot: ✅ 3 - Just hit the green on chips: ✅ 4 - No 3 putts: ✅ 5 - Play and practice: ✅ I'm a 15 handicap.

I got mine from 12 to 3 in 1 year by practicing draws and fades with all clubs. It really helped me with understanding swing mechanics.

One thing to add: know your actual/average distances, not your perfect shot distance. If the best 7-iron you ever hit carried 160 yards, that is NOT your 160 club. It may eventually be your 160 club with practice, but you’ll hit more greens from 160 by hitting your 6 iron. Most high handicappers I teach base their distances like a “greatest hits” album. Gonna miss a lot of greens short like that.

I'd say the 2 biggest things that took me from a 5-6 to sub 1 handicap was 1) Less but better practice. Beating balls for hours only hurts. Practice with a purpose and understand what you're trying to get done. Set up a practice station, go as slow as you need to in order to do it correctly, and don't go so long that you lose focus. 2) I hardly ever aim directly at pins and always error towards the fat side.

I was scratch st 16. 30 years later, it still fluctuates between 0 and 2. I play only once a week. Routine is key on every shot. Keep it simple. See the shot, i.e., shape high landing spot. Scores lie in the short game. Allways practise the short game. Putting. Getting comfortable with sol8d routine over 3/4 footers. You can then hit your first putts more confidently and eliminate 3 putts.

Scratch golfers know their yardage. Alot of high handicappers pick up an 8 eight iron when they need a 6, because the people they play with hit longer than them, and they don't want to feel embarrassed.

Pretty much my exact thoughts, except only having one shot. I am 43 now, and grew up knowing how to work the ball both ways. But everything, especially the go to shot, is spot on. Everyone would do well to listen. Good luck!

Being able to work the ball, high low, draw fade , has really helped me I was a fader exclusively now I draw the and can execute a fade when needed, practice my short game , then practice more short games around the greens find a good putting routine a stick with it, did I mention short game!

Good post Coach! Keep them coming.

Keep in mind "what danger is up that hole"! Sage advice Coach!😮

solid vid.

I love this… taking an honest look at your game and gaming the course is something I definitely want to get better at. Boring golf FTW!!! Appreciate you Coach!!! Great advice…

Another fantastic video. Gotta know what putter that was, Odyssey Toulon Memphis? And when you come to Florida I’ll take a lesson. A+++++

Nice one coach. One thing i found out today at the course, after a disastrous first three holes i scrapped the score card and just played golf. The worry over high scores evaporated and i started playing half decent golf for once. I'll be playing without a card for the next few weeks and just concentrate on the way I'm playing.

Only line i disagree with is "the answer is usually more distance" i would swap distance with tighter dispersion every time, thats how i got down to scratch, driver is still long with a slower swing, but iron play improved dramatically with less distance

Excellent vid, thanks

6.6 right now. Good days scoring mid to high 70s but still have those 80-84 rounds usually cuz of several three putts and couple penalties. It's hard to get from a 6 to scratch i just gotta keep grinded away on the short game and the holes with outnof bounds left hit a safety club no driver

That is a nice concise list. Very useful.

Great perspective and confirms I am in the right mindset this year. I am hell bent on becoming a scratch and have lowered my handicap every season! Tips 1 and 2 haven't been in my process but is a brilliant addition. I am been hard on myself because I am a natural fader but have been trying to correct that. Now I will own it and apply it on the course. #2 I kind of do in the form of my most comfortable club(s), 7 and 8 irons...thus I strike these most comfortably. Is this what you mean or a swing that I apply to all clubs?

Great tips!

I'm a long time follower and for as bad as you played sometimes you somehow managed to get a lot of pars and boogies. It was actually pretty impressive!!! #teamwild

Try using the practice games in the book PRESSURE GAMES FOR GOLF with what you learn here. The Coach Lockey YT channel is great, and this book will make your learning stick.

Good one 👍🏾 on my way… ⛳️

I keep trying to get my handicap down ..but some very good tip ..thank Coach

Thanks Coach, Great advice

Great comments and a even better club toss :)

Great advice, thanks!!

100% Turn the doubles and triples into bogeys by managing expectations from the circumstance you find yourself in and most high single figure handicappers will be off 2 or 3 within 20 cards with the WHS system. Don’t be scared to take an unplayable rather than hack around in heather. Know the rules! Then hole 5 more putts a round and boom, you’re there. Count your score in level 5’s, or 4’s, rather than par depending on where your game is. You’re most likely to be well under 5’s which builds confidence.

I have been a plus, scratch and currently a 2.7 hdcp for the better part of 20 years. I put a golf club in my kids hands at the age of two. They never took an interest in the game until adulthood. They always possessed the talent and still do. All that said, they fall into the category of number five. They do the same wrong things over and over and get mad at me because I am always telling them they have no right to be angry when they hit bad shots. They have talent but they don't put in the time to learn more mechanics.

Thanks coach, do three out off 5

Great vid matty janner ! Cracking views of gods city ! Oh by the way mate, my first new ai smoke irons , i cant hit them for sh*t !! 😂😂 1degree flat maybe the problem ! Whats the lie on your irons ?

In my group i play with i usually win by out putting everyone. Trying to miss close rather than make putts has changed the game for me.

Good one couch

Don’t get aggressive with front and rear pins. Go a little long on front pins and short on back pins

Only disagree with the comment about not trying to make long putts. If you aren’t putting to sink it you’re putting to add strokes to your card

Pros usually hit one shot shape, agreed! BUT they generally don’t shape it a ton. If your normal shot moves 20-30 yards left or right, that’s not reliable. Need to be generally straight.

I'm not scratch, play off 4. I would add if I'm in trouble with limited option to get to green, I look for a lay up area with my chip or punch out, there may be a 100 to 1 shot from trouble knto the green, but don't gamble and take it on, or your card will be wrecked. Also, in long outts as you say, key is getting distance weight control, but I also line up my putt and see imaginary line right back to my ball, I aim for soothing 6 inches in front of my ball, I see so many people aim for something 8 to 10 feet away, you have more chance of getting the ball in your target line if its only 6 inches in front of the ball.

Practice making less double bogeys rather than more birdies . Play a very difficult (or card destroyer) par 3 or 4 as an easy bogey 4 or 5 . Realise that the biggest obstacle on the way to success is fear of failure.

I would love to play this course..............looks wide open.

1: Hit the ball.

Scoring is all about short game and playing a lot. I’ll continue to only practice my long game and shoot high scores 😂. Short game is boring and playing a lot is unrealistic.

I would add a few other things. Scratch golfers have a good grip, they keep their head very still through the swing (little to no swaying), and when chipping they know where they want the ball to land and start its rollout.

I live in Vietnam where it costs $100+ to play a round of golf, where you HAVE to pay for carts and caddies because you are FORBIDDEN to walk the course. It is a totally asshole corporate ego-driven golf system and it sucks. Practice facilities are shite. It's terrible.😢

I have watched you and Crossfield play many rounds, I do not think either of u r near a scratch golfer?

They hit that place called the middle of the club face more often on demand. Not hard!!

Try to just hit green on chips, looks like I tried to get too cute XD

I don't mind being a 20 handicapper, the more shots the merrier.

Either have money for lessons or hit as many balls as you can and watch KZfaq. Only ways to get better

Short game, short game, short game.

Bogey a hole is a great day of golf for me.

skip to 1:40 ... thank me later

You forgot: Play the course, dont let the course play you.

So Coach, are you suggesting there is a component of thinking involved to be a scratch golfer? Lol

I won’t take any tips that u do! No offence haha ur not great

Yesss coach….. 👌🏌🏻🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

Good stuff but where in God's name did you get those three putt stats? That's bollucks. After 6-7 ft even the pros percentages go WAY down. If an amateur is over 5 ft it's prob 50/50 to make it. I bet most scratch golfers have more than 1 three putt in about 2 rounds! Putting that expectation on amateurs is WAY over the top. Golfers will be beating themselves up getting even more frustrated with the cruel game 😮