5 MUST KNOW TIPS TO LOWER YOUR TRACKMAN HANDICAP!

Here goes, I'm about to dish out my secrets to getting your lowest TRACKMAN handicap in an effort to flex amongst friends. I write this guide from a position of somewhat experience, finishing 2nd gross (without handicap) globally in a trackman tournament with over 1200 entrants. Please enjoy and if you want others to succeed to share the knowledge and the post!

KNOW YOUR DISTANCES

Okay this one isn't something you'd consider a huge secret but it's ground work that makes your life easier and handicap lower. At the closest possible time to your next game learn the yardages of all full shots from your lowest wedge to your longest wood and do this on the driving range feature. This gives you a clear indication in app of your distances and its easy to choose the club too if prior to this you have completed the 'MY CLUBS' section inside the TRACKMAN app.

Two numbers are important, carry then total. Use the carry number as an indication of whether you can carry the hazard or onto the front of the green.

Now heres a tip inside a tip, for every yardage you have two clubs options. Lets say you hit your 7 iron 150 yards on average. Your best 7 will maybe reach 160 and your slightly bad contact 7 irons 140. Now consider your 8 iron, again your best 8 may reach 150 yards. This means that all golfers have overlaps, use this information to select the better option for your miss. If the green is wider and the back of the green surrounded by bunkers sometimes less club may be the better option.

ADJUST YOUR DISTANCES

If you choose a course with high altitude like the TIGER WOODS MARCELLA course, with altitude 7000ft above sea level, you will find your distances change significantly.

A rough estimate for the average golfer is 1% increase per 1000ft, although this is only rough. So consider your 150 yard carry club at 7000ft above sea level may now travel 160 yards. For longer hitters this variation may be even more.

LEARN TO PUTT

Now I'm really giving you the secrets. Okay more math for you. In the bottom left of the screen when putting you will see the elevation changes in putts when on the green. Ready to math! Don't worry it's easy. For every inch downhill convert the inches into feet and subtract from the distance of the putt. EXAMPLE: 15 foot putt, downhill 2inch = 15 - 2 = 13 foot putt.

There are times this formula will fail and its if you have a short putt with a big downhill. This of course will be quick and needs some sensibility to the approach. EXTREME EXAMPLE: 10 foot putt, downhill 11 inch - Visualise such a short putt with such an extreme drop. Play cautiously barely hitting this shot.

Uphill putts are a little different, and my approach to this is to take the distance uphill, half it, convert it, add it. HCA it.

EXAMPLE: 15 foot putt, uphill 2 inch = 15 + 1 = 16 foot putt.

I feel after telling this you guys know too much. Of course settings in games may lead to faster or slower greens being selected but these rules work well on 9 to 10 speed greens. If it's faster or slower adjust the amount you need to add or subtract. Fast greens need precision. To add to your skill set practice putting right foot to left foot backswing and through swing and measure how far the ball roles on trackman as a basis for all your distance control work.

ADVANCED CHIPPING - FLY IT.

This is more advanced, but as you gain confidence in striking your shots inside 30 yards, start to experiment with hitting higher launching chips. It's easier to judge a ball flying 15 yards and rolling 5 yards than trying to predict the roll of the ball on the green contours. In playing this shot, from a technique point, start with no forward shaft lean, a ball inside the left heel and as you hit the shot finish with the chest up to the sky. This isn't for those that struggle with contact, but as your skill improves, especially playing from a perfect indoor surface, you'll gain the likelihood of hitting inside the gimmie area by this approach.

PLAY HARD COURSES

The key to lowering scores is to tackle the longer courses with the hardest ratings. The reason I say that is a score of nett 75 (after handicap) at PINEHURST NO.2 would lower a golfers handicap more than a score of 70 nett at ST ANDREWS OLD COURSE.

This is because golf courses are rated by slope and course rating. One is the score of a low handicap golfer and one is the estimated score of a high handicapper. Playing easier courses may create a lower personal best but it may not lower the handicap. Welcome to the twisted world of golf handicaps!

Hope these helped and please comment if you have your own secrets to lowering your handicap!

Mike Bygrave

Shots Factory WANCHAI