I find your post odd....in a nice odd sort of way.
Your 5 handicap and dont practice!...
Do you play 3 or more times a week because you must be a natural!.

I'd practice every hour I can if I was let..but not at a driving range.
I practiced an hour a day for last 10 days and loved every min of it at my local Clubs practice ground.

Go try out an hour a day off real grass at a practice area and try out some fun shots around greens.
At 5 handicap I reckon the best way to lower your scores and handicap is your short game.

So have fun with your short game and find a tricky practice putting green and try and be inventive
Brian

Daniel,

I agree with Brian. Short game will get anyone to the next level. Getting it close from 125 and in.

A lot of it come down to how many clubs do you have to hit between 125yard down to 60 yards. I hear of golfers brag they can hit thier SW 125 yards. Why would you want to? The idea is to have many weapons 125 and lower. If you gauge a PW at about 125 - 130 and carry 3 other wedges you can take a full swing and get it close and accurate.

Everything 60 yards in is a pitch or chip. These shots require a lot of practice. Developing shots around the green requires a lot of practice. Putting with a fluid tempo requires practice. All these things will lower you scores closer to scratch.

In your practice efforts, keep a journal. When you go to the range work on specific things. Have a plan, and stick to it. When you are on the range, don't just hit balls, rehearse your pre shot routine on every shot. Aim at a different target for every shot.

Play 18 holes on the practice range. Get a score card and hit your normal shots to the holes. Visualize the shot.

These are some practicing tips. I have been at scratch a few times as time permits practice. The lowest I have gotten is a plus one. That was a few years ago before my elbow surgery. I am begining to get back to that level again. Daniel, it's just taking it to the next level. If you want some reading to help get you there anything by Mike Rotella is good.

Hope this helps a bit. If you want more practice routines don't hessitate to ask,

GolfBald

And can you get out of the bunker, the rough, under the trees, from every conceivable lie? What about those flop shots Woods plays (you know, the up and under)? Arr, lad, get your head down and let's not have any shirking.

Respectfully submitted

Yes sir,

I spend at least 60-70% of my practice time on the short game I think it is that important. In fact just today I was working on runup shot under trees with a 4 iron and 3 wood to see which would work better. I am a student of the game and not afraid to try new shots to see how they work. Sometimes with the short game conventional rules can be supplemented with new concepts.

GolfBald

Sorry, GolfB,
my post was to the initial questioner.

This looks a great site, one which I have not yet fully explored, for an obsessive character like myself. LIke I say, I have already put a couple of tips to good use, and my goodness, I need plenty.

Cheers, Doug.

Doug,

Strange as it sounds I have a friend who shoots under a 10 hcp and doesn't practice but once a month. He reads everything I'm working on and practices once a month. He says it makes him think too much and he can't shut his brain down over the ball.
He has a lot of natural talent. Carlos Franco on the tour is like that also.

GolfBald

Natural Talent vs. Practice

Geez, I must be odd man out. I have been playing for 40 years and was lettered in high school and collegiate sports yet I have to practice at least once per week and play at least once per week to keep my 3. I don't understand these guys who don't practice and say they are 5 etc. Is that before or after they fixed the clowns mouth so it opens when you putt the ball through it.

I understand that too. I practice 1/2 hour to an hour a day maybe 2 hour a day on the weekend. If I take a week off, my timing goes in the comode. If you seen this guy play it was like using a fly swatter, he just picks it up and hits it.

I don't get it either!!!

GolfBald

That's got me thinking(!) golfb. My golfing friend, off eight, just simply won't practice at all and when I ask him "how do you do that?", indicating a good, long iron shot, he says, I don't know, I don't think about it!

As I say, I'm obsessive, and it's probably looking for that perfect swing that's getting in the way of my golf my swing! Unfortunately, I can't simply play to enjoy it.

(Why have you got that menacing picture of yourself up there, Mr "guy in the white hat"?)

My son draws pictues like that all the time, I seen it on the internet and liked it. I like how the eyes blink a little.

GolfBald