Is perfection necessary?

I guess we're all guilty of trying to achieve perfection, or more likely letting the odd bad shot affect our game. A few stats from this year's European tour might make us realise that we may be setting our goals at unrealstic levels.

FIR 75.2% (Richie Ramsey). GIR 78.4% (Ernie Els). Sand saves 80% (Joe Kruger). Average putts per round 28.1 (Retief Goosen).

Yes, they play longer, tighter, courses but when you measure their ability against your own are you expecting too much from your game? And if you play with more freedom, i.e. less pressure, will you play better?

Comparing an amateur player with a tour professional is hardly fair, when one considers that they do it on a full time basis and are only a small percentage of those who play this wonderful game.

Stats don't mean a thing, as we all know, FIR is totally irrelevant, it is whether or not one has a shot at the green. I would be quite happy missing every fairway providing I was 300 yards from the tee and relatively safe in the first cut.

GIR's are also not that important when ones short game skills make  a mockery of the stat itself, especially when Sand Saves and 28 putts are being fed into the Stat.

I don't necessarily agree that they play longer and tighter courses, after all my course is the 17th longest in the country, with greens that would defy Retief and his 28 putt average.yet is not on the circuit.

So to compare us with them is a futile exercise. Pressure is self induced, one either suffers from it or one does'nt.

have to agree with you on that john http://www.golfshake.com/scripts/ckeditor/plugins/smiley/images/tounge_smile.gif" title="cheeky" width="20" />

have to agree with you on that john http://www.golfshake.com/scripts/ckeditor/plugins/smiley/images/tounge_smile.gif" title="cheeky" width="20" />

Sorry guys, I wasn't trying to draw a direct comparsion with their playing ability but was trying to show that they aren't necessarily the playing gods we think they are or that we should by trying to achieve the impossible, e.g. FIR 100%, GIR 100%, 20 putts.

Was it Peltz who wrote "golf isn't a game of perfect."

Bob Rotella Brian, http://www.golfshake.com/scripts/ckeditor/plugins/smiley/images/thumbs_up.gif" title="yes" width="20" />   are you expecting too much from your game?   Not anymorennnnnnnn

Not any more,changed my attitude over the last few months and tried to play more realistic shots, percentage shots or the boring ones compared to trying the improbable.http://www.golfshake.com/scripts/ckeditor/plugins/smiley/images/teeth_smile.gif" title="laugh" width="20" />

And if you play with more freedom, i.e. less pressure, will you play better? 

Definately,