The good news is that you can shoot lower scores

First, probably NOT by using the 'stack and tilt' method and second, they will not be much lower at all. Additionally, most people will never improve their scores, ever. I have no scientific evidence to support my theory, only thirty plus years of seeing players of all levels as they progress and advance in age.

Unlike some people, I guess, every person I follow on Twitter has some relationship with golf. They are either selling improvement products, equipment, travel arrangements, apparel or just scribbling words on a golf blog, like yours truly. According to what I have seen on theses tweets, I could jump to being a scratch golfer from a twenty-five handicap in a matter of weeks. One product guarantees a 7-8 stroke reduction, this putting method makes you drop another 4-5 shots, you can 'think' your way to cutting the remaining handicap in half and the 'stack 'n tilt' cleaves those final pesky strokes. These people should be multimillionaires and the average handicap in America should be 0ne (1), not seventeen (17) as it has remained for the past couple generations of golfers.

Even I had to read that last sentence again. Your question probably is, "Why is it we are driving the ball 40 yards longer, are hitting 8-irons when it used to be 6-irons, can stop a screamer from the rough on a dime and the courses are manicured like billiard tables, but we fail to improve regardless? The answer is - I have no effin' clue. But, it is true. Naturally, I am the exception. I got dramatically worse. But, that's a different story.

There are a couple exceptions. The first is the beginner. He or she will improve and shoot lower scores for 2-4 years. Many 120+ shooting seniors just retiring are shooting in the 90's and 80's within 1-2 years. If they are playing regularly and are not breaking 100 in a year or so, it is unlikely they will ever do so. Very few of them get to single digit U.S.G.A. levels. Secondly, those who were weekend golfers and have played rather well over the years and can now play more frequently, may drop as many 5-6 strokes just by playing another 2-3 days per week. Most of this improvement is the touch and feel improvement brought on by playing regularly. You do not have to reinvent the wheel every Saturday morning.

In over thirty years, I have seen very, very little long term improvement for golfers of all levels as a result of professional golf lessons. Driving the ball forty yards longer rarely improves scoring because the second shot still rarely gets inside 6-7 feet - the true scoring zone. The same thing holds for hitting 8-irons where you used to hit 6-irons. The same with three wedges - regardless of lofts.

My study group numbers in the thousands. I have played with every group at my club over a thirty year period. Whether it is the AARP's (retired guys), the Twinks (our stars) or the groups in between, I have seen them all. We also have numerous scrambles and other various weekend tourneys. I play sometimes with guys I first played with when I could not break 110. I see the improvements as mentioned above, but very little, if ANY, otherwise. Many buy brand new drivers, iron sets, wedges, heavy putters or light putters, swing gloves, Stan Utley and Dave Pelz books by the gross and no real long term improvement is experienced. Sorry.