sdandrea1 I always figured that ho-ing on that scale was not really about playing better golf, but about chasing the dream of clubs that feel perfect, fly perfect, take perfect divots, etc. I think that deep down, we all play golf because of those shots, few or many, that feel great when you hit them. It's a drug.
But I'm not defending ho-ing. Just giving my best explanation for it. And I know it's not that simple.
The middle of my bag from 6 iron or hybrid to 4 hybrid determine whether I'm going to have a great day or not. On the rare day that my hybrids are on, I will shoot low. 7 iron and shorter are going to hit more greens than not, and most of the misses should leave fairly easy short game shots.
Our courses are playing long and wet. My last round, I only hit 2 greens, both with short irons. Mostly I was either laying up completely, or hitting something longer than 7 iron. And not well, hence all the missed greens. But I got up and down 9 times, and had 10 one putts. I'm sure both of those are personal bests. I shot 83, which was about the best possible score given how I was playing the 4 through 6 clubs on all of those approaches.
So what do I practice at the range? Hardly ever the hybrids. 😜
But you're right, driving the ball in play, which I did, and a good short game, which I had, can cure a lot of other ills.