What do you consider a decent round?

[jvincent]

True, but that's why I said all other things being equal.

I have had days where I miss a bunch of greens but scramble like a madman and score OK and vice-versa.

[tigger12]

Good point.
But I don't think it is a linear improvement. 10% improvement doesn't translate to 10% drop in number of putts.
My point/opinion is a larger proportion of golfers who are mediocre ball strikers would improve their handicap more with short game improvements rather than ball striking. Again, I have no stats other than my experience.
I am not saying ball striking isn't important. I work all winter on it. But if someone made me choose between mediocore ball striking and good short game/putting or good ball striking and mediocre short game/putting I would go with the good short game.

[jvincent]

I always approach this debate with the same answer.

Track your game and analyze where you are losing strokes.

I did this when I was hovering around a 13 index and figured out that what was really killing me was bad tee shots to the tune of 5-6 lost shots per round. Once I fixed that I have been solidly in the single digits.

The harsh reality is once you get into the single digits you can't really afford any mistakes in any part of your game if you want to get better.

[DanCan59]

If I am between 75 to 79 I feel like I haven't made to many bad shots I really hate shooting 80

[jannypan]

Pretty broad brush, 10 strokes per category.

[Boostguy]

i selected 73-79
usually play around 75-79 and anything over a 82 pisses me off!!
my problem has always been the putter! i will hit most greens in reg with a lot of good birdie puts but I always find a way to miss!!