Feeling optomistic / game nearly there but a question on practise...

[njrose51]

I have a question for you all...

But first, background. Played Sunday. 1 birdie opportunity, 2 pars, 7 bogies, new Callaway Utility Driving iron going well, 276 drive with 3 wood, came out of bunker lovely but my mistakes really cost me. 2 drives resulted in lost balls, only 1 out of 3 par 3s hit, fluffed a fairway bunker, 1 shank and 2 topped 2nd shots after putting myself in really good position on fairway. Learning all the time, practising as often as I can and have sporadic lessons. Having a Garmin S20 is showing where my weaknesses are, which if truthful, is pretty much everywhere. I've gone from 25.1 to 19.8 this year and finding it a bit of struggle to get anywhere near that new handicap recently.

But the game is nearly there so I am happy - to a degree - with progress. 5 really important games coming up between now and September to see if I qualify for my yearly final at the London Club.

So the question: Does anyone have any practise tips on any of the following:

Finding the green more on 2nd or 3rd shots with 9-7 irons - distance and direction
Judging chip and runs, pitches in terms of distance as I find I come up quite short using 7, 8, 9 PW or sand wedge
Stopping a fade as I seem to have developed a fade with my driving iron
Hitting more par 3s - either short and on target or left at correct distance

hope you can help.

Nick

 

[chrisd]

I think I'd try and get into a place like Wentworth, cosy up to the pro and ask him to help

 

[njrose51]

I think I'd try and get into a place like Wentworth, cosy up to the pro and ask him to help

hahahahaha! I like that a lot, thanks Chris! I might just try and sneak into the driving range and have a few words with the pro! :clap:

 

[pokerjoke]

A couple of things I have picked up that could really help you.

1. Get yourself a laser
2. Get your distances dialled in.

Pin high imo is nearly always best then at your level no disrespect the middle of the green is good.

 

[Region3]

Finding the green more on 2nd or 3rd shots with 9-7 irons - distance and direction

You don't have to find loads of greens to score well, but you need to lessen the miss-hits so you get around the green more, and also err away from whichever part of the green (left/right/short/long) is more likely to mean a horror score.

Judging chip and runs, pitches in terms of distance as I find I come up quite short using 7, 8, 9 PW or sand wedge

No shortcuts here. Practice. Either a practice green that you can chip on or a green on the course at a quiet time (the 1st around 8pm is normally good at ours) with various clubs and take notes (mental or otherwise) about how the ball reacts and rolls with each one.
Once you know those it's practising landing chips on a given spot. You don't need to see these roll so in your garden will do.
Then on the course you pick the best landing spot for the shot (normally most margin for error for me) and decide which club gives the right amount of roll.

Stopping a fade as I seem to have developed a fade with my driving iron

Unless it's a slice rather than a fade, just go with it. If it repeats you are a lucky man.

Hitting more par 3s - either short and on target or left at correct distance

See answer 1. Don't have to hit the green, just put it somewhere you're not going to take more than another 3 from.

 

[njrose51]

A couple of things I have picked up that could really help you.

1. Get yourself a laser
2. Get your distances dialled in.

Pin high imo is nearly always best then at your level no disrespect the middle of the green is good.

Thanks Pokerjoke. I did think about getting a laser, but in truth I can only really practise at the driving range which is always a bit tricky with the range balls so I sort have to take an average on how far can hit certain clubs. My Garmin s20 gives me front back and middle which is useful. I have tried to get distances dialled in but find it challenging to get consistent swings. I am planning on using none of my lessons to try and get my average distance for each key club - 6-9 though.

I might look out for a cheap second hand laser though as at least I can try and get better ideas at the range on distances. Cheers!

 

[njrose51]

Thanks Region, some nice ideas and thoughts there which I will try and use.

Re the chipping/pitching, its also knowledge of how far say a 9 or 8 will roll as I tend to come up short on these shots. Practise, practise and practise again really I suppose.

 

[Region3]

Thanks Region, some nice ideas and thoughts there which I will try and use.

Re the chipping/pitching, its also knowledge of how far say a 9 or 8 will roll as I tend to come up short on these shots. Practise, practise and practise again really I suppose.

Practice for long enough and you'll get a feel for it, but there's no secret instant fix. It wouldn't even help to say my PW is 50/50 carry/run because we might have different trajectories and spin with the same club.

 

[Deleted member 21258]

Agree with Region3, I have been dropping extra balls in socials games recently to practise chipping, as realised my chipping was not great and leaving to long a putt to save my par and it appears to be working.

Getting probably an extra 2-3 up and downs a round than 4 months ago. Its making my scoring a lot more consistent between my good tee to green days and bad. I suppose you only have to look at the pros to realise that. Practise practise and practise.