Game improvementt over winter - what to do?

[splashtryagain]

I have decided to really work on my game over the winter with particular emphasis on the short side of the game. My plan is to really get on top of a bugbear of mine with 3,4 and 5 foot putt practice:angry: In addition i will be able to do an hour a week with my wedges. My query is whilst I have all these great plans I have no clue as to how to go about it in terms of the correct balance of skillsMost of the putting will be on carpet at home by the way. How do you do it / make it enough fun to stick with it? Is keeping some stats worth it? Could use excel to keep track and do graphs (everyone loves a graph don't they?) or is this too obsessive?

 

[HomerJSimpson]

My advice is boring and simple. Go to a PGA pro and get a lesson on chipping and putting and talk to him about some constructive drills to use so your practice is structured and goal driven

 

[Foxholer]

My advice is boring and simple. Go to a PGA pro and get a lesson on chipping and putting and talk to him about some constructive drills to use so your practice is structured and goal driven

I agree!

 

[splashtryagain]

Honestly hadn't really thought of that but it sounds reasonable, the only problem is a lack of cash with Christmas coming up so what to do until December pay day?

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I would still speak to your pro. He might be able to offer some tips pending the lessons. Better to do something properly than wasting hours on an incorrect technique or honing bad habits

 

[Andy]

Honestly hadn't really thought of that but it sounds reasonable, the only problem is a lack of cash with Christmas coming up so what to do until December pay day?

Get the lesson on TIC

 

[tallpaul]

Lots of Pro's in my area offer half-price or better for the first lesson. 30 min lesson for as little as £10 and should give you some pointers.

 

[Robobum]

Immediately seeking out a pro may not be necessary IMO.

Do you have prohibitive faults in your putting stroke or chipping action?? Have you identified what they are if any??

If you know what to do and how to do it, why line the pocket of someone else to confirm that??

Putting on carpet - use a smaller than the hole target to practice with....the end of a golf ball sleeve is ideal.

Chipping is all about landing spots, IMO, then experiment with different clubs to see how trajectory & spin give differing roll outs.

But then I have the attention span of a 2yr old and prefer to see it rather than be told it

 

[JustOne]

Immediately seeking out a pro may not be necessary IMO.

I agree. There's plenty enough information available on the web... I guess he should ask some fellow golfers for tips on a golf forum...... oh, hang on

 

[splashtryagain]

LOL:lol: - made me smile. the end of box hole sounds good - no room for error.

 

[Deleted member 3432]

sta, one thing I have noticed when we have played together is you take the putter back quite a long way on shortish putts. Looks like you decelerate the putter a little so worth looking at.

 

[David Lake]

Winter is the best time to begin improving your swing for next year. It sounds contrary that you can improve your swing during the winter months when you cannot go outside to the driving range or golf course; however, nothing could be further from the truth.

If you have enough clearance in your garage or basement to swing a golf club then you have a golden opportunity to greatly improve your swing, including your distance and accuracy, prior to the beginning of next year's golf season. The fact is that it is far easier to develop a fluid and powerful swing in your garage then it is at a driving range. Let me explain:

During the summer months when you are at the driving range or golf course working on your swing you have one single stumbling block to improvement - the golf ball. I know that sounds strange but it is absolutely true. Staring down at a golf ball produces a strong reaction in the brain of every golfer - it demands performance. As opposed to actually working on your swing (concentrating on your desired swing plane, your release, balance, etc.) your mind is engaged solely in hitting the ball to the exclusion of everything else. Consequently, any swing improvement takes much longer with much of the improvement coming by pure chance. For instance, if you are working on taking the club behind you instead of out to the side during your take-away (an extreme swing improvement technique) and you hit a few bad shots due to the fact that this movement is foreign to you, you will quickly revert back to your previous inefficient swing movement and dismiss any thoughts about changing it. The reason is simply because the presence of the golf ball demands immediate performance.

A much more efficient and powerful method of improving your swing is to eliminate this "immediate performance" criteria altogether which allows you to modify your swing without any initial negative feedback. Getting rid of the golf ball lets you concentrate on individual elements of your swing and really feel the movement which allows you to fully ingrain the elements of an improved swing in a fraction of the time.

In my garage I have a 4'x4' piece of short pile carpet with a 4'x4' piece of ½" foam rubber underneath. On the carpet I painted a small circle (the size of a golf ball) in glossy white where I would normally position my golf ball. Whenever I want to tune up my swing or correct any swing faults that may be present I simply pretend to be hitting shots off of the carpet ticking the white spot with the sole of my club-head through impact. What is very noticeable when you do this is that you can fully concentrate on your swing mechanics instead of concentrating on and having the pressure of producing a good shot. It is also interesting to note that you can actually feel the difference between a good swing and a not-so-good swing allowing you to immediately identify and correct any swing faults that may be present. At the end of your practice session you simply roll up the carpet along with the foam pad and stick it in the corner. I personally practice my swing in this manner four or five times a week year round and, believe me, it becomes scary how deeply you can ingrain a good swing.

 

[Stub]

Ask Father Christmas (otherwise knoen as Bob Mac) for a v-easy?

 

[NWJocko]

sta, one thing I have noticed when we have played together is you take the putter back quite a long way on shortish putts. Looks like you decelerate the putter a little so worth looking at.

I noticed this at Caldy aswell, although haven't when we've played previously so not sure you do it all the time?

I used to, and still do on occasion, do this and it makes the 3/4/5 ft putts more difficult. Now I try to swing back as far as my right toe but through much further, if that makes sense?!

 

[SocketRocket]

I agree!

I dont! :smirk:

Pros generally will say that putting is a personal thing and then show you how to chip the way they like to, then take <£ (enter a big number here)>

Try Phil Mickelson's book and/or Video on the short game. He has parts of it on UTube.

Heres one : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2iHZPIvGe-8&feature=related