I suck from 130 yds and in....

[Deleted member 18121]

Played yesterday to 17.... handicap had come down 7 shots in a year. But my accuracy really really sucks when going into flags.... just hitting greens isn't good enough, I need to step up my game and have some 1 putt attempts.

my distance control is ok, but could be better. But what I find more than anything is that suddenly when going for a flag I'll either pull the ball or hit a ridiculous slice. Yes I hit greens.... but need to be better.

what did you do to improve?

 

[Lump]

Stop flag hunting and putting undue pressure onto yourself. Aim for the right part of the green (correct level, correct side) and take things from there.
Also try hitting the next club up and hitting smooth rather than mashing a club the correct distance.

 

[SGC001]

Played yesterday to 17.... handicap had come down 7 shots in a year. But my accuracy really really sucks when going into flags.... just hitting greens isn't good enough, I need to step up my game and have some 1 putt attempts.

my distance control is ok, but could be better. But what I find more than anything is that suddenly when going for a flag I'll either pull the ball or hit a ridiculous slice. Yes I hit greens.... but need to be better.

what did you do to improve?

Saw this, whilst everyone will have their own strengths and weaknesses, it a guide to expected handicap performance.

 

[TheClaw]

Is this purely a problem from 130 and in? Or is it that you expect more from that range?

What's up worth your swing that causes a sliced wedge?

For me I'm just happy to hit the green.

 

[duncan mackie]

the closer you are to the target, the more you focus on it, the more you are likely to come up a little to see how accurate you have been........the less accurate you become.

pay more attention to the actually strike area and make a concious effort not to follow the flight of these iron shots - they will tend to go straighter.

 

[Deleted member 18121]

Is this purely a problem from 130 and in? Or is it that you expect more from that range?

What's up worth your swing that causes a sliced wedge?

For me I'm just happy to hit the green.

I expect better accuracy from that distance.... anything sort of 150+ I'm happy to hit greens, but when I'm coming in from 80-130 I'd like my line in to at least be decent, the distance control is another thing. I at least want the line to be good.

I think my my wedges I cut across the ball causing the slice... The pull shot is my compensating for the slice. I just can't seem to be consistent with hitting a target.

 

[Robobum]

I think my my wedges I cut across the ball causing the slice... The pull shot is my compensating for the slice. I just can't seem to be consistent with hitting a target.

All sounds relevant and related.

This issue will help cause both your directional and your distance control issues.

A swing video would be a starting point or have somebody knowledgeable have a look next time you are out

 

[Deleted member 18121]

All sounds relevant and related.

This issue will help cause both your directional and your distance control issues.

A swing video would be a starting point or have somebody knowledgeable have a look next time you are out

I'll try and sort a video.... last time I had lessons I was ruined for 3-4 months!

 

[Khamelion]

As mentioned above go a club or two less and swing easy. Last year at H4H playing with Bill Elliot I had a 120yds shot into the green, he asked what, I was going to play, I told him PW wedge, he suggested an 8 and we compromised on a 9, I hit a gentle 9 and it was controlled and the ball landed to within 6 feet.

I could've got there with a PW but it would've been a lash and would have been less controlled than the 9 was.

 

[road2ruin]

Already mentioned (twice) above but really do look at taking a club longer than you usually would and just hit through the thing. My short game vastly improved when I stopped taking the normal club and really going for it and just went with a nice smooth swing and just concentrate on hitting the green.

 

[HawkeyeMS]

Played yesterday to 17.... handicap had come down 7 shots in a year. But my accuracy really really sucks when going into flags.... just hitting greens isn't good enough, I need to step up my game and have some 1 putt attempts.

my distance control is ok, but could be better. But what I find more than anything is that suddenly when going for a flag I'll either pull the ball or hit a ridiculous slice. Yes I hit greens.... but need to be better.

what did you do to improve?

You need to lower your expectations, "just hitting greens" is what it's all about. Hit a lot of greens and two putt you won't be playing off of 17 for long.

 

[Deleted member 18121]

You need to lower your expectations, "just hitting greens" is what it's all about. Hit a lot of greens and two putt you won't be playing off of 17 for long.

I just get massively frustrated when I find myself with an 80-90 yard shot in... then end up with a 30ft putt. Drives me crazy!


I will try the club extra approach.... am hoping to head out on my lonesome on Thursday so will try some things out.

 

[HawkeyeMS]

I just get massively frustrated when I find myself with an 80-90 yard shot in... then end up with a 30ft putt. Drives me crazy!


I will try the club extra approach.... am hoping to head out on my lonesome on Thursday so will try some things out.

Me too but if you consider the middle ranked player on the PGATour for "proximity to hole from 75-100 yards" is 17ft average from the fairway and 25ft from the rough you have to ask yourself as a 17 handicapper how much more you expect?

Taking more club and swinging more smoothly should help, as will forgetting about the flag and just concentrating and making a good shot. Have a play about and see how you go but don't expect to be knocking them inside 10ft all the time, it isn't that simple and distance is the only "static" factor involved. There are a lot of variables that you can't control that make those shots difficult.

 

[the_coach]

Played yesterday to 17.... handicap had come down 7 shots in a year. But my accuracy really really sucks when going into flags.... just hitting greens isn't good enough, I need to step up my game and have some 1 putt attempts.

my distance control is ok, but could be better. But what I find more than anything is that suddenly when going for a flag I'll either pull the ball or hit a ridiculous slice. Yes I hit greens.... but need to be better.

what did you do to improve?

Once you've made sure you've aimed the leading edge of the club to where you want the ball to go, make sure your shoulders & hips are aligned parallel left of the ball/target/leading edge line, and your shoulders and hips are not aimed at target as well as this will stop you being able to swing the club to your target.

Then better if you try to feel your swing is the same pace back and through and controlled by you body turn & arms, and not your hands & arms independently with independent hands acceleration at impact, has to be smooth and one paced for accuracy.

Always swing through impact as far as your backswing, eg.3/4 to 3/4.

Clock face analogy good one to think of ie, club shaft back to 9 through to 3, 10 through to 2, etc. Go through the clock face in practice like this, smooth one pace swings, counting 1 & 2 if it helps keep the tempo back and through equal.

You'll see in practice with a normal grip (by that I mean one inch visible of the end of the handle) how far these shots go.
Then if you repeat with your hands choked down in the middle of the grip it'll give you different distances.

Say you for example you have 3 wedges 46, 52, 58 (what ever loft of your wedges, the gaps between better if equal) and do this practice with all three you'll find in practice you know pretty much how far you'll get with each with the different length of swing and different hand position in the middle of the grip. (you can even refine it down and have a third hand position with the right hand just an inch on the grip to the steel shaft.)

Then you'll have a better idea of how long the swing has to be for your distances from 130 in. You can be a bit more certain and relaxed about what's going on, on the course, make smoother swings and have better results. (this should also help you make sure you stay in posture through impact, getting anxious and standing up through the shot can produce the shots you describe)

 

[Dave B]

Adam a couple of points first is if it's not a wedge go for the middle of the green. Second point in your signature you list Nike VR Pro combos 4-SW, possibly not the easiest irons to use for a mid handicap player but more importantly what is the gapping of your wedges?

 

[Twin Lakes]

Shooting for the flag is best left for the good golfers. I'd just carry on hitting greens and 2 putting and you'll be single figures in no time.

 

[patricks148]

TBH, off 17 you are not going to be hitting many greens anyway, that why you have 17 shots to help.

 

[Foxholer]

I just get massively frustrated when I find myself with an 80-90 yard shot in... then end up with a 30ft putt. Drives me crazy!

This attitude alone puts unnecessary pressure on the shot!

 

[garyinderry]

sounds like there is something jiffy with the swing if you are slicing with that much loft in your hands.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Been working hard on 100 yards and in and my distance control especially on these in between yardages where I could hit a 3/4 (I never hit full out on my wedges) shot or take one more and make a shorter swing. I'm still a long way from where I want to be and I still need to be hitting more greens from further out but we'll see how I progress now the course is fully open