bobmac
Major Champion
Thank you Tony. Just pop the cheque in the post 
Lower your handicap without changing your swing
- Thread starter bobmac
- Start date
Its my understanding that the follow through is more relevent to flop shots with the 60* wedge...shortish backswing and a longer follow through helps to up quickly and land softly.....
But what do I know
But what do I know
HomerJSimpson
Hall of Famer
I have been working on the clockface drill. To start with my coach and I are getting use to 9 o'clock with different wedges to get a feel for distance etc. I am comfortable with it and the 10.30 swing but struggle a little with the shorter 7.30/8.00 swing. I'm pretty sure it is down to tension and not trusting the swing as the mechanics remain the same.
The only thing I am having to be conscious of is trying to keep my shoulders more level. I have a tendency to set up with the left shoulder much higher than the right which has caused me to come in way too steep and my plane is actaully way behind the impact position. I've found that the old towel under the arm drill has been great for making everything work on a better plane and to keep everything level and compact.
The only thing I am having to be conscious of is trying to keep my shoulders more level. I have a tendency to set up with the left shoulder much higher than the right which has caused me to come in way too steep and my plane is actaully way behind the impact position. I've found that the old towel under the arm drill has been great for making everything work on a better plane and to keep everything level and compact.
TonyN
Money List Winner
Twire, the reason I always follwed through ooo errrr is because I read it helps to stop quitting on shots. When I started playing, i did this all the time, resulting in a lovely 10 yard pitch, 50 yards from the green
is because I read it helps to stop quitting on shots. When I started playing, i did this all the time, resulting in a lovely 10 yard pitch, 50 yards from the green AlchemyGolf
Head Pro
Putting all your stats from your rounds into a stat collector is a good way to identify your weaknesses.
I use loopr all the time.
After HONESTLY putting as little as 5 rounds in, you start to see via the graphs where your game is letting you down and hence what to work on to improve your scoring.
EXAMPLE...If it were your short game you would see that most times you missed a green in regulation you dropped a shot.
It is all worked out on gross scores so a pattern does emerge very rapidly.
You can record 9 hole scores as well which I find helps me get into scoring mode when nipping down for an hour or 2 instead of letting my concentration wander.
I use loopr all the time.
After HONESTLY putting as little as 5 rounds in, you start to see via the graphs where your game is letting you down and hence what to work on to improve your scoring.
EXAMPLE...If it were your short game you would see that most times you missed a green in regulation you dropped a shot.
It is all worked out on gross scores so a pattern does emerge very rapidly.
You can record 9 hole scores as well which I find helps me get into scoring mode when nipping down for an hour or 2 instead of letting my concentration wander.
HomerJSimpson
Hall of Famer
alchemy
Have you considered scoresaver2. I and a lot of other forummers use it regularly and think it is the most comprehensive system out there
Have you considered scoresaver2. I and a lot of other forummers use it regularly and think it is the most comprehensive system out there
SammmeBee
Journeyman Pro
USe the club that allows for the shortest backswing in any given situation - therefore less chance to stuff it up....
HTL
Tour Winner
HTL
Tour Winner
Also done a 50yrd tips video:-
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/golf/7507441.stm
I reckon these are both ace and contain top advice.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/golf/7507441.stm
I reckon these are both ace and contain top advice.
RGuk
Tour Winner
I find all this talk about short game a bit odd. Doesn't everything depend on your (my) individual game.
Once I was consistently near the green (- GIR) nearly all the time, I worked on my short game like a madman for 8 months. Everyday, almost, a minimum of an hour.
What did I learn?....instead of playing off/to 12 (at the time) I started shooting mid-high 70s.....not bad!!
BUT, and this is where I get frustrated with the whole patronising "do your short game thing".....when I started playing again (after a good few years) all the stuff I'd learned was almost worthless, as my long game was costing me far more than I care to remember. Having a sharp short game (and getting up n down, say 30-50%) was hardly going to save my scores and get my h'cap down.
I rarely do anything silly around the greens and for me, at this moment in time, I'm giving my time to long game almost exclusively.....it's no good being able to get up n down from all over the park if your drives are in the trees and you can't reach the 450 yarders at all!!!
Once I'm hitting 6-9 GIRs and almost on another 6-9, then I'm give up my life to re-learn the skill that got me down to 8 with a rubbish swing!!!
Once I was consistently near the green (- GIR) nearly all the time, I worked on my short game like a madman for 8 months. Everyday, almost, a minimum of an hour.
What did I learn?....instead of playing off/to 12 (at the time) I started shooting mid-high 70s.....not bad!!
BUT, and this is where I get frustrated with the whole patronising "do your short game thing".....when I started playing again (after a good few years) all the stuff I'd learned was almost worthless, as my long game was costing me far more than I care to remember. Having a sharp short game (and getting up n down, say 30-50%) was hardly going to save my scores and get my h'cap down.
I rarely do anything silly around the greens and for me, at this moment in time, I'm giving my time to long game almost exclusively.....it's no good being able to get up n down from all over the park if your drives are in the trees and you can't reach the 450 yarders at all!!!
Once I'm hitting 6-9 GIRs and almost on another 6-9, then I'm give up my life to re-learn the skill that got me down to 8 with a rubbish swing!!!
Herbie
Tour Winner
I find all this talk about short game a bit odd. Doesn't everything depend on your (my) individual game.
Once I was consistently near the green (- GIR) nearly all the time, I worked on my short game like a madman for 8 months. Everyday, almost, a minimum of an hour.
What did I learn?....instead of playing off/to 12 (at the time) I started shooting mid-high 70s.....not bad!!
BUT, and this is where I get frustrated with the whole patronising "do your short game thing".....when I started playing again (after a good few years) all the stuff I'd learned was almost worthless, as my long game was costing me far more than I care to remember. Having a sharp short game (and getting up n down, say 30-50%) was hardly going to save my scores and get my h'cap down.
I rarely do anything silly around the greens and for me, at this moment in time, I'm giving my time to long game almost exclusively.....it's no good being able to get up n down from all over the park if your drives are in the trees and you can't reach the 450 yarders at all!!!
Once I'm hitting 6-9 GIRs and almost on another 6-9, then I'm give up my life to re-learn the skill that got me down to 8 with a rubbish swing!!!
I think you answered the short game question in your first paragraph there realgolfer
Im playing almost completely differently now to when I was off 6, it happens, but the one thing Im good at (most of the time) is short stuff, its this that allows me to play to hold onto my 9h/c
bobmac
Major Champion
A valid point realgolferuk. Everyone is different and play the game for their own reasons. All departments in golf are important, hence the phrase Drive for show, putt for dough. All I was saying is its easier for all shapes and sizes and ages to be good at the short game than it is the long game and thats got to save you some shots. You only have to watch how much time the tour pros dedicate to the short game to see the importance they put on chipping and putting.
AlchemyGolf
Head Pro
When I played full time or had a lot of time to devote to my game I NEVER solely worked on one area of my game.
Over a week I would work on all aspects.
Early in the week I would spend a lot of time on the practice ground and round the chipping green,Thursday and Friday were spent on the course.If you spend to much time on the range you forget how to keep sharp on putting a score together on the actual course.
Theres no doubt that A sharp short game can really help a higher handicaper shave a number of shots of there score.
But in my opinion if you want to get to single figures or near Cat 1 then you have to improve your ball striking and GIR% as well as being pretty sharp around the greens to keep the score together when it goes a bit pear shaped, which it does for everyone at some point no matter what standard they are.
Quote from Gary Player when talking about Seve
"No great player doesnt have a great short game"
Without a good short game you will never fulfill your full potential but that alone is not enough.
Over a week I would work on all aspects.
Early in the week I would spend a lot of time on the practice ground and round the chipping green,Thursday and Friday were spent on the course.If you spend to much time on the range you forget how to keep sharp on putting a score together on the actual course.
Theres no doubt that A sharp short game can really help a higher handicaper shave a number of shots of there score.
But in my opinion if you want to get to single figures or near Cat 1 then you have to improve your ball striking and GIR% as well as being pretty sharp around the greens to keep the score together when it goes a bit pear shaped, which it does for everyone at some point no matter what standard they are.
Quote from Gary Player when talking about Seve
"No great player doesnt have a great short game"
Without a good short game you will never fulfill your full potential but that alone is not enough.
HomerJSimpson
Hall of Famer
I agree with Alchemy ut when your short game has been as seriously flawed for as long as mine has it will take time to get the technique right and build good habits especially in pressure situations. I am looking at a 70-30 split between short and long game which in theory will keep the irons sharp (into greens) and the driving ticking over (fairways hit).
Obviously if I develop a long swing problem (slice/hook) then more time will be needed to remedy. However the general plan is to spend one evening a week on putting on the practice green (plus on the mat at home during the week), an evening on pitching, one on bunkers and chipping and another on the longer sticks. I plan to intersperse these with evenings on the course putting it all into practice
Obviously if I develop a long swing problem (slice/hook) then more time will be needed to remedy. However the general plan is to spend one evening a week on putting on the practice green (plus on the mat at home during the week), an evening on pitching, one on bunkers and chipping and another on the longer sticks. I plan to intersperse these with evenings on the course putting it all into practice
USER1999
Grand Slam Winner
My short game out on the course is ok, but I find if I practice it, it is terrible (only on the practice ground), with a mix of tops, fats, thins and shanks. I guess it must be a focus thing, but however hard I try to practice it, it is rubbish. Then I go and play, and it is ok.
I do practice putting though.
I do practice putting though.
RGuk
Tour Winner
Well said....my sentiments exactly.....
I know players off 18 who could easily be off 14 with a better short game. I also know players off 14 (including myself) who have the long game of an 18 and can't get near single figures......
My game could be summed up as ONE simple account of 4 holes repeated until 18 have been played!!
Par (1 putt) + Bogey (2 putt) + Par (GIR) + Double.
When I play to 12, it's almost worth filling in the card before I start.....8 pars, 8 bogeys, 2 doubles.....
So predicatable, I could cry!!!
Herbie
Tour Winner
Well said....my sentiments exactly.....
I know players off 18 who could easily be off 14 with a better short game. I also know players off 14 (including myself) who have the long game of an 18 and can't get near single figures......
My game could be summed up as ONE simple account of 4 holes repeated until 18 have been played!!
Par (1 putt) + Bogey (2 putt) + Par (GIR) + Double.
When I play to 12, it's almost worth filling in the card before I start.....8 pars, 8 bogeys, 2 doubles.....
So predicatable, I could cry!!!
I think based on what you have said, that you are on the brink of single figure h/c golf and its frustrating, I know?
Although every aspect of the game is important(personally I feel short game is more important than the rest of play), another important factor is the way you think through your round and the choices you may make. For example, if you feel your golf is predictable to a certain level could this way of thinking help keep you there?
RGuk
Tour Winner
It's a question I ask myself daily. It also explains why I play better when I don't have any preconceptions. How come I can shoot a 79 "blind" on an unknown track, yet never manage this at mine?? How come I seem to take more putts on a course with almost flat greens that I cannot read for toffee and yet chip the ball closer on more contoured greens and make more one putts because I know for sure which way the damn 5 footer will break!!
Golf eh! I'm looking forward to this season though, at least I can kick off the spring with a swing far more "in shape" than after last winter.
