bobmac
Major Champion
Thank you Tony. Just pop the cheque in the post
Tony, what one tip would you give beginners to improve their pitching and chipping?
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!!!
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.
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.
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?