Practise Routines

[gazrow]

I have been playing golf very very occasionally purely for the social enjoyment for the past 2-3 years. Now that my career has settled (and I've gave up footy) and I have more freedom with my time I'd like to start playing to improve, gain a handicap, play in comps etc.

This might be too general a question, but can anybody recommend a practise routine they have followed that has helped improve their game?

I'm not interested in just wacking balls with my driver at the range, so if anybody (or a combination of people) has any ideas that could help me put together a sort of all-round game improvement routine that'd be great!

Gareth

 

[upsidedown]

Imagine you're playing 18 holes and your next shot is determined by the shot you have just made. So if you slice your driver , you're in the trees so need to punch out with a iron then hit a 3 wood and then wedge to a target 50 yards out .
Get the gist?

 

[ScienceBoy]

40% putting, 30% short game, 20% long game and 10% mental/game plan practice.

I spend a lot of time chipping a ball to 5 pins and practising getting up and down, my putting and chipping have both improved.

Also spend time getting 3/4 and 1/2 wedges and shot irons sorted out.

The rest of the time you can hit a bucket or two on the range with the longer clubs, but if you can hit three 7 irons and get up and down you can bogey most holes.

 

[gazrow]

Imagine you're playing 18 holes and your next shot is determined by the shot you have just made. So if you slice your driver , you're in the trees so need to punch out with a iron then hit a 3 wood and then wedge to a target 50 yards out .
Get the gist?

I do get the gist, and I think it's a great idea! Not something I'd do every time I practise but certainly will give it a go!

 

[gazrow]

40% putting, 30% short game, 20% long game and 10% mental/game plan practice.

I spend a lot of time chipping a ball to 5 pins and practising getting up and down, my putting and chipping have both improved.

Also spend time getting 3/4 and 1/2 wedges and shot irons sorted out.

The rest of the time you can hit a bucket or two on the range with the longer clubs, but if you can hit three 7 irons and get up and down you can bogey most holes.

I think that's all sound advice and I'll take it on-board.

In terms of goal setting. As somebody with no handicap, should I gain one before setting any short term or long term goals?

 

[ScienceBoy]

I do get the gist, and I think it's a great idea! Not something I'd do every time I practise but certainly will give it a go!

I have fallen out of favour with that one, I found its use was to practice certain tee shots for confidence on the course rather than playing 18. Much better to hit 1 bucket then head to the short game area than hit two buckets and go home.

Play an 18 around the short game area instead, each hole is a par 2 and "tee off" from both easy and tough lies, long and short.

And as for someone with no handicap, the three goals method I mentioned is perfect. It should help immensely!

A good target is always to get under 100 and the other is to play a round with the same ball from the first to last shot, even if this means playing VERY safe. When you can play a round with the same ball and score under 100 you are making progress!

 

[gazrow]

Thanks for that reply ScienceBoy, I like the 18 holes of short game idea! I also have a very well maintained Par 3 course near by that I can use for this.

I am shooting 100-120 at the moment, so hopefully with 'proper' practise and a more focused approach; shooting under 100 is a good goal to start with.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I use this which gives my practice some structure http://www.mygripzone.com/

 

[ScienceBoy]

Apologies, was thinking of a different thread.

here is the game plan link I was talking about http://forums.golf-monthly.co.uk/showthread.php?51871-Trying-to-break-100-The-3-Goals-Method

 

[gazrow]

I use this which gives my practice some structure http://www.mygripzone.com/

Thanks Homer, I'll check this out!

 

[gazrow]

Apologies, was thinking of a different thread.

here is the game plan link I was talking about http://forums.golf-monthly.co.uk/showthread.php?51871-Trying-to-break-100-The-3-Goals-Method

No worries, I had read this thread the other day so I knew what you were referring too. Definitely a plan I can use for my current aims. Will also remind me not to panic when I play a poor shot.

 

[morgs]

When I first started playing i would always struggle to break 110 let alone the 100. I then decided to play stableford and not to worry about how many shots i was taking so if i had a bad hole i could scratch it and carry on without it ruining my round. This worked quite well for me as i found i was under no pressure to hit the green in regulation but to take the full allowance of shots given to me from my handicap. The better the stableford score become i knew the better i was becoming.