Short Game lesson

[AMcC]

Had a short game lesson today at lunchtime with Ross Aitken at Rowallan Castle.

First time I have had a lesson specifically on the short game with him.

He let me hit some shots to 20, 40, 60 and 80 yard targets and recorded a couple of them.

He then explained the hinge and hold method a la Mickelson. From my original recording on his ipad it was obvious that I was too much hunched over the ball with my arms hanging down closer to my legs than vertical. Hope that explains how I was standing. Also my swing was around my body and I was using my wrists like I would with a normal iron shot.

So after a bit of further explanation and practice I was hinging my wrists much better and accelerating through the ball with my upper body and holding the wrists from turning over. Well I managed it a couple of times , at least I am remembering what I should be doing.

The biggest change was my posture, the before and after shots were different but didn't look hugely so, but it felt as if I was almost reaching for the ball, I felt that far away in comparison to my previous stance. Strange how to make a small change you have to do something that feels radical. Quite a bit of practice required on that before I go back for a further assessment. i would just hate to try and change something like this during the season, at least I have a couple months to work on it before the medals start.

He was also commenting on the lack of short game practice facilities in the West of Scotland and despite having some great clubs and courses the facilities for short game practice were badly lacking.

What are the facilities for short game practice like near you ?

 

[needmoreclub]

Like Ross Aitken states, ours are nil. Just got to do some at the range although it's not the same as hitting to real greens. Good luck with the lessons.

 

[stirry]

I think I must be one of the fortunate ones, play at Erskine & we have practice putting area, separate chipping area & practice range that is about 200 yards with flags at different distances.

Would you recommend the short game lesson? Have been thinking about it before the season starts.

 

[bigslice]

Had a short game lesson today at lunchtime with Ross Aitken at Rowallan Castle.

First time I have had a lesson specifically on the short game with him.

He let me hit some shots to 20, 40, 60 and 80 yard targets and recorded a couple of them.

He then explained the hinge and hold method a la Mickelson. From my original recording on his ipad it was obvious that I was too much hunched over the ball with my arms hanging down closer to my legs than vertical. Hope that explains how I was standing. Also my swing was around my body and I was using my wrists like I would with a normal iron shot.

So after a bit of further explanation and practice I was hinging my wrists much better and accelerating through the ball with my upper body and holding the wrists from turning over. Well I managed it a couple of times , at least I am remembering what I should be doing.

The biggest change was my posture, the before and after shots were different but didn't look hugely so, but it felt as if I was almost reaching for the ball, I felt that far away in comparison to my previous stance. Strange how to make a small change you have to do something that feels radical. Quite a bit of practice required on that before I go back for a further assessment. i would just hate to try and change something like this during the season, at least I have a couple months to work on it before the medals start.

He was also commenting on the lack of short game practice facilities in the West of Scotland and despite having some great clubs and courses the facilities for short game practice were badly lacking.

What are the facilities for short game practice like near you ?

not bad at my club we have a practise green out on the course, you could quite easily practise your short game out there

 

[SGC001]

It depends on what would you consider good practice facilities for the short game?

Practice green(s) with Tier(s)
Enough space
Different targets to hit too
Different tees to hit from (distances, angles...)
Different lies to hit from (fairway, 1st cut, rough..)
Different bunkers (type, length...)
Slopes to hit from and over
Time / chance to practice on it
Easy ways to measure performance
Place to hit from if weather is poor
Raised/lowered/level greens/tees

I've heard Woodhall is good.

 

[davidy233]

We've got a practice green with a couple of bunkers next to the main practice area

 

[AMcC]

not bad at my club we have a practise green out on the course, you could quite easily practise your short game out there

Except when its the winter and they are using it as the eight green

 

[Wayman]

one of the main reasons ive just moved club for better practice area
bigger field to hit driver at also 3 proper greens same as the course with a big chipping green at the top

will be living there when the warmer weather comes

 

[3565]

Woodhall Spa is the dogs bollo***. But you can't get on it if your a visitor paying a green fee. If your having a lesson with a pro then you can use it, or if a county player and getting county coaching. I'm not sure if the members can use it either?

 

[Deleted member 17920]

Woodhall Spa is the dogs bollo***. But you can't get on it if your a visitor paying a green fee. If your having a lesson with a pro then you can use it, or if a county player and getting county coaching. I'm not sure if the members can use it either?

Nope we can't use it unless its with a pro, same rules apply or it would just get torn to pieces. Is a fantastic short game area and I really should book a group lesson as they are fantastic value for money.

 

[AMcC]

[QUOTE Good luck with the lessons.[/QUOTE]
Cheers, already had some other full swing lessons and it has gone well, so continuing with it.

Would you recommend the short game lesson? Have been thinking about it before the season starts.

Yes, but I have just realised that the changes I need to do are quite big. Just glad there is a bit of time to practice before the season starts. If I was you I wouldn't leave it too late.

 

[Waitforme]

Not much in the way of facilities at my club , a practice green and bunker and that's about it. Luckily though the National Sports Centre is in town and they have a 1st class facility at Inverclyde.
I also use Ross for lessons and rate him highly.

 

[Doh]

We have two practice greens with bunkers plus a putting green that you can chip on.So not to bad.

 

[AMcC]

Luckily though the National Sports Centre is in town and they have a 1st class facility at Inverclyde.
I also use Ross for lessons and rate him highly.

Who can use Inverclyde ? If anyone can use it, how do you book it ?

Yes, like Ross, good guy, seems well respected as a pro about Ayrshire and coaches a lot of the county players as well as duffers like me 😉

 

[One Planer]

Most under-rated lessons, along side putting, out there.

I had a two short game lessons over November and January. Best £40 I've ever spend.

Unlike you, my pro has me working on the Linear Method and it's brought about noting short of a revelation in my short game!

 

[standrew]

Well i have used Bruntsfield pitch and putt (over all the piles of corpses from the black death), The optishot sim is pretty accurate for chipping but putting is dire. i have a 20 foot carpet runner running the length of my flat. My cats scratch the crap out of it, which actually ensures i am rolling the ball right to get over it.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Back to working on the short game today. Decided today that linear for chipping is the way forward but I'm not convinced it's the best format for my pitching. Prefer a more conventional method as distance control variable with linear. Our putting green has two tiers and plenty of holes to aim at.

 

[SGC001]

Nope we can't use it unless its with a pro, same rules apply or it would just get torn to pieces. Is a fantastic short game area and I really should book a group lesson as they are fantastic value for money.

I'd heard that, any idea how it works? Is it with one of the pro's at Woodhall or could your pro (if you played elsewhere) hire it or what?