Short Game Practice........how ?

[Macster]

So after the short game exhibition I received in being beaten 2&1 the other evening, I dropped round to the practice ground last night to start work on sharpening things up.
We have some flags set up there, so Wedge & 54* wedge got some use to a flag about 40yds away, but the ground was rough and hard in comparison to a Green you'd play to, and the balls kicked off everywhere, so it was difficult to take any positives apart from where they initially landed.

About 9pm, when the course cleared, I wandered onto the course with a 7i, 54* and putter, and did a bit of chipping etc around the greens on a couple of holes, not strictly 'allowed' (as its 'practice' on the course etc), but the only real test of how you're doing.

We do have a practice green, but you cant hit anything more than a gentle chip onto it due to the close fringe etc, so quite honestly, how do you all sharpen your Wedge Play ?

(Nb - I take very little Divot wherever I play from - usually ! So hardly damage anything !)

Cheers.

 

[Deleted member 15717]

We are lucky enough tohave a dedicated short game area with 4 greens at different yardages, and bunkers etc around it...so practice is done there!

 

[Aztecs27]

You'd be surprised how well you can improve your pitching (80 yards and in) by hitting to a flag on a practice ground). It's never going to give you 100% accurate results as to how the ball will land, but it's a good way of grooving your different swing lengths for different distances. Helped me no end after hitting endless balls to different flags on the driving range.


Chipping is another matter and unless you have a purpose built chipping green to practice on at your course, the only way is to practise on the course and hit a few balls at each green when the course is quiet. If practice on the course is forbidden at your place, then you have to either a.) be discreet about it, or b.) just play a lot of golf and make sure you miss the green every time you approach so you have a chip shot on!

 

[Robobum]

If you have a practice bunker away from putting greens then try pitching into the sand. Landing spot and distance control is the biggest factor you want to have with pitching.

Roll out and spin is something you've probably got a feel for already, eg. 3/4 wedges stop dead, 1/2 wedges roll out 15ft etc.

Drop 15 balls at any given yardage, sat 30yds, hit 5 each with your pw, sw and lob wedge pitching them on the fly in the sand. The different trajectories give you extra options to get at any flag necessary

 

[Birchy]

I sometimes go to the course about 6pm on an evening and tuck myself away on the 9th out of sight and practice chipping, pitching etc. Im sure you can find a quiet spot somewhere on your course to hide away and practice

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Its hard without decent facilities. There are a few places around our way (Wexham Park etc) that have a dedicated short game area you can use for a nominal fee. Might be worth seeing if any ranges have the facility and you can use them. The problem with going onto the course is sooner or later someone will see you and are you prepared for the inevitable grief that will come

 

[AMcC]

We have a practice area on the edge of the course, it is really split in to two areas. There is green shap area with a hole cut and flag. The green is not great but gives you something to aim at and has two practice bunkers, one on each side, so it looks the part. The bunkers are good and one is deeper than most of the bunkers on the course. !!!! The area is about 120 yards long, so ideal.

We have a practice putting green next to the clubhouse and you can chip on to this, I have even been chatting to the head green keeper when chipping on to it and he had no issues, just didn't comment on my chipping.

For a few days now I have been doing some chipping practice nearer home, on the grass in the back garden. Just working on position swing etc with my v easy and chipping plastic balls, not ideal but keeps me working on accelerating through the bal. Grass not too damaged yet

 

[Deleted Member 1156]

Something you can do to practice is a form of stableford where you award yourself points for different things. How about you award yourself a point for every fairway you hit but you then have to miss the green but award yourself a point for everytime you get up and down in 2 (or 3 or 4 or whatever target you set yourself). Set yourself a target of a certain number of points for your round and this way nobody will realise you are just practicising your short game

 

[JustOne]

The most important part of hitting shots from 40yds and less is where you want the ball to land.

(You've already guessed/decided how it's going to react by looking at the green in front of you... eg: it slopes away so you need to land it 20ft short)

So you need to practice landing the ball where you want to... so open your brolly and stab it upside down into the ground and use it to chip into from 40,30,20yds. It doesn't matter if the ball comes out, only that it lands where you want it to.

 

[bobmac]

And if your practicing your chipping, put a towel down at your landing area and practice lending the ball on it.
Those with 4 wedges may need to use a king sized bed sheet.

 

[Imurg]

We're quite lucky as we have a 9 hole par 3 course to practice on. Longest hole is 97 yards, shortest is about 57.
Bunkers, ditches, ponds and sloping greens make it tougher than you might think.
If the rain holds off this afternoon I'll be spending an hour there today....

 

[AMcC]

And if your practicing your chipping, put a towel down at your landing area and practice lending the ball on it.
Those with 4 wedges may need to use a king sized bed sheet.

Was using a car mat to aim at and try to land the ball on. Initially it was meant to be for chipping from but the grass wasnt being damaged so I actually got it right trying to land on it, even managed it a few times

 

[thecraw]

I actually find that the best way for me to improve or practice my short game is to introduce some sort of competition. I'll usually play Ball A v's Ball B. Or a Callaway v's a Titleist etc etc. Just gives me that bit of an edge when practicing!

Might sound stupid to some but it helps me!

 

[ScienceBoy]

I actually find that the best way for me to improve or practice my short game is to introduce some sort of competition. I'll usually play Ball A v's Ball B. Or a Callaway v's a Titleist etc etc. Just gives me that bit of an edge when practicing!

Might sound stupid to some but it helps me!

My favourite bit of any practice is making up games to play keeps it interesting.