Wedgin' it close

[kid2]

Iv got into a slightly obsessive compulsive routine at the range lately with my wedges...
PW,52,56...

Its got to the point now that they are the only clubs that i take to the range with me that i cant wait to start hitting.....
Im not good with a driver but i think that the nights chipping balls out the back yard and my practice with the wedges have been a big influence on my game lately....

Now im not knocking flags down on every green but i would be confident of leaving myself 15-25ft putts from 60-70 mtrs out.

I want to make this the strongest part of my game but im worried that ill neglect other areas if i keep doing what im doing at the moment....

 

[chris661]

I read somewhere (rotella books?) that you should spend something like 4:1 on short game:long game. It's all about balance although, for me, long game practice takes care of itself in bounce games.

 

[spawn_ukuk]

Wedges will always be biggest part of the game
Its good you practise it alot with them but if its taking you too many shots to be able to use your wedges and then putt its pointless
you gotta keep up the work too with your long stuff, aint got be perfect but good enough

 

[Neddy]

Let me put it this way, I shot my best score for some time on Sunday. I drove the ball like a ****, but some of my play from 100 yards and in was the best i have ever managed.

I am not going to neglect the driving (lesson booked) but they call them "scoring clubs" for a reason

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Totally agree. Spending a lot of time on the short game. I've neglected my apprach shots from <100 yards since the winter trying to bed in the new one plane swing and breathe life into an ailing short game. It is all about the pitching, chipping, putting and bunkers over the next few weeks now. If I can get this firing and tied in with the quality of my ball striking at the moment then I have the potential to go silly low. It is certainly bubbling under

 

[StrangelyBrown]

I read somewhere (rotella books?) that you should spend something like 4:1 on short game:long game. It's all about balance although, for me, long game practice takes care of itself in bounce games.

We must be reading "Golf is Not a Game of Perfect" at the same time.

He advocates 75% of your practice time on < 120 yards. I think he's right. If you can up and down from that range 4 out of 5 times you'll shoot a good score.

 

[bladeplayer]

Wedges will always be biggest part of the game
Its good you practise it alot with them but if its taking you too many shots to be able to use your wedges and then putt its pointless
you gotta keep up the work too with your long stuff, aint got be perfect but good enough

How true is this .... ! mate of mine went the same as kid , short game/ wedge mad , he was a decent enough driver of the ball ,as good as it would be there is IMO no point in razor sharp from 100-120 when your driving leaves aproaches of 170-175 away .. game needs balanced practice , maybe slightly focusing on the short game ..

Personaly i think you will score better over the season with a decent all round game , rather than a sharp short game & bad at the rest ..

 

[JustOne]

Depends how you view your own game really, if you are one of those guys that wants to hit 5-iron 200yds flush off the sweetspot and drop within 6ft of the pin everytime then good luck to you!

If you see the course in that you can basically reach EVERY par4 or par5 in 3 shots then your 3rd shot becomes the most important... put it stone dead and you've made par/birdie.

Take the pressure off your tee shot and find the fairway, second shot just needs good contact to get you close to the green and you're almost marking a par on your card.... simples.... (apparently)



We are not pros so our expectations need to be REALISTIC.... we can all talk a good game

 

[G1BB0]

some more than others

 

[duncan mackie]

most under estimate the relative impact of confidence, and how the way you approach a hole actually starts with your putting confidence!!!

if you feel good from 6' you take the pressure of your chipping and long putts (such that you end up with less 6' putts!)
now you know you will get down in 2 easily if you are a little wide, you take the pressure off your approach shots (such that you end up putting for birdie more than having to scramble!)
if you know you will get close to the green, such that you will probably make par from 180yds you take all the pressure off your tee shot.........getting the picture?

so building the competence and confidence in your shot game is actually the key to performing off the tee for most golfers.

 

[Oddsocks]

most under estimate the relative impact of confidence, and how the way you approach a hole actually starts with your putting confidence!!!

if you feel good from 6' you take the pressure of your chipping and long putts (such that you end up with less 6' putts!)
now you know you will get down in 2 easily if you are a little wide, you take the pressure off your approach shots (such that you end up putting for birdie more than having to scramble!)
if you know you will get close to the green, such that you will probably make par from 180yds you take all the pressure off your tee shot.........getting the picture?

so building the competence and confidence in your shot game is actually the key to performing off the tee for most golfers.

a very interesting approach. and not one id considered although it does make logical sence,

 

[DaveM]

most under estimate the relative impact of confidence, and how the way you approach a hole actually starts with your putting confidence!!!

if you feel good from 6' you take the pressure of your chipping and long putts (such that you end up with less 6' putts!)
now you know you will get down in 2 easily if you are a little wide, you take the pressure off your approach shots (such that you end up putting for birdie more than having to scramble!)
if you know you will get close to the green, such that you will probably make par from 180yds you take all the pressure off your tee shot.........getting the picture?

so building the competence and confidence in your shot game is actually the key to performing off the tee for most golfers.

Yes does make sense.

 

[ScienceBoy]

so building the competence and confidence in your shot game is actually the key to performing off the tee for most golfers.

Good thoughts! I will keep those in mind! I think bob has a name for that approach to the game... It does make a lot of sense and I would like to think I do some of it already.

 

[chris661]

We must be reading "Golf is Not a Game of Perfect" at the same time.

He advocates 75% of your practice time on < 120 yards. I think he's right. If you can up and down from that range 4 out of 5 times you'll shoot a good score.

Phew. Wasn't sure if it was will need to dig it out again and have a flick through.

 

[Mattyboy]

I always evaluate my weekend game and try to strcuture the following weeks practice around it. E.g. My last comp. I will never ever break 70 wedging it in like I did, putting like I did and general iron striking and need to improve these areas.

Where wedges are concerned, I use the 10 foot rule - inside is a good shot.

 

[Alex1975]

What does your short game work out consist of Kid? What do you do in the garden?

 

[CMAC]

my best rounds have been when my short game was excellent, no fear even on flop shops, bunkers were a breeze and I expected to hole chips and putts under 15 ft.

Now my short game is pants the long game is affected badly and scores have rocketed.

So short game is the focus, dumped a vokey wedge and changing away from the old tradition style of weight on left foot, shaft lean etc look at the pitching article in this months GM

 

[Oddsocks]

I always evaluate my weekend game and try to strcuture the following weeks practice around it. E.g. My last comp. I will never ever break 70 wedging it in like I did, putting like I did and general iron striking and need to improve these areas.

Where wedges are concerned, I use the 10 foot rule - inside is a good shot.

sounds like we are the same there, practice what was slacking so to speak.

 

[garyinderry]

We must be reading "Golf is Not a Game of Perfect" at the same time.

He advocates 75% of your practice time on < 120 yards. I think he's right. If you can up and down from that range 4 out of 5 times you'll shoot a good score.

if you can get down from 120yards 8/10 times you can join the tour!

 

[StrangelyBrown]

if you can get down from 120yards 8/10 times you can join the tour!

:rofl:

I never said I could do it myself

Plus < 120 yards could be a yard off of the green, I'd be pretty confident that I could get up and down from there.

Maybe