Golfmmad
Tour Winner
Yeah, I too say good on the lad, and do admire the dedication. As you've probably gathered, just not for me 
Golfmmad.
Golfmmad.
You need a Tape Measure........
- Thread starter Macster
- Start date
Macster
Journeyman Pro
It is a different game, he uses a set of pure blades, so thin you could cut your hand on, hits a 3wood prodigious distances with great accuracy, and even when I was adjacent on a fairway, he was hitting at least a club less, sometimes 2.
Oh, and when he did miss a green, that short game that he practices with his Tape measure, pretty much got him up & down every time.
Pleasure to watch and 'try' to emulate.
Oh, and when he did miss a green, that short game that he practices with his Tape measure, pretty much got him up & down every time.
Pleasure to watch and 'try' to emulate.
Don't get me wrong I think its admirable that a guy should go to such lengths in pursuit of his dreams and from what has been said it's clearly working. My only problem would be that in trying to achieve his goals he runs the risk of becoming to obsessibe about the little things and that measuring to that degree must take away some of the natural flair.
It still seems a very peculiar drill and rather unique as I've never heard of it before and wonder if any of the tops pros are actually as equally concerned to that degree.
It still seems a very peculiar drill and rather unique as I've never heard of it before and wonder if any of the tops pros are actually as equally concerned to that degree.
haplesshacker
Money List Winner
Just to play devils advocate Homer.
"It still seems a very peculiar drill and rather unique as I've never heard of it before and wonder if any of the tops pros are actually as equally concerned to that degree. "
Okay. But that's todays Pros. What about tomorrows Pros? What lengths will they need to go to in order to win?
Was anyone anywhere near as fit as Schmacher was before he came along in F1. Did anyone think that a sub 10 second 100 metre was impossible once upon a time? That was until better training and understanding of the body came along.
Who knows what will be required by sports persons to achieve the ultimate goal and be number one in a few years time. Let alone in 10 years time?
As I said. Just playing devils advocate.
"It still seems a very peculiar drill and rather unique as I've never heard of it before and wonder if any of the tops pros are actually as equally concerned to that degree. "
Okay. But that's todays Pros. What about tomorrows Pros? What lengths will they need to go to in order to win?
Was anyone anywhere near as fit as Schmacher was before he came along in F1. Did anyone think that a sub 10 second 100 metre was impossible once upon a time? That was until better training and understanding of the body came along.
Who knows what will be required by sports persons to achieve the ultimate goal and be number one in a few years time. Let alone in 10 years time?
As I said. Just playing devils advocate.
No HH I agree with you. Every sport has progressed and developed and I'm sure golf will continue to do so. I just don't think in a game that has so many variables anyway that there is a need to worry or indeed an ability irrespective of how good you are or want to become, to control a ball to that degree.
Woods, the best golfer in the modern era, has said befire that he is sometimes happy when his game is off to fire at the middle of the green and rely on his putter to do the work. If the number one is saying he can't control it every time then isn't it futile to waste so much time measuring shots into greens. Surely it would be better to focus on chipping stone dead as often as possible, getting up and down from bunkers and having more control and hitting more GIR's. Like I say I admire the dedication but question the need to take it that far.
Woods, the best golfer in the modern era, has said befire that he is sometimes happy when his game is off to fire at the middle of the green and rely on his putter to do the work. If the number one is saying he can't control it every time then isn't it futile to waste so much time measuring shots into greens. Surely it would be better to focus on chipping stone dead as often as possible, getting up and down from bunkers and having more control and hitting more GIR's. Like I say I admire the dedication but question the need to take it that far.
Macster
Journeyman Pro
"Surely it would be better to focus on chipping stone dead as often as possible"
....which is exactly what he's doing ???????
Hit a ball to each target/distance, 30/50/70yds....back to 50.......varying it all the time, and measure to find the average away from the Pin, and then over time, hopefully get the average down, and be closer to the pin all the time, hence more saves, more birdies, and more Par's.
....which is exactly what he's doing ???????
Hit a ball to each target/distance, 30/50/70yds....back to 50.......varying it all the time, and measure to find the average away from the Pin, and then over time, hopefully get the average down, and be closer to the pin all the time, hence more saves, more birdies, and more Par's.
RGDave
Money List Winner
I have to admit that when I work on a similar drill, rather than use a tape measure, I just measure using the putter - those within a full putter length and those within the grip length
You must be good or joking. If I measured my pitching with putters, I'd need about a dozen.
t.b.h. from 50-70 yards you'd need more than perfect distance technique to save pars all the time. Wind? elevation/drop to green? type of ball/amount of spin? - surely it's a minefield.
Watch the very top guys; half the time they fire at the pin and end up further away than with a full wedge shot...either due to too much or not enough spin.
Leftie
Tour Winner
As usual there are a lot of posts about how "over the top" this is, based on the poster's perspective.
All the guy is trying to do is practice getting close to the target from different distances. So he allegedly uses a tape measure to get his average dispersion. So what. Some people on here use a GPS device to see how far they they hit the ball with specific clubs. What's the difference?
I can guarantee that if most of us applied a bit more dedication to our short game like this guy on a practice ground rather than bashing balls on a range then our handicaps would drop rather quickly. But I suppose that there is more kudos in hitting the fence at the back of the range while working the ball either way than practicing the shots that get you up and down if you miss the green.
All the guy is trying to do is practice getting close to the target from different distances. So he allegedly uses a tape measure to get his average dispersion. So what. Some people on here use a GPS device to see how far they they hit the ball with specific clubs. What's the difference?
I can guarantee that if most of us applied a bit more dedication to our short game like this guy on a practice ground rather than bashing balls on a range then our handicaps would drop rather quickly. But I suppose that there is more kudos in hitting the fence at the back of the range while working the ball either way than practicing the shots that get you up and down if you miss the green.
Leftie
Tour Winner
"You must be good or joking. If I measured my pitching with putters, I'd need about a dozen."
Joking, of course.
Joking, of course.
RGDave
Money List Winner
I think I see the difference. Point is, we were talking pitching. How many 30/50/70 yarders does a good player face a game....? not that many unless he's got in trouble or on par 5s. A killer chipping game could be needed on 9/10/11? greens a game.
I'd fancy my chances to score better with spending my time on short-range chips, not the pitch distances. On a given average round, I may only have 1 or 2 30/50/70 yarders, but might miss all 18 greens.....tough to play to 80 (or so) if you miss all the greens but are red hot at only pitching.
My point exactly. I understand the need to get a complete feel for a dialled in swing from these numbers if he was playing them often but a scratch golfer would hope to be greenside on all par 4's and in the modern era, most par 5's. Apart from trouble off the tee or specifically leaving those yardages in, sure it is what Jacklin calls "the fiddly bits" around the green that would warrant more attention.
Let me reiterate I think what he is doing is fine if he thinks it will help him achieve his goals. As someone who hit hundreds of balls last summer focussing on his swing way too mcuh and losing everything in terms of technique, I understand how the need to have an A+ short game is crucial. As a result I'm spending more time on the chipping area, and practice bunker as well as the putting green and have seen an improvement even for my mediocre standard rather than bashing balls (I still can't hit the back fence at my local range).
THere are far more shots played from 20 yards and less than 30, 50 or 70 and that is why I think it is a little unusual
Let me reiterate I think what he is doing is fine if he thinks it will help him achieve his goals. As someone who hit hundreds of balls last summer focussing on his swing way too mcuh and losing everything in terms of technique, I understand how the need to have an A+ short game is crucial. As a result I'm spending more time on the chipping area, and practice bunker as well as the putting green and have seen an improvement even for my mediocre standard rather than bashing balls (I still can't hit the back fence at my local range).
THere are far more shots played from 20 yards and less than 30, 50 or 70 and that is why I think it is a little unusual
Adjani
Assistant Pro
Its a score focused drill for distance control, completely standard at his level, not obsessive or over the top at all.
Many golfers here can do the same thing (maybe do)
At the range, hit 10 3 woods at a pre-set fairway (between distance markers) how many land in the target zone. Note your score out of 10.
Do the same with a Driver or 5 wood, note your score.
Pick a flag 150 yards away, hit ten 9 irons at the target, how many land within a 5 yard radius, note the score.
Try the Driver, 3 wood 5 wood drill again, try and score better this time.
Same score setting drills work for putting, chipping, bunker play and pitching.
It focuses your mind for every shot, it simulates a degree of pressure, and gives you good feedback on progress.
Many golfers here can do the same thing (maybe do)
At the range, hit 10 3 woods at a pre-set fairway (between distance markers) how many land in the target zone. Note your score out of 10.
Do the same with a Driver or 5 wood, note your score.
Pick a flag 150 yards away, hit ten 9 irons at the target, how many land within a 5 yard radius, note the score.
Try the Driver, 3 wood 5 wood drill again, try and score better this time.
Same score setting drills work for putting, chipping, bunker play and pitching.
It focuses your mind for every shot, it simulates a degree of pressure, and gives you good feedback on progress.
I think a lot of us can relate to the drills you're talking about but I don't know of anyone who takes it to that level specifically on shots of 30, 50 and 70 yards as described.
jammydodger
Tour Winner
Sorry guys but I think the guy is spot on. No disrespect but some of you guys who are putting the guys drills down a wee bit arent very good golfers in fairness. He is a good golfer and it doesnt take too much working out why. He has set practice drills to make his short game better and obviously takes them seriously. If you dont think that 30/50/70 yard shots are worth practicing then that just confirms my point.
Remember this is only one of many drills he will be working on and the people who are monitoring his progress all know how important the really short game is and will have told him to practice each drill a certain amount of his overall time. He maybe only does this one drill 5% of his practice time.
Give the guy and others like him a break and try to learn from them not have a go at what they are doing. They have a winning mentality and an inner drive to be the best they can be. A lot people on here havnt the time or inclination to even put in 10% of the practice time these guys do and then wonder why they blow up a couple times each round. If only i'd not got that triple here and that double there , quite simple really....
Remember this is only one of many drills he will be working on and the people who are monitoring his progress all know how important the really short game is and will have told him to practice each drill a certain amount of his overall time. He maybe only does this one drill 5% of his practice time.
Give the guy and others like him a break and try to learn from them not have a go at what they are doing. They have a winning mentality and an inner drive to be the best they can be. A lot people on here havnt the time or inclination to even put in 10% of the practice time these guys do and then wonder why they blow up a couple times each round. If only i'd not got that triple here and that double there , quite simple really....
USER1999
Grand Slam Winner
For me, his practice is bang on what I should be doing. For me, 50 to 70 yards is a nasty half swing, and prime shanking territory. Closer than 40 yards I am pretty good at, longer than 80 is ok but not great. I also always seem to leave this sort of distance (about 6 times a round, due to some long par 4s). I would rather be 110 yards away than 60.
Ah, yes. But what to practice if it takes you 5 shots to get within 60 yards ?
If you gotta chip in to save a blob you don't need the tape measure, do you ?
jammydodger
Tour Winner
Ah, yes. But what to practice if it takes you 5 shots to get within 60 yards ?
If you gotta chip in to save a blob you don't need the tape measure, do you ?
Aha CH you old dog you. I would say that a little more practice on the longer game may be in order in this case , and maybe a bible to help you pray for some divine intervention
The lower and lower you go then the more important it is to have a razor sharp short game as you dont have the strokes to fritter away around the green. The majority of cat 1 golfers probs dont have much dificulty getting it around the green in 2 or at worst within 50 yds. What happens from there is the difference between the scratch/plus h/c's and the 3/4/5 h/c's IMO
RGDave
Money List Winner
Fair point, for sure. But a tape measure? I think practising 30/50/70 etc. is well worth the time and energy, I even do it now and again. But measuring to that degree strikes me as somewhat overkill or maybe even into "poseur" territory.
He's right to practice it, and hard too, of course.
Are Rory and Paddy out with their tapes? Does Paul Casey or Lee Westwood have one hanging off the side of their bag whilst out on the course?
I admire the commitment and agree with not bashing such invention.....in fairness to those of us that think it's a bit odd, we were't slagging off the chap's drive and ambition.
colint
Tour Rookie
I don't see why it's being regarded as odd. How can he measure if he's getting any better if he doesn't measure it ? Whereas we might do a simialr session and think it went OK, he's able to say "3 feet today, not good enough etc".
RGDave
Money List Winner
I kind of understand....really, I do.
BUT, I watch the "proper" golfers at mine on the ground practising their pitching. The asst. pro uses some mini flags or sometimes bollards/traffic cones or something.
These guys are ace. They pitch 10 balls (whatever) at each flag, then go and see how they are spread around the target. Some are spot on, some are up to 5 yards long, some up to 5 yards short.
Where does one draw the line? If our asst. hit a few and then walked up with a tape measure, I'd say "fair play" but t.b.h. most of the members would take the mick. Is the O.P. suggesting the golfer (in question) uses the tape to measure out 50 yards precisely or measure the 87.567 cm's he's come up short with the 4th ball out of 12?
BUT, I watch the "proper" golfers at mine on the ground practising their pitching. The asst. pro uses some mini flags or sometimes bollards/traffic cones or something.
These guys are ace. They pitch 10 balls (whatever) at each flag, then go and see how they are spread around the target. Some are spot on, some are up to 5 yards long, some up to 5 yards short.
Where does one draw the line? If our asst. hit a few and then walked up with a tape measure, I'd say "fair play" but t.b.h. most of the members would take the mick. Is the O.P. suggesting the golfer (in question) uses the tape to measure out 50 yards precisely or measure the 87.567 cm's he's come up short with the 4th ball out of 12?
