A Better Place

[bdbl]

Brian and others, while I'm reposting from the other thread, perhaps I should mention that #3 is my priority.

OP
If I listed the 3 things that are currently stopping my score improving they'd be:

1) Loss of concentration on long putts which lead me to misread the line very badly.

2) Deacceleration on delicate chips which means a possible up and down takes 2 putts (at best)

3) Hitting at the ball. Nowadays I swing through "tick / tock" most of the time, sometimes though its like trying to clobber my worst enemy with a pick axe.

All 3 are "mental" problems.
All 3 I "should know better".

[Ian Hancock]

Re: A Better Place

Hi There,

Thank you for reposting this, hopefully the site may settle shortly.

I will offer my opinion on your problems if I may.

The first two are really easy to cure once you try this a few times and get used to doing it..........................................what is it........well set up to the putt or chip, one last look at the hole, then shut your eyes and go, takes a few attempts to trust yourself but you will be amazed how good you can be, more importantly you will get to grips with the FEEL required which is more important for the putt/chip.

Hitting through the ball is a little more difficult, all golfers including tour pros suffer this, alot depends on the lie, when it's difficult we hit at the ball, the only good drill for hitting through the ball is to place a tee peg about 5/6 inches infront of your ball when practicing and try to swing over it, be carefull not to over do this drill though, on the course pick a piece of grass infront of your ball and do the same.

That said I think it is more a mental thing, 'commitment' is the key, that comes with confidence, for instance if you can reach the par five in two because you have done it before then you will swing through the ball easy because in your mind it's easy to get on the green, however if you always attempt to get on but never quite hit a good enough second then you will always be tentitive until you get there a few times, hence the not so confident strike.

It's a vicious circle, once you achieve the next level, it become easier.


Hope this helps


Ian.

[bdbl]

Re: A Better Place

Hi Ian

Thanks for your comments, btw have you been away or just reading not posting?

Some extra information which backs up your "trust" suggestions.

I've realised that on the lag putts I tend to set up, rehearse and then readjust and I think this is where the misalignment comes from (rather than concentration per se). On the chips, when I assess the shot from behind I can see the line and where I want to land it, when I set up something goes "are you sure it's not that far surely".

In both cases "set up & go" and "blind for feel" seems something for me to incorporate into practice.

Hitting rather than swinging tends to happen (but not exclusively) on the tee but yes it is probably a question of trust and belief.

Your vicious circle comment amused me because I nearly posted the same on Scraggers "blow up hole" post.

High Handicappers have blow up holes which keep us high handicappers; if we didn't then we'd be close to single figures, and ofcourse, single cap players very rarely have blow up holes. Just like my "hitting" we have blow up holes because we try too hard, and once we stop having them we needn't try that hard.

Great game if you don't weaken.

[Ian Hancock]

Re: A Better Place

Thanks,

I do try to monitor a little more than reply nowerdays as there is such a vast wealth of information here now and no shortage of experts to help, I do find myself reapeating things over and over again.

I have had some concerns and reports latley about members posts so I have the unfortunate task of deciding what to delete, anyone can give any opinion on anything here but there is no need to snipe at each others comments, you have a choice to take on board advice or disguard it, it's up to the individual.

That's my soap box done...........!!

I find that putting with the eyes closed really works well, especially when the last look is at the hole not the first three feet of the putt, same for chips.

I like the theory about blow up holes, and of course you are correct, as you break each barrier, ie 100 / 90 / 80 you get better without doing anything really.

My advice to help any average higher h/capper would be to work on the basic set-up (alinement etc), swing plane, and tention or reducinging it.

These for me are the three main killers that stop the average guy enjoying a game of golf.

Cheers

ian.

[slater170]

Re: A Better Place

Brain and others, while I'm reposting from the other thread, perhaps I should mention that #3 is my priority.

OP
If I listed the 3 things that are currently stopping my score improving they'd be:

1) Loss of concentration on long putts which lead me to misread the line very badly.

2) Deacceleration on delicate chips which means a possible up and down takes 2 putts (at best)

3) Hitting at the ball. Nowadays I swing through "tick / tock" most of the time, sometimes though its like trying to clobber my worst enemy with a pick axe.

All 3 are "mental" problems.
All 3 I "should know better".

robin
*2 taking a shorter backswing helped me as i would decelerate after fearing longer backswing would have me overhitting the shot

[vp27519]

Re: A Better Place

Hi Bdbl,

I'd like to comment on your first two concerns.

Before I do I'd like to reinforce Ian's comments about committment.

If you are 100 percent committed to the shot, you stuff it up, well then you know it was the wrong shot.

If you are NOT 100 percent committed to the shot at hand, stuff it up, well you will never know if it was the right or wrong shot.

Your confidence will come from being 100 percent committed.

Putting, what helps me on long putts is thinking two putts. Rather than trying to sink the lil white pill, I aim for a spot a foot or two from it. If it goes in, it's a bonus. For a smooth stroke - think brush.

Chipping, subconscioulsy if one takes a too big of a backswing, they know they have to slow down when hitting it, to prevent the shot going too long.

Do what Slats said, decrease the length of the backswing, accellarate and trust it. Consider club selection too when chipping.

Sorry for the long winded response - but you know us gals.

[bdbl]

Re: A Better Place

2 down 1 to go

Played yesterday and chipping & putting vastly improved especially the lag putts.

Started badly , first hole pin high off the green in two followed by a diabolical skull across and off the green, a woeful return and two putts. After that I settled down to follow the routine I'd devised from your advice.

28 putts in all which was lucky given the rest of my game

To be fair the course was very very wet and I can't remember ever playing in such a strong wind - at times it just was not possible to take a stance.

However, did I accept the wind and just swing within myself? Or did I try and hit the cover off the ball - both to fight the head wind and take advantage of the tail wind? What do you think? And was it disastrous?

[vp27519]

Re: A Better Place

Bdbl,

28 putts fantastic (I'm assuming 18 holes).

The wind - accept that the conditions may reap havoc on your game. This will be less stressful and you may surprise yourself and have a blinder.

Now a wider stance to be more stable in the wind. Into the wind - easier swing with one or two more clubs. Down wind, less club and let it rip.

So why did you skull the first chip? Did you have the right club for the shot, ie, bump and run or pitch/high chip?

If it is a c r a p lie, don't use your wedge if possible. Perhaps consider 9, 8, or 7 and run it up. If you have to go over something keep the wedge's sole close to the ground on the takeaway - this will reduce the bounce.

[bdbl]

Re: A Better Place

28 putts fantastic (I'm assuming 18 holes).

Hi Nicole
LOL. 18 holes - cheeky whatsit yes it was, but was it fantastic? I'll come back to that.

Bdbl,
So why did you skull the first chip? Did you have the right club for the shot, ie, bump and run or pitch/high chip?

Why did I skull the first two chips? I hadn't warmed up properly (i.e. including chipping) and I rushed the shot, so basically my technique let me down - or rather I didn't give my technique a proper chance. Just stupid really.

The wind - accept that the conditions may reap havoc on your game. This will be less stressful and you may surprise yourself and have a blinder.

Now a wider stance to be more stable in the wind. Into the wind - easier swing with one or two more clubs.

I know, I know .....next time I'll try and do better.

Ok back to the putting. Thanks for the kind words and, yes I was very pleased that the short game was on song. It was a fantastic improvement of 8 or 9 shots on my last round - which sadly were blown away in the wind.

BUT was 28 fantastic in itself?

Perhaps this should be the subject of a seperate thread - or we can just wander of the subject - but I have a theory that 2 putts per hole or 36 per round is only par for those who have a high percentage of GIR.

For 18+ or (20 if its me) handicappers then because the first "putt" is often a chip or even literally a putt from off the green then I think par is roughly 1.5 per hole or perhaps 30 putts per 18.

Hence the importance of problems 1 & 2 in my OP - which thanks to you guys I have now a technique to work on; as long as I dont rush!

[Ian Hancock]

Re: A Better Place

I must just add to that thought about number of putts as this is a very interesting thought.

If I hit every green in regulation including par 5s in three and not two then with 28 putts I would shoot exactly 62. If I had 36 putts it would be level.

I must average between 28-36 putts per round and shoot anything from level to 8 over. Obviously I miss a few greens and sometimes the fairway hence high scores but I do like the theory that higher h/capper may have less putts per round.


Cool

Ian.

[BrianW]

Re: A Better Place

Hi Robin,

So your duck hook keeps reappearing? As it does not happen on a regular basis you will be changing something occasionally in your swing, the problem will be due to a very closed clubface through impact. I am afraid you will need to look at a few things until you get to the right one.

Grip. Are you checking your grip at every shot, make sure you don't start making it too strong or allowing your right hand to get under the left.

Alignment. Make sure you are not aiming too far right of the target in an attempt to stop the ball going left, it will promote exactly that as you pull your arms around the body and across the ball, thus closing the clubface. Set up parallel left or even very slightly left of target.

Takeaway and follow through. Check the clubface at the end of the takeaway, the leading edge should be pointing directly upwards and square to the front. after impact stop your swing when your arms are fully extended in front of you, again check the leading edge is pointing directly upwards.

EDIT:

Another point: You could be overpowering your left hand with your right in an attempt to hit hard at the ball. Try maintaining a flat left wrist through impact and some hinging back in your right wrist that straightens just past impact, as your right wrist turns over the left.

Look at these first please Robin.

[bdbl]

Re: A Better Place

Hi Robin,

So your duck hook keeps reappearing? As it does not happen on a regular basis you will be changing something occasionally in your swing,

Make sure you are not aiming too far right of the target in an attempt to stop the ball going left, it will promote exactly that as you pull your arms around the body and across the ball, thus closing the clubface.

Brian

Thanks, an interesting thought on the alignment; that gives me something simple to be aware of on the course - which I like because I can cope with simple - at the range the problem has 99.99% gone (the kiss of death saying that I suppose) thank god.

I also like the idea because whilst the DH does reappear occassionally it really is only on the one hole - where it was always worst in the past. It may well be that expecting / fearing it on this hole I do aim right - in fact looking back I can see myself doing it.

Monday was particularly bad because I was also hitting at the ball (against the wind) which always promotes a round the body pull for me.

Put the two things together....

[Edit: Just saw your edit and, yes, that is a distinct possibility, a par 5 and unless the tee shot is good no chance of (me) carrying the water on the 2nd shot, especially into the wind and therefore getting on in 3.

Do I hear a chorus of use your handicap you muppet, lay up in 2 put the 3rd in wedge distance, take your bogey and walk on. I normally tell myself that on the next tee]



Cheers

Robin