some general playing tips

[aftford]

Hi Folks.

What would you think if you read, I can shave 5 or 6 strokes off your game in 1 week, with the swing you have right now!. Well believe it or not it is possible. Lets start where most mid-high handicappers throw away the most shots.
Putting.
1) my first tip is: always mark your ball, pick it up and clean it. You will be supprised at how many putts you will miss because of a dirty ball . Even if it looks clean, pick it up and give it a wipe.This also stops you from rushing your putt

2) On long putts , if the green looks pretty level and you are having trouble findind the break, just aim directly at the hole. If you get the pace of the putt there or thereabouts, you won't be that far out and you will leave yourself a nice easey 2nd putt.

3) Always let your through putt come to its own natural finish ( harvey pennwick always taught his students to keep the take-away and followthrough the same length. But i think this causes people to slow down through impact ,because they are concerned with the amount of follow through ), Let the length of backswing and speed of putt denote its own length of followthrough and you will find that you are putting with more freedom and fluidity.

4) Always take a couple of practice putts to try and gain a feeling for the length.

5) never let yourself feel pressured by playing partners into rushing your putt.

remember: treat a 2 foot putt exactly the same as a 6 foot putt, both need the same routine and amount of concentration.

think i'll wait for your feedback before going on to the next section.
Happy putting

[slater170]

Re: some general playing tips

hi andy
ironic you should post this. until recently i would walk up to the green take out my putter and just set up and putt, but after seeing how much improvement i have made in my ball striking due to having a pre-shot routine i applied one to my putting. it has had a dramatic effect so much so my playing partner swears ive been practising like hell!
taking time to read the green while cleaning the ball has improved my focus and of course the more putts you hole the more confident you become.
good thread mate

[aftford]

Re: some general playing tips

Thanx for the feedback Slats.

The reason i bagan this series was to show the mid- high handicappers that you can knock 6-7 shots off your score in 1 week and you don't have to fork out vast amounts of money for the privilage. Because here at GTO all advice is free.

I decided to start from the green and work backwards because , just by eliminating three putts you are going to save yourself between 5 and 10 shots per round. Its that simple. NO gimmicks.


Right , i've just finished a 12 hour night shift and i'm off to bed. Catch you all on the flip side

[GreeBoman]

Re: some general playing tips

Something I have started to use on all my putts, chips and pitches is to take my practice swings while looking at the hole rather than the ball.
This gives my body a much better feel for how hard/long I need to swing to get the ball to the hole.
Has really helped my lag putting and my chips.

[aftford]

Re: some general playing tips

Something I have started to use on all my putts, chips and pitches is to take my practice swings while looking at the hole rather than the ball.
This gives my body a much better feel for how hard/long I need to swing to get the ball to the hole.
Has really helped my lag putting and my chips.

An excellent tip GREEBOMAN ,which leads me nicely into the next section.
APPROACH SHOTS.
The aim of all these sections is, how to show mid-high handicappers how to shave shots shots off your scores. Not by showing you how to play these shots, but by advising you how to choose the right shot for any given situation. Since we have covered more or less, shots on the green,lets now take it back a little further to shots around the green.
Chipping and pitching.
When chipping and pitching most mid-high h/cappers are happy to just see the ball land somewhere on the green and then hope that it won't take too many putts to sink the ball.
You have to have the attitude that you want to sink every chip or pitch . Do this and i gaurantee you will leave yourself the shotest putt possible.But first, how do we know when to chip or when to pitch?

from Harvey pennicks little red golf book.
aways chip the ball if:
1) the lie is poor
2) the geen is hard
3) wind has an influence on the shot
4) you have a downhill lie
5) you are under stress

Probably you want to pitch the ball if:
1) you have an uphill lie
2) the green is soft
3) there is an obstacle in the way.

Course management can also have a influence on the shot you should play.
Say for instance,your ball has come to rest and there is a bunker between
you and the flag stick and your pitching has not been at it's best for most of the round. You wouldn't risk skulling it into the bunker , then taking probably two more shots just to get it out and then probably leave yourself with a couple of putts, would you?
Think of the alternatives,say to yourself , can i chip this left or right of the bunker to leave me a straight forward chip to the hole?
I know which shot i would choose every time.

summary:
1) know when to chip or pitch
2) know your yardages for chips or pitch's( if you don't have a clue about a far you hit a chip or a pitch with a certain club, then you are not giving your short game enough attention on the range).
3) treat every geenside chip as a putt, once your chip shot lands on the green , the ball will role just as if you have putted it.
4) stay relaxed and have the attitude that you are going to sink every chip or pitch.

remember: keep it simple around the greens.Never pitch when a chip will do.Never take a long backswing when a shorter backswing with a less lofted club will do.
Happy chipping and pitching

[tpg1965]

Re: some general playing tips

Hi andy

If the lie of the ball allows and the fringe grass isn't too long and there are no obstacles in the way, i always putt from the fringe.

[vp27519]

Re: some general playing tips

Pitching and chipping I don't focus on the hole. I focus on where I want the little white pill to land. I take into consideration the ball's line after it first hits the deck. If I can't get it close to the pin. I ask myself where is a good miss.

Pitching and chipping - A, B, and C. I am A. The hole is C. B is where I want the ball to land.

Putting, again I don't focus on the hole. I focus on my set up and intended line.

Aftford,

The second shot after a good drive kills me.

Nicole

[aftford]

Re: some general playing tips

Excellent advice Nicole.

[Teevino]

Re: some general playing tips

Ok, I am a "high" handicapper so I am qualified to ask a dumb/ignorant question at this thread. What is the difference between a pitch vs a chip shot?

[aftford]

Re: some general playing tips

Hi teevino
a pitch shot is a high shot with very little run on.
a chip shot has a shorte, lower flight with plenty of roll.

hope this clears it up for you

[vp27519]

Re: some general playing tips

I would also add to Andy's definition

Pitching has more wrist involved and chipping has little.

[aftford]

Re: some general playing tips

you sure you are only a 12 h/cap , nicole ? you have a superb understanding of the game.

[vp27519]

Re: some general playing tips

Andy,

It's my mind I told you. I am a good teacher. I just can't apply it to my own game. I need a sports psychologist

[Teevino]

Re: some general playing tips

Hi teevino
a pitch shot is a high shot with very little run on.
a chip shot has a shorte, lower flight with plenty of roll.

hope this clears it up for you

Yes it does.. I think that is how I was seeing it but wanted some confirmation.. Don't want to sound like an idiot on the course >> too late Thanx guys..