Short Game practice routine

[pnearn]

Guys

I want to start working hard on my short game during the next few months, as it is now this area of my game that is killing my score. Long game is solid, but im always taking 3 or 4 to get down from less than 60 yards out and its time to start working hard on properly learning pitching, chipping and speciality shots and break 80 this summer

Ive gone and orderd Pelzs short game bible which I want to work through, but im keen to understand if anyone else has done this and what drills, routines, sessions you had, what really worked, what didnt etc

Many thanks

[DaveLeeNC]

Re: Short Game practice routine

I've read Pelz book and it was helpful. However the specific "10:00 swing" etc somehow doesn't work for me. Basically "I can't tell time when I swing".

But a drill that I find very helpful is to lay down towels at 15, 20, 30, 40, and 50 yards and practice hitting LW's to those targets. I'll also aim SW's at the 15 and 20 yard towels as I will sometimes use a SW from the fairway in those circumstances.

dave

[dannyra]

Re: Short Game practice routine

I also have a lot problems with my short game. One of the thing I started doing that seems to help is forget the ball is even there. I then try to start my divot at a blad of grass that is almost in front of the ball. Then just try to hit the ground there. This makes sure I'm hitting down on the ball. And helps me to keep from getting to handsy.

You should probably wait for somebody else to chime in as I'm still awful.

[Marms]

Re: Short Game practice routine

pnearn, I'm starting the same quest.

Here is a good starting point...."Establish Your Scoring Game Handicap"

http://www.pelzgolf.com/Institute/SGH/SGH.aspx

Following the instructions in the link above, you'll be able to evaluate your short game and putting game. Once you know your strengths and weaknesses, you'll be able to make better use of your time at the range by practicing your weaknesses.

The above skill challenges compliment the Pelz books. You should be able to find the proper drills and techniques for shots you need to improve according to the Pelz methodology.

[mcdizzle$$$]

Re: Short Game practice routine

ok, so your out on the practice green before a big round, chipping and pitching it close, sinking your putts, and controlling your game.

then, you get out on the course and you yip your first chip and putt. now your confidence is about nil.

i believe this happens to a ton of golfers because of the way the practice the short game. you probably grab from three to a million balls and practice the same shot over and over. now this can be great for honing your stroke, but doesnt do a vast amount of difference on the course.

a great way to cure this is to grab only one ball. play 18 holes on and around the practice green from all sorts of different situations. award yourself a birdie if you hole it, a par for 2 strokes, a bogey for 3 strokes and so on.

play a few bunker shots from different lies to different holes, play some easy as well as hard chip shots, and do the same for pitch shots. also practice a few long lag putts.

now see how well you did. chances are if you were +18 or above youre not going to shoot well out on the course. if you can get down to about +9 consistently, youre going to save par roughly half the time out on the course and your score will dramatically improve, quickly

[ph_kingston]

Re: Short Game practice routine

Amen to that!

My approach to the short game is practice, practice, practice; for me it's the only way to establish the necessary control and feel. I do it three ways:

1. Repetition shots - hitting the same club with the same flight and same distance. I'm calibrating my swing so that if I need to hit a lob wedge 60 yards to a pin I can dial in that swing.

2. Greenside shots - it's very rare you get the same shot twice around the edge of the green due to the variety of lies, distances, slopes etc. Here I **** a bucket or two of balls around the practice green (rough, fringe or bunker) and hit them as they lie (good or bad) to different flags and selecting the club I think is going to get them close. If I duff one I'll change the technique/club to see if that improves it. All the time I'm trying to get it to within 3ft of the flag.

3. Putting - start with some straight 4-6 ft putts. If I'm sinking them consistently then I know I'm stroking the ball well. Then move to some longer putts with difference pace, slopes etc. Now I'm looking to get them to within tap-in range and hole some too! After I've hit a few to the same hole from different places I walk up and any ball that's not a gimme I'll try to hole it with a second putt. I don't see many people do that but I'm working to eliminate those three-putt scenarios.

[Yggdrasil]

Re: Short Game practice routine

Amen again, I think. I am working on my 60 and 64 degree lob wedges, and can put, say, 13 of 16 balls within 2 meters of the flag (just lobbing over and over from 35-50 ,meters). But I can easily play a whole round and not get a single lob within 2 meters, even from shorter distances.

Think I'll try changing my practice routine, too. 1 ball, different shots all the time.....

[TeachingPro]

Re: Short Game practice routine

You gotta get this book:

PRECISION WEDGE AND BUNKER SHOTS by Jim Fitzgerald.
(I bought my copy from Amazon for $3.50)

It's my short game bible ...

It is FAR less technical than Dave Pelz, it's more practically orientated and shows the application and execution of zillions of short game shots. It's got drills for each shot, practice routines, etc.

If you like I'll scan in and e-mail a page or six for you to look at.

Do yourself a favour buy it and if you don't like it I'll buy it from you. Deal?

[Yggdrasil]

Re: Short Game practice routine

Well, that's a pretty convincing sales argument, Graham!

I've read Dave Pelz, shortgamebible, over and over, and have bought into the lob wedge philosophy. He's pretty convincing, too.

I'll order the book unseen, and try to remember to give you some feedback.
But it doesn't look as though you are carrying a 64, the sweetest of the them all. Why not ?

Regards,
Charles

[TeachingPro]

Re: Short Game practice routine

You won't regret buying the book. Trust me on that.

Why don't I use a 64* wedge? Firstly, I already have 14 clubs in my bag and to carry a 64* I'd have to forego one of them and I like my setup as it is.

I used to carry a 64* on tour to get out the seriously thick rough we had around the greens and the deep bunkers on some courses but I don't really need that now.

I do carry one of my "tour" Cleveland 64* wedges if I play very short courses but that's not very often.

If I need extra loft these days I take my 60* and open it a bit.