The Dreadfull Aproach Shot!!!!

[nanabush]

Hey guys, I am not so new to golf but I just bought a new set of PING G2 Irons and they feel awesome. But for some strange crazy reason, I can never get on the green in 2. IT DRIVES ME CRAZY

Any ideas on how I can work on this?
I was thinking of trying to get to the back of the green so I don't end up short, I read it in another post so I am thinking of trying it.

Usually I end up say about 20 to 30 yards out then the chipping really sucks, I skull it or flop it short again.

Any suggestions will help...
Thanks

[ph_kingston]

Re: The Dreadfull Aproach Shot!!!!

If you're hitting the ball well and still ending up 20-30 yards short then it sounds to me like you're just not taking enough club. Spend some time on the range working through the irons and determine the average distance you hit (with a good shot). Then use these averages to select the correct club out on the course. Bear in mind that you'll need to account for wind, lie, position of the flag and elevation of the green.

[nanabush]

Re: The Dreadfull Aproach Shot!!!!

LOL that is hard to do... I think sometimes I do have the right club but mi****, take too much dirt and I find it difficult to control the speed of the club. A lot of mi****s happen when I try to take a bit off the swing.

All I know for sure is that I need MORE PRACTICE .... LOL This year I want to play more seriously. Still have a good time golfing but when I start to hit double bogeys to settle down and just put it in. I screw around a lot, but not too much this year. Plus I have only been out once already. TOO COLD UP HERE IN CANADA... 5 deg cel which is about 40 F or so...

[gord962]

Re: The Dreadfull Aproach Shot!!!!

Where in Canada are you? I know quite a few good CPGA instructors throughout our great country. I could give you a name of one if you happen to live close to any of them.

[nanabush]

Re: The Dreadfull Aproach Shot!!!!

I am in Northern Ontario... the golfing here is pretty good but not the best. I am not to keen on lessons right now. With my new clubs I want to see if I play any better. Then once I get to a point where I know I need some help, I would go for lessons.

These formums are interesting because there's like a 1000 other people here who are in the same boat in one way or another. Still give me the information if you know of one close by. I am thinking by the end of this season I should know where I stand and then maybe next summer some lessons.

Thanks

[jcbdb]

Re: The Dreadfull Aproach Shot!!!!

Hi - I had a similar problem after stopping play for a number of years and agree with ph_kingston. I was hitting the ball well but never knew how far it would go!

I went to a practice area using the balls I use on the course and hit ten shots with each club. I then discounted the two longest and two shortest shots and took the average distance for the remaining balls.

Do this with each club and you will be able to build your own yardage chart for each club. If you want to go one step further you can do this for your pitches using shin, hip and sholder level swings.

[Brian 39]

Re: The Dreadfull Aproach Shot!!!!

You haven't said if your using the wrong club or just not getting the right distance with the clubs.

Could it be you think you should be hitting 6-7 irons longer and are just more comfortable hitting these than 3-5?

In which case I'd spend my practise time initially getting familiar with the longer irons rather than trying to hit the shorter ones further.

[gord962]

Re: The Dreadfull Aproach Shot!!!!

Sorry, I can't think of anyone I know in NOrthern Ont for instructors.

You need to wrok on your consistancy. Try to get out to the range about 3 times a week for an hour each time. Take your time on each shot and approach your range shots the same as if you were playing a round of golf. Line up each shot as your would during a round. Take a scorecard and play each hole on the range. Hit your driver and say the hole is 400 yards and you hit your drive 250, your next shot should be an iron to the 150 yard marker on the range.

[TeachingPro]

Re: The Dreadfull Aproach Shot!!!!

Usually I end up say about 20 to 30 yards out then the chipping really sucks, I skull it or flop it short again.

I'd suggest two things:
1. Part of your pre-shot routine should include an accurate calculation of your yardage to the middle of the green (assuming you're not a pin hunter).
2. Take enough club to hit that yardage with a resonable shot. Don't take the distance you can hit a good shot - work on what you could hit a decent enough shot.

Ah, I can't tell you how many times I do 9-hole playing lessons and my students take "rough" yardages if any and then misclub on top of it.

Northern Ontario?? I'll find someone for you and don't go for "lessons" (I see you are not keen) but please go for a 9-hole playing lesson. You'll learn such a lot that way without being taught on the golf swing.

Please ... take a playing lesson.

[bonzi_532]

Re: The Dreadfull Aproach Shot!!!!

The best thing i can say is to get familar with your clubs and know how far you can hit each with a decent hit. Sometimes i don't look at yardage markers, i just use what i can get to where i want to be. I have hit an 8 from 165 and from 130 depending on the condition, in the same wind

[nanabush]

Re: The Dreadfull Aproach Shot!!!!

TeachingPro... I have never heard of 9 hole golf instruction. That sounds cool and would definetly be interested in something like that. Since my last time out and most guys I play with have or are taken some sort of lesson to lower their score I have been thinking more about it.

I am going to try a few things first. One, GORD's advice sounds awesome. I have never heard of that either. Bring your score card, hit a drive, then whatever happens with the shot play the hole out like you would be on the course. That should frickin work. I never pay too much attention to the yardage and/or I do exactly what TeachingPro says, If I am hitting 150 yards, usually a pitching wedge but I never think about duffing the shot or something like that which usually happens. Then I can see exactly how much yardage I am hitting with my second, third shots for par 5's.

My chipping say with in 50 yards or less as been bang on with some of the advice I read in a different section of the forums. I have been extremely pleasant with my chipping. Not the best but better than what I have been doing in the last 2 years.

OK this is too long... I am sorry but I am excited now.... LOL

[bonzi_532]

Re: The Dreadfull Aproach Shot!!!!

Sounds good, i dont judge by markers usually, i just look and what i think i can get ther i swing it lol. When i am confused thats when go to the markers.