Do you know exactly how many yards you hit a full Lob Wedge choked down to the steel?
Larry Nelson's answer: "49 yards."
Does your Practice Routine facilitate such self-discovery?
There is the necessary Mechanical Stroke Practice...
And there is the necessary 'Practice as you Play' Practice.
Neglect neither.
If I knew exactly how many yards I hit my lob wedge, I probably would be a plus 2!!!!
Interesting comment you made, and I would like to hear your response to this. I have worked the range several times at a PGA event. Haven't done it in about 3 years. I have watched up close countless players hitting balls on the range for hours. I don't think they have that level of accuracy where they know exactly how far the ball goes. Don't get me wrong, the groupings of their shots are AMAZING, SIMPLY AMAZING, but they are not that exact. I would bet the farm that Nelson couldn't hit a dinner plate at 49 yards more than 4 out of 10 times. He would be very darn close, no doubt about it, and I would probably be pooping myself with each swing he took if I had a big wager on it. But I would guess that he would miss several of them by 2-4 yards.
His average distance from target would be even higher if he was forced to hit a different club in between his 49 yard shots. After all, when we are on the course, we rarely have the same exact shot twice in a row. If we do, it usually means a penalty stroke of some sort and that would be a bad thing.
So....
* How many times out of 10 would Nelson hit a dinner plate at 49 yards?
* How many times out of 10 would Nelson hit a dinner plate at 49 yards if he had to hit drivers and 3 irons in between his 49 yard shots?
If I knew exactly how many yards I hit my lob wedge, I probably would be a plus 2!!!!
... I would bet the farm that Nelson couldn't hit a dinner plate at 49 yards more than 4 out of 10 times. He would be very darn close, no doubt about it, and I would probably be pooping myself with each swing he took if I had a big wager on it. But I would guess that he would miss several of them by 2-4 yards.
Agreed, Stickner. Which is why he was practicing that particular shot when I asked him the question!
BTW, my post was addressed to all readers regarding their Practice Routines and not yours specifically. Sorry for any confusion.
Agreed, Stickner. Which is why he was practicing that particular shot when I asked him the question!
BTW, my post was addressed to all readers regarding their Practice Routines and not yours specifically. Sorry for any confusion.
It is so amazing to watch those guys hit balls at that level. I wish I was able to ask them questions about what they are trying to do when they are hitting balls.
A while back on the Internet a company offered free at first then charged a short game practice routine. It had a lot of similarities to the one provided here. The short fall I discovered for a few who had tried it, they didn't have the mechanics to perform it consistently or adapt.
Granted on the score card it only indicates how many strokes taken, not how you did it. But that then leaves the question 'can you repeat your performance?'.
I think and believe that there are severaly types of practice required.
1. Practice to learn the stroke (focus on mechanics)
2. Practice to learn how to score (focus on results of a shot)
3. Practice to learn how to play (focus on abilities/strengths to get the best score for that hole)
After more than a year of practicing and tracking results I have discovered that I am still a mental midget when I get a golf club in my hand.
It is not that I don't know how to make a good golf stroke, it is not that I can't make a good golf stroke, it is that I can not Score consistently....I discovered just recently that playing short courses vs normal course indicates that I lack distance to score. Par 4s of 420 yds have me hitting 5 or 3 wds to the green. Hitting the green can be a problem, but if I do hit them I am still three zipcodes away from the hole.
So either I discover and correct massive power leaks if they exist or I get off the couch and away from the computer and get FIT....and then there is the thought that that new ball and driver will be the answer .
To the end I think each individual needs to isolate and identify a routine to build on thier strengths and correct thier weaknesses, as they say one size doesn't fit all be it the golf stroke or golf practice...
A while back on the Internet a company offered free at first then charged a short game practice routine. It had a lot of similarities to the one provided here. The short fall I discovered for a few who had tried it, they didn't have the mechanics to perform it consistently or adapt.
Granted on the score card it only indicates how many strokes taken, not how you did it. But that then leaves the question 'can you repeat your performance?'.
I think and believe that there are severaly types of practice required.
1. Practice to learn the stroke (focus on mechanics)
2. Practice to learn how to score (focus on results of a shot)
3. Practice to learn how to play (focus on abilities/strengths to get the best score for that hole)
After more than a year of practicing and tracking results I have discovered that I am still a mental midget when I get a golf club in my hand.
It is not that I don't know how to make a good golf stroke, it is not that I can't make a good golf stroke, it is that I can not Score consistently....I discovered just recently that playing short courses vs normal course indicates that I lack distance to score. Par 4s of 420 yds have me hitting 5 or 3 wds to the green. Hitting the green can be a problem, but if I do hit them I am still three zipcodes away from the hole.
So either I discover and correct massive power leaks if they exist or I get off the couch and away from the computer and get FIT....and then there is the thought that that new ball and driver will be the answer .
To the end I think each individual needs to isolate and identify a routine to build on thier strengths and correct thier weaknesses, as they say one size doesn't fit all be it the golf stroke or golf practice...
It is the archer - not the arrow. Good luck in your quest!
(snip)
It is not that I don't know how to make a good golf stroke, it is not that I can't make a good golf stroke, it is that I can not Score consistently .... I discovered just recently that playing short courses vs normal course indicates that I lack distance to score. Par 4s of 420 yds have me hitting 5 or 3 wds to the green. Hitting the green can be a problem, but if I do hit them I am still three zipcodes away from the hole.
So either I discover and correct massive power leaks if they exist or I get off the couch and away from the computer and get FIT....and then there is the thought that that new ball and driver will be the answer .
If it's any help, do what I do.. play long par-4's as par-5's and hope to get away with just a chip and a putt. Apply the same technique to long par-3'
s and long par-5's too. At my level I don't count GIR's as important data on my personal score sheet.
Stickner, I'm currently between a 5-7 handicap, with a typical range of 76-83. I am not nearly as structured as you are regarding practice, however, have recently noticed that I'm not getting nearly enough birdies to reach my goal of par. I love your short game practice techniques and I must get better with the wedges. There is nothing more frustrating then missing greens from 150yds in, or leaving yourself putts over 20 feet when your inside a 100.
I think your approach of hitting wedges to get more birdie opportunities, and chipping and pitching to save par, is definitely the way to go, if your swing is relatively solid. Thanks for the routine.
I will also tell everyone that pre-shot routine and knowing your strengths and weakness's are critical. When I get out of routine bad shots occur much more frequently. I utilize a routine that Ben Doyle demonstrated at Woodmont that has been greatly helpful. Also trying to play smarter. I have stopped shooting at pins and play to the known. I use to kill myself by firing at pins, ball goes a little long and falls of a cliff, as opposed to playing a bit short and having a longer putt. I use to make so many stupid decisions I would just dummy my way out of a decent score.
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Hybrid Mode
