Monday, December 26, 2011

3-under


6-8 foot pressure putting

What to do:
Grab two balls and your putter.  Pick a putt 6 to 8 feet long and, going through your full routine first, try to make the putt with both balls.  Pretend your first ball is for birdie and your second is for par.  So, if you make the first (for birdie) and then make the second (for par), you are 1-under.  If you miss a putt and make another you are even-par, and if you miss both you are 1-over.  The object of this game is to get to 3-under par.  After hitting both putts and taking note of your score, move on to a different spot, changing the break and speed for the next pair of putts.  The absolute best you can do is making 6 in a row, getting to 3-under without missing one putt. 


How I did:
This one was a bit of a struggle for me last week.  I missed 7 times, so it took me about 20 putts to get to 3-under.  To be honest it's best not to get caught up in exactly how many missed putts or how long it takes to finish.  Aim for 6 in a row, and if you fall short keep your focus on 3-under until you get there. 


Scaling:
Beginner- Both putts are for birdie
Intermediate- (As prescribed)

Monday, December 19, 2011

Play Nine

Full swing through the bag, prepare your mind
 
What to do:
On the range, pick a course you will soon play and complete 9 holes tee to green (tee shot and approach shots, no putting).  Begin on the first tee, picturing the hole in as much detail as possible.  Go through your full routine for each shot, execute it, and then move on just as you would in a regular round.  If you miss a shot, don’t dwell on it and don’t try it again… move on to the next one.  The point of this drill is to conjure up as much imagery as possible, both of the course and the shot, and to stay disciplined in moving on to the next shot.  The combination of imagery and focus on the present shot will prepare your mind for the upcoming round. 


How I did:
This one’s tough to assess because there’s no objective goal to keep track of.  While the steps for this drill are important and clear (imagine each hole, imagine each shot, execute the shot, move on), there are no external goals.  Take note of how well you stick to each step, and how vivid your imagery is.  I left this drill with a good idea for how well I was able to focus on that particular day… you will too.  Just keep concentrating and stick to the process.   You’ll get a lot out of this one. 

Scaling:
Beginner: Play 3 holes
Intermediate: Play 6 holes

Monday, December 12, 2011

Even Par ShortGame Challenge

See how sharp your short game really is

What to do:
Pick the club you chip with most often (in my case it's my 54-degree sand wedge) and also grab your putter and 1 ball.  Go to a green on which you can both chip and putt.  Play 10 different holes, picking randomly after completing the hole before, trying to score as low as you can.  Pretend each is a par-2, meaning you have to at least get the ball up and down to make par.  Chip-ins are birdies, a 3 is a bogey, and so on.  Add variety to each hole, mixing in different types of shots and different levels of difficulty.  If you do this and score an even-par 20, congrats... you're a stud.


How I did:

Even-par (20) last time I did it.  I'm usually around +1 (21).  


This is one of my favorite drills because of how closely it resembles on-course play.  I am alternating shots and trying to post an actual score which I compare to past ones, checking for improvement every time.  An idea: try doing this drill twice during a practice session, once at the beginning then once at the end, and see if there's any improvement in your score.  I do this drill quite often and would recommend it for anyone truly trying to become a better golfer.  

No scaling for this one, just see what you shoot and aim for improvement on the next go-around.   

Monday, December 5, 2011

Game of the Week

Intro:
In the wake of Tiger's epic fall from the top, many players have managed to string together good play, attracting the attention of the golfing world... but no one has done so with the consistency of Luke Donald.  In his 2011 season on the PGA Tour he won twice, had 14 top-10 finishes, made 17 of 19 cuts, led the money list ($6.7 million), had the low scoring average, and ascended to #1 in the World Rankings.  Though not a bomber off the tee (T147th in driving distance), nor spectacularly accurate (57th driving accuracy, 41st greens in reg.), he has become the most consistent, and consequently the best, player on earth today.  One stat does stand out for Luke Donald, and I believe it is the key to his recent success.  Luke leads the Tour in the all-around putting statistic.  His greatest asset is that he almost never wastes a shot by 3-putting.  At one point this year, Donald went 449 holes, nearly 25 rounds, without a 3-putt!  This is powerful information, as it unearths an indisputable factor of success.  Those who waste the least shots on the greens ultimately save the most shots on their scorecards.  Which leads into today's Game of the Week...

"No 3-putts"
 For getting that clutch 2-putt under pressure 


What to do:
Take 2 balls onto the practice green and pick a putt over 30 feet.  Hit 2 putts to the hole, attempting to hole out or snuggle it up as close as possible.  Once you've hit both putts, pick the one farthest from the hole and attempt to finish the 2-putt.  If you do in fact 2-putt, you're free to move on.  However, if you 1-putt either of the initial putts then it stands and you immediately move on, attempting to 1 or 2-putt again to a different hole.  Repeat this process, picking different holes to putt to, always over 30 feet to begin.  If you 3-putt at any point (unless you 1-putt one of the two first putts for that hole) you must start over.  Attempt to at least 2-putt on your worst ball 10 times in a row.  

How I did:
I had to start over twice... once on my 3rd hole and once on my 8th.  Be patient with this one and don't be ashamed to scale if necessary.

Scaling:
Intermediate- 5 holes instead of 10.
Beginner- Play your closest first putt as opposed to the farthest.  5 holes instead of 10.

Monday, November 28, 2011

Steeplechase


Distance control on chipping... land your chips where you want

What to do:
Lay 2 clubs parallel to each other, about 2 feet apart, just on the green.  They should also lay parallel to the fringe.  Move off the green 1 yard.  Grab the club you chip with the most (in my case a 54 degree sand wedge) and hit a chip, attempting to fly the ball over the closest club and short of the second.  Do this 5 times, seeing the ball fly and land on a spot in between the clubs.  Once you land all 5 in a row between the clubs you're done with that distance... move back another yard and do it again.  Make it to 7 yards and you've finished!


How I did:
From 1 yds: 1 try
          2 yds: 1 try
          3 yds: 2 tries
          4 yds: 5 tries
          5 yds: 2 tries
          6 yds: 1 try
          7 yds: 5 tries

I love this drill.  Most good chippers focus on a 'spot' on which they want to land their ball, and this drill speaks directly to that.  It forces me to chip with solid contact, focusing on nothing but my target.  I like to put a quarter in the middle of the 2 clubs... that really narrows my focus. 

Scaling:
Intermediate- spread club 3 feet apart, only move back 5 yards
Beginner- spread the club 3 feet apart, only move back 3 yards

Monday, November 21, 2011

Field Goals

Full Swing, focusing on target

What to do:
While on the range, create a fairway roughly 25 yards wide by identifying right and left boundaries.  Starting with the shortest club in your bag (L-Wedge for me), hit one shot landing it within that boundary.  Go to the next shortest club in your bag and do it again, landing a second shot within your defined “goal posts”.  The object of this drill is to make it all the way to your driver.  If a ball lands outside your boundary points on any shot, you must return to the previous club.  For instance, if you’ve hit it in the fairway with your L-wedge, S-wedge, and P-wedge, then miss with the 9-iron, go back to the P-wedge and hit the fairway again with that club.  Full routine before every shot… don’t skip anything you normally do during play. 


How I did: 
I thought this piece of tedium up last Tuesday.   Unless you’re a masochist, make your fairway a little wider on the first go-around.   I missed once with the 8-iron, twice with the 6-iron, and then once with the 2-iron before splitting it with my driver.  Good luck… patience pays off with this one. 

-E

Monday, November 14, 2011

4-Corners

 For making clutch 3, 4 and 5-foot putts
 
What to do:
In North-South-East-West fashion, place 4 tees around the hole, 3 feet away (about 1 putter length).  Do the same at 4 and 5 feet.  When you've done this you'll have 4 sets of 3 tees in the ground, 12 total, one for every putt you must make.  Pick a 3-footer and, going through your full routine first, make the putt.  In that same line, move back to the 4-footer and repeat the process, making the putt.  Do the same at 5-feet.  Once you've completed this line, making the 3-footer, 4-footer and 5-footer in a row, move counter- clockwise to the next tee line (East) and do it again.  The objective of this drill is to make all 12 putts in a row.  


My results from last week:
I completed this drill last week having to start over twice. 


This is a difficult drill.  Those last few putts are real nerve testers, and a miss challenges your patience.  When you do finish, confidence is born in your ability to sink those critical 3,4,5 footers. 


Scaled version:
Make one line of putts all in a row, then move on.  If you miss a putt on the next line, stay on that line, starting over at the 3-footer on that side.  Never return to a side that you've already completed (made the 3, 4, and 5 foot putts in a row).  


-E
 

Sunday, November 13, 2011

Hello

Dear Golfers,

Hello and welcome!  My name is Eddie, and I am a playing professional on the road to the PGA Tour.  While this blog will include links to my competitive progress, I did not create it to write about my results in competition.  Rather, I aim to share with you an integral part of my practice and preparation... the use of drills and games.

How many times have you gone to the driving range or putting green and left it feeling more confused than when you arrived?  This happens to everyone, myself included, which is why I value practice games so much.   They force me to shift my focus away from useless swing thoughts or any other distractions,  and onto what really matters... controlling where I want the golf ball to go and how I want it to get there. 

The format is simple: every Monday I intend to post a Game of the Week for you and I to complete.  I promise to be honest and post my true results, be they good or bad... if you wish, use them as a benchmark as you attempt to complete the Game of the Week yourself, or push me to improve by posting better results than mine!

The games themselves will also be simple, requiring no special props, gadgets, training aids or anything else.  The most you might need is a chalk line, an alignment stick, or tees.  Most of my games steer clear of technique. Rather they are task oriented with a clear objective (i.e. make 10 putts in a row from 3 feet).  I find this type of practice to be the most beneficial and fun! 

A fair warning, some of these games will be very challenging.  Challenge is good, but you may run into a drill that might take you past the point of beneficial practice.  For this reason I'll offer scaled versions when necessary (i.e. make 5 putts in a row, as opposed to 10, from 3 feet).  Complete what you can.  What really matters is that you are consistent and follow along, pushing yourself to complete each weekly game, scaling when absolutely necessary.  If you do this results will show on your scorecard.

I hope this introduction finds you well... look for the first Game of the Week tomorrow!  Always feel free to ask questions or leave comments, I will do my best to respond.  

Best,

Eddie