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

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

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
 

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