Monday, April 30, 2012

Wheelhouse Wedges

Sharpen wedge game from scoring distances

What to do:
When actually playing a round on the golf course, play a shot from the 100 yard marker on every other hole.  Go through your full routine and execute the shot to the best of your ability.  Over 18 holes this will afford you 9 quality shots from around 100 yards (Each hole will be a different distance given different pin placements.  For example, a back pin might leave you 115 yards, and a front pin may give you an 85 yard shot).  If your playing partners don't mind, try doing this over the course of 5 rounds and I promise you'll see drastic improvement in your wedge-play. 

How I did:
Sometimes I will actually play out my shots for added pressure and practice... try if you like. 

Monday, April 23, 2012

100 Putts

Gain confidence in your short putting

What to do:
You'll need a red permanent marker, a handful of golf balls, and your putter.  This drill requires a bit of prep-work.  With the permanent marker, dot the green 2-feet away from the hole.  Do this 12 times, rotating around the hole in a circle, creating a circle of 12 evenly spaced dots around the hole.  Repeat this process at 3 feet, 4 feet, 5 feet, 6feet, 7 feet, 8 feet and 9 feet, then make 4 dots at 10 feet.  This should leave 100 dots around the hole.  You will hit a putt from each of these markings.  Make as many of these putts as you can.  80 is a lofty but realistic benchmark. 

How I did:
The last time I did this drill I scored an 83.  My high is 84.  Good luck. :)

Scaling:
Beginner- Dot at 2, 3 4 and 5 feet, leaving yourself 48 putts. 

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Eyes Closed

Enhance rhythm and feel

What to do:
Starting with a wedge, work your way up the bag hitting one shot with your eyes open, then one with your eyes closed.  Once you've done this, pick a club you struggle with and hit a succession of shots, all of them with your eyes closed.  You'll find that even only after a few shots your feel will be greatly heightened.  In order to find the center of the club-face, your setup, rhythm and balance must all work together.  This drill increases your ability to make this happen, building confidence in your natural swing. 

How I did:
My first attempts at hitting balls with my eyes shut were pretty embarrassing, so I wouldn't expect flush shots immediately.  Stay patient and don't try to overwork the club.  Just make a loose, rhythmical swing, letting the ball get in the way.  This is what I had to do, and after a while I was able to find the center of the club pretty consistently.  What I also noticed is my ball flight straightened out dramatically.  Part of this surely has to do with a slower club head speed.  However, because your swing falls into proper sequence, minimal distance is lost.

Scaling:
Beginner- try chipping and pitching with your eyes closed before moving on the full swings

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

'Round the Green

Chipping repetition and confidence building

What to do:
Take 3 balls and a wedge to the chipping green.  Pick a hole and drop your 3 balls, spacing them about 1 yard apart, extended out in front of you.  Hit the first ball, attempting to make the chip.  Hit the remaining two chips and retrieve them.  Move counter- clockwise in this fashion all the way around the chipping green, chipping to the same hole and attempting to make each shot.  You may find that at certain points around the green you will have more or less green to work with.  Adjust the distance from the green, giving yourself enough room so that the wedge you chip with fits the shot in front of you (for example, most likely you would not hit a long bump and run with a 60 degree lob wedge, nor would you hit a high flop with a pitching wedge.  So, move back if you have too much green to work with, or move up if you have too little so that the club you're using fits the shot).  When you've completed a full circle around the green, total your hole-outs.

How I did:
Last Saturday I used my 60 degree lob wedge and had 3 hole outs.

Scaling:  None

Tuesday, April 3, 2012

Hear it Fall


Groove a trusting putting stroke

What to do:
In this drill you with make 50 putts in a row without watching any of them fall into the hole.  Take 5 balls and mark a spot 4 feet from the hole.  Make 25 putts in a row with your eyes closed.  Reset your golf balls and make 25 more with open eyes, yet without training them on the ball as it rolls towards the hole.  Rather, keep them focused on the ball’s original resting position.  If at any time you open your eyes during the first 25, or allow your eyes to watch a putt go in, start over. 

How I did:
This drill requires more focus than it may seem at first.  I completed this drill recently on my first try, but I can tell you that it does require a lot of focus.  If your habit is to peek at the hole, then you’ll have to fight the urge over 50 putts. 

Scaling:
Beginner- Hit all 50 putts from 2 feet away.  The important aspect of this game is that you’re keeping you’re focus on a process.