Monday, May 21, 2012

Bozo Buckets

Sharpen your chipping

What to do:
For those who have seen the once popular children's show Bozo the Clown, today's drill is a take off the "Grand Prize Game", which came at the end of the show.  In this game, 6 buckets stretch out in front of the contestant, into which he or she must toss a ping-pong ball.  If the child manages to toss the ball into all the buckets consecutively, starting with the shortest and ending with the longest, a grand prize is awarded to the lucky player (usually a trip to Space Camp).  As a 4-5 year old kid I remember this show being a little creepy because of its host, an adult clown with enormous red hair, however this game always got my attention. 

I've taken the same basic idea and modified it slightly for golfers.  Take your most lofted club and 6 golf balls to the practice green.  Stand a range bucket up on a flat surface and drop a ball 3 feet away from it.  Drop another ball and 5 feet, another at 7 and so on until your 6 golf balls are arranged in a straight line extending away from the bucket.  Attempt to fly each ball into the bucket, starting with the closest and ending with the farthest.  See how many you're able to make, placing emphasis on the last your final "Grand Prize" shot.

How I did:
I only made 2 in my first attempt at this drill... will not be going to Space Camp.

Scaling:
Beginner- If you hit the bucket on the fly, count it as a bucket.

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Between the Wickets

Start your putts on line

What to do:
Take 2 tees, your putter and a handful of golf balls to the putting green and find a straight putt. Standing about 4 feet from a hole, drop a ball onto the green about that distance from the hole.  Arrange your tees about halfway to the hole like to goal posts or wickets, with enough room for 2 golf balls to fit side by side between them.   Your object is to roll putts between the tees, and then into the hole.  Try to make 20 in a row from this distance without hitting the tees. 

How I did:

Was able to do this on the first try.  Feel free to shrink the space between your tees to add difficulty. 

Scaling:
Beginner- Make 5 in a row
Intermediate- Make 10 in a row

Monday, May 7, 2012

Slam Dunk

Focus on landing chips where you want

What to do:
Grab your most lofted club (in my case it's a 60 degree L-Wedge).  On a chipping green, pick a hole and give yourself about 5 paces from which to chip to it.  Attempt to fly a shot directly into the hole.  Once you have done this, move back 1 pace and try to fly in another.  Repeat this until "dunking" a shot from 10 paces away.  When completed, you will have flown in 6 shots.

How I did:
This one took me a while.  It's a great game though... not only is it very effective in moving your focus to a landing spot while you chip, but it's also fun.  The tendency is to land your first few chips a little short, but as you continue to focus in on the hole it becomes easier to fly them where you want. 

Scaling:
Beginner- Move only to 7 feet.