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.
Monday, May 21, 2012
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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
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
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