Interesting experiment

[revkev]

We came home from Orlando leaving me with enough time for a range session prior to the afternoon rain.

 

My Tuesday round was rained out so the last time that I swing a club was on the range on Sunday. There were 3 guys next to me who are college freshman recruited to play for a local D2 school. The One was trying to reach the awning across the range. He asked my how far I thought it was so I shot it, 291. No doubt he hits it 320 on the golf forum he's a member of. He wasn't coming close to 290. In fact in the real world hes lucky to get 270 at sea level in the summer. But that's not my main point.

 

I sauntered from the range to the short game area and after hitting a few decided to try something (I was watching a guy take over ball after ball from his shag bag and then chipping it close)

 

My normal way to practice is to drop 3 balls and hit each one to a different pin and then putt it out. That way I get a variety of lies and looks and don't hit the same shot twice in a row. Using that method I went 5/9 probably a tad worse than usual but it's also been a week.

 

Next I made sure each ball had a perfect lie and I shot 3/3/3 at the same target going 8/9 up and downs. None of the putts were difficult either.

 

Finally I intentionally gave myself 9 difficult lies, against the grain, thick rough, bare dirt. I went 2/9 with those.

 

Of course you'd need a much larger sample size but it was a fun little experiment. I think that I will continue my random practicing with my chips.

 

How do you work on that part of your game?

 

 

 

 

 

Sent from my VS986 using MyGolfSpy mobile app

[PlaidJacket]

We came home from Orlando leaving me with enough time for a range session prior to the afternoon rain.

 

My Tuesday round was rained out so the last time that I swing a club was on the range on Sunday. There were 3 guys next to me who are college freshman recruited to play for a local D2 school. The One was trying to reach the awning across the range. He asked my how far I thought it was so I shot it, 291. No doubt he hits it 320 on the golf forum he's a member of. He wasn't coming close to 290. In fact in the real world hes lucky to get 270 at sea level in the summer. But that's not my main point.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sent from my VS986 using MyGolfSpy mobile app

 

The golf forum I belong to know I'm a scratch player in disguise. But for some odd reason I shot 80 today! What's up with that? 

[silver & black]

I routinely hit my drives 300+. When I actually play, its more like 240+...lol.

[BIG STU]

I random chip myself and give myself bad lies. Those bad lies make me focus to stay down on the ball. Even though my 56 is my workhorse wedge around the greens  I do practice with s PW, 9I and 7I.  I am a strong advocate of this because you never know what kind of lie you will get on the course in actual play. Besides it is part of my fun and a great brain exercize trying to figure out how to manufacture a shot. I also hit balls out of divots on the range and usually practice on one side of the range or the other to get into the rough. The main thing IMHO around the green on a difficult shot is to get it on the "dance floor" with putter in hand for the next shot

[sp0rtsfan86]

That made me laugh. I played at TPC Scottsdale last week and the one guy had a really ugly swing. Think baseball player hitting a home run from a pitch around his ankles. Give or take, he hit it 270. He claimed he drove it as long as Fowler when he played behind him. The other guy in our group and I shared a look and later laughed at how absurd that was. 

 

I've done those chipping drills before. Never kept track of stats but always fun to mix up lies and stuff. Plus gives you a hand when you need to execute one. Like the 5 yard downhill off a tight lie into a small green shot I pulled off at TPC.

[Golfspy_CG2]

For short game I'll go out to the chipping green and randomly toss balls up and play them how they land.

 

Then I'll go to the other side of the green and do the same.

 

I don't have a set putting practice routine. As its the strongest part of my game, i tend to spend the least time on it.

 

Sent from my LG-D850 using MyGolfSpy mobile app

[BIG STU]

For short game I'll go out to the chipping green and randomly toss balls up and play them how they land.

 

Then I'll go to the other side of the green and do the same.

 

I don't have a set putting practice routine. As its the strongest part of my game, i tend to spend the least time on it.

 

Sent from my LG-D850 using MyGolfSpy mobile app

My short game is the best part of my game and I spend 90% of my limited practice time on it. I always have. My short game kept me competitive over the years when I still hit it long but everywhere. I love short game practice I even practice left handed 56* shots from around trees etc. I also get over on the right side of our range and practice punch shots from under the trees with a 5 iron.When there is absolutely no one around I go into our 10th fairway and practice high wedge shots over the trees back into the range All of that is fun to me

[Golfspy_CG2]

My short game is the best part of my game and I spend 90% of my limited practice time on it. I always have. My short game kept me competitive over the years when I still hit it long but everywhere. I love short game practice I even practice left handed 56* shots from around trees etc. I also get over on the right side of our range and practice punch shots from under the trees with a 5 iron.When there is absolutely no one around I go into our 10th fairway and practice high wedge shots over the trees back into the range All of that is fun to me

I agree on enjoying the short game practice and I have to give also of credit to my SM6's believe it or not.

 

They have me confident I can hit just about any shot required around the green. I love playing with the difference grinds on different lies.

 

I need to do more on course work like you mentioned on your 10th hole. But I haven't made the time to go do that.

[revkev]

Yesterday's practice paid off for me today. I shot 73 got up and down 6/9 times and given the thickness of the greenside rough I'd say only two of those were routine.

[Kenny B]

I enjoy short game practice, and hate the range.  I think it's because I can be creative around the green.  I only go to the range when I have an issue to work out.  However, my club does not have a great short game practice area for creating unusual lies and the green is basically flat.  We have a separate pitching green with a bunker, but the green is not like any of the greens on the course or the putting/chipping green.  Don't get me wrong, the practice area is way better than my old club, it's just that it could be a lot better.  I've made suggestions to the pro, but it's my first year at this club, and I don't want to irritate them by complaining all the time.  

 

When I am chipping, I do both forms of practice depending on how crowded the green is.  Some course don't allow chipping on the putting green, but they do here.  I never chip with more than 4 balls, usually 3.  When I am working on technique, I chip to the same pin; pick them up and do it again.  When I am hot, I can usually make quite a few to a close pin and maybe a couple to a far pin.  I am just trying to get within tap-in range.  When no one is on the green, I will do the same as Rev and work on up-n-downs.  Chip to a close pin, then chip to a far pin, alternating pins with a group of balls.  Then go make the putts.  I wish the green had more slope to it, so both chips and putts were more challenging.

[revkev]

I enjoy short game practice, and hate the range.  I think it's because I can be creative around the green.  I only go to the range when I have an issue to work out.  However, my club does not have a great short game practice area for creating unusual lies and the green is basically flat.  We have a separate pitching green with a bunker, but the green is not like any of the greens on the course or the putting/chipping green.  Don't get me wrong, the practice area is way better than my old club, it's just that it could be a lot better.  I've made suggestions to the pro, but it's my first year at this club, and I don't want to irritate them by complaining all the time.  

 

When I am chipping, I do both forms of practice depending on how crowded the green is.  Some course don't allow chipping on the putting green, but they do here.  I never chip with more than 4 balls, usually 3.  When I am working on technique, I chip to the same pin; pick them up and do it again.  When I am hot, I can usually make quite a few to a close pin and maybe a couple to a far pin.  I am just trying to get within tap-in range.  When no one is on the green, I will do the same as Rev and work on up-n-downs.  Chip to a close pin, then chip to a far pin, alternating pins with a group of balls.  Then go make the putts.  I wish the green had more slope to it, so both chips and putts were more challenging.

I'm getting very close to not needing the range except to warm up. I'm very happy when I'm only working on the short game. It's been a few years but the lessons seem to finally kicking in. I still need a little work with 3 wood and 6 iron to get locked in with the full shots.

 

The reality of the short game practice is that it benefits both facets of golf and it's easier on the body. That's a big deal for me these days.

[Kenny B]

I'm getting very close to not needing the range except to warm up. I'm very happy when I'm only working on the short game. It's been a few years but the lessons seem to finally kicking in. I still need a little work with 3 wood and 6 iron to get locked in with the full shots.

 

The reality of the short game practice is that it benefits both facets of golf and it's easier on the body. That's a big deal for me these days.

And I am older than you... I came to that conclusion years ago!  

[BIG STU]

I agree on enjoying the short game practice and I have to give also of credit to my SM6's believe it or not.

 

They have me confident I can hit just about any shot required around the green. I love playing with the difference grinds on different lies.

 

I need to do more on course work like you mentioned on your 10th hole. But I haven't made the time to go do that.

Confidence in your selected piece of equipment is one of the main keys--- I feel the same as you do about my old rusty beat up 588s

[BIG STU]

Yesterday's practice paid off for me today. I shot 73 got up and down 6/9 times and given the thickness of the greenside rough I'd say only two of those were routine.

 Man that is neat!! See short game practice pays off.  By my estimate you turned a 80 round into a 73 that is the way to grind and hang in there.

 

On your other post I don't really belt balls that much. Most of the time if you see me on the range hitting a lot of balls I am dialing in a club I am trying or goofing around with some of my vintage stuff. Most of the time if you see me on the range I am just trying to keep these old bones limbered up and timing myself up. I usually time myself up with my wedges and 8 iron.

We are too darn old to be belting 100 or more balls a range session. The other week I hit about 150 dialing in my restored Nicklaus Muirfields that will eventually replace my beloved VIPs (which are about worn out). Sunday I felt it I was creaking about church. In fact our youth minister (my partner in crime) asked if I was ok? he said I was creaking and popping like pop corn when I got up and out of the sound booth to take communion. No more hitting that many for me at one time