Short Game Lesson

[cnosil]

After significant struggling for over a year with my short game I setup a lesson for today to try and get some things sorted out.  Started on the driving range to get warmed up;  mats only due to the rain.   

Things went pretty well on the range was able to hit the ball specific distances between 10-50 yards and temp was good.   We talked a little bit about ball position,  I thought I was center but he showed me I was way forward.  At this point wasn't a big deal since he like what he saw.   

Moved out to the course to try some approach shots into a green.  Started about 20 yards out and I was asked to describe what I wanted to do.   He agreed with the strategy and I promptly chunked 3 straight shots.   Correction number 1,  move the ball back in stance which made an immediate improvement in ball striking.    We moved around and I started getting used to the ball back position and more forward shaft lean.  Hit some downhill shots which reinforced why ball back was important.    Started working on hitting various landing spots with different length swings and determine that I have a tendency to get "lazy" with the swing,  keep the hands too far in front and not release the club resulting in hitting the ball fat.   we also discussed that having a fuller follow through might be more beneficial for me to help avoid the lazy swing and stopping early.   After hitting some more shots we shifted a little more weight onto the front foot which helped even more. 

Next we discussed the clock technique and how I should establish a swing for the various distances which should help my game overall.  He had me experiment with various length swings and we say the distance progression that we hoped for.   After that we hit a few shots with varied trajectory,  ball back and forward with same square face angle.   

Lots of good stuff crammed into about 45 minutes and I am eager to try the fixes on the course.  Minimal changes,  but learned that practicing on mats probably won't be helpful and that ball position is key.  Going to evaluate my full swing for ball position as I may be playing the ball too far forward for most of my shots.  

[joen]

42 minutes ago, cnosil said:

After significant struggling for over a year with my short game I setup a lesson for today to try and get some things sorted out.  Started on the driving range to get warmed up;  mats only due to the rain.   

Things went pretty well on the range was able to hit the ball specific distances between 10-50 yards and temp was good.   We talked a little bit about ball position,  I thought I was center but he showed me I was way forward.  At this point wasn't a big deal since he like what he saw.   

Moved out to the course to try some approach shots into a green.  Started about 20 yards out and I was asked to describe what I wanted to do.   He agreed with the strategy and I promptly chunked 3 straight shots.   Correction number 1,  move the ball back in stance which made an immediate improvement in ball striking.    We moved around and I started getting used to the ball back position and more forward shaft lean.  Hit some downhill shots which reinforced why ball back was important.    Started working on hitting various landing spots with different length swings and determine that I have a tendency to get "lazy" with the swing,  keep the hands too far in front and not release the club resulting in hitting the ball fat.   we also discussed that having a fuller follow through might be more beneficial for me to help avoid the lazy swing and stopping early.   After hitting some more shots we shifted a little more weight onto the front foot which helped even more. 

Next we discussed the clock technique and how I should establish a swing for the various distances which should help my game overall.  He had me experiment with various length swings and we say the distance progression that we hoped for.   After that we hit a few shots with varied trajectory,  ball back and forward with same square face angle.   

Lots of good stuff crammed into about 45 minutes and I am eager to try the fixes on the course.  Minimal changes,  but learned that practicing on mats probably won't be helpful and that ball position is key.  Going to evaluate my full swing for ball position as I may be playing the ball too far forward for most of my shots.  

Great stuff. Hope it helps. I have to ask because I am curious. Why won’t practicing on mats help?  Too much bounce off a mat to tell if you had a good swing or not?

[cnosil]

1 hour ago, joen said:

Great stuff. Hope it helps. I have to ask because I am curious. Why won’t practicing on mats help?  Too much bounce off a mat to tell if you had a good swing or not?

I tried to explain in my writeup.   When I was hitting pitches off the practice mats,  the appearance was that I was hitting the ball great.  I was able to hit specific distances and the ball launched well.   Contact sounded a little fat but nothing to severe.  

We went to to hole on the course and my first five shots were chucked and went about 15 feet.    I really need that turf interaction to see if I am hitting it well. 

[Shankster]

Good stuff. Keep up with it. It gets even more fun when you start messing with it more. Sounds like you got the foundation down today. Stack a few more bricks on it, and work your way up to a cathedral.

Your heart rate will increase for the good when you get a wedge in hand now.

[joen]

29 minutes ago, cnosil said:

I tried to explain in my writeup.   When I was hitting pitches off the practice mats,  the appearance was that I was hitting the ball great.  I was able to hit specific distances and the ball launched well.   Contact sounded a little fat but nothing to severe.  

We went to to hole on the course and my first five shots were chucked and went about 15 feet.    I really need that turf interaction to see if I am hitting it well. 

That makes perfect sense now. After rereading your post, Maybe you did articulate it well, but perhaps my reading comprehension is third grade level.  

[CarlH]

Yeah, I hate practicing any iron play off the mats.  Very deceiving results.

[GB13]

31 minutes ago, CarlH said:

Yeah, I hate practicing any iron play off the mats.  Very deceiving results.

Makes me wish I could carry a mat around in course though...

I can usually tell when I hit shots fat off mats, but the results make you think hitting fat shots isn't as big of a deal as it is, so it messes with my mind. 

[Kenny B]

Good work!!  @cnosil I never expected you to need any short game lessons.  Glad you are getting it figured out.

Hitting off mats is OK if the practice is swing tempo, ball contact, and trajectory only.  No distance work.  I have a tendency to not hit the center of the club face, and using Dr Scholls foot powder works OK on mats.  We have mats on the range at my course from late fall to early spring, but they remove them when the weather gets warmer.  I don't do any short game shots on the range.

[cnosil]

10 hours ago, Kenny B said:

Good work!!  @cnosil I never expected you to need any short game lessons.  Glad you are getting it figured out.

Hitting off mats is OK if the practice is swing tempo, ball contact, and trajectory only.  No distance work.  I have a tendency to not hit the center of the club face, and using Dr Scholls foot powder works OK on mats.  We have mats on the range at my course from late fall to early spring, but they remove them when the weather gets warmer.  I don't do any short game shots on the range.

My short game kills my rounds;  I just got tired of and struggled trying to fix it myself.  The instructor said my basic technique was good,  just needed some ball position tweaks.    

Mats are fine for some things,  but for me and what I need to work on the mats were masking the bad shots.    His advice for me was to spend about 20 minutes during my practice sessions dialing in distances and that I would have a great short game in no time.  

[CarlH]

35 minutes ago, cnosil said:

My short game kills my rounds; 

My story, as well. 

[perseveringgolfer]

and me..........

[Kenny B]

6 hours ago, cnosil said:

My short game kills my rounds

My short game defines my rounds.  If my short game is normal, I will usually have a decent round; if it is really good, I have a great round; if bad, lousy round.

[cnosil]

Today I took my "new" short game to the course without having had time to practice.    Contact was really good and I ended up past the hole more often that not;  the benefit of good contact.  Did have a few blunders, but that was due to lazy swings where I am leaving the clubhead behind my hands.   Like what I am seeing,  time to get to the course and work on distances.  

[CarlH]

My practice and lessons chipping paid off today.  I got up and down very well today. 

[TR1PTIK]

I've done a couple lessons now on short game with two different coaches. The first one I went to really opened my eyes on how lucky I was to even be hitting the ball well as my swing was seriously in-to-out putting me at risk of non-stop hosel rockets. Somehow I always managed it okay though, but no wonder why I had trouble predicting what the shot would do. My most recent lesson was to resolve some bunker issues - now that I've corrected path, I have a hard time getting the club to enter the sand at the right spot without feeling like I'm going to dig. Good on you for getting someone with experienced and trained eyes to help you.

[cksurfdude]

On 3/17/2019 at 4:08 PM, cnosil said:

Contact was really good and I ended up past the hole more often that not;  the benefit of good contact.

[cksurfdude]

I've been doing a LOT of chipping and pitching practice .. off a mat .. in the garage. Like Kenny mentioned it's not perfect but it's very good for working to ingrain better technicals. Plus the repetitions help build the confidence to execute those better movements when out on the course. 

And as GB13 mentioned after a while you'll find yourself getting more sensitive to where/when you make contact of ball vs mat, too.

So practice practice practice and then get out there and go for it!

[cksurfdude]

Forgot to mention this gem (came to me compliments of KCLeo ) - PowerUp Wedge. Mix it in to the practice routine every now and then - it helps!