ncwoz Posted August 29, 2019 Share Posted August 29, 2019 How do you practice and improve your approach game? I've been feeling relatively comfortable off the tee, and more often than not confident with the flat stick. But I couldn't tell you how many times I'm sitting in the middle of the fairway with 150-80 yds to the middle of the green and I miss green entirely. I'd love some tips and tricks of how you practice specifically approach shots. I generally try to take the extra club as prescribed to mid to high handicappers like myself, but just the execution doesn't happen. cksurfdude and madi05 2 Quote Right Handed Driver: 9° Speedzone (HZRDUS Smoke Green 70g X-Stiff shaft) 2 Hybrid: 18° Exotics EXS Pro (Evenflow Black 6.5) (2020 MGS Official Review here) 3/Driving Iron: 18° UiHi Iron (MMT Utility TX 105g shaft) Irons: 4-GW T100 irons (Nippon Modus 120 X-Stiff shafts) (2021 MGS Official Review here) Wedges: 54° & 58° TSW Forged (Dynamic Gold S300) Putter: ER2B (2019 MGS Official Review here) Ball: MAXFLI Tour X Bag: Hoofer Lite WITB thread here Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cnosil Posted August 29, 2019 Share Posted August 29, 2019 You are talking about a 2-3Club range and depending on how far you hit clubs you are in mid to potentially long iron range. How to practice, go to the range and focus on hitting specific targets. You need to narrow the dispersion on the clubs you are hitting. Learn what you pattern is for all of you clubs so you can aim at the correct spot. What are you trying to put the ball on the green? Why are you missing? Poor contact, ball is always long? Ball always short? What is your target? Do you know how wide of a dispersion pattern you have for those clubs and does the green accommodate that pattern? If you can start answering those questions you can start working on the strategy to hit more greens and do better club selection. cksurfdude, THEZIPR23, sixcat and 3 others 6 Quote Driver: G400 Max 9* w/ KBS Tour Driven Fairway: TS3 15* w/Project X Hzardous Smoke Hybrids: 915H 21* w/KBS Tour Graphite Hybrid Prototype 915H 24* w/KBS Tour Graphite Hybrid Prototype Irons: TR20V 6-11 w/Vizard TR20-85 Graphite Wedge: 54/12D, 60/8M w/:Accra iWedge 90 Graphite Putter: Sacks Parente MC 3 Stripe Backup Putters: Milled Collection RSX 2, mFGP2, Futura 5W, TM-180 Member: MGS Hitsquad since 2017 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joen Posted August 29, 2019 Share Posted August 29, 2019 16 minutes ago, cnosil said: You are talking about a 2-3 Club range and depending on how far you hit clubs you are in mid to potentially long iron range. How to practice, go to the range and focus on hitting specific targets. You need to narrow the dispersion on the clubs you are hitting. Learn what you pattern is for all of you clubs so you can aim at the correct spot. What are you trying to put the ball on the green? Why are you missing? Poor contact, ball is always long? Ball always short? What is your target? Do you know how wide of a dispersion pattern you have for those clubs and does the green accommodate that pattern? If you can start answering those questions you can start working on the strategy to hit more greens and do better club selection. C Nosil nailed it. You need to know your tendencies and play to them. Know where you don’t want to miss and adjust accordingly. On some greens and pin positions based on your tendencies.....40-50 feet away with a putt at birdie is a good shot. Hopefully you know how far you “carry” each club as that makes the above process much easier. I have nothing further to add. Good luck with your quest. cksurfdude and cnosil 2 Quote G 400 driver with Aldila DVS 55-SR shaft (FAIRWAY FINDING MONSTER) Aero Burner 16 degree mini driver regular flex Rogue Heavenwood regular flex Icon/PTX Pro Combo Set. VKTR hybrid. Equalizer Wedges 50, 54, 58 degrees Odyssey Two Ball Triple Track Putter, 32 inches LAB Golf Directed Force 2.1 putter, 32 inches, 70 degree lie angle Right Handed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MDGolfHacker Posted August 29, 2019 Share Posted August 29, 2019 I'll second what @Cnosil and @Joen said. If you are not hitting your irons well, a trip to see a local pro would also be beneficial. The key to golf is a repeatable swing so you can play to that strength...so for example, if you know you are always going to fade the ball, then aim accordingly to take the fade into account. While at the range, visualize a hole you've played and practice those approach shots to specific targets at the range. Let us know how it goes! MDGolfHacker cnosil, joen and cksurfdude 3 Quote What's In This Lefty's Bag? Driver: TSR2 11° Project X HZRDUS Black 4G 60g 5.5 Flex Fairway Woods: F8 3W Project X Even Flow Blue 75g shaft Fairway Woods: Hybrid: TSR2 18° Graphite Design Tour AD DI-85 Shaft Irons: 2021 T200's 4-GW AMT RED shafts Regular Flex Wedge: Tour Satin RTX 4 Wedges in 52° and 56° 2 Dot Putter: Gray Matter TDP 2.2 32.75" Bag: Three 5 Ball: PRO V1 / Z*Star RangeFinder: In search of new range finder Social Media: Facebook: MD Golfhacker Twitter: @mdgolfhacker Instagram: mdgolfhacker Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ncwoz Posted August 29, 2019 Author Share Posted August 29, 2019 Range time it is! Now that I say it, it's been a little while since I've really focused on my scoring clubs on the range. I guess that probably makes sense why I'm all over the place with them lol cksurfdude 1 Quote Right Handed Driver: 9° Speedzone (HZRDUS Smoke Green 70g X-Stiff shaft) 2 Hybrid: 18° Exotics EXS Pro (Evenflow Black 6.5) (2020 MGS Official Review here) 3/Driving Iron: 18° UiHi Iron (MMT Utility TX 105g shaft) Irons: 4-GW T100 irons (Nippon Modus 120 X-Stiff shafts) (2021 MGS Official Review here) Wedges: 54° & 58° TSW Forged (Dynamic Gold S300) Putter: ER2B (2019 MGS Official Review here) Ball: MAXFLI Tour X Bag: Hoofer Lite WITB thread here Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TR1PTIK Posted August 29, 2019 Share Posted August 29, 2019 I spend most of my time at the range working the wedges and mid irons (long irons don't get as much love because I don't need them as much on the courses I play). I like to pick a variety of targets and try to hit them with different trajectories and different clubs. My biggest struggle currently is that my impact position simply isn't optimal. I can get there during a long range session where I'm constantly hitting an iron or wedge, but to go driver, iron/wedge, putter, driver iron/wedge, putter on the course from a variety of lies makes getting that optimal impact position difficult. It's just something I have to continue grinding on at the range (and at the course during practice rounds) until it becomes natural. cnosil, MDGolfHacker and cksurfdude 2 1 Quote Driver: ST190 9.5* Fujikura Atmos Blue 5S Fairway Wood: ST190 15* Fujikura Atmos Blue 6S Hybrid: CLK 17* Fujikura Speeder EVO HB Irons: J40 CB (3-PW) Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 Wedges: Milled Grind 2 54* & 58* Dynamic Gold S200 Putter: Tri-Hot 5k Two 34" Bag: Players 5 Stand Bag Ball: Maxfli Tour Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edingc Posted August 29, 2019 Share Posted August 29, 2019 I wouldn't overlook the mental side of this as well. I tend to struggle from the middle of the fairway because I put more subconscious pressure on myself. Ends up with my swing getting tight, and I often fade the ball off to the right or come up short but on line. Are you seeing the same types of misses when you're in a little worse shape off the tee? I typically find that my best contacted irons are those that don't have the pressure of hitting the green, like punch outs and wedges back to the fairway when I have no other (sane) options available. They're literally "no pressure" type of shots because my expectations/anxieties are lowered. cnosil, MDGolfHacker and cksurfdude 2 1 Quote Unofficial WHS Handicap: 7.5 / Anti-Cap: 13.0 (Last Updated Feb. 19, 2024) Driver: Callaway Paradym TD (10.5°, -1/N), 45.75", Fujikura Motore X F1 6X | Fitting Post 3 Wood: Cobra RadSpeed Big Tour (14.5°), 43", Fujikura Motore X F1 7X 20° Hybrid: PXG 0211 (2020 Model), 40.25", Mitsubishi Tensei AV RAW White 90X 4 Utility: Cobra KING Utility (2020 Model), 38.5", Aerotech SteelFiber i110cw Stiff 5-PW: Ben Hogan PTx Pro, 37" 7 Iron, Aerotech SteelFiber i125cw Stiff | Club Champion Fitting 50°, 54°, 58°: Edel SMS, V Grind, Nippon Modus 125 Wedge| Official Review Thread Putter: L.A.B. Golf DF 2.1, 36", 68°, Black with Custom Sightlines, BGT Stability Tour, L.A.B. Press II 3° | Unofficial Review Grips: Star Sidewinder, Undersized with Custom Tape Build-Up Ball: Snell MTB-X Optic Yellow Tracked By: Shot Scope H4 Bag: Personalized 2020 Sun Mountain Sync Riding On: Bag Boy Nitron | Official Review Thread WITB? | 2022 Reviewer Edel SMS Wedges | 2021 Reviewer Maxfli Tour and Tour X Balls | 2020 Participant #CobraConnect Challenge | 2019 Reviewer Callaway Epic Flash Driver Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ncwoz Posted August 29, 2019 Author Share Posted August 29, 2019 1 minute ago, edingc said: I wouldn't overlook the mental side of this as well. I tend to struggle from the middle of the fairway because I put more subconscious pressure on myself. Ends up with my swing getting tight, and I often fade the ball off to the right or come up short but on line. Are you seeing the same types of misses when you're in a little worse shape off the tee? I typically find that my best contacted irons are those that don't have the pressure of hitting the green, like punch outs and wedges back to the fairway when I have no other (sane) options available. They're literally "no pressure" type of shots because my expectations/anxieties are lowered. I'm definitely in the same boat as you on this one. And it's almost the worst after I set myself up with a good drive. Start hearing those birds chirp and then...chunky monkey cksurfdude and edingc 2 Quote Right Handed Driver: 9° Speedzone (HZRDUS Smoke Green 70g X-Stiff shaft) 2 Hybrid: 18° Exotics EXS Pro (Evenflow Black 6.5) (2020 MGS Official Review here) 3/Driving Iron: 18° UiHi Iron (MMT Utility TX 105g shaft) Irons: 4-GW T100 irons (Nippon Modus 120 X-Stiff shafts) (2021 MGS Official Review here) Wedges: 54° & 58° TSW Forged (Dynamic Gold S300) Putter: ER2B (2019 MGS Official Review here) Ball: MAXFLI Tour X Bag: Hoofer Lite WITB thread here Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CarlH Posted August 29, 2019 Share Posted August 29, 2019 Try this...rather than taking a full swing for max distance, club up and take a more controlled 3/4 swing. I think you'll find yourself hitting the ball cleaner with crisp contract, plenty of spin, and better distance/trajectory control. Will_Mac, cksurfdude, cnosil and 2 others 5 Quote Driver: Rogue ST Max (10.5* set at -1 and neutral) -- Mitsubishi Tensai Blue 55g R shaft Fairway: Rogue ST Max 3 wood (16.5*) and Heaven Wood (20*)-- Tensai Blue 55g R shaft Hybrids: Rogue ST Max 5H (23*)--Tensai Blue 55g R shaft Irons: Apex CF19 6-9, PW, AW -- KBS Tour Graphite TGI 70 shafts R +1/2 inch 3* upright Wedges: Edison 53* and 57* KBS PGI 80 Graphite +1/2 inch 2* upright Putter: L.A.B. DF 2.1 -- BGT Stability shaft Ball: Maxfli TourX...Golf Bag: Pioneer...Shoes: Hyperflex... Glove: Red Rooster Feather My Photography can be seen at Smugmug Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will_Mac Posted August 29, 2019 Share Posted August 29, 2019 I'm notoriously bad as it relates to a habitual lack of practice.But once upon a time, I practiced hard. One thing that helped me greatly with touch was when I'd routinely try to hit my 160 yard, 150 yard and 140 yard clubs to the 100 yard green.This type of practice segued beautifully toward helping me realize more touch and a smoother approach for 3/4 and 1/2 swing wedges too.Partial swings soon became my preferred shot selection for 100 yards in. And when my full swing feels a bit loose, I'll still revert to clubbing up with less than full swings for longer yardages. cksurfdude, edingc, ncwoz and 2 others 4 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ncwoz Posted August 30, 2019 Author Share Posted August 30, 2019 I'll definitely have to give that a go at the range as well. I'm basically full swinging every shot until I'm close to the green. Thanks for the tips! Will_Mac 1 Quote Right Handed Driver: 9° Speedzone (HZRDUS Smoke Green 70g X-Stiff shaft) 2 Hybrid: 18° Exotics EXS Pro (Evenflow Black 6.5) (2020 MGS Official Review here) 3/Driving Iron: 18° UiHi Iron (MMT Utility TX 105g shaft) Irons: 4-GW T100 irons (Nippon Modus 120 X-Stiff shafts) (2021 MGS Official Review here) Wedges: 54° & 58° TSW Forged (Dynamic Gold S300) Putter: ER2B (2019 MGS Official Review here) Ball: MAXFLI Tour X Bag: Hoofer Lite WITB thread here Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cksurfdude Posted August 30, 2019 Share Posted August 30, 2019 On 8/28/2019 at 10:26 PM, ncwoz said: I generally try to take the extra club as prescribed to mid to high handicappers like myself, but just the execution doesn't happen. Been there, done that! In fact.. Still "there"... My (fellow high handicapper) Tip #1: use the BACK of the green yardage .. and still add a club .. and aim to the middle (or "fat part") of the green .. and swing smoothly and confidently. My tip #2 is consider laying up if the long approach looks treacherous. My tip #3: focus on the process of executing the shot and NOT on the (potential future) outcome of it. As far as practicing approach shots.... I'm fortunate to have a few different Par 3 courses near me, which are each more than a pitch & putt and where holes vary from 65 to 160 yds, and I find these to be really great iron and wedge practice. You're working on controlling distances, maybe factoring in winds, you're working on your aim and alignment .. and learning your dispersion tendencies .. and you're quite literally teaching yourself to start hitting greens / else scramble to make an up & down! ncwoz 1 Quote WITB of an "aspiring" play-ah ... Driver...Callaway Paradym (Aldila Ascent PL Blue 40/A) 5W...Callaway Great Big Bertha (MCA Kai'Li Red 50/R) 7W...Tour Edge Exotics EXS (Tensei CK Blue 50/R) 4H...Callaway Epic Super Hybrid (Recoil ZT9 F3) 5H...Callaway Big Bertha ('19) (Recoil 460 ESX F3) 6i-GW...Sub 70 699 V2 (Recoil 660 F3) 54°, 60°...Cleveland CBX2, CBX 60 (Rotex graphite) Putter...EvnRoll ER5 or MLA Tour XDream (P2 Reflex grips) ...all in a Datrek bag on an MGI Zip Navigator electric cart. Ball often, not always, MaxFli Tour. Forum Member tester for the Paradym X driver (2023) Forum Member tester for the ExPutt Putting Simulator (2020) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MDGolfHacker Posted August 30, 2019 Share Posted August 30, 2019 17 hours ago, Will_Mac said: I'm notoriously bad as it relates to a habitual lack of practice. But once upon a time, I practiced hard. One thing that helped me greatly with touch was when I'd routinely try to hit my 160 yard, 150 yard and 140 yard clubs to the 100 yard green. This type of practice segued beautifully toward helping me realize more touch and a smoother approach for 3/4 and 1/2 swing wedges too. Partial swings soon became my preferred shot selection for 100 yards in. And when my full swing feels a bit loose, I'll still revert to clubbing up with less than full swings for longer yardages. I've done this too. It helps you learn to swing the club within yourself and not overswing which may be part of the reason why you don't hit greens too. I usually choose the 75 yard target and hit my sw, pw, 8i and 5i's to that green working on small punch shots too. I also use that as an intermediate target to one that's further out, making sure when I do hit a full iron shot that it starts along the same target line. Sometimes it easier to break up your line into smaller targets so you can figure out what may be going wrong. MDGolfHacker ncwoz and cksurfdude 2 Quote What's In This Lefty's Bag? Driver: TSR2 11° Project X HZRDUS Black 4G 60g 5.5 Flex Fairway Woods: F8 3W Project X Even Flow Blue 75g shaft Fairway Woods: Hybrid: TSR2 18° Graphite Design Tour AD DI-85 Shaft Irons: 2021 T200's 4-GW AMT RED shafts Regular Flex Wedge: Tour Satin RTX 4 Wedges in 52° and 56° 2 Dot Putter: Gray Matter TDP 2.2 32.75" Bag: Three 5 Ball: PRO V1 / Z*Star RangeFinder: In search of new range finder Social Media: Facebook: MD Golfhacker Twitter: @mdgolfhacker Instagram: mdgolfhacker Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jfoz89 Posted August 30, 2019 Share Posted August 30, 2019 Some really good tips in here that i will also consider using. My current GIR stats are hovering around the 15-20% range which I atleast need to be doubling to increase my chances of better scoring. cksurfdude and ncwoz 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tony@CIC Posted September 1, 2019 Share Posted September 1, 2019 Try this...rather than taking a full swing for max distance, club up and take a more controlled 3/4 swing. I think you'll find yourself hitting the ball cleaner with crisp contract, plenty of spin, and better distance/trajectory control.A lot of wisdom here. I do this all of the time now - it's a more controlled swing. Sent from my iPad using MyGolfSpy cnosil, ncwoz, CarlH and 2 others 5 Quote Left Hand orientation SIM 2 D Max with Fujikura Air Speeder Shaft Cobra Radspeed 3W/RIptide Shaft 410 Hybrids 22*, 26* Cobra Speed Zone 6-GP/Recoil ESX 460 F3 Shafts SM7 54* Wedge Glide 3.0 60* Wedge O Works putter V3 NX9-HD - 4 Wheel EZGO TXT 48v cart - too many shoes to list and so many to buy And BAG Boy Golf Balls: Vice Pro Plus 2020 Official Tester Beginning Driver Speed - 78 2019 Official Tester 410 Driver 2018 Official Tester C300 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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