Played today for the first time in awhile, opinions please

[tazrestling27]

Today was my first day playing in almost a year and i just recently started going to the range about a week ago. I have only been playing for about 8 months. Today I shot a 88 on lake Monticello in Virginia and i shot 36 for putts and 21 for chips. It seems like a lot, for being so close and i was wondering if there was any drills i can do for putting and chipping. What i consider chipping is a 100 yds and in. My irons were amazing today and driver was ok, but it was the small game. I want to get below 80 by the end of the summer and i feel this is the part of my game that needs work. Please can some of you give me drills or things i can practice on. Thanks

[Dub]

You sound like a natural.....8 months and in the mid 80's average.

You get your short game where you want it and you'll be scratch in no time.

[tazrestling27]

36 putts and 21 chips is a lot right? I just bought a new chipping set, 52, 56, 60 and i am not hitting them that great yet. It is bothering me. I typically use my 56 to chip, but i am not hitting it right when i am around the green. Leaving a lot of chips short and hitting them fat like getting all the way underneth of them. Is there anything i can do to practice this? thanks

[timwalsh300]

i was wondering if there was any drills i can do for putting and chipping. What i consider chipping is a 100 yds and in.

I pulled a muscle last week leaving me unable to take full swings, so I've been playing this game instead while it heals...

I go out on the course in the evening when it is mostly empty, taking my putter, a wedge, and a few balls... and I basically just drop the balls around the 100 yard marker and play "pitch and putt." I pretend everything is a par 3. After I hole out I hit a few more putts from the ~5 foot range, especially on the greens that have big breaks. Having neglected my short game for a long time, I have found this to be very productive. I'm already feeling much more confident in my ability to score. In fact, I've decided that as I get back to 100% health I want to continue doing this, slowly backing up and adding longer clubs one at a time, gaining confidence in each one before moving to the next. I guess it's just nice to have some focus all of a sudden, concentrating on only one thing instead of practicing everything at once. However, if you do not have a membership somewhere, and you are paying for 9 or 18 holes at a time, I understand that this might not be very practical. Tim

[pachardos]

I'd throw a party if I scored in the 80s. LOL.