How can I improve my game the most efficiently?

[gtexan]

Hi everyone. I am a below average golfer, looking to get better and having some trouble deciding what to work on. I played golf in high school, but was never very good and then never played throughout college. Last fall I started playing every week or so and then took the winter off (too cold!).

Last weekend I was lucky enough to play golf twice due to the (finally) increasing temperatures. My goal this spring/summer is to break 90 at my local course (its pretty easy). I think I can do it, but I'm having a little trouble lowering my score recently.

Id rate my golf game as "below average." I typically shoot somewhere in the very high 90s or low 100s. (Many times I can only play 9 because of time constraints, and then usually shoot somwhere around 50). In order to find out where I can improve, I kept detailed scores my last two rounds.

I've been using this website to target my scores:
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/m...2/ai_69073966/

Fairways hit: I got one of the new Taylormade Burner drivers for Christmas, and it has really helped my driving game. I have the "Draw" club as I have a tendency to push right or slice on my driver because I don't get my wrists around in time. Over the past 2 rounds, I hit about 12 fairways the first 18 and 8 on the second. When I hit the club well, my drives have been averaging about 200-250 yards I'd estimate. When I hit the club poorly, I usually end up in the woods or about 50 yards down the middle (half the time to the left and half the time to the right)

Greens in regulation: I have a ton of trouble hitting a normal shot onto the green. During the last two rounds I averaged between 4-5 greens in regulation. And I think that may be a little high. I am very consistent on the par 3s (especially hole 3 and hole 10, I rarely miss those), but if I have to hit an iron (not a chip or pitch) I almost always miss. If its less than 80 yards, I don't really know what club to hit. And when its greater than about 170, I don't feel comfortable going for it. I never use anything less than a 4 iron (or any fairway woods) on the course because I just don't trust it. That makes hole 11 particularly painful.

Up and downs: I think I only had 1 up and down par on the first 18 and 1 on the second. I'm ok chipping with a wedge if I'm close to the green, but I am awful out of the trap and not very good if I'm too far to chip but too close to pitch.

Putts: On the first 18 I took 41 putts, and I stopped counting on the 2nd 18. It was probably around the same. I rarely 1 putt a hole, and frequently 2 or 3 putt. Part of this is because I don't end up close to the hole from my short game, and the other part is that I miss judge a lot of long putts. The greens on the front nine are slower and have more imperfections, so I typically do better on the back nine. I don't really like my putter, and have poor feel with it. Its a Callaway BJ-# (I don't remember what number).

I don't have any wedges with a higher loft than my pitching wedge, and was wondering if you thought it wise to supplement my clubs with something like a lob wedge

If I miss the fairway or hit onto a hill of some sort, I rarely hit a good second shot. For whatever reason, I simply can't seem to adjust to standing above or below the ball.


Do you think with work I could break 90? Does anything stand out to you? Any help would be appreciated.

[play4him]

My suggestion is to start with your short game. If you can get more consistent on your chipping, and work on your putting, I know you'll see your scores come down. You're not all of a sudden going to start hitting 10-14 greens in regulation, but if you can at least get around the green and improve your chipping, you're going to see more pars and bogies instead of "others".

[gtexan]

Whats the best way to practice your short game? Unfortunately, my local course doesn't have a chipping area or putting green available until mid to late summer (under renovation)

Is it reasonable to try and go from low 100s to breaking 90?

[PiKapp23]

The first thing to help you improve your game is lessons. It's much better to get lessons and have your strengths and weaknesses assessed by a professional who can then help you improve your weaknesses and harness your strengths. So often we do not realize what our problems really are (or at least what is causing them). This is where a good pro comes in. Then you take what the pro has said and practice, practice, practice. Then, when you're done, practice some more.

One good way to practice if your home course doesn't have practice facilities it to find a short course (mostly just par 3's) or exective course (par 3's and par 4's) in your area and spend some time there. If you go at the right time these courses are often not busy which would allow you to practice your approaches, short game and putting. And because they are shorter and often less crowded this would help with your time constraints as well. If this is not possible, then just find a park with a open spot and practice chipping and pitching there. It can be as simple as just dropping a towel and hitting at that or some other target (some use a hoola hoop). As 'play4him' says the short game is where you can save yourself the most strokes to help you break 90. You can practice putting at home on your carpet. When doing this it's more about practicing technique and alignment than the speed (carpets are often much slower than good greens). You can even practice short chipping like this, again working more on technique than anything else. If you buy one of the cheap automatic ball return putting practice units it will make this even easier.

[shortstop20]

Does your course have a range? I would work on your iron play if it's not really possible to work on your short game right now. Sounds like you need work mostly with irons off the grass. I would suggest investing in a sand wedge as well. Get a putter that you're comfortable with so you can work on your short game when the time comes that it's possible.

[HSip]

Short game, short game, short game. That being said - if your practice facility is under repair - you have to find another one or (if you don't hold up play) practice on the course. Over all your game doesn't sound too bad - with work you will certainly break 90 (but don't stop there). Good luck

[Shindig]

Greens in regulation: I have a ton of trouble hitting a normal shot onto the green. During the last two rounds I averaged between 4-5 greens in regulation. And I think that may be a little high. I am very consistent on the par 3s (especially hole 3 and hole 10, I rarely miss those), but if I have to hit an iron (not a chip or pitch) I almost always miss. If its less than 80 yards, I don't really know what club to hit. And when its greater than about 170, I don't feel comfortable going for it. I never use anything less than a 4 iron (or any fairway woods) on the course because I just don't trust it. That makes hole 11 particularly painful.

Here's the kicker. One of two things is happening: either you don't know your distances or you aren't exercising good course management. Spend some time on the range and figure out your average with each club on a comfortable swing. Not that one great shot you hit that one time, but your average. We'll talk later about which club to hit into greens, but for now, just deal with the averages. In addition to your comfortable distances on a full shot, find out how far you hit your wedges with half and 3/4 swings. And figure out which iron you like the best. Maybe it's your 7-iron. Maybe it's your PW. But pick one you like best and can rely on the most. Then, two things: 1. If you can't go for the green on your next shot, you can always lay-up to your favorite club and hit that into the green. Knowing that you can just about guarantee yourself two shots to the green from far out is great. My scores plummeted once I was able to get to the point where I was almost always two shots away from the green from within 300 yards. 2. Try to hit that club into greens instead of leaving yourself an awkward distance. Especially since your stated driver distance has a huge variance. For example, if your favorite club is your PW at, say, 115 yards, and you have a 300-yard par-4, it makes no sense to hit driver. You hit your 185 club instead, then your PW. Eventually, you'll get comfortable with the half wedges, and can lay-up to that instead.

I don't have any wedges with a higher loft than my pitching wedge, and was wondering if you thought it wise to supplement my clubs with something like a lob wedge

What's the loft on your PW? Or, if you don't know that, what make and model is it? Someone here might know. And how many wedges are you considering? Let us know, and we can make suggestions on loft. Then you can head to the golf shop, find a brand(s) of wedges you like, and go with those.

Is it reasonable to try and go from low 100s to breaking 90?

10 months after breaking 100, I broke 90. I view it as very possible.

[gtexan]

Thanks for all the help guys!

When I started playing again last fall I invested in a 4 pack of lessons from my local golf pro. At the time, I wasn't keeping score, but was probably shooting in the 120-140 range.

My first lesson went pretty well, and the pro said I had an ok swing. He videotaped me from the side and down the line, and gave me a few things to work on:

Preswing posture and stance were a little off, and causing me to swing a lot harder to achieve the right distances than I needed

Inswing I had some movement in my alignment during my backswing that was causing me to compensate as I swung through. This was creating some inconsistencies as too much was going one at once.

I have been practicing these, and they have really worked to improve my consistency. Im just wondering what I should be practicing next before my next set of lessons. The suggestions are relaly great so far, thank you guys so much!

[XMScott]

My game has improved thanks to short game practicing.

Not only does it drop my score, its free to practice. Which cant be said for hitting range balls or going on the course.

[gtexan]

Here's the kicker. One of two things is happening: either you don't know your distances or you aren't exercising good course management. Spend some time on the range and figure out your

This sounds like excellent advice. I honestly do not have any idea how far I usually hit my clubs (including my driver). I just have a very grey idea (which is why my stated distance is so variable I'd assume).

What's the loft on your PW? Or, if you don't know that, what make and model is it? Someone here might know. And how many wedges are you considering? Let us know, and we can make suggestions on loft. Then you can head to the golf shop, find a brand(s) of wedges you like, and go with those.

My iron set is the one I got when I first started learning golf as a teenager. Its a wilson 4-pw and also came with a 3, 5 and driver. I picked up a sand wedge along the way, but I'm not really comfortable using it because its got a steel shaft and all my other irons are graphite and I've become quite used to the lighter weight.

[Dub]

Not trying to beat a dead horse....but everyone is dead on...in my opinion...about the short game being where it's at.

Get good at chipping and you'll be able to have way more confidence from your approach positions....knowing that a chip is as accurate as a lag putt for you.

A heavy SW is a beautiful thing...in my opinion. You can learn to do a lot of your short game work with that steel shafted warrior.

I'd consider adding a 3 hybrid, too. Looks like you've got a spare spot for one. Try several different styles and find one that works for you. Check out the used rack at your local golf stores. This club may well take some pressure off you at the fearful 175 yards you mentioned.

I find that my best rounds are played when I swing smoothly, maintain my head position and use very light grip pressure. Things just have a way of falling into a groove.


Lastly...but perhaps the most important....take very specific aim....on every shot....from putts to driver.....pick out the smallest target that you can and aim carefully for it. Don't ever underestimate your body / mind / muscle memory / whatever cosmic forces are at work to do what is needed to reach those targets. Harvey Morrison Penick called it "taking dead aim" and he was soooooo very right. Pick up his "Little Red Book" and the Dr. Bob Rotella books....they are both super helpful.


Good luck.

[ks8829]

1) Practice putting everyday and practice the following:
A) making putts within a 3 foot circle
B) lagging putts from 10- 20 feet consistently within a 3 foot circle from the hole.

You can practice putting on your carpet at home. this alone with cut 5-10 strokes off your last game and putt closer to the 30 putt per round.

2) Practice chipping just off the green within 5-10 feet so that you can get up and down at least 5 out 10 tries.

3) Practice pitch shot of 30 - 50 yards from the green

[thorerik]

Short game, short game and a little more short game!
I have recently started listening to my ipod when im training, it helps me concentrate and kind of shuts everything out, so i can concentrate on my business, instead of looking around and watching other people hit.
Also it makes the time go so much faster when im standing on the putting green, i can easily stay there for an hour or two when im listening to my fav band.

[doin-it]

Here is what worked for me. I started palying last summer & the first thing I did was take a lesson for basics (grip/stance/setup). 2nd I left the driver @ home I still dont carry because its the hardest club to hit. I can hit my 3 & 5 woods just as fas as all my buddies who use drivers and am more accurate.

When I practiced @ the range I always worked mostly with irons. Alot of people go to the range & are hung up with hitting the driver only. @ best you will use that club once per whole. So IMO dont get caught up on hitting the driver.

I practiced alot @ the range b4 ever going onto a course. Practiced pitching into a bucket in my back yard frequently & sometimes just go to the range & work on putting only.

What's seamingly helping me more & more lately is just SLOWING everything down. Smooth take away & back swing & swing easy rather than trying to KILL the ball on every hit. Its one thing that is said often swing easy but its hard not to alot of times.

But like most of the other members have said, just work on your short game its the most importnat part and everyting else will come along in due time.

My short game is pretty decent and saves me alot of time. I play with friends and often here them comment how they hate short pitch shots because the either hit it too hard o too soft. These are actually my favorite shots in golf and thrive on them. I attribute that to my back yard pratice..lol

G-luk !

[laxstar24]

Hands down putting will help the most to get your scores down. If you don't have a practice green go out late one day and on the 18th make a circle around the whole from five feet until you hit every putt from every different break. (Phil drill) If you make it your goal to go a round without 3 putting which may be very difficult you will instantly see a huge decrease. Putting is the one area that most high handicappers always neglect. Just look at when Tiger plays his best its not the GIR's or the fairways that make the difference it's the number of putts that is always the best when he is in contention.

[donkba]

play every hole with bogey being par, so 2 shots to get on par 3s, 3 shots to get on par 4s and 4 shots to get on par 5s. assuming you 2 putt every green, thats 18 over. instead of trying to reach the green,(except par 3s) lay up so you have an easier shot in with a short iron. only go for it when you know you can get there, say short par 4 with a good drive leaves a smooth 9 iron left, but dont go for it if you have say 5iron or more as these are harder to hit and unless youve done quite abit of practice with them or feel comfortable, then lay up. easy way to lower scores without practice. i bet you could try this method in your next round and you will possibly break 90, maybe low 90s. oh and btw, get a sw and lw (56 and 60), much easier. do you use your pw out of bunkers?

[alcorn]

First I'd go take a few more lessons. When you take the lessons express the same concerns you did to us to your pro. Then he or she will know what you're wanting to work on specifically.

I can't say anything that the rest of these guys haven't said. Get to know your clubs and how you hit them. If you don't know your distances then there's no mystery as to why you don't feel comfortable going for it. And give going for it a try on those far greens and greens you don't think you'll hit. You may suprise yourself. Atleast then you'll know if you have the shot in your bag or not.

Of course work on your lags and short putts and your basic pitch and chips.

Lastly, we could all use a little more knowledge on course managment so I would suggest learning your golf strategy.

I don't see any reason you can't break 90. Heck I've broken 80 five times already this year and it doesn't sound like I've got too much on you. So relax and have fun.