Changes you have made in your game that you have benefitted from most?

[Orange]

Please share!

I know it sounds simple, but if I just focus and concentrate more on my short game it becomes loads better and can really save my score sometimes.

[Brakkus]

Wedge,Wedge,Wedge then Chip,Chip,Chip,and then Putt,Putt,Putt.Rinse and repeat it's true the short game is the key and it's also fun to play those touch shots around the green.

[Orange]

  Brakkus said:

Wedge,Wedge,Wedge then Chip,Chip,Chip,and then Putt,Putt,Putt.Rinse and repeat it's true the short game is the key and

Last round I played I enjoyed chipping much more. I wasn't scared like I was in previous rounds, I nearly eagled a Par 5 with a chip. I think I'm getting the hang of it now. :)

[MMouse]

Like has already been said, short game. I chip in the yard and putt in the house almost daily and it's paid off. I still suffer bad tee shots, thin iron shots etc....but once I get within wedge distance, I have confidence in that game now.
I started with putting in the house. It's the most used club in my bag and easy to do. I just focused on building my swing, what felt comfortable for me.
Then I moved to my chipping. I have a bucket and I chip into it ( or at least try :) )
Once I get within wedge range I know I can do what I need to, whether it is a pitch or chip on.
With my wedge game, I've worked on shortening up my club by choking down for control. I also had my putter cut down ( I'm only 5'4" )

Right now the biggest change I have made is with my general grip. I've found a setup system with it that works well for me. I call it my 1-2-3 setup because as I grip the club I identify and focus the three areas I want to feel in my hands ( finger pads of first 3 fingers on left hand, pad of right hand where it lays against left hand and index finger of right hand )
Once I set these up and remain counscious of how they feel, I get better control. My shots are generally on my line now, with my only problem being coming up short or going to far.

[MI Rob]

Practicing my short game dropped my scores real fast.
I use to always want to swing about 90-95% but when I decided to slow it down and started swinging at about 80% or a little higher, my consistancy became much better. I did lose a tad bit of distance but it doesnt bother me. Accuracy>distance for most situations.

[Amused]

Chipping technique and spending a lot more time practicing on the chipping green.

[denver_nuggs_15]

I'm just starting to practice my short game (just found a good short game area), so I hope it pays off. I've been practicing putting, but I think I'm practicing the wrong thing since it really hasn't paid off yet. There's glimpses of it paying off, but no consistency.

I've been playing par 5s differently lately. Instead of laying up with a 5i, I'm hitting a 3h or 2h then having a half wedge into the green. Seems to work out.

I'm changing my swing right now too. I felt like I played like crap of wednesday and I still shot 83. And I'm thinking of my shots more (and working them) ever since someone told me I'd be a 7 if I thought about shots more.

[retexan599]

I think what is helping me the most here in 2009 is a more consistent and reproducible setup, equipment, and swing mechanics. Some examples:

• Settling on one golf ball brand/type rather than a variety of recycled balls.

• Measuring distance from my feet to the ball to be the grip/shaft interface for every club every time.

• Placing the ball in the stance back or forward according to club length, same each time for each club.

• Replacing my grips with ones properly sized for my hands.

• Consistently picking a target spot about 3-5 feet in front of my ball, in line with the downrange target.

At least I am having more fun...!

[Careyst]

I never thought the type of ball you use would make such a difference.

[CG031]

  Careyst said:

I never thought the type of ball you use would make such a difference.

It does, but only to a certain extent - Don't think a ProV1 is going to drop 5 strokes off your rounds, it won't...

[higdonp]

The single most important thing that has improved my game is keeping a flat (left wrist) and wider swing plane. After that:

- Relaxation and Focus.
- Realizing that it doesn't take extreme strength to hit the ball far.
- Relaxation and Focus.
- Ball position (farther back for shorter shots).
- Relaxation and Focus.
- If I feel like an uncomfortable pretzel at address it's probably not going to work.

-Pat

[mcfc_nick]

the best change i made was getting new titleist wedges! the difference = WOW! i just feel confident with my wedges now as my old ones had a bigger head and made me feel like how am i gonna hit this right?!

[ControlJunkie]

  Careyst said:

I never thought the type of ball you use would make such a difference.

  CG031 said:

It does, but only to a certain extent - Don't think a ProV1 is going to drop 5 strokes off your rounds, it won't...

I've got the theory that for the majority of people, using a ball like the Pro V1/Pro V1x can make your game worse. This may be worthy of a separate thread, and if my thinking is incorrect, PLEASE someone correct me, but hear me out for a sec...

Think about on of the reasons a lot of people play balls such as the Pro V1/Pro V1x - more spin. I think that there are a lot of people that play the very top end balls that maybe shouldnt be. If the person has a hard time with a slice or a hook, I believe that a "spinnier" ball will only magnify this because of the nature of the ball. More spin is going to lead to a much worse slice or hook because it's spin rate is considerably higher, regardless of whether we're talking side spin or top/down spin. Am I totally incorrect in thinking this? BTW, I'm not totally calling out Titleist, I was just using that ball as an example. I think it also goes for the Nike Tours, the Bridgestones, etc. Back to the original topic. Sorry What brought on the biggest change in my game was reading both of Haney's books. After reading his books, I totally revamped everything in my swing, my stance, my grip, everything. Now my swing plane is a million times better, and I've never been more consistent with my driver as I am now. I'm going out on a limb here, but I'd say I'm more consistent with my driver than I am with my 3W off the tee. The other improvement has come from me trying to be a lot smarter. For example, if I'm on a long par 5, hitting my 2nd shot, and the green is over 220 yds away, I'll hit my 4i long before I'll hit my 3W or my 3H because I know it's a higher percentage play for me, and regardless of what I hit, I'll be hitting a wedge up to the green after that, so it makes more sense to take the club I'm more consistent with. I'll still try the 3W or the 3 hybrid, but only if conditions are perfect.

[JackLee]

Changing to the Master Key instruction. I went from the 90s to the 70s in a very short time. This was after I had tried a lot of other things over 20 something years.

[Ben]

Changing my attitude, temperment and self-image has helped my game the most recently.

[flopdarock]

stronger grip... wider stance... ball position... tucked rt elbow...
was never known to draw a ball... always faded/sliced... now i can do both... not always at will but i know its there

[piper_clap]

For me-I stopped going out and trying to hit the ball and start trying to play golf.

It finally clicked for me that smooth is fast, not fast is fast. I've added distance AND accuracy, but more importantly, consistency with my swing.

That, and thinking "3/4" with my iron swing-I'm no longer over swinging, hitting the ball just as far, and a lot more accurately.

Now, just to start sinking some birdie putts....

[prutkows]

correcting my grip once and for all and then continuing to work on short game.