Short Game Experiment

[wedge player]

Just wondering if you only practiced putting and chipping around the green for a month if your golf scores would go down? yes, thats right, no driver, fairways woods, longer iron, mid iron practice at the driving range but just putting and chipping off the green and playing 18 holes.

id put money on either staying the same or going up

[Nickynoodles]

I have a Pitch and Putt 18 hole course right near my house. Its called Snipes. The longest hole 65 yards the shortest is 40 yards and its all Par 3's. Par 54. I go there every once and awhile and took a couple of my friends there to try to get them into Golf and it actually worked. I have 2 buddies that really werent into Golf till i took them to Snipes a couple times and wallah. They purchased cheap sets of clubs and now i teach them the game and take them to real courses and so far there not to bad at all. I use my 60 degree lob wedge to play all holes and i'll tell ya what. Its really good practice for your putting and the greens also have sand traps around them, so when you hit a trap you get work in on your up and down game. I believe any type of practice will help your golf game no matter what. If your a 20+ capper and you go play 3 balls on a 18 hole course you will get alot of looks at different shots. Then putt them all out. Practice is practice no matter the sport or what part of the sport you are practicing.

[PhilsRHman]

This seems like a silly debate. How can anyone argue that you wouldn't lower your scores by practicing the short game? The percentage of shots inside 50 yards should tell you you've got to devote the vast majority of your practice to short game. And the OP mentioned that you'd still play rounds of golf, so you'd get plenty of full swings in.

I play with (and gamble against) enough high handicappers to know they'd cut a ton of shots by getting better within 50 yards of the green. The number of times a guy will hit an average iron shot that should be a pretty easy up and down par will often not only become a bogey, but I'd venture to say that anything that involves a chip brings double into play. If you're going to shoot 105, chances are you're only going to hit the green from 40 yards about 50 pct. of the time (at least based on experience playing with this level of player). So you're not only talking about not getting up and down from 40, but you're also trying to get up and down for bogey from just off the green, from a bunker, etc.

Some of the best scores I've ever posted, I've only hit 5 or 6 greens, but made birdies when I had them and got up and down from some really amazing spots. And moreso than the crazy up and down is the comfort of really easy tap in par putts because I'm hitting chips that are scaring the hole each time.

As for who it would help MORE, I guess it's all relative. If you are a 30 handicap, a 25 pct. improvement (which I think is feasible if you spend one month spending 4 hours a week on short game and 1-2 18 hole rounds) would drop you to a 22.5. If you're a 3 handicap, a 25 pct. improvement makes you a 2.25. In terms of scores, clearly the 30 will be far more noticeable. But for the 3, you might be talking about the short game practice being the spark to have a great round, really go low. Eliminate the 2-3 sloppy bogeys in a round, add 2-3 birdie putts that fall instead of lip out, and suddenly you're cutting 4-6 shots that day. Add 3-4 missed greens because your irons aren't as locked in. Question is, do those 3-4 missed greens cost 3-4 shots? I'd say no, because you're far more likely to save par. Where you might lose 1-2 shots due to lack of long game practice would be 1-2 irons over the course of a round that finish 15 feet instead of 3 feet. In that scenario, you're still well ahead of the game thanks to the added par saves.

And I agree with those who mentioned earlier, that short game work does help you get into a golf mentality that I believe transfers over to the full swing.

[PhilsRHman]

I have a Pitch and Putt 18 hole course right near my house. Its called Snipes. The longest hole 65 yards the shortest is 40 yards and its all Par 3's. Par 54. I go there every once and awhile and took a couple of my friends there to try to get them into Golf and it actually worked. I have 2 buddies that really werent into Golf till i took them to Snipes a couple times and wallah. They purchased cheap sets of clubs and now i teach them the game and take them to real courses and so far there not to bad at all. I use my 60 degree lob wedge to play all holes and i'll tell ya what. Its really good practice for your putting and the greens also have sand traps around them, so when you hit a trap you get work in on your up and down game. I believe any type of practice will help your golf game no matter what. If your a 20+ capper and you go play 3 balls on a 18 hole course you will get alot of looks at different shots. Then putt them all out. Practice is practice no matter the sport or what part of the sport you are practicing.

I know that place. It's fun, although the mosquitos can be killers in the summer. I'd actually disagree about the benefit of pitch and putt, because the greens are typically so much slower than anything you'd see on a real course.

As crazy as it sounds some of my best days putting came after a day playing mini golf at the shore. Those carpet greens obviously don't roll like real grass but without realizing it, you're spending an hour or two hitting short putt after short putt, all of slightly different distances. I think it does wonders for your stroke.

[misty_mountainhop]

There seems to be an inverse relationship between handicap and time spent on short game.

Pros maybe 70:30 split; short game:long game

Hackers maybe 5:95 split; short to long.

In other words, yes. Practicing the short game that much would help anyone drop their scores. One thing that's useful about having a great short game is it takes a lot of pressure off the long game (which therefore improves) knowing you can get up-and-down more often than not if you miss the target.

[wedge player]

In other words, yes. Practicing the short game that much would help anyone drop their scores. One thing that's useful about having a great short game is it takes a lot of pressure off the long game (which therefore improves)

yes but a month without practicing a full swing never have anything over a pw to practice dont think you would lower your handicap at all.

[PhilsRHman]

yes but a month without practicing a full swing never have anything over a pw to practice dont think you would lower your handicap at all.

But you would practice your full swing. You'd be playing 18 holes a week based on this experiment. If that's not enough to keep your current swing in tune, then you're definitely doing something wrong. Obviously it's a trade off, and sure, maybe you lose 10 pct on your full swing. But you'll definitely gain far more on the short game, and as has been beaten to death here, the short game is where you make your scores.

[wedge player]

But you would practice your full swing. You'd be playing 18 holes a week based on this experiment. If that's not enough to keep your current swing in tune, then you're definitely doing something wrong. Obviously it's a trade off, and sure, maybe you lose 10 pct on your full swing. But you'll definitely gain far more on the short game, and as has been beaten to death here, the short game is where you make your scores.

id personall practice the full swing hard to get birdie putts if you cant hit a green

id rather have a birdie putt than trying to get up and down on all the holes though. one more qustion do you think you would score better if tiger hit all shots within 100 yards for you or over 100 yds?

[PhilsRHman]

id personall practice the full swing hard to get birdie putts if you cant hit a green

This is either a joke question, or there's no way on earth you're a low digit handicapper. If I hit every shot over 100 yards and Tiger hit every one inside 100, our score would be at least 10 shots better than vice versa.

[wedge player]

This is either a joke question, or there's no way on earth you're a low digit handicapper. If I hit every shot over 100 yards and Tiger hit every one inside 100, our score would be at least 10 shots better than vice versa.

not according to a study every shot inside 100 yds would save an average of 2.8 strokes while every shot outside would save 7.something strokes i think it was a golf digest study but not sure.tiger regulary hits greens of 150+ yards an average joes percentage is around 20% and thats generous.im a low capper because i spend most of the time hitting full iron shots my g.i.r percntage over 150 yds is around 59% which gives me alot of birdie ops.easy pars if not,id much rather take that insted of hitting 1 outta every 5 greens and trying to get up and down for my par.

[Nickynoodles]

I know that place. It's fun, although the mosquitos can be killers in the summer. I'd actually disagree about the benefit of pitch and putt, because the greens are typically so much slower than anything you'd see on a real course.

Yea but it does help your mental side of putting. Speeds are different on every course you play. Just because Snipes has slow greens does not mean your not getting good practice in. Its all about your reads, and your stroke. I have never played 2 different courses that had the same green speed. I have played slow greens to greens like putting down black top, its all about your green reading. You get used to the speed after a couple holes. If your playing 18 holes hitting shots from 60 yards to 5 yards off the green and getting putts in how is it not practice? How could you disagree with that benifiting you? This was a thread about practicing short game and i stated a short game fact. Then you disagree about it benifiting your short game because of slow greens? Then say mini golf does wonders for your stroke? LOL Im having trouble even thinking what you wrote was even serious. Or that your Handicapp index is a 6 even.

[PhilsRHman]

Yea but it does help your mental side of putting. Speeds are different on every course you play. Just because Snipes has slow greens does not mean your not getting good practice in. Its all about your reads, and your stroke. I have never played 2 different courses that had the same green speed. I have played slow greens to greens like putting down black top, its all about your green reading. You get used to the speed after a couple holes. If your playing 18 holes hitting shots from 60 yards to 5 yards off the green and getting putts in how is it not practice? How could you disagree with that benifiting you? This was a thread about practicing short game and i stated a short game fact. Then you disagree about it benifiting your short game because of slow greens? Then say mini golf does wonders for your stroke? LOL Im having trouble even thinking what you wrote was even serious. Or that your Handicapp index is a 6 even.

That was definitely a bad post on my part. I meant to say I didn't think pitch n' putt had as big an effect on the short game as an hour or two at your home course's short game area. I often go to the pitch n' putt on Rt. 27 in NJ and it's fun and you definitely get plenty of chances to work around the greens. But there are times that the greens are so slow it's like playing to fairway, not green. That was my point, less so than it's not helpful. No doubt it helps get a feel for those 50 yard shots.

[PhilsRHman]

not according to a study every shot inside 100 yds would save an average of 2.8 strokes while every shot outside would save 7.something strokes i think it was a golf digest study but not sure.tiger regulary hits greens of 150+ yards an average joes percentage is around 20% and thats generous.

I'll give this one more thought, but my first thought was that certainly I'd rather play Tiger's ball from 100 and in. I still contend that I'd rather swap the weakest part of my game for the strongest part of his game. The real question is, how many greens does he hit, vs. how many you'd hit. On short par 4s, a good drive would have him hitting the second shot and in. On par 5s, I'd be able to reach in 2 and have him putting for eagle, or trying to get up and down for birdie. On par 3s, especially long ones, it would obviously be nice to have him hitting off the tee, but I still think his ability around the greens would still make a bigger difference if the partner is a long hitting low handicapper. A short game whiz, obviously it would flip. And a high handicapper who would cost the teams strokes being wild off the tee would definitely benefit from putting and chipping Tiger's shots. However, it should take strategy, because I'd certainly rather Tiger from 105 than a 20 capper from 50.

Interesting question. I shouldn't have dismissed it so quickly. HOwever, I still think I'd rather play over 100 and have Tiger play under.

[wedge player]

I'll give this one more thought, but my first thought was that certainly I'd rather play Tiger's ball from 100 and in. I still contend that I'd rather swap the weakest part of my game for the strongest part of his game. The real question is, how many greens does he hit, vs. how many you'd hit. On short par 4s, a good drive would have him hitting the second shot and in. On par 5s, I'd be able to reach in 2 and have him putting for eagle, or trying to get up and down for birdie. .

but this is where i want him although i could reach the par 5 in 2 he is much more accurate at that 210 yd approach than i am,and on par fours you get his drive and approach often within 15 foot ill take my chances with the putt

[ks8829]

It still would be interesting to see a golfer only practice, putting and chipping and skip the driving range for a couple of weeks to see if they lower their scores, anyone up for the challenge? post your practice and results.

How about even modifying your practice so that 90% short game and 10% others?

[Old School]

This is about where my game is, over the holidays I played three rounds. My handicap is currently 17.1 and my last three rounds were all in the upper 80's. Opportunities for improvement that I noticed are my wedges from 50ft and putting. In the most recent three rounds I left more strokes on the course with my short game than I did off the tee. I bladed at least one ball across the green into a bunker on the other side. I'm totally uncomfortable with my wedges at this point and plan to practice with them over the next month rather than mid irons. While I don't think that I'll be at a 12 in the next month I expect to be closer to 15 than to 20.

Where my plan breaks down and where the OP's question becomes valid is when I start thinking that, if I was able to leave all approach shots within 12' then my wedges and putting would not matter nearly as much.

[Fourputt]

Just wondering if you only practiced putting and chipping around the green for a month if your golf scores would go down? yes, thats right, no driver, fairways woods, longer iron, mid iron practice at the driving range but just putting and chipping off the green and playing 18 holes.

Yes. I speak from experience. I've never been a good range practicer, so one day I decided to just start focusing on short game. All of my practice time was spent on the chipping greens of the 2 courses closest to me. The interesting thing about it is that the short pitch has the same tempo as the full swing, so working on 20 yard pitches will improve your timing on your full shots too. The upshot of it is that after about a month of this, I had what I call my epiphany. I dropped 5 -6 strokes off my handicap almost overnight, went from 16 to 11 in 2 weeks. The Club Championship was 72 holes stroke play, and I took my legitimate 16 handicap in and shot 88-84-73-78. The next revision had me at about 11. I've mostly played in the 9-12 handicap range ever since, and that was some 21 years ago.

Although being quite new to the game, I disagree with this. I found early on, the biggest improvements came from driving distance, and simple mid iron ball striking consistency (i.e. not hitting "mulligan" shots that went 25 yards...).

You don't need to hit GIR's to shave strokes off your game. I'm not saying that GIR's don't help your game, but even if it takes you 4 to reach the vicinity of a par 4 green, you will still save strokes if you get up and down in 2 rather than stubbing the first chip, then skulling the next and then finishing with a 3 putt. And, as I said above, developing a good chipping stroke can actually help your full shots too, because it will help you improve your tempo as well.

[tommygun3]

I have played this game for a few years off and on. All I did for a while was practice my drivers, long and mid irons, but not my woods because I just hate them period. Hybrids work for me a lot better. Anyhow, I have come to a point where I can drive a consistent 260-280, and have great consistency with my hybrids and irons, except when I get to my wedges and putting. On a long par 4, 400 yards, I will hit a good drive. If it is a shorter drive of about 250 to 260, I will hit the green with my 9i no problem. Its a full swing, so no issues. If I where to drive it 280 on a short par 4 and leave 70ish yards or so, I will either hit short of the green on my approach, or over because it is not a full swing. This is where I have the most problems as of late. It is hard to judge how to swing on short swing shots. Any help here?