How Do You Practice the Scoring Clubs

[j_moo]

Most driving ranges I know don't have greens at 100 or 150 yard. So I'm wondering how you practice those scoring shots and know how much spin is on the ball? There are chipping greens, but the longest shot that can practiced is no more than 30 yards when no one is around, which is rare.

[chilly]

  j_moo said:

Most driving ranges I know don't have greens at 100 or 150 yard. So I'm wondering how you practice those scoring shots and know how much spin is on the ball? There are chipping greens, but the longest shot that can practiced is no more than 30 yards when no one is around, which is rare.

Two of the ranges I go to do have targets at 50 or 75yds, so that makes things pretty easy.

When I go to the range at my club, they have a 50yd pin as well. If nobody else is on the range, which is common, I'll just walk towards the 100yd pin hitting balls laying on the range, practicing feel from different distances. I find it helps me get a feel for distance when I'm inside 70yds or so.

[DavidFehertysBike]

Pick out a spot inside the 100 yard flag ( discolored patches of grass, ground hog, whatever) and try to land it there. I know it isnt exact yardage, but you could develop sight based feel for shots. You can hit low runners, or use long irons, that stop around the 100 yard flag - all kinds of things. Its really all up to your imagination.

[right handed phil mickelson]

A good way to practice the smaller wedge swings is to take the club back so your hands are hip high and see how far those shots go. Then take the club back so your hands are shoulder high, and see how far those balls go. Now, once you have one of those shots, or in between those shots on the course, you'll know what to do

[jamo]

Play a round of golf.

[Prairie Golfer]

I play the par 3 course.

[Yukari]

  DavidFehertysBike said:

Pick out a spot inside the 100 yard flag ( discolored patches of grass, ground hog, whatever) and try to land it there. I know it isnt exact yardage, but you could develop sight based feel for shots. You can hit low runners, or use long irons, that stop around the 100 yard flag - all kinds of things. Its really all up to your imagination.

That is exactly how I practice approach shots under 100 yds. I don't need exact yardage. I do it by sight.

[Greg]

The range I use most often(salem country club in salem, il) has yardage signs at 50, 75, 100, 125, 150 and every 25 yards up to 250. I try to aim at the signs and try to hit them. I try to stand directly in front of them as well so i can see how straight my irons are going too. Theres a flag at 50 yards inside a milk crate. Ive tried to hit one in the milk crate but not able to do it yet, came close though. There is a nice 18 hole par 3 course at Governors Run in Carlyle, IL, its even lighted on Friday and Sat nights and is fun to test those "feel" shots on as the holes vary in length from 77 to 150 yards, with most around 100-110 yards.

[senorchipotle]

  j_moo said:

Most driving ranges I know don't have greens at 100 or 150 yard. So I'm wondering how you practice those scoring shots and know how much spin is on the ball? There are chipping greens, but the longest shot that can practiced is no more than 30 yards when no one is around, which is rare.

find a decent muni. all the one's here in dallas have practice greens for putting and chipping. and it's all free! well, your taxes pay for it, but anywho. here i was thinking all munis had such practice facilities, perhaps i'm spoilt. failing that, you could just go to a park and stick a flag in the ground and count off 150 yards. that always works.

[jamo]

  Prairie Golfer said:

I play the par 3 course.

+1 on this one. I learned to play golf on a par 3 course on Long Island, unfortunately, it seems like my local par 3 here in MA is closing down.

[j_moo]

I've seen people parked at pars 3 holes on courses with a bag of balls just practicing short approach near dusk. Par 3 courses are probably the best option if I go when not many people are on, it can be treated like practice.

I currently play those approach shots by sight like some of you suggested and have had much more success with it then the clock system.

Seeing how many on this forum talk about spin, I'm just wondering how you practice and control it. Thanks.

[thenormankid]

Best way to stop the ball is through trajectory never mind the spin because there is no true way of controlling the backspin. But when you can control the trajectory you'll be golden.

[Bump-n-MI]

  jamo said:

Play a round of golf.

+1…but play when the course is slow so you can throw a half dozen situational shots into each green. Remember to give yourself "real world" lies (rough, fairway, flat, ball above feet, ball below feet, tight, etc…).

[MuscleBack Sauce]

^^Exactly..everytime you're left with 100 yds or so on a hole, put on your running shoes and get to your ball to try 2-3 shots to get a feel. The only way to master feel from 100 yds and in is hitting the shots

[ohiolefty]

The only other thing I can add is that you need to play different kinds of shots to similar yardages to practice the different strokes and setups...

So for example, at my driving range there's a target 'green' at 100 yards. My last 40-50 balls of a 120 ball practice session, I practice hitting towards that green with...
-Normal, full 56 degree SW shots (they usually come up short, but it's a target to align towards). I also hit draws and fades.
-'Trapped' 56 degree shots (ball back in stance, shallow attack, lower trajectory and more release)
-High, spinny 56 shots (ball forward, steep attack, high trajectory and bite/backspin)
-Same routine as above with my 52 degree wedge
-Approach shots to the same distance with PW, 9i, 8i, 7i...adjusting ball flight etc. to get it to roll up to the side of the target green

I've been working hard on this over the winter because my new 'home course' (my retired dad and I are getting a membership at a local public course) has really small greens with severe back-to-front slopes. I need to have a lot of short game shots in the arsenal. This also CAN'T hurt me at any course...as any mid-handicapper is going to be hitting a lot of shots inside of 100yds, trying to get up and down.

[spitz20]

my home course has a green with about 100-110 yards of a play area....i tend to bring my 60* and practice different yardage shots into that green, rather fun