From 10 to 5 ?

[Gerald]

My HC went from 45 at the start of this year to 8.6 at the moment ...... not bad of course, but I played from 5.6 before a 16 yrs lay-off.

I sold my shop and have plenty of time now, so I played and/or practiced about 4 times a week.

To HC 15 went really fast, but from there to 10 took me about 6 weeks ...... now I want to get back to my previous level or 7 HC at least.

I play a really long course (about 7000 yds, par 72/72.9/132) and I make par when I hit the fairway on most drives, but I make a bogey on most holes I miss GIR. Missing the fairway almost allways means missing GIR, but since I am using the FT-iZ I rarely miss the fairway.

Missing GIR mostly leaves me chipping or pitching towards the pin, but mostly not within 8 ft.

8 ft. is considered to be a makable putt ..... but I am safe from about 5 - 6 ft. in.

Missing GIR is mostly by not hitting a 5 - 7 iron within 15 yds of the pin...... it is not distance, but aiming most of the time when I miss.

Are there any good practice drills to get those mid irons deadly within let's say 10 yds. from the hole ?

How do I get those "up and down" chips and pitches within 6 - 8 ft. of the hole ?

Please advise !

[golfro]

practice at the range for shot consistency and accuracy. I just pick out targets and aim for accuracy.

[double_j]

Practice, sir. Practice. And make it meaningful.

Pick very specific targets on the range and use alignment sticks so you can learn to feel what proper alignment feels like. Same with chipping - try to execute specific shots from a number of lies with a number of different clubs.

Don't always put yourself in a perfect situation - I'll usually intentionally hit out of divots on the range or mash my ball into the rough around the practice green. Once you can hit those shots pretty well, hitting off of a fairway or light rough becomes remarkably easy.