Up & Down Game - Greenside Practice

[delav]

I wanted to share with the board something that really helped me over the last week. My short game practice routine had become a bit stale, and I was having a hard time carrying over the concentration from the course into my chipping and putting practice.

I've been working on getting up and down around the practice area. Rather than practicing the same pitch, lob or putt several times, I've been working with a putter, a single wedge, a single ball and a variety of shots from around the green. Up and downs are challenging, but after an hour of practice I noticed my concentration and focus on those crucial putts to be much better.

It felt like a much more effective practice mentality, and I'm excited to carry it over to the course with a bit more confidence.

[ohiolefty]

Any pro worth a damn, and the godfather Harvey Penick, would agree that this is a good method....

You have to not only learn how to hit it close, but figure out where to leave it. You have to figure out how to make putts to get yourself out of jail for bad wedge shots. All of that. Righty-o, neighbor.

[glk23]

When I work on my short game, I usually only use two balls. I lose concentration if I try and hit ball after ball from the same spot. Also, due to past back issues I perfer a couple of shots then straighten up, walk to the balls and move to a different spot. If the practice chipping green is not very busy, I do like using a wedge, putter and one ball to see how often I can get up and down from different spots.

[k14]

A pro I was talking to the other day told me a good way to practice chipping and putting. He called it Par 18. First you start with 1 ball and chip and putt it 9 times. You can determine the par but he suggested 21. So if you have 21 or less strokes you get to advance to the next level, if you don't (and this is the important bit) you aren't allowed to play the game again till tomorrow. A big emphasis on that bit, simulating a real round as much as possible. For level 2 you use two balls but use the highest score from both balls for your score. Then you continue onto the levels. He said he has only gotten to level 3.

You can also change the par score depending on what type of lies etc you put yourself in. Say out of the bunker give yourself 25 shots, that means you need to get 2 up and downs and the rest 2 putts. Pretty cool little game I though :)

[TheGeekGolfer]

So if you have 21 or less strokes you get to advance to the next level, if you don't (and this is the important bit)

I understand the aspect of 'pretending' like it's a real round to add pressure, but I think this is the backwards way of doing it. It's like saying..."I suck, can't get 21 or less, oh well, guess I'll go home".

I like playing games like this when I practice, but I do it the opposite way...ie - for this game, I can't go home , until I break 21 strokes or less. I also do a little putting routine where I take 3 balls and put them basically on the same line, one about 5ft, the next 10ft and the last 15ft. I don't leave until I make all 3 in a row.

[k14]

I understand the aspect of 'pretending' like it's a real round to add pressure, but I think this is the backwards way of doing it. It's like saying..."I suck, can't get 21 or less, oh well, guess I'll go home".

Yeah but what happens if you never make it? Could be there for 3 days :)

[B-Con]

Yeah but what happens if you never make it? Could be there for 3 days :)

If you hold yourself to it, that simulates pressure. When I was playing basketball, I'd do that with a consecutive free-throw and 3-pointer in a row. The free-throws can become automatic, but it puts pressure on you to hit the 3-pointer each opportunity.

[joepro23]

For normal chipping practice, I agree that using 2-3 balls and picking new spots is good so you stay focused. If you are working on something or learning a new type of chip shot though (bump and run, flop shot, etc.), repetition is the key. Mix it up too...give yourself bad lies, chip over a bunker to a tight pin, try out different wedges from the same spot, etc. For me, it's all about keeping things interesting when practicing or else I get bored fast. I used to have chipping contests with my brother when we were kids and we would be out there for hours.

[Bobcat]

imho result oriented practice is definitely the way to go.
I do the old drill 4 tees, 3 feet away at n, e, w, s. 3 balls must make all 12 3-footers or start back form the beginning. It's amazing how much pressure you can exert on yourself when the is a consequence to missing. If I have time, I then move to 6 footers, rarely do I make all 12 of these before my time runs out.

You can do the same with chipping, whether it is the great examples above or hitting chip shots with a 3 foot circle. Push the tees down into the ground and have to make it with 3 balls in 3 different spots, then change club etc. (to get 3 feet, just measure a putter length from the hole).

you need to push yourself, so vary depending on your skill level. if you can't come close to chipping everything in a 3 foot circle, try a 6 foot circle etc.