Taking 4+ shots to get down around the greens

[Pete]

I am a single figure player who consistently takes 4 (or more!) shots to get down from around a green. It happened to me twice in a competition last weekend where I was green high in 2 on a par 5 and took a bogey six on both due to stupid short game shots. I also did the same on a par 3 (double bogey) and a very short par 4 (bogey) where I was 30 yards from the green after my tee shot. On average I take 4+ shots to get down from close range four or five times a round.

I'm not looking for a Phil Mickelson short game. I will happilly take 3 shots to get down and walk to the next tee.

The problem is not technical, on the practice greens, I have a very good short game.

Has anyone been there before? Does anyone have any ideas how I can address this?

[carpediem4300]

depends why you are taking 4+ shots,....are you blading your chips?, puliing your putts? hard to address an issue without knowing what it is :)

i used to take 3-4 to get up and down because i would rush,..it looks like a simple little 20 yard pitch and run,...id walk up to it,...blade it across the green

take your time and slow down, really think through the shot before committing

[saevel25]

Stop caring about were the ball ends up and work on just placing your ball on a spot on the green were you want it to land. I basically shut out the hole, some shots i don't even look at it. I will look right were i want the ball to land. Also, Stop thinking negative thoughts. The number of times i do what i think because in my mind im thinking, "Oh i better not skull this" Soon as that happens, i should just back away and think of a tmie were i hit a really good shot..

[Pete]

Thanks.

I like the 'slow down' advice, that is the sort of advice that I'm looking for. I know my technique is good and the problems aren't mishits.

Probably my biggest issue is leaving it short. Sometimes I just can't bring myself to hit it hard enough to get there. There is some kind of fear of hitting it long that I can't seem to get over. But majority of my lost shots are down to leaving it short! You would have thought I would have built up a fear of leaving it short by now, but seems to reoccur.

[Valleygolfer]

I am a single figure player who consistently takes 4 (or more!) shots to get down from around a green. It happened to me twice in a competition last weekend where I was green high in 2 on a par 5 and took a bogey six on both due to stupid short game shots. I also did the same on a par 3 (double bogey) and a very short par 4 (bogey) where I was 30 yards from the green after my tee shot. On average I take 4+ shots to get down from close range four or five times a round.

I'm not looking for a Phil Mickelson short game. I will happilly take 3 shots to get down and walk to the next tee.

The problem is not technical, on the practice greens, I have a very good short game.

Has anyone been there before? Does anyone have any ideas how I can address this?

I have been having the same issue. Breed was talking about a drill where you put 9 balls around the green in random different areas. Then try to get up and down, making sure to complete each hole. He said to do it until you can get 6 of the 9 balls in the hole with two strokes. I did this last night but it was on a difficult green so the putting was tough and chipping close was hard because of the slope. I guess if you get good at the tough ones the rest will be easy.

[Pete]

Thank you saevel25. A positive approach would help me a lot. I would like to build up the same confidence I have with my long game so that I have a nice bank of good memories to recall.

I think there is also some pressure I put on myself because I have hit 2 great shots to get to the green in 2 on a par 5, or close in 1 on a par 4, and I feel if I don't birdie it, it will be a waste...

[Pete]

Thanks for the tip Valleygolfer. That's the thing, I did a matchplay type practice doing a similar drill with 9 locations around a chipping green against a friend who is renowned for his short game and I beat him 7up. I just don't seem to be able to take it onto the course.

[carpediem4300]

to much expectation,....your playing off 7 which still technically means you will shoot 79+ so based on an average round you will par 11 holes and bogey 7 holes,..........what you should focus on is not birdie, but par,.....if you reduce the above figures down to 14 pars, 4 bogeys,.....you have improved

secondly as suggested above, spend some time on the range learning your wedge distance and how hard you have to hit it to get it there

one thing i do to avoid coming up short is choose my shot and my club,....but then club up 1,...so if i got a 40 yard pitch to hole high i would usually take a 1/2 swing lob wedge,....sometimes ill swap that out for a 1/2 swing sand wedge, almost guaranteed to not be short,...

as they say with putting,...never up never in!!

[chilly]

Maybe oversimplifying, but I have the same issue with coming up short around the green.  Simple solution for me was taking a club with less loft, you'll get more rollout and don't have to overcome the "fear" of hitting it near the pin.

[Valleygolfer]

Originally Posted by Pete

Thanks for the tip Valleygolfer. That's the thing, I did a matchplay type practice doing a similar drill with 9 locations around a chipping green against a friend who is renowned for his short game and I beat him 7up. I just don't seem to be able to take it onto the course.

Last night I found that on the course my hands were more tense playing the shot and while practicing I realized this. I then started "deadening" my hands to relax the shot. The deadening got me to stop the flipping caused by chickening out on my swing and I was able to come through the ball smoothly with my hands in front. This also allowed me to be much more accurate and get the ball up and out of even the worst lies. You may be getting the apprehension during your swing causing your grip to tighten like mine was. The pressure wasn't there when you were practicing with your friend because you probably expected to be beat by him and had nothing to lose, judging by your statement about his game.

[Pete]

Interesting. I guess I need a way to practice like I'm in a comp or play in a comp like I'm practicing.

[inthecup]

Just like long shots tension will make the ball come up short.  I like to think nothing fast happens around the green.  Slow smooth movements.  Relax those hands and arms and accelerate through the ball.  Shorter back swings.