Beginner here, trying to improve LONG game !

[Jonathan Zach]

Hi all, i have been playing now for about 4 months. In this time i have taken 4 lessons, concentrating on the typical fundamentals of posture, grip  and so on. Mostly at the range, putting green and around the green (chipping)

I feel like, after playing par 3s and 4s mostly, my short game is good. I can pitch or chip to save par or bogey (on par 3) and my putting is not bad. I feel no pressure in the short game, it almost comes naturally to me and i dont force it. Of course i could use more practice on it, its not like its perfect - but i feel its my strong side.

Long game, on the other hand is allot harder. I have made great tee shots where i made it to the green or the fairway. Nice and straight shots like these are about 30-40% of the time. The other 60-70% i make thin/fat shot or shank it. So, one hole would go nice and easy, and the next - terrible. (this is for irons and hybrids) Ill usually tee off on a par 3 with a 7 iron for 150-170 yards or hybrid for 180-195 yards. For shorter ones, like 100-110 ill use pitching wedge. On a 135 yards ill use an 8 iron or 9.

My question is how to work better on consistency? im not looking to make every round perfect, just the long game better. My goal is to at least make the ball fly somewhat straight and high :) i dont mind a fade or draw... i just don't want these weak thin shots that go nowhere, or these embarrassing fat shots that spray mud all over the place.

Thanks in advance, Jonathan.

[Lihu]

Hi all, i have been playing now for about 4 months. In this time i have taken 4 lessons, concentrating on the typical fundamentals of posture, grip  and so on. Mostly at the range, putting green and around the green (chipping)

I feel like, after playing par 3s and 4s mostly, my short game is good. I can pitch or chip to save par or bogey (on par 3) and my putting is not bad. I feel no pressure in the short game, it almost comes naturally to me and i dont force it. Of course i could use more practice on it, its not like its perfect - but i feel its my strong side.

Long game, on the other hand is allot harder. I have made great tee shots where i made it to the green or the fairway. Nice and straight shots like these are about 30-40% of the time. The other 60-70% i make thin/fat shot or shank it. So, one hole would go nice and easy, and the next - terrible. (this is for irons and hybrids) Ill usually tee off on a par 3 with a 7 iron for 150-170 yards or hybrid for 180-195 yards. For shorter ones, like 100-110 ill use pitching wedge. On a 135 yards ill use an 8 iron or 9.

My question is how to work better on consistency? im not looking to make every round perfect, just the long game better. My goal is to at least make the ball fly somewhat straight and high :) i dont mind a fade or draw... i just don't want these weak thin shots that go nowhere, or these embarrassing fat shots that spray mud all over the place.

Thanks in advance, Jonathan.

Welcome to TST!

Well, you hit on the crux of golf. The long game is mostly what defines how well you do on the course.

I'm sure you can get lots of good advice on this site, one thing is to start a My Swing thread. Good luck, you're in the same boat as the rest of us.