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Does anyone have any tips on how to sharpen your short game up. play of 9 and it is holding me back from getting my h'cap down any suggestions...

Practice.










Just kidding...I like to chip/pitch 10-20 shots and then putt out. If I don't make 75% of the up and downs, I repeat from the same spot until I do. This also allows me to re-evaluate club selection for some shots.

To practice your short game, you MUST make it fun or you won't do it.

I think I have a better time practicing my short game than anything. Anything practice wise that is. Anyone can go out to the range and bomb their driver until they are blue in the face. My son and I have spent good chunks of our practice time, trying to out chip each other. It is a good habit to get into. Since we have started this practice routine, both of our scores have gone down.

it sounds like there is a problem with your swing. you should consider taking lessons.

Here's a few notes on PUTTING that may help:

DISTANCE Control
* Focus on pendulum motion (same distance back/thru), with a natural putting arc. (like a small golf swing)
* Keep the same tempo for all putts, regardless of distance. (think "tick-tock" tempo)
* Visualize the shaft extending towards a spot on your left shoulder during the backswing, and the equivalent spot on the right shoulder on the follow-thru.
* Putt balls to various distances, standing in the same place. Sometimes, I focus on how far BACK I take the putter (Example: 24", 22", 20"……..8", 6", 4". all the way down to only 2" behind the ball for short putts)
* "Calibrating" your distance. After testing the various distances back/thru on your stroke, notice how far the ball will travel on the green after you stroke the ball, and pace off the distance. This will "calibrate" your putting, so you KNOW if a putt is 6" behind the ball, it will travel a designated, consistent distance. Make sure you "calibrating" uphill, downhill,and flat putts on the practice green, and that will set you up for the round.
* Place 5-6 balls spaced approx. 3', 6', 9', 12', etc. etc. away from the hole. Starting from the shortest ball to the hole, putt all the balls to the hole.
* Place 5-6 balls spaced approx 3' from the hole in a circular pattern (this is also known as the "circle" or "clock" drill), and putt all the balls to the hole. Expand the circle of balls to 3', 6', 9', 12', away from the hole.

TECHNIQUE
* "Push" the ball towards the hole with the putterface. Don't make a stroke, but rather use the putterface to push the ball. Helps alignment.

* String drill. I use two chopsticks with an ~8' string tied to each one. Place one chopstick ~4" behind the hold, align the string through the hole. When you place the ball under the string and are setup properly, the string should bisect the ball, and align with your alignment mark on your putter. Stroke putts into the hole, this will help your ability for short putts tremendously. From above, it should look something like this:

* Chopstick
- String
O Hole
@ Ball

*----O--------@-------*

* Left Hand Only - putt with left hand only. Helps your stability tremendously, and grooves your stroke.

* Right Hand only - putt with right hand only. Smooths your stroke out.

* Putt with right foot behind left foot (like Briny Baird) - encourages stability and balance.

Hi there is nothing really wrong with my swing it just the rest of my game is far better than my pitching chipping and putting.

I feel when the weather gets better i can get out and practice a lot more on these problems.

I just wondered how other practice there short games thanks samT for the info my putting is not the best, but it is more my pitching and chipping i am worried about.

But this info will certainly help.

Thanks for all of your drills and tips

Scott

Same deal here. If I could just stop three putting my score would come down by at least ten strokes. Hopefully just a matter of practice and more time on the course. Who ever said Rome wasn't built in a day probably also had his golf game in mind at the time.

have to agree with samt on this one the same thing applies to chipping .....

took a few lessons with a pro and he pretty much told me the same thing ..........