The ratio should actually change - I want you to practice from various distances. The distance I list in the routine is really just a starting point - to get your best results, practice with 75% fairway/25% green for a few minutes, then switch to 20% fairway/80% green - it will help your imagination with the shots and you'll improve faster!

Yes, 25 in a row from 5 feet! You can do it! The stat Phil mentions is how many they make in tournaments - that's a whole different ball-game - they are trying to make a 5-footer that is downhill, breaking away from them on greens that are rolling 14.5 on the stimp, with a tournament on the line & millions watching! They wouldn't make 75% of those if they hadn't made thousands of them on the practice green. In reality, it's not that much of a difference from 3 feet - if the ball is rolling on line, it's likely to stay on line. Most times, I start at 3 feet, and after a few minutes, I notice I've moved back a couple feet without knowing it. If you want to do it a different way, set a mark at 5 feet (fairly straight, level to uphill putt) and hit 100 putts - keep track of how many you make & how many you miss. I do this every couple weeks to just get a feel for how many I can make out of 100. It's a little less pressure than trying to make 25 in a row, it gives you a nice average, and no matter what, you're hitting 100 5 footers. It's a fun drill and it's nice to see the number go up after some practice.

Sounds like you're on the right path, but we need to get you spinning the ball more on the pitch shots. When you play, do you have a difficult time stopping the ball on the green? Or is this just because it's on the range with old range balls? If it's happening on the course, let's get some spin under control - I have another thread (the "Hello" thread) and in there I discussed how to properly use the bounce of the club, and increase spin (I think it's around post #118, but I'm not certain). If you're having difficulty spinning the ball, read that post - it should help you understand how to properly hit these shots. It sounds like you have to open the wedge a lot & I'd prefer you only did that for extreme shots. You should be able to hit these length shots with a square face. Also, any chance you could post a video of your wedge swing? I could provide some advice if you can get one up here.

Keep up the good work, and let me know what other questions you have. You'll really start seeing the benefit of this routine over the next couple weeks!

Please keep me posted! I think you'll notice a difference in just a couple weeks - it's kind of like Boot-Camp for your short game!

As always, adjust to the numbers that work for you, and please let me know how I can help!

Either - I usually get about 30 yards from the flag or target, but I really like doing a drill with my students where we get a certain distance from the front, and we try to hit shots that land on the green, but as close to the front as possible without coming up short We pretend that there's water in front, so you have to hit it on the green, but you see how close you can get without hitting it in the "water." It's kind of neat to see how your body reacts - most people hit wedges short to begin with, so this forces you to work on getting the ball to the target.

Keep up the good work!

Thanks again, dagolfdoc. Ordered the CASIO EXILIM EX-FH25 so I can tape my swing.

Odd thing happened today, didnt miss a single putt from under 6 feet in my 18 holes today, my chipping was very good too. Ive taken the clubs out of the bag for the time being, working on swing and stance with the local trainer, so trying to play extra much with the irons. Shot 101 with 3 OBs a couple of mis****s and only 2 3 putts, I obviously need to do more lag putting.

Yes

I used my own balls, when I tried it, I cant make backspin. I'll read your post in the other thread, for others, it is here:

http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/sh...&postcount=118

Thanks golfdoc. I will try my local park, I doubt there will be people there in the heat & humidity of a Florida summer day. A program based on scoring is definitely the right one for me, as I feel my driving distance/accuracy are good (One of my best days involved averaging ~265 yds with 10 fairways hit), but my approach game causes me difficulty and frustration oftentimes.

Tried this for the forst time today.

Putting: 25 from 3 feet: Spent a long while on this (didn't time my self) then I missed #24, shrugged, hit the last one in and moved on.
Lagputting was decent, and for some reason I had little more trouble with 30 feet than 45. Think I got 45 feet in my fifth attempt.

Chipping: I browsed this thread quickly before leaving for the range, and I had this remembered as 20 in a row. Needless to say I was no where near that, but judging from my experience 8/10 seems very managable (with the easiest possible lie).

Bunker: For some reason I couldn't hit a bunker shot to save my life today (usually not what I consider my weak point) so after being 1/10 with one staying in the bunker, I decided that that was enough for today.

Question: Do we have to start over from the beginning until we can get through the whole phase in one practice? Or once we complete (say, the putting part of phase A), can we consider that complete and move on to chipping the next day? Otherwise, I'm going to have to come back in 2017 when maybe by then I'll be able to get through it all in one day and let you know how I did -lol. Btw- It's nothing short of amazing to me that the average tour pro can get through this in a couple of hours. I mean, I know they're ungodly good, but that is quite humbling!

So I began this today as well. FWIW, I'm a high handicapper who probably averages between a 103-106 on a reasonably good golf course. Anyway...

Amazingly, I whipped right through the 3 footers. I missed #12 on the first go around, but then nailed 25 straight in my second attempt. And yes, I definitely felt the pressure on #25 not wanting to have to start all over at 1, but in a good kind of way.

I was very surprised that I got through the 20 foot lags too. Did this on the first shot. To be honest, I was on a public practice green, which was very slow. I was also lagging slightly uphill. I'm sure this would have been much more difficult on a lightning fast green, which the better courses have. Was also disappointed I didn't sink any of these 20 footers, although I wasn't really trying. Just wanted to get 'em within 3 feet.

After this, my back was getting sore so I moved on to chipping (Note to self: Chipping is NOT easier on the back!). This is where I fully expected to run into major problems. I have to be the world's WORST chipper! I just can't put the club face on the ball the same way twice. Even the ones I got close (actually sank one), didn't feel right. They're either scorching off my club face, or just completely inconsistent. This is where I left it for the day. It was to the point where I didn't want to ingrain the wrong things or bad habits into my chipping.

Another weird thing is that the handle of the club sometimes hits my right hip on takeaway. So my stance must be very screwed up. I tried opening my stance to the point where it felt like I was almost chipping side saddle and that actually felt real good and worked the first couple of times! The ball came out real soft. But then I started screwing up those too. Guess I need to watch some vids on chipping. I'd appreciate any advice anyone can give me on chipping. I'm guessing I'd have a better shot at completing any one of the irons part of this routine than the 20 foot chips.

Anyway, thanks for posting this doc! Like I said, I gave up golf 8 years ago and haven't been out since. I almost want to complete this routine before going out again. I know that sounds crazy, but I'd REALLY like to get at least into the low 90's high 80's this time around. I know it's going to take working on the scoring shots to do this and not just aimlessly beating balls on the range, which was pretty much all I did back when I played. If I religiously practice this routine for a month, is it even possible I can break 100 on my first time out?

Just started program A today, had about 90 minutes to do it. The insides of my elbows hurt from all this putting. I did 25 3footers on my first try, and the 20' lags in 2 tries. I have a hard time counting how many tries it took in the 30' and 45' lags, but I managed to do them. After having to do 100% efficiency on lag putts, the 80% on chipping was a breath of fresh air, and I did it in 2 tries, and ran out of time as rain rolled in. I scoped out my local park for pitching practice, and plan on doing it tomorrow. Thanks again golfdoc.

Absolutely not. Once you complete 25 3footers in a row, you don't have to go back until you work your way through the whole program. Best of luck to you. I think you can break 100 coming back after completing the program once or twice, as it is all about precision/accuracy in your shooting. As long as you can maintain that accuracy throughout a round (and advance the ball decently on other shots not covered, not much topping/superchunks or excessive pentalties).

Late to the party but thanks for this. Look amazing. A soon as I get the time to make a run at the course this is the exact program I'm following.

Pretty impressive getting through all of the putting and chipping in 90 minutes. I'm curious what your HC is? I'm guessing at least down in the single digits. This regimen is gonna be a bear for current duffers like me. Good work!

Thanks. That's a relief. My concern however, is that by the time I finish this whole routine, my putting will be rusty again! -lol. That's why I think it would be really good goal (albeit extremely difficult) to try and get through it in a day or two.

Thanks for the props Lestat, but your expectations of my HC are a little too low. I am a 16 HC who has only broke 90 twice, mainly due to trouble in scoring (ie. pitching and approach game. I often squander good drives ). As for worries about putting, there's nothing in the program about skipping back or practicing other stuff (ie. going to the range when you want) if you want. If you want to keep the rust off but not use too much time, then maybe have checkpoints every 2 or 3 practice sessions where you do something like half of what the program requires (Like 15 in a row from 3', then 10 in a row on the 20', 30', and 45' lags.). You'll still get the pressure and confidence that the routine gives without using up your whole session

Good job on the first try! I'll try & post some bunker tips this week, I don't believe I've posted anything regarding bunkers on here, so it would be good to get some tips for everyone. Keep after it, and let me know how you progress and what I can do to help!

I think it's been answered, but no, you don't need to start over at the beginning, once you've completed a section, you're done! Congrats!

check out my youtube channel, there's a couple tips on chipping on there. If you still have difficulty, let me know & I'll post some tips on here for you.

Awesome!! I'm glad you enjoy the program, and I think you'll find it fun & challenging the more you do it! Keep me posted on your improvement, and let me know how I can help!

Couldn't have said it better myself! Thanks!

Let me know how you do, and feel free to adjust to your liking. It's fun and you will improve if you do this consistently! Keep us posted!

Yesterday made me so happy. I found my 23 ball practice stick, so I was ready to bring it to bear today while pitching. With it and my PW, AW and LW in hand, I go to my local park. I scope out some nice patches of bermuda that can give me a variety of lies, from rough to 1st cut to even a slightly tight fairway. I pace off 30 yards, put a ball there, and set towels vertically and horizontally ~7.5 paces from it, giving me a square 15*15 yard green. At first, I'm just hitting to get a feel, only getting 2 out of 3 in, never really enough to count on the 25 in a row from 30 (pitching!). On my second go round, I start counting, and get into double digits, but blow up 'round #15. I manage it on my third go round with my PW with good distance control (I read somewhere to control distance with your belly button, like your follow through/acceleration level). As I go to pick up, ready to try it from 50, I hear thunder, then a large downpour happens. I am forced to cut my practice short, but at least I completed part 1 of pitching. I grab everything (it's a hell of a load) and drive home, holding the top down while driving in my manual Jeep Wrangler, managing not to hurt anyone. About 5 minutes after I get home and set my clubs/balls straight, the rain is nowhere to be seen. I'm taking a car with a top next time.

mbn

I went back to finish up pitching, and probably had about 5 times around (Over 100 balls hit, it's a 23 ball stick) on each of the remaining distances before getting 25 in a row (50 & 70 yd). I increased the size of the green to a 20*20 yard square. The park just barely had enough size diagonally for a 70 yard pitch, so I racked my brain thinking where else I could go. I'll probably rock the suburbs at the soccer fields if I have the chance next time. I'm coming for you next, bunkers! I am not sure how I will do the long bunker, probably going to skip it or set towels near the hitting area of the driving range (and hope nobody is at the range :/). Golfdoc said it wasn't a huge deal

Did bunkers today. Getting out is super easy when that is the only objective. I can nip it thin with my 58* and get out even with a decent sized lip in my way. My 54* had just been reshafted after busting it against a near invisible root, so I couldn't use it (It is my go to sand club). I edited the second challenge to 8/10 within 10 feet (3 paces, decent chance of 1 putt) as my practice bunker has a shortsided flag with downhill behind it and 1st cut grass height. Despite the change, it still took a while, and a lot of shots as I had to hit pretty hard & high blasts (Big lip :/). I felt triumphant after doing it, and can't wait to do iron approaches tomorrow (I'm either gonna go to the soccer fields or maybe hit up a hole I live near late in the day)

Those darn afternoon showers - always mess up our practice! I'm jealous of the Wrangler - I had an old CJ-7 back in the day - no top, no radio, just pure fun! Good job on the wedges - keep up the good work!

I miss my 1990 YJ so much. The thing I miss most is how easy it was to work on. I could stand between the fan and grill if I took the radiator out. So much room to work on that thing, and no computerized crap to prevent me from fixing stuff.

Oh my putting is so much better because of this routine. Thank you for posting this. Unfortunatly I showed it to my dad and he has more time to practice, so his shortgame has gotten a lot better and I still cant beat him.