Hit my by far best score (81 on a tough 73.4/141, never broke 85 before) today with great thanks to the program. 2 birds (consecutive, one of them on the toughest hole!), 9 pars, 3 bogeys, and 4 doubles gave me great confidence in my ability to score. I had 4 up and downs (3 pars, one bogey) and two 1-putts to make my birdies, with no 3-putts! An unbelievable 30 putt total. Hit 12/14 fairways and 8 GIR, which are truly astronomical numbers for myself. My play around and on the greens was so enjoyable due to the confidence that practicing a ton on it gave. I never did get a chance to work on iron approaches, but I've gotten so much better at them despite that. My alignment and flight are finally working together thanks to ghetto tour sticks (I use the sticks of driveway markers). Thanks so much golfdoc!

Keep after it - let's get those lag putts down - I don't want you giving up .5 strokes every time you're 45' away! Keep up the improvement!

Good question, and you're in very good hands - please say "hello" to Ted for me! He's a great instructor!

While 2+ years is a long time, it's not that long in the overall picture - your swing is probably pretty much the same as it was when you stopped playing -- the timing may be a little off, and your short game probably needs some work on the touch, but with a few fundamental tweaks, your swing should be solid. I'd spend most of your time on 100 & in getting the distance control and feel back in your game. Certainly you'll want to hit balls and make sure your ball flight is where you want it, but spend most of your time getting back to scoring.

I'm sure Ted will go a similar route, but I'd just make sure your posture, and body lines are all sound, then start by getting back to hitting the ball solid. Once you get the contact you want, start working the trajectory to your liking. I always feel that, when I'm working the flight & traj of a shot, I'm pretty close to where I want to be, swing-wise.

Good luck on the comeback! If I can be of any help, please let me know!

Me? I'm not sure. I don't really have the time to sit & practice much, but I do the putting part a couple time/week in the hour I practice before work. I'm pretty solid w/short & lag putts, so I slam that out without much problem. While I feel my wedge game is a little sloppy right now, it's still probably better than most - the target greens on our wedge range are 10'x10', and I landed 8/10 on from 50 yards the other day, so hitting the green from 50 shouldn't be a problem.

I'm about to go into "practice mode" starting next week (I have several tournaments coming up over the next couple months, and school starts here next week so I should have a little more practice time), so I'll run through it at some point in the next couple weeks and report back with my results.

It should be fun - outside of the putting, I haven't done the whole routine in probably 8+ years. It's probably more difficult than I remember!

Good thinking on changing your routine. If I can make a suggestion - reverse the order you're doing it - start w/the lag putts, to get a rhythm and feel for the green, then finish with the 3 footers to add confidence and walk away knowing you just made a bunch! That's the way it will be on the course as well - lag putt, then short putt (if you don't make the lag putt), so it will build a natural flow to your practice.

LMK how you do w/the UPR!

That is so AWESOME!! What a great round & killer improvement! Man, I love hearing about those breakthrough rounds!! I'm glad I could be of help, but you put in the time & did the work! Now we have a new goal -- break 80!! Let's get in the 70's before the end of August! Eliminate just 1 of those doubles, and you're there!!! Sounds like the short game is starting to fire on all cylinders - those are some pretty good stats!

So happy for you - what a fun day! keep me posted, as reading this made my night! Thanks!!

I meant bwslim. He was asking where he should start at and I was just thinking Part B of the Ultimate Practice Routine sounded like a good start for him! Was just curious if he thought he could steamroll through it or not. I'm guessing it would be a good place to start for a player of his caliber. He could also go through A then B. By the end of the routines he'll probably have a good idea of what part of his game he needs to shore up.

i only had about 30 min to practice the other day before i had something come up - i got to 21, 19, and 13 were my best in 3 footers...i was surprised how hard it is to make 25 putts in a row - i can definitely do it and will probably accomplish it when i get out to practice again, but it is definitely a bit tougher than i imagined..i am usually pretty decent when it comes to putts in rounds, i tend to feel that is my strongest point in my game, but it definitely needs work still!

as far as your suggestion to warming up before rounds starting with lag putts and knocking down 3 footers at the end to take my confidence out on the course, i really like, and will try this today before my round - as for goals for myself, i have never broke 100 on a full length par 72 course, but this was mostly when i was young and terrible and i just got back into golf 2 months ago. i shot a 97 on a par 67 course, and have played a par 62 course a few times around here and shot 84 twice and 76 (with a 3 over 34 on the front nine, easily my best nine holes i've played) and i'm hoping that today with more consistent play i should be able to break 100 legitimately

lastly, i have a question about chipping for you..i'm kinda unclear what you mean putting your club into your back pocket...additionally, i felt i chipped well for the most part, but didn't know how, and then i started topping every ball, having it roll onto and past the green, etc, quite frustrating..i put the ball a bit more in the front of my stance and it's helped it a bit, but i'm curious if from just that little bit of information if you know what i am doing wrong? thanks for everything, your threads are absolute gold

Im by no means an expert.

But every time I skull (or top) a chip its because I lifted my head up to see where the ball was going before hitting the chip.

I now make a effort of continuing to look at the ground until I hear the ball land on the green. Then I look up cause I like to watch the ball roll past the hole (if I hit it past) it gives me a good idea of the put coming back to the hole.

Chipping:
8 out of 10 in a 3 foot circle from 20-30 feet
Finally did this!

I'm gonna start doing this today. Wish me luck.

I could go through B probably in about a week. The hardest parts for me would likely be the long bunker shot and actually the lag putting. I am a very good putter from 20 feet and in. But for whatever reason that putting skill doesnt translate very well to lag putting. I seem to struggle with it but am able to "get away with it" since I make so many inside 6-8 feet.

Going to start doing this and see how it helps.

First of all thanks golfdoc for all the tips on this forum. Really appreciate it.

I've been following this guide, and I have been scoring much better. I find that my confidence in putting is at an all time high, but I still struggle a lot with the chipping. I am maybe 2/10 in getting the ball to within 3 feet. So far, when I practice, I grab a 7 iron when I chip (bump and run?) with lots of green to work with and a sand wedge when I don't have as much green. When I'm using the wedge, I find myself either leaving it short by like 5-10 feet or blading it past about 10 feet... I'm a bit better with the 7, but still struggling. Just curious if anyone has any suggestions for improving the chipping. I'll keep at it regardless.

Thanks again.

I use a 60 degree wedge for chipping with good results.

Got 10 balls within 4 feet chipping from 30 ft, and made FOUR IN A ROW. weeeeeeeeee

Thanks for the compliment, and my apologies for not getting to your question sooner - the last couple weeks have been crazy with the PGA in my backyard, and some travel. As far as putting the club in your back pocket - what I'm trying to do is get the butt of the club to stay low and rotate with your body. When a player "flips" the club and tries to lift the ball, the handle stops and the clubhead goes up. When you see a great player the butt of the club works around their body and finishes close to their left hip (rh player). This position keeps some angle in the right wrist, and allows players to use the body and arms to control speed in the shot. I'm sure there are some videos of wedges in the thread "Masters Practice Round videos" - and there are some on my youtube channel. When you finish, the butt of the club should be further left (for a rh player) than the clubhead - you'll notice if you can get to that position, there will be some bend in your right wrist, which will help you hit the ball consistently. As far as your topped shots, holding the angle in the wrist will help, but also make sure you have almost all your weight on your front foot!

Good luck, and keep me posted on the progress!

Nice!! Cookie improving! I love it! Keep it up!

Keep us posted on your improvement, and don't hesitate to ask if you need any advice! Good luck!

The 7-iron is great for the bump & run, as far as the wedge goes, make sure your weight is on your front foot (left foot for a rh player), and don't try to help the ball in the air. Let the loft of the golf club lift the ball & try to hit down on it with a descending blow. I've found most great players hinge their wrists pretty aggressively to begin the swing on short wedges then accelerate through the shot, where most amateurs swing the handle away from the ball, and then slow the swing down through impact. Try setting your wrists a little earlier than trying to maintain that angle through impact.

Keep up the good work and let me know if I can help.

Sweet!! Great work bdaddy - those chip-ins should build some confidence on the course!

If someone is confused by this (I was at one point) what helped me a lot to understand it was the drill you suggested golfdoc to put a club down along my heel line and try to finish my chip with my wedge parallel to the club on the ground.

Thx. Gone from 35,5 to 22,8 during this summer, think I was at 31 or so when I found this, and have broken 90 once, with a 86 for +15. Ive been playing to many rounds lately with not enough practice, should go into grind mode after this weekends powerlifting meet (benchpress competition).

september 3. is my clubs club championship, which is stroke play. What would you suggest my training routine should look like until then if I go to the golf club every day until then(brakedown, like 2 hours practice this or that play 18 holes. Or hit balls 5 hours straight, like about what brakedown will be best for improving.)? (I realise I have 0% for winning, but would like to post the best possible score, and starting school again in sept I would like to grind a lot of golf before that.)

Fwiw chipping and putting is very good atm. Pitching ok, Pw to 5i super random how the shots are. 3w and driver is amazing atm.

Again thanks for the help.

First thanks for all the great advice in your threads. Quite a bit of work you do in a poker forum, greatly appreciated.

What do you think of Mickelsons hinge and hold from his short game dvd. Sorry to assume you know what I'm talking about. He advocates an early hinge, but to hold that on the follow through. I've had great success with it. Just wondering your take on it.

thanks again

Originally Posted by dagolfdoc
The 7-iron is great for the bump & run, as far as the wedge goes, make sure your weight is on your front foot (left foot for a rh player), and don't try to help the ball in the air. Let the loft of the golf club lift the ball & try to hit down on it with a descending blow. I've found most great players hinge their wrists pretty aggressively to begin the swing on short wedges then accelerate through the shot, where most amateurs swing the handle away from the ball, and then slow the swing down through impact. Try setting your wrists a little earlier than trying to maintain that angle through impact.

Keep up the good work and let me know if I can help