Thanks Doc ( I hope I can just call you Doc).

Removing the Blow Out holes is my biggest challenge, I have been breaking down what causes blow out and trying to fix them one at a time, results so far have been

sand play - much improved now through lots of practise

putting - WIP

driving - my drives tend to be either middle of fairway or middle of trees .. a miss into the 1st cut of rough would be nice

GIR - I think this is a combination of poor course managment and technique issues.


My theory is the bogies & pars can take care of themselves, removing the doubles & occassional triple is what is keeping the score in the eighties

My next lesson with my pro is an on-course playing lesson which I'm looking forward to,this should help review the above issues so as the pro can better understand my game and help me fix the area's that are lacking.

Disregarding my waffle though my question to yourself Doc is....

The lower handicap players all say if I could caddy for the higher handicap player, he could break XXX in a flash.

What course managment skills to you impart upon a mid handicapper and how do you get them the practise them?

Thanks

Steve

I have this cobra driver where I can set it on closed; neutral; or open. I currently have it on closed, but it seems like I hook this season.

Anyway to the question, should I just put it on neutral and learn to hit i properly, or does it make any sense to put it in any of the other settigns?

So Ive started this again. Reread the full thread. Started with the putting, after that I couldnt get sub 40 puts pr round, on decent 94 shot rounds.

Watched some video tonight and changed to the reverse grip and got this on the apartment putting setup:

35 3 footers in a row and 38 5 footers in a row.

Looking forward to test the new grip on grass and to try some lag puts.

I've had two sessions to work on session A and I love it. The only real hiccups came from the 30 foot and 45 foot lag putting along with the chipping. Bumped the chipping up to 16/20 to get more work there and focused on longer putts and already feel more confident, especially with the putter. Looking forward to getting some bunker work in when they open it up and get back to a mid-single digit handicap this year!

Hi all,

Been doing the rountine for three weeks now.

the lag putting is still testing me, but I shot 83 (69 nett) last week and sprayed the ball everywhere, worst ball striking game in probably 2 years I hit 3 fairways and only 2 GIR. Got up & done 9 times including 3 sand saves, so I guess the hard work is starting to pay off

Cheers

Steve

only worked on the 25 putts from 3 ft in a row - usually get it done in couple tries, unable to work on other drills due to some work golf trips

glad to report - I putted lights out, I'm generally a good putter anyhow - but this really makes you focus and improve

I also switched from lining up logo/line to positioning ball w/ only part of logo visiable towards back of ball - point of not relying on line for set up, but use as a point of focus and then just make good stoke - very good results, recommended

looking forward to trying more of the drills, and my youngest son is really into golf and he and I are going to work on these soon

thanks,

Got 17 20 feet put in a row, couldnt get 5 in a row from 30 feet, though I tried for 20 minutes. Managed to use 29 puts on the round today, so my putting is improving a lot.

Anyone have a link to a decent video on chipping, I currently do ALL my chipping with my LW, I think I have lots of spots where chipping with a 7i would makes sense, but I have no idea how to do it.

This routine is driving me crazy !!!!

I ventured onto week 2 of the program for the first time.

The short putts - I made the 25 five footers in a row, 30 20ft lag, 30 30 ft lags were also no problems.

Do you think I could get 20 45 ft lags in a row let alone 30 Aaaaaarrrgggghhhh

So I went onto to chipping 40ft 8 out of 10 - It took 5 attempts but I got there and probably holed half a dozen along the way,

So back to the putting I went hit 25 2ft putts in a row, then back to the 45ft putts. And there I am stuck !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

In the doc's words, I guess I've found my weakness.

Although I did know this already - my lag putting is crap.

The wedge work is paying off big time though another 6 up & downs on the weekend

I did have 3 three putts though for an 85 (71 nett) - I had 4 double bogies which hurt - poor lag putting and getting too greedy on par 5's - I should have layed up instead of trying to reach green in 2, so dumb play cost me breaking 80 (again - one day it will happen!!!)

Cheers

Steve

Steve - sorry I"m just getting to your questions - got a rain out today & checked in to take a break from emails.

For a mid-handicapper to break scoring goals it really comes down to a few things - they sound simple and they are in a way, but tough to do consistently. First, you have to BELIEVE you can do it - not think you can, but really believe you can shoot a number. Go through the front 9 (or all 18 if you want) on your regular course in your mind - think about the best shot for the hole (that you can realistically hit), and see it in your mind. Then see the best approach shot to the center of the green, visualize making the putt (or even 2-putting it). You can get comfortable breaking scoring goals by playing some rounds from the red tees (people hate doing it, but after a few times, you get comfortable shooting lower numbers - the first couple rounds most players shoot their regular score) If you have hit every green in reg at some time or another, you know it's possible to hit them, and that leads to the second part.

GIR - the biggest defining factor between handicaps statistically - the more greens you hit, the lower the score. I have a chart I use with my students to show the relationship between all areas of the game and the score - it's amazing how we can go through their round & it is almost on the number. Here is a link to the chart:

Statistics of an average golfer

Regarding you disaster misses, you need to diagnose "why" they happen - is it mental, mechanical, or equipment - probably more mental than the others. Did you feel confident & comfortable? Did you try to hit it harder, or a shot you can't pull off consistently? Many players are actually distracted but don't notice it or try to ignore it and hit the shot without focus. Try to get a very clear picture of the shot you want to hit and think about creating that ball flight without trying to kill it or do something that only happens 1/10 times. If you really struggle on a particular hole, change it up and hit 3-wood or hybrid off the tee for a few rounds.

The biggest challenge is confidence and commitment on EVERY shot - you can't take 1 shot off - each shot is a challenge and you need to have a very clear picture and goal for the shot. Then approach it with absolute confidence.

Hopefully that helps. If you need more info, lmk

The settings should help you control the ball flight - set it to what works for you & don't adjust to the driver.

Great work guys! So fun to hear about improvement! Keep up the good work, and keep posting your successes!

Thanks Doc

I sincerely appreciate the advice.

I looked up the golf stat's and surprise surpise they are about right

my stat's are based on last 23 rounds (approx 12 months of competetion rounds) - over this time my handicap has dropped from 20 to 14 (13.8 at present) so the numbers are a little skewed on the high side but they do give myself a guide on where I need to improve.

1) Iron Play - I don't hit enough GIR to be blunt

2) Short Game - too many times up & down in "four" which kills a score very fast - although in fairness I have worked very hard in this area and 5.1 U&D per round whilst not great is not poor for a mid handicapper either - still work to do..

Lag putting (lack of) contributes to the high number here - too many three putts.
AVE
SCORE 87
DRIVES NOT IN TROUBLE 63%
GIR 4.8
UP & DOWN PER ROUND 5.1
SAND SAVES 24%
PUTTS 32.7
3 putts 2.4
BIRDIE 0.4
PAR 6.2
BOGEY 8.1
DOUBLE 2.1
TRIPLE 1.1
SHOTS INSIDE 50M 50
Shots to reach green 55

As I have birdied (+ one eagle ) every hole on my course bar 2 your are right in that I know I can break 80 (38 is best score for nine), I just need better belief and commitment to each shot.

I look forward to implementing your idea's and shooting in to 70's.

Cheers

Steve

God, we would be a match to the death. My stats are almost identical.

Hi KVL,

Nice to see some else can have momments of brillance followed up with momments of total crap

A match would be nice when your next in Tasmania (Australia) let me know

Or I could explain to the wife I need to go to Vegas. I'm sure she would understand.


Cheers

Steve

I'm trying to figure out how to explain to my wife that I really need to go to Tasmania.

Hi KVL,

I was hust reading your post re spend my money.

How did option 4 go ??????

Cheers

Steve

Due to back strain I have been out of action for a month, but this week I resumed the routine.

3 foot putts - first go yipee!!!!

20 foot - missed on 19 then got it next time

30 foot - took a few attempts but got there

45 foot putts
- still my arch enemy but I can actually see improvement my misses were no worse then 4 foot, so after trying for 15 min without sucess, I modified it (made it easier), if I missed between 3 & 4 foot, & if I sunk the putt I kept going ) outside of four foot then I start again, and I made it on second attempt.

chipping I have made harder and I have increased distance to 25 paces and this took a few attempts but I got there.

wedges - 30, 50 & 70 meters 1st or 2nd attempt.

Due to back I have skipped the long game portion of plan.

Most pleasing is I can start to see the results of the practise out on the course now, ie today I played 5 holes after doing practise routine.

-I was 70m out from pin after punching out from trees from my drive, I stiffed it to 5 feet made the putt & walked off with par.
-including the above I had 3 up & downs & one GIR for a score of 2 over par ( poor drive & missed U&D caused double bogey ).
-lag putted from 50 foot to make par after GIR


Prior to hurting the back I played with a senior golfer who still plays of 7 ( ex scratch / elite amatuer in his heyday but age has caught up with him). This game really brought home the value of this routine, his max drive is 220 yards and he can't reach alot of the par 4's in two now, but around the greens he is still deadly and he shot 2 over for the day and would have made only 3 or 4 GIR for the day.

Cheers

Steve

Doc:

I think I'm going to give this a shot, starting this week weather permitting. A couple questions for you:

1. I'm really having a bad time with chipping right now, just zero consistency in how I'm contacting the ball. Short chips are especially yiptastic. I have a copy of Stan Utley's book and Dave Pelz's short game bible. I'm thinking I should re-read Utley (since I've had a least a little success with his methods) and work on that for a couple days first. Good idea?

2. Bunkers at my course don't have regular bunker sand, they have midwest beach sand which is (usually) pretty heavy and is VERY inconsistent. I'm averaging about 10 bunkers a round right now so I've been getting lots of practice and honestly if I get 1 out of 10 inside the length of a flagstick I'd be surprised. Obviously I plan to give this program a shot as written, but do you ever tweak it to account for local conditions?

Thanks!

not a bad practice routine

I think you could really benefit from the program - re-read Stan's book, and focus on getting good contact - if it's thin/fat, check ball position and make sure you are not moving your head away from the target through impact (it happens all the time!).

I adjust the program all the time - this is just a starting point. If you're going to be playing out of heavy sand, make sure you have enough bounce on your wedge, and, like the chipping, make sure you don't fall back through impact!

LMK if I can be of more help!

Thanks.

Decided to try the first step after playing this evening. 25 three footers in a row. Made 0, 6, 3, 5, 5, 11, 9 and 3. Made 4 in a row left handed with the back of the putter before mis hitting #5.

Better luck next time.

Keep after it - it's tough, but exposes weaknesses, and it will help you improve! If you're struggling to keep the face square, setup about a foot from the hole and just push the ball into the hole (no backswing) - this will give you a great feeling of the face staying square through impact.

Good luck!

Thanks Doc!

Last night at practice with my team we had a small putt around the clock competition. I holed 45 1 meter putts from different locations around the hole in a row. This was more than twice as many as the one who holed the second most and this was thanks to your routine and your advice about controlling the clubface

I spent my second night tonight trying to hit 20 greens in a row from 30 yards, i'm brutal. Best I got to was 14.

Hi Doc,

Question re the lag putting....

How long does it take the ave student to improve in this area, wedges & chipping are fine, but my lag putting despite doing the routine just doesn't seem to be improving.

Apart from the routine I was wondering if you had other ideas on how to improve in this area.

Having said that I haven't missed a three footer on the course in quite awhile now.

5 up & downs today but I then also had 3 three putts.

Cheers

Steve