Drills

The Grateful Golfer 2017 Golf Plan

/ The Grateful Golfer / 12 Comments

My 2017 golf plan is ready and I think it will move much closer to my goal of being a scratch golfer. Unlike last year, I will have specific milestones to reach and timelines in ensure I stay focused throughout the year.

I am planning to use the same process as previous years because it works very well for my game. It is not complicated and helps me identify the areas I need/want to improve. Except, I am going to take it a step further. I found out last year that but not having quantifiable goals, I did not maximize the golfing opportunities. This year this is all going to change. Continue reading →

The Swoosh Drill For Increased Club Head Speed

/ The Grateful Golfer / 6 Comments

I am on the hunt for indoor golf drills. The next few months will be long and cold, but the quest to improve my golf game never stops. As stated previously, I will be working on my putting very soon and in addition, I have decided to look for other drills I can perform in my basement. It did not take me very long to come across what I think is a great drill I can use given my limited practice area; it is called the swoosh drill. Continue reading →

Golf Drill – Chipping Drill Using Practice Flags

/ The Grateful Golfer / 2 Comments

Simple golf drills are the best! With 15 minutes of chipping practice before my round, I try to simulate what I will experience on the course. This drill uses the available course equipment and works all three of my Titleist Vokey wedges.

I like to start with my gap wedge, then sand wedge and finish with my lob wedge. I keep the same launch spot for all the shots for consistency of aim during all the chips. This drill follows the KISS theory and I use it almost every time I warm up.
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Golf Drill: Having Fun With Chipping

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Chipping is the second most important skill to master in golf; It sets up your putting (the most important skill to master). The closer the ball is to the hole, the easier the putt. I spend almost as much time working on my chipping as I do on my putting. Understanding the influences for each chip, which varies every time, is very important.

To be considered an expert short game player, I believe a 70% up-and-down percentage is required. To achieve this goal, a golfer should understand how the ball responds off their wedges and which wedge to use when. That comes with practice and all practice should not be arduous!

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Wedge Play is the Key to Low Golf Scores

/ The Grateful Golfer / 7 Comments

How many times have you heard the question – should I replace my 5 wood with an extra wedge.  In 1980, Tom Kite was the first pro to put a 60 degree wedge in his bag.  He and Dave Pelz, a former NASA physicist, worked on creating the lob wedge to fill a gap determined by Pelz’s research.  It is a famous story and if you want more details the story check out the February 2013 edition of Golf Illustrated. That unlikely team changed the face of golf.

In 2012, I replaced my most beloved Callaway Warbird 5-wood for a 60 degree Titleist Vokey wedge. It originally started as an experiment, but has turned into a sure thing for my golf game. This decision fit my game well as it continues to evolve; yet sometimes I think that there might be a different solution!
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