Chipping past the hole is a thing. I often wondered if the advice we receive about putting with enough speed to ensure the ball has enough force to pass the hole my 8 inches (it is actually 17 inches) should be applied to chipping. The old adage of “100% of short putts do not go in” is a great one because it is very true. After a bit of introspection on my chipping game, I realize that most of my chips are short and never have a chance to drop in the hole. The challenge for most amateurs, including myself, is the fear of being too aggressive and leaving a putt that is far outside the ‘gimmie range’. Is this a challenge for your game?
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Hitting A Golf Ball Over An Obstacle
Every golfer has to hit their ball over something. It may not happen every round, but it does happen where an obstacle is between the ball and intended target. I have experienced this situation many times with mixed results. The more practice I had (unfortunately playing out of tough positions) hitting over an obstacle, the more I was able to analyze my approach to making these shots. I was able to change my methodology such that now hitting over obstacles is easier and not as intimidating. My process is simple and more mental than physical.
Continue readingIs Your Scramble Percentage Important In Golf?
There are many different statistics that a golfer can track. Personally, I think greens in regulation (GIR) is the most important. After that there are many different stats that rise and fall in importance depending on how my game is on any given day. Whether the stat is focused on putting, hitting fairways, or sand saves (for examples) there is one other stat that stands out as very important to lower golf scores. That stat is our scramble percentage.
Continue readingAvoidable Putting Mistakes
Putting is a very personal skill in golf. If we lined up 50 amateurs, I bet 45 of them would have a different putting style. This variation is fine as long as the player can repeat the stroke again and again. Over the years, I have offered putting tips that would reduce error s and build consistency. My tips are not just mine alone because golf experts, like Rick Shiels, espouse the same topics. Fortunately, I found a short video that address seven putting errors that most amateur golfs make on a routine basis. This is a great topic for sharing as I watch the Travelers Championship.
Continue readingThousands Of Decisions On The Golf Course
Every round of golf is riddled with a plethora of decisions. The moment we step out of our vehicle, the decision making process starts and does not finish until we reenter our vehicle. Many decisions have an indirect impact on our game and are made without any real thought. Other decisions, however, have a direct impact on our score because they create a decision chain that can lower our golf score. Interestingly, the decision processes change depending on the format of the golf event. A stroke versus a scramble versus a match play round have very different decision making chains that many golfers do not anticipate.
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The Grateful Golfer 