It is time to clear up a misconception about two golf tournament formats that often confuse many amateurs. Many people confuse ‘best ball’ and ‘scramble’ formats because it is not really intuitive. So today, I want to explain what a scramble tournament format is about because I will be playing in Men’s night tonight using this exact format. On a side note, most charity tournaments use the scramble format because it is easy and fun for many non / beginner golfers. I enjoy a scramble tournament because it offers a fun way to interact with your playing partners.
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Hitting Out Of The Bunker The Easy Way
Every golfer has played out of the bunker. Most amateurs will play this shot a few times a round….or at least once. Personally, I play a bunker shot every 3 or 4 rounds, but that success is subject to change at any time. Playing out of a bunker is not difficult if you understand the mechanics of a bunker shot. It is different from a normal wedge shot because the sand creates a different set of influences that affect the release and ball flight. I spent a great deal of time early in my career hitting bunker shots and now I consider them just another shot during my round. There are two different ways to play each bunker shot and today we are going to discuss them both.
Continue readingA Chipping Process That Works Every Time
Chipping the golf all can be the bane of many amateurs. The inconsistency of contact, speed control and body position causes many a poor chip shot. The trick, for me anyway, is to maintain a constant technique that I can repeat without hesitation. This year I changed my chipping position slightly which results in better chips and more tap ins for my up and down percentage. My chipping process is very simple and easy to follow if you are looking for something to improve your short game.
Continue readingPutting Games That Lower Your Golf Score
The saying that 100% of short putts never go in is a complete truth. Of course, this is a tongue in cheek statement to over simplify the need to get the ball to the hole (at least) while putting. I am strong believer in putting the ball past the hole between 8 to 17 inches. My research and experience tells me that this distance past the hole offers the greatest chance to sink the putt. Using this knowledge, I have developed my putting style such that putting past the hole is a key component of my short game. To be honest, I do not always accomplish this feat 😦 , but the intent is always there. Fortunately, there are thousands of drills/games to use to improve your short game and I found a video with three that you might light.
Continue readingThe Challenge Of Wanting More In Golf
As every golfer improves, their desire to play better grows. Through my golf journey, I experienced many peaks, valleys and plateaus in my game. I think this is normal for any athlete who wants to improve in their selected sport. Golf is no different or is it. I find that my desire or passion to improve is never satisfied. I always think and know I could have shot better even when I broke par. I always felt that I left a few strokes on the course and that my score could have been better. This desire can be a challenge, mentally, for many players as it was for me in my early years!
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The Grateful Golfer 