breaking 100

Practice Putting to Break 100

/ The Grateful Golfer / 15 Comments

Practicing to break 100 is something that causes most weekend golfers tremendous anxiety.  Many believe that they have to practice for hours on the range perfecting a near impossible swing, when really all they want to do is play golf and have fun.  The goal of breaking 100 is the first major milestone in most golfing careers.  To accomplish this amazing feat, one will have to practice and focused practicing will save the most strokes. And the focused practicing area that will result in the best results is within 9 feet of the hole.

The Grateful Golfer believes that putts under 9 feet is where most high handicap players will save the most strokes and take their first step towards breaking 100.  If you have never practiced putts within a 9 foot circle of the hole, you don’t know what your are missing!

An inexpensive way to practice this sure fire way of lower your score is to take 12 tees; stand beside the hole and take one step; place a tee.  Take another step; place a tee. Finally, take a third step; place a tee.  Now repeat this process three times at 90 degrees from the previous line. This will use up all 12 of the tees.

Image from: http://therangeatleonsprings.com/archives/1052

Star Putting Drill above places tees at 3,4,and 5 feet. The Grateful Golfer recommends same formation but with tees place at 3,6,and 9 feet.

Next take three balls.  Putt all thee balls from the 12 o’clock position, from 3 feet, until you sink three.  Then move to the 3 o’clock position and sink three; repeat at the 6 and 9 o’clock position.  Now, move back to the 6 foot position.  Instead of 3 balls sunk before moving, sink only two.  Repeat for all four cardinal positions.  Finally, move back to the 9 foot position.  Sink one and move on until you have sunk a ball from all four positions.  This process will likely take about 10-15 minutes max and that includes set up.

As your putting skill improves, increase the number of balls sunk from the 6 and 9 foot positions.  Next, sink the balls consecutively before moving; thus increasing the difficulty of the drill.  If a player can practice this easy drill once or twice a week they will be amazed on how many strokes they will save.  Additionally, this skill will greatly improve their confidence, gain the awe of their friends and eliminate the dreaded 3-putt!

There are many variations of this drill.  However, I have found this one to be the fastest and easiest drill to set up and perform.  I am a grateful golfer! See you on the links!

Canadian Open – More Than Just a Game!

/ The Grateful Golfer / 2 Comments
Brant Snedeker

Brandt Snedeker of the United States poses with the championship trophy after winning the Canadian Open in Oakville, Ont., on Sunday, July 28, 2013. (Nathan Denette /The Canadian Press)

The RBC Canadian Open did not disappoint this year. The Glen Abbey Golf Club is one of the great venues in Canada for golf enthusiasts. This 7200+ yard course was challenging and yet playable for the pros.  Finishing with 16 under and a 3 stroke lead, Brandt Snedeker was smooth down the stretch and did not crumble when the pressure increased during the 16th and 17th hole. Famous for his putting, Snedeker demonstrated that playing fast and staying focused can a benefit for any player.

Adam Sarson, White Dragon Golf, and TSN provide great synopsis of the tournament including some of the highs and lows.  Regardless of who you were rooting for, the RBC Canadian Open provide all the excitement of any PGA tournament.

As per The Open, the pros demonstrated many aspects of golf that can show amateurs how to lower their scores and be successful on the course. The pros were very accommodating by their play and the following is how I would recommend lowering your score.

Breaking 100

To break 100, putting was the key. Watching Brant Snedeker use his putter like a surgeon wields a scalpel!  “I hung in there really well and made the key putts I needed to and I was able to survive,” said Snedeker, the reigning FedExCup champion who, with the win, moves up one spot to No. 3 in the 2013 FedExCup standings. “That’s what today was all about.” (PGATOUR.com)  Snedeker demonstrated that the flat stick saves strokes and lowers scores.  In his case, putting propelled him to victory!

Breaking 90

Eliminating costly mistakes is key to keeping your scores low.  How many times have we been playing fantastic and decided to take a chance that we know had a low percentage of success.  Then, oh noooo, a triple brings our hopes of your best round ever crashing to the ground.  Unfortunately, Dustin Johnson experienced the same feelings of despair.  Following Johnson’s career, it is easy to see a repeat of costly mistakes.  An article from the Bleacher Report outlines his many disappointments, but does provide a lesson for amateurs.  Play within yourself, and manage the course to eliminate costly mistakes. There are many ways to achieve this difficult task and staying focused down the stretch is the best way.

Breaking 80

Practice difficult shots around the green.  Then know how and when to press a difficult position. Place your ball in deep grass, plugged in the sand trap or chipping over a hazard. Watching the pros navigate the difficult shots makes it clear why they save strokes during difficult times.  Take the 12th hole, Snedeker shot bogey and David Lingmerth tripled from the woods just off the green.  Snedeker’s ball was partly open and Lingmerth’s was buried deep in the cabbage.  The result speaks for itself. Knowing when to press a difficult position and when to take your punishment is extremely important to breaking 80. On a side note, Jim Furyk provides a great article on how to play 20 difficult shots at Golf.com.

The RBC Canadian Open was very entertaining.  Brant Snedeker is a great champion and deserved to win.  Of all the events that occurred during the Canadian Championship, Hunter Mahan provided the best headline.  He left the tournament as the leader after the second round to jet home to Dallas for the birth of his first child. I am grateful that he provided an awesome example what is really important in life.

I am a grateful golfer!  See you on the links!

The Open Champion – Phil Mickelson

/ The Grateful Golfer / 9 Comments
Phil-Mickelson-surges-to-first-British-Open-title-with-5-under-66

USA’s Phil Mickelson holds the Claret Jug after winning the Open Championship at Muirfield on the fourth day of the 2013 Open Championship in Muirfield, Scotland on July 21 , 2013.Mickelson won with a score of three under par. UPI/Hugo Philpott

Congratulations to Phil Mickelson for winning the 2013 Open Championship.  It is the first time he has won this prestigious tournament and he did it with style.  Mickelson is one of the top players in the world and was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame….and rightly so!

It is no secret that Phil Mickelson is my favorite golfers.  He embodies all the positive aspects of golf and yet is not afraid to speak his mind on issues of importance. His performance at The Open was solid and consistent.  He really did not do anything spectacular until the last six holes of the final day.  And what an awesome last sic holes! He hung around and hung around; pressing where required and playing safe when needed. There is a lesson in his win for all golfers.

Breaking 100

Practice your short game.  Mickelson practices 25 yards and closer all the time.  That is where real strokes are saved.  He is considered one of the best wedge players of all time; so to break 100 work on your short game!

Breaking 90

After practicing your short game, practice your putting!  Mickelson is a great putter.  He is no Steve Stricker, but Mickelson seems to sink the important putts when required; much like his putt on the final hole at Muirfield….simple spectacular!

Breaking 80

After conquering your wedges and putting, the next step is the range from 150 to 75 yards. This distance will determine your greens in regulation stat.  I believe this is the most important stat in golf.  If a player can be putting for birdie eight times out of ten….their scores drop considerably.

Phil Mickelson played great during the Open this year.  His steady approach shots, chipping and putting clearly demonstrated where most players should focus their practice time to lower their score.

Phil Mickelson’s quote “A great shot is one that you pull off and a smart shot is the one you hit when you don’t have the guts try it!”  I love this quote!

However, as amateurs to break 100 or 90 or 80, it is better to play more smart shots than great shots!

I am a grateful golfer! See you on the links!

Breaking 100

/ The Grateful Golfer / 9 Comments

According the National Golf Foundation (quoted on GolfBlogger.com), only about 55% of golfers break 100.  This is a surprise to many including myself.  A quick search indicates that the number actually varies but 50% is close enough.  So the question is why do only half score in double digits?

Many will say it is their swing, equipment, the course, the conditions or the person they play with that is the problem.  Well this may be true, but realistically I believe the answer points to one area.  Practice, Practice, Practice!

So that was easy.  Thanks for tuning in!

I know, most of you are saying hey can you be more specific!  Come on, give a little.

Golf Made Simple.com breaks down all areas of golf and the difference between shooting 105 and 95 consistently.  

I am a Golf Noob.com breaks down the process of breaking 100 to course management, shot selection, approach shots, and putting.  Of course these are all important.

Pro Golf School.com talks about why people do not break 100.  Their points are good and offer a possible framework to success.

I know, enough already.  What is the secret to breaking 100 and not having to change my entire game or spend 10 hours a week doing it.

PRACTICE YOUR SHORT GAME!

Yup, that is it.  Most amateurs generally waste 2-4 strokes a hole around the green.  That adds up to 36 shots a round.  Yup, don’t deny it, it is true!  The short game is the key to breaking a 100.  Into the Rough talks about how to break 100 and they emphasize practicing your short game as the key.

For immediate success, to go the course 30 minutes early and practice your putting.  Ian Hardie at GolfHabits.com has a three-part series on putting that is excellent and will save you those all important strokes.

Chipping will work, but will take more time and practice.  KeepMyGolfScore.com has great chipping tips.  Additionally, my earlier post called Chipping In, provides seven tips to success round the green.

Ultimately, any practice of your short game will lower your overall score.  It really is the key to breaking 100.  See you on the links!