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 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 readingAdvice to Break 90 in Golf
Breaking 90 is a major milestone for most golfers. I broke 90 a long time ago, but it took a great deal of time to break 80. During my transition years, I struggled with skills I needed to hone in order to consistently break 90. I have my own view, but I found a video that might be more helpful. Regardless of the advice you decide to follow or make up your own, consistency of effort is very important.
Continue readingAre Poor Golf Shots Preventable?
Every round of golf has the potential to result in many poor shots. Sometimes, when the stars align the number of poor shots drastically reduce. I have had my share of great rounds (and the other ones as well) where my number of poor shots determined my low score. During the great and poor rounds, I always wonder if any of my poor golf shots were preventable. The answer is always yes and I think I know why!
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The Grateful Golfer 