putting

Pin In or Pin Out?

/ The Grateful Golfer / Leave a comment

This is a quandary for all golfers regardless of your skill level.  You are on fringe within in 5 feet of the green.  You have a decision to make whether to leave the pin in or to take it out. It is really tough to determine the best course of action…..it could mean the tournament!   Okay a little mellow dramatic, but I think you get my point.  What do you do?

Dave Pelx from Golf .com conducted a scientific study to determine the answer.  He says leave the flag in as the rules allow.  Speed is the most important factor and the flag is your best friend when putting aggressively to the hole.

Don Trahan from Swingsurgeon.com has a completely different view.  He says the pin is only in the way, and whenever possible take it out.  He states that the pin reduces your margin of error and that removing it allows for a greater result.

Well there you have it.  The answer is depends.  There are so many variables regarding chipping, that there is on right answer….or so it seems.  The right answer is which ever you chose while making the shot.

I, for example, try to remove the flag as often as possible.  I believe that it does get in the way and if removed, it allows for a greater chance of the ball going in.  You know what they say – Pull the Pin, Its Going In!

What say you?

When Your Game Goes South!

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Making a DivotWell today was another interesting challenge on the links.  I started with 5 bogeys on the first 6 holes.  And I THREE PUTTED 4 times!  OUCH!  I was confused, frightened (ok not really), annoyed, and well confused again.  I started to press my game to get back a stroke or two before the end of the front nine.  Although the score did not show it, I struggled for the next 5 holes.

Now what?  I remembered an article I read a long time ago that related perfectly to my current situation.  Instead of pressing; the article say to throttle back a bit.  Hit the ball at 90% instead of 105%.  Guess what, it worked.  I regained my calm, struck the ball better and putted better.  I finished 7 over and felt better at the end.  I am a grateful golfer.

So my question is – what do you do regain your game when it seems to have gone south?

Practice Makes Perfect!

/ The Grateful Golfer / 3 Comments

How many times a week do you practice?  To develop muscle memory one must repeat the same movement over a long period of time.  I was at the range today practicing and realized that I have hit my 7 iron at least 1000 times in my 35 years of golf.  That goes the same for my driver and three wood.  Less for my long irons.  Here I was practicing with a large bucket and enjoying every stroke.  I would try a couple of things, but mostly my swing is grooved and I hit it pretty straight.  I follow the same routine, set up, grip, stance and stroke.  As a result, my score is within a couple of strokes 95% of the time.

As I came to the bottom of my bucket, I was still wondering how I can consistently lower my score.  I thought of my best rounds (I have had 3 under-par) and wondered what was the reason for these special times.

Then it hit me like a ton of bricks – chipping and putting.  I have hit chipped and putted twice as much as my next club.  So why am I spending 40 minutes hitting balls and only 20 minutes chipping and putting.  Actually I should – and will – reverse this time.

Golf Link has a 5 step way to lower your score.  Its first step is to practice your short game.  I second that!  The next four steps are also excellent ways to become the golfer you want to be.

Spending more time chipping and putting will definitely lower your score.  See you on the links!

Skins Game!

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Today was an awesome time on the course.  Three of us hit the links and played a little skins game.  Funny thing is I had the best score and paid the most money.  That is the way it goes sometimes.  Don and Guy played really well and were able to squeeze out 6 and 7 skins respectively.  That left me with 5 skins.  Overall, it was a fun time on the course.

Don passed on a putting tip that I think is very basic and fundamental to proper alignment of your head over the ball.  He suggested that you line up over a putt as per normal.  Take a ball and put it right beside your right eye (if you put right-handed).  Drop the ball; if it hits the ball on the ground you are in the right position.  If not, you should adjust the position of your head, body or ball to make sure the proper alignment.

This tip allows of proper positioning of the head to ensure a smooth stroke on your chosen line.  It really works.

Best shot of the day went to Guy.  He hit a 5 wood 215 yards over a pond onto the green 8 feet away.  It was spectacular to watch.  Yes, he won a skin on that hole.

I hope the rest of my season was as much fun as today.  I am a grateful golfer.

Putting Tip

/ The Grateful Golfer / 3 Comments

Confidence While Putting!Putting is more difficult than it sounds.  To make square contact or putt the ball on its intended line; focus on the tip – Back 6 – Forward 12.

What does this mean:  ensure your putter head follows through twice as far as you take it back.  This will allow for solid ball striking and a greater chance the ball will travel on its intended line.  I find that by focusing on this tip, I decrease the number of putts per round.  It is a great way to lower your score.

Give it a try and tell me what you think.