Thursday, June 10, 2010

Golf - Putting and chipping practise works

Play Your Best Golf - Break 90 Vol 1
9th June 2010 Got out on the course at 3pm this afternoon to practise pitching and putting. Set up a pitching target and used the Wedge only in the practise, in games of late often used the 7 iron to pitch and run from the fringe of the greens. The 7 iron has taken a while to get a good enough touch to pitch and run the ball up to the hole. Do not have a preference for using either club it is a matter of which one will deliver the best result. The Pitching Wedge is becoming a very effective tool for me from 25 metres and in to the green, all from the repetitive practising that has been done in 2010.


Putting; often referred to as the “other game” in golfing conversations is not a strength in my game, still making bad putts in close to end up with three putting holes. Searching for knowledge to improve my putting and having lessons have all began to give my efforts some substance to improve on. Recently some words and a description in how to improve putting from Hale Irwin (US Open, 1974/79, Aust and Sth African Opens 1978, Brazilian Open 1982, winner US Ryder Cup Team 1975/77/79 and US vs Japan Tournament 1983.) has made this a lot easier to practise.

Hale Irwin comments, “I know you see a wide range of styles on the putting green, but the players who are consistently good putters have three things in common. They operate from a stance which is basically square and well balanced; their heads remain almost completely still throughout the swing; and the face of the putter repeats its square contact with the ball every time. It does not matter how odd some of the putting styles may look, you can guarantee that if they are successful they will incorporate these three factors. So should your putting action.”

Practising putting is not spectacular or as energetic as it is with drivers or irons and we have all heard the advice of why it is important and the reasons. Even so it can easily become an irritating mantra which takes the fun out of practise. That is the “F” word that is important in golf; FUN none of that in the game and where is the enjoyment for a player? I enjoy practise at times it does become a task, that is when I change the routine to enliven my spiit and challenge my progress in a different direction. A little change and I can return to practising the same routins again later on refreshed and enjoying it as much as when I began. Thankyou for your time and attention, “Hit ‘em Straight all.”Thankyou for your time and attention, Geoff