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From Tom,
golfer: |
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Hello! How do you get from a six
handicap to scratch? I cant seem to put a round together, either my long
game is on one day, or my short game is on the next, but never both. I
know I have the game to shoot par or below, how do I make it happen on the
links? |
|
PGA/LPGA
TEACHING
PROFESSIONAL
RESPONSES: |
California
"Tom - You need to spend
three times as much of your practice sessions on your shots from
100 yards and in, plus putting, as these are your scoring shots. You
have to have a reliable short game, one you can take to any
course, under any conditions, under all pressure. Find a short
game expert in your area
and work extensively with her/him. Learn as many shots as you can.
Buy Dave Pelz' book if you can't find an instructor. A 6 handicap
on average hits only 9 greens in regulation (12 for scratch), 8
fairways (9 for scratch), and gets the ball up and down in a
chipping situation only 41% of the time (55%
for scratch). They also get the ball up and down out of the sand
30% of the time whereas a scratch player is at 48%. The top 5 tour
players, however, have a 58% success rate out of the sand. The
numbers tell the story. And, above all, trust yourself and commit
to every shot. Good Golfing."
- Kati
Biszantz, Teaching Professional |
California
"Tom:
What I find in players who are a true 0 handicap, is that they
have a great short game. The more time and effort you put into
your short game and understanding the what subtle changes in hand
position and hand pressure can do, the more you will improve on
your full game. There is less stress on the full game as the short
game ( Inside 60 Yards) improves. On par fives for example many
players try to hit the green in to and end up leaving themselves
with very difficult approach shots. They become frustrated because
they hit a poor shot, which then effect the next shot. If your
short game improves you will more likely play safer shots that
allow you open access to the green with your approach shots. The
safer shots will in turn allow you to hit a higher percentage of
good shots, your frame of mind will be positive moving into the
next shot instead of negative. Spending some time laying up
on shots and working your short game will give you a greater
appreciation of how to score. As your ball striking improves you
can then allow yourself to take shots with more risk."
- Bob
Veroulis, Teaching Professional |
Florida
"Hi Tom, That is the toughest
thing in golf. I would have to watch you play to tell you most
of it. But, I would suggest you work harder on your swing so
that your irons and woods don't feel different when you swing
them and so each day one isn't off and one on. No one is perfect
but it seems you need to work more on your concentration. On
your swing and on your shots. As I said, without seeing you on
the course or range, it would hard to help you with
this. " - Pat
Kimball, Teaching Professional
|
South Carolina
"Tom, get a playing lesson from a
personable PGA professional with an excellent playing
reputation! THEY can assess where your weaknesses are.
Also keep statistics and fairways, greens, putts, up / downs,
sandies, etc. Like you get a complete physical from the doctor.
You do many things well to shoot the scores you do. Get a golf
personality test to identify who you are on the course."
- Doug
Weaver, Teaching Professional |
Texas
"Short game, short
game, short game. Spend twice or three time your normal practice
time on it instead of banging balls all day...putting and chipping
will cut it, the only way."
- Bob
Hasbrouck, Teaching Professional |
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