This season I devoted some time to improving my short competition. I have adjusted my attitude and ball position and the feeling that this big change has certainly helped with shots about 100 meters or closer. I still have a few struggles that make the ball wrong, but that is to be expected when trying to create a new normal. Today I have a match against Len, which is probably one of the top three players on the course. I am there too, so it should be a great match where nothing is admitted. With this in mind I will use a few things that I have practiced in recent weeks.
Before I sketch my practice exercises, I have a quick story about men’s evening yesterday. Playing with my normal group is very fun. Charlie, Mike and Barrie are great boys and we compliment each other. Mike and I are the same age and touch the whites; Charlie and Barrie are older and touch the Reds. Our combination of skills compliment each other perfectly. We ended up with a min 7 and the funny thing is that I only placed once (I am anchor for all the shots) and it was in the last hole. I had a 30 feet putt and left it 6 centimeters short. I always tell my team that I never want to draw and it almost happened last night. If they needed me the most, I failed … go figure. :
Okay, back to a few exercises. The first I use is finding my landing area. I place a towel on the green and try to land on it from different distances. I discovered that 15 Yards seems to be my sweet distance. I am not worried about Roll because I try to hit a specific goal. I will touch a lot of balls with different clubs to ensure that I hit my landing area. It seems to work and I enjoy the challenge.
Secondly, I practice my bump and run. I try this with different clubs (including my 4 hybrid) and I think my familiar 7-iron is still my favorite club. What I do differently than my new setup is that I put the ball. I grabbed my 7-iron with my putter grabbed and assess the distance as if I was taking. It works very well and I have faith in one up and down with a bump and run with my 7-iron.
The last exercise helps with ball control. With the same club I place the ball in the back of my position for a low shot and at the front of my position for a higher shot with lofted. I alternate between these distances because it forces me to concentrate on making shot and not just the same routine for the ball after the ball. This is something new and I am not 100% convinced that it will remain in my practical routine.
As you can see, I try to improve my short game. I think this is the best area to ensure that I keep my game sharp. I still work on the fact that I have a lot, but my up and down play can be sharper. While I keep improving my skills, I am grateful for the chance to play golf and grateful for a course like the Mattawa Golf and Ski Resort So close to my house.
I am a grateful golfer! See you on the links!
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