The Short Game...Lowering Your Score

Ah, the short game...what I'll call shots from 100 yards in. This is where you really can lower your score and see results fast. In an earlier post I was talking about practicing your chip shots and getting comfortable with your "finesse" clubs. If you will spend some time on this aspect of your game, it will pay dividends quickly, I promise you.

No matter how good your shot making abilities, you aren't going to hit every green in regulation. That's a simple fact of life, lol. So if you spend some time practicing your shots around the green, this will improve your chances of making those birdies and saving your pars to have a decent score.

This can also be a lot of fun, and it's something you can do in your back yard, on the range if they have facilities set up for chipping practice, and you will again develop the sense of "feel" and rhythm you need for a good short game. Rhythm is important, you need to have it in every swing, from the driver all the way to the putter. And feel, or touch, comes with lots of practice. You don't want to hold the club with a death grip, but lightly, with a relaxed feeling so you can have that sense needed to feel the shots you want to make. As you learn what each club does for you, practicing different types of shots from different lies, distances, etc. will give you confidence that you can make these shots on a regular basis. You can effectively use range time for this, by using the yardage markers to know where you hit each club, using a full swing, half swing, whatever it takes. This will get you in position to make those birdie putts and save your pars.

Putting practice: this is where the work comes in, a lot will find it boring, but if you are diligent with your putting practice, I guarantee you will see your scores lower very quickly. If you watch 100 golfers putt, you will likely see 100 different styles or ways to do it. The main thing is for you to find what makes you comfortable, and go with that. I'll go over some putting techniques in another post dedicated specifically to that aspect later. But for now, just remember to practice on this area of your game to see lower scores. You will be surprised at how fast you might see results.