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Free Lesson Weekly: Part 2 - Course Management

• josephk2317 873 Posts

  Thu, Aug 29 2013 1:11 PM

  Hello,

  I'm posting this thread to hopefully start a series of golf lessons from those that want to share their knowledge of the game. And to rekindle the interest in helping fellow players out in this vast community we call WGT. 

  Please try to keep this thread active in the coming weeks & try to refrain from changing the subject title ( Free Lesson Weekly: )when re-posting, so as to make it easier to find in the search field.

  Update: Well the first part in this series was a huge hit. We had some very useful tips from a few seasoned players on here.

  ScottHope, StrayedFairway, Srellim234, Fekdrink, MBaggese,Drogers5864, PaulTon, Paul167, Mushy01

   I want to thank you all for your replies and contributions towards this thread.

  In this second part of the series I want to address, course management and this includes but is not limited to: approach shots, pitching & chipping around the green, punch & flop shots.

  And don't forget to include any pics to help explain how it's done.

  Joe

• alosso 21,094 Posts

  Thu, Aug 29 2013 1:33 PM

  A basic basic is the saying of "fairways and greens".

  1) be sure to land the tee shot on the fairway - include astray shooting and "fairway ends" into your thoughts. Simple example: STA #1. With high tailwinds, a punch or even a 3WD may be safer than a full drive. You don't win with balls lost in burns or those stuck in rough.

  2) be sure to land the approach on the green.
  That is, if you are safe to attack the pin, go for it. But, in case of doubt, allow for a miss to the safe side rather than the adventurous one.

  OAK#2 (left pin) may be a good learning object, foremost with low (Starter?) clubs...
  And then there are CCC##2&3 ;)

• ScottHope 10,658 Posts

  Thu, Aug 29 2013 2:47 PM

  Early on in my WGT career I was always trying to hit every shot as far as I could in my efforts to reach the green as quickly as possible which sometimes left me with an awkward half club distance shot to the pin, and not being as experienced as I am now, I quite often cocked it up (and yes I still do on occasions), but leaving yourself a full wedge shot to the pin gives you a much better opportunity to place your shot in the correct place on the green for a holeable putt. 

  It's also very helpful to do this for your partner in alt shot, but make sure you check out their wedge distances beforehand.

• DaddysKat 3,554 Posts

  Fri, Aug 30 2013 8:52 AM

  In my early days in real golf, I learned a very important lesson from a golf pro ... Avoid using the word 'don't'.  Have you ever noticed when you tell yourself, "don't hit it in the water" how many times your shot will wind up in the water ... or 'don't hit this shot late', you end up catching your shot late?

  Instead, tell yourself, "you will ...".  For example, "you will put this shot on the green", and "you will ding this putt".

  It's funny how we will do exactly what we told ourselves not to do more times than not.  But if we remain positive, we will receive a positive result more times than not.

  This is just as important as planning your drive for your approach shot.  Stay positive ... and remember, it's just a game!

• Fekdrink 138 Posts

  Fri, Aug 30 2013 9:37 AM

  Probably the best piece of advice I had on here was to use the punch shot out of the rough. Particularly in my early days, when I ended up in the cack an awful lot, this alone saved me at least a couple of shots a round.

  Keep up the good work josephk231.

  Fedrink.

• YankeeJim 25,827 Posts

  Fri, Aug 30 2013 10:20 AM

  Take your medicine. You hit into trouble, don't try to be a hero and make a 1 in 100 shot. Recover to a spot where you know you're back in control and can get up and down for the save. THAT would be heroic in some cases not to mention smart. 

  Getting up and down is probably the best talent you can develop. You will save more pars by knowing and using the 4 different shots beside full. I see many players glued to the flop shot from anywhere and while they might do a good job of getting close, pitches and chips go in more often. They are not hard to learn and there's nothing like pitching one in from 40-50 off the green or out of a trap.

   :-)

• Fencer100 2,065 Posts

  Fri, Aug 30 2013 1:25 PM

  Thanks for this thread. I am a relatively new legend and have much to learn...this type of thread is really helpful, keep it going. Thank you, I am picking up some valuable lessons.

  Only thing I would add is perfect green side pitch or chip,can save you from many bogeys.

   

  Fencer100

• alosso 21,094 Posts

  Sat, Aug 31 2013 1:01 AM

  Even more than that, it may be worth to play a tad shorter than possible if you cannot reach the green (e.g. on Par5s). To me, a full wedge shot of 49/50 or 99/100 yds is easier and more precise than a throttled one of 35 or 88 yds. Especially the 35 yds shot is in the middle of nowhere - difficult to calculate any kind of shot, full (from 50), punch (from 41), pitch (36?) or flop (38+),  This is described in the Leadbetter article - plan the holes' play backwards, from green to tee, and play to the area where you prefer to be next.

• courteneyfish 15,796 Posts

  Sat, Aug 31 2013 1:42 AM

  I know I've said it many times before but just for the newbies. When you reach Master you really do need 3 evenly spaced wedges. You can do without a hybrid. Try all the options with your wedges, especially the punch and the flop. They are the most versatile clubs in your bag and they can make an average round into a special one. Some of the top players on here have a GIR of 90%+ and scrambling stats in the 80%. If yours aren't thereabouts then keep practicing. I still am.

• oneeyedjohn 9,589 Posts

  Sat, Aug 31 2013 1:58 AM

  Peter Thomson 5 times Open champion always recomended playing the hole backwards as mental preparation before playing any hole..

  I agree the 35 yard shot is tricky, but I play it full and hit just under 70% power, as I know 75% power gives me 40 yards, and use 1/2 BS. It stops dead.

  Good thread, happy to contribute.

  I posted in the putting one as well. U r welcome to have a laugh.