By Simon Lewis
With half of your shots scheduled to be putts as per the par rating on the scorecard, and probably 10 more shortish shots to the green (either easy chips or short chips from around the green) you really need to first and foremost putt like a demon. Equally, your chipping around the green needs to be super-hot cos a great short chip can feasibly save you 1 to 2 shots per hole when you are in short chip territory. For the high-handicapper that’s the difference between shooting between 95-100 and 89-93. It makes a huge difference.
However, whatever you do as a beginner of as a bit of a hacker, you should really work on having one part of your game being red hot. OK, well, comparatively red hot! Work extra hard on something even if it is to the detriment of your other gofl skills in order that you can really beef up that one aspect of your play. Sure, golf is an overall game, but to fasttrack your improvements it’s infinitely better to rather play solid and easy with most of your game… but then have a killer aspect that is miles ahead of the rest of your game. That is your surest way to quickly start lowering your score.
Without doubt, if your putting is on form or good then that will be a major, major difference to how you score. But this choice is individual and might even depend on where you regularly play. It’s a good idea to analyse your next few rounds and see where your mistakes or weak areas are and then see what better shot making could do to improve you game. It seems obvious that putting and chipping is the winner for your attention, but it’s totally individual… so make up your own mind what you think would work for you in terms of which area to work on.
Don’t forget that if your approach shots are breathtakingly reliable from say 100 or 125 or 150 metres out, then that skill might negate the need for great short chipping; equally, if you’re really hot with these shots then it makes your putts easier and less ‘important’ to be a great putter cos you’re more likely to be in easier two-putt or even possible one-putt range from your approach shot. It all depends on you, but don’t ignore the possibility. This approach also allows you to play to your strengths when starting out in the game.
If you’re good from, say, 125 metres out then you can gear your drives and second iron shot to playing easily to be 125 metres from the green (with some obvious exceptions). Rather than pushing yourself almost aimlessly just to hit your drive or second shot as far forward as you can, aim to land your shot (either your tee shot or your second iron, depending if you’re playing a par-4 or a par-5) around 125 metres from the hole. Target that, rather than just hitting for all you’re worth so that you can be further down the fairway… only to find yourself 80 meters from the hole and facing a pitching wedge from a distance you’re not particularly good at. It just doesn’t make sense.
How do you get there consistently? It depends on your game. Average par 5 is around 480 to 500 metres. So, if you have an above average drive for yourself you might get 200 to 240 metres, depending on your ability. Then your 3 iron might go 170 to 200 metres if you hit it good. Sweet! So you could – with ‘your’ above-average good shots – be 370 to 440 metres down the fairway… 60 to 110 metres from the green. However, your consistency won’t be that great – and with these shorter shots you can still miss the green and end up chipping around to get onto the green - so the distance you get off the tee doesn’t equal a low score when you’re starting out (or for more experienced golfers as well much of the time).
Rather ease off on your drive and iron shot but ensure they’re consstent and straight and get good ‘roll’ down the fairway. Try an easy fairway iron off the tee for 170 metres without breaking a sweat or risking tearing a muscles, then follow this with a strong but easy 3 iron for 150 metres. That’s 320 metres in two shots… but you’re probably guaranteed of beng on the fairway.
Bear in mind that if you’re hitting the fairway and getting good roll, you could score an extra 20 metres – so give yourself 340 metres in theory. Now you’ve got 160 metres to the green. Take your 3 iron again and knock it down the fairway nice and straight… and then hope for that good roll. But be sure to hit these shots straight and away from danger.
This tactics works better on shorter par 4s. If your good shot is 125 or 150, take the yardage and work back 125 or 150 from the green and see where you need to land and aim for that. Easy swing, right club and get it in that spot – don’t just aimlessly mash the ball down the fairway. As a struggler you need all the help you can get, and the best help is being able to play consistent shots. However, a golf course is often set-up partly to get you hitting approach shots from a wide range of distances. Don’t fall into this trap as an amteur. Work back from the green, see what’s feasible, plan an attack, swing smooth and true and putt and chip like a demon.
BY THE WAY…
If you choose to focus on putting and / or the short chipping game, remember that this choice will give you more chances to practice, as you can putt and grooth your stroke on any carpet, so that’s no reason for you not to spend half and hour a day just building confidence and muscle memory in your putting stroke. Similarly, you can do gently chips in your lounge or in the garden, even if it’s a small garden. The trick is to use a very short backlift and even to swing slow and gentle – you’re not worrying about distance, you’re simply trying to build confidence, increase your skills and to help you find great joy in golf. And even the gentlest of strokes repeated again and again will build greater feel as well as subtle improvements of relevant muscle strength and muscle memory.
Good luck… and good golfing.
© SIMON LEWIS • The Ball magazine • simon@theball.co.za • www.theball.co.za
