When do you feel the best about your swing? You probably get to the tee and feel a surge of confidence as you launch the ball over the fairway. You feel like you have accomplished something. The further the ball goes, the better your ego feels. Then, the horror happens. The closer you get to the hole, the more panic you feel, because you know, in the end, it does not matter how far you came off the tee. What matters now is how many strokes it takes to get the ball in the hole.
Most people are programmed to focus on the start rather than the finish of things, believing that a solid foundation is the only way to start any activity. Most golf lessons that you receive often focus on the tee shot rather than the putt. While a solid foundation is certainly an asset, when it comes to golf, it is the short game that really counts. As long as you are not launching your ball into the woods, sand, or water every time, put your focus on the short game and worry less about the long shots. Start by using the golf training tips below.
Putt for Practice
It is time to focus on your putting. Since the end goal is always to get the ball in the hole, this is where you need to have the most success. Once you are confident in getting the ball in the hole from any direction, you can still realize success even when your long game is off. So, while everyone else is focusing practice at the tee, you will focus on the putt using the method below.
Place a tee in the ground in three places: three feet from the hole, six feet from the hole and nine feet from the hole. Using three golf balls, putt each one into the hole from the three-foot location. Once you have made all three, move on to the six-foot location and putt three balls from there. Finish with three balls from the nine-foot location. If at any time you miss a putt, start over again at the three-foot location. You have completed the exercise when you have made all nine putts.
This sounds like an exhausting technique, but it is well worth the effort. Just consider the fact that 70% of all golf shots are made from under 100 yards. Since seven out of 10 of the strokes you make are under 100 yards away, shouldn’t you develop your expertise in this area before worrying about the long shots? After all, if you can make your short game every time, how much less will you have to worry about the long game? For more tips like this, or to schedule golf training, visit the International Junior Golf Academy website today at IJGA. Our experienced staff has helped countless young people improve their golf game at our world class facilities located in Hilton Head Island, SC.
