For many areas in the country golf courses are just starting to thaw out and reopen. Many players have not touched a club in months due to poor weather. So what do you do to get ready for the season?
Typically, the average golf goes to the practice range a couple of days before the first round and hits a bucket of balls mostly with the driver then decides they are ready. How about starting this season a little different. Here are a few recommendations that could help you have a great season.
- Practice putting, go to a practice green and practice putts from inside 10ft. Make sure you can make 3-4 foot putts fairly easily. This is a major difference between low and high handicap players.
- Practice lag putting. Putt tees in the green at 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 feet. Hit three putts from each spot working from closer to longer. Go through as many cycles as you can before your back hurts. Three putts happen way too often with the average player
- If you have not been going to the gym you most likely have not gotten stronger or more flexible over the last few months. I would recommend you get a personal trainer. More importantly, go to a good PT facility and get your flexibility and mobility checked out and get on some type of stretching-strengthening program.
- Practice your scoring shots. Pick out 4 yardages and become great from each. An example is 70-90-105-120 yard shots. When you practice at the range hits as many shots as necessary until you feel you can get it “close” from each of your yardages.
- Chipping decent is vital to good scores. Make sure when you are chipping and pitching you can almost always get the ball on the green and hopefully within a 10′ circle around the hole.
- Driving the ball is important. Don’t spend all your time practicing with the driver but make sure you can curve it one direction and can find the ball most of the time.
- Think about your last season and how smart you played. Take some time to start thinking better on the golf course. Try to play smarter and with less fear this
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Hopefully this will help you improve this season.
Jim Hartnett
