Here’s a terrifying on-course situation: Your ball rests on a tight piece of turf, 30 feet from the hole; in between, there’s a yawning bunker just waiting to gobble up any mishap. Oh, and you’ve got about 10 feet of slick, downhill green on which to land and stop the ball to have any prayer of getting it close.
Now imagine facing the exact same shot, only this time you’re at the short-game practice area. Not so scary, is it? In fact, it may be a challenge you relish when there are no consequences for failure.
Therein lies the beauty of practice itself. It’s your opportunity to work on every shot, from the simplest to the toughest, without worrying about failure. That makes it the perfect time to experiment, to hone your skills in ways that you simply can’t (or wouldn’t) duplicate on the course.
If you have trouble focusing or overcoming boredom while you practice, this site features articles that can help you liven things up on the driving range and on the putting green. Here we’ll offer tips on making it more fun – and productive – to practice your chipping, pitching and bunker play.
- Play “high-low”: From a spot just off the green, choose a target hole. Drop three balls, and hit the first one as you would if faced with the same shot on the course. Without changing clubs, attempt a high-lofted shot to the target with your second ball, then a low, running shot with the third. Do this from various distances, uphill, downhill and sidehill, and with different clubs. It’ll teach you to control trajectory and spin around the green.
- Go to extremes: Many practice greens have holes cut much closer to the edge than you’ll find on the course – sometimes only a couple of paces away. Practice landing lob shots between the fringe and the cup, doing your best to stop the ball short of the hole. Along those lines, locate spots where the green is severely sloped, and see how quickly you can get a pitch shot to stop when going downhill. Then switch sides and try to run a chip shot up the hill as far as possible, using a wedge rather than a club with less loft.
- Choose the wrong club: You’d never use a 5-iron for a short pitch to a tight pin, or a lob wedge for a chip running across 50 feet of green. But by practicing these shots with these clubs, you’ll gain great feel for manipulating the clubhead open and closed, producing backspin and forward spin, and generally enhancing the feel in your hands.
- Play it as it lies: In the practice bunker, emulate the dreadful lies that sometimes crop up on the course. Throw a ball straight down into the sand hard enough to create a “fried egg,” bury one into the bank, and place one in a footprint. Few golfers practice these types of shots, so they experience three emotions when they find one during a round: 1) Anger at their rotten luck, followed by 2) Uncertainty over what to do, then 3) Fear of actually executing the shot.
You may never come to relish a fried-egg lie, but a little practice will give you the confidence to conquer it when the heat is on.
Making golf practice fun is essential for maintaining motivation and improving your skills. Here are some tips on how to make chipping, pitching, and bunker play practice enjoyable, along with common Q&A:
Making Practice Fun:
- Games and Challenges: Create fun games or challenges for yourself or practice with friends. Set up targets to aim at during chipping and pitching practice, and keep score to make it competitive.
- Variety of Shots: Practice different types of shots from various lies and distances. Experiment with different clubs to add excitement and creativity to your practice sessions.
- Music: Play your favorite music in the background while practicing to keep the atmosphere relaxed and enjoyable.
- Short Courses: Set up a mini-course or short game area on the practice green or at a practice facility. Create a series of holes with different chipping and pitching scenarios to simulate on-course situations.
- Practice with Friends: Practice with friends or join a practice group. Friendly competition can make practice more engaging and enjoyable.
- Visualize Success: Visualize successful shots before each attempt. Positive visualization can boost confidence and make practice more rewarding.
- Track Progress: Keep a practice journal or use a golf app to track your progress over time. Celebrate improvements and milestones to stay motivated.
Chipping, Pitching, and Bunker Play Q&A:
Q: How can I improve my chipping accuracy? A: Focus on the setup and ball position. Keep your weight forward and hands ahead of the ball. Practice controlling distance and trajectory with different clubs.
Q: What's the best way to practice bunker shots? A: Practice hitting sand shots with an open clubface and using the bounce of the wedge. Experiment with different swing lengths and ball positions in the sand to control distance.
Q: How can I improve my pitching technique? A: Work on a consistent tempo and rhythm in your pitching motion. Focus on accelerating through impact and maintaining a steady follow-through.
Q: How do I choose the right club for chipping and pitching? A: Select a club with enough loft to clear the obstacle but not too much to avoid overshooting the target. Experiment with different clubs to find what works best for various situations.
Q: I struggle with bunker shots. Any tips? A: Focus on hitting the sand behind the ball and let the sand lift the ball out. Keep a relaxed grip and don't be afraid to take some sand in the process.
Q: How can I add spin to my pitch shots? A: Practice striking the ball with a slightly descending angle and using the grooves on your wedge to generate spin. Focus on a clean and crisp contact with the ball.
Remember, the key to improving your short game is consistent and focused practice. By making practice enjoyable and adding variety to your training routine, you'll likely see improvements in your chipping, pitching, and bunker play. Stay patient, have fun, and watch your golf game flourish.
