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Ailment: I play a lot of golf. I'm just not getting any better. I seem to shoot the same scores, make the same mistakes and score about the same every time out. I figure that playing two or three times a week, I should be improving. But I always have a handful of mistakes that add about six to 10 shots to my score every time out. What should I focus on to try and improve my scoring? Prescription: Playing three times per week is great, but when do you practice? Here are two drills you can use to help improve your scoring: 1) Take 25 balls and place them at various areas around the practice green - the fringe, first cut, rough, behind a bunker and in a bunker. Hit all the balls at various targets and then go putt them out. Keep track of how many you get up and down to track your progress. 2) Choose a putt on the practice green and place seven balls on the same line 18 inches apart starting 18 inches from the hole. With each putt made, move to the next ball. If you miss, start over. Do this for 30 minutes or until you make all seven, whichever comes first. If it gets too easy, start at 24 inches or even 36 inches to make it harder. Spending that third day on the practice range instead of playing can really improve your scores. Ailment: I just bought a new driver. A professional said I should get one with a low center of gravity to make it easier to get the ball in the air. I've never really had a problem getting my drives up, but I took his word for it. Now I'm hitting these high, soft drives that get no roll. I'm about 20 yards shorter than I was before. Could the low center of gravity have anything to do with the way my shots are flying? If so, what can I do about it? Prescription: There are two factors that may be affecting your distance. First, check your tee height. Too low and you will hit the ball on the bottom of the club face, causing a low launch angle that balloons because of the high spin rate. Tee it up so half the ball is above the face of the club at address. The sweet spot on many new drivers is just above the middle of the face. In order to catch the ball on the sweet spot, clip the tee. If your tee height is OK, check the shaft. If the shaft has too low of a kick point, it could cause the ball to balloon or go higher than normal. Find a local golf shop that has a launch monitor and see what your numbers are. The ball should leave the clubface with a high, flat trajectory that doesn't balloon. n Tony Letendre can be reached at (760) 404-1457. |
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