Golf Tips from the Pro

One of my favorite things to teach is short game more specifically 100 yards and in. Being proficient in this range will lower your scores faster than any element of the game. Often times when watching people practice this part of the game, they put too much emphasis on mechanics and not enough on feel. When I feel like I have a player trapped in paralysis of analysis, we do the ladder drill. I ask the player to begin with chipping a ball 5 yards. I ask for the second ball to fly 10 yards and the third 15. We proceed out like rungs on a ladder and once we reach a max yardage we begin to back our way down the ladder until we are right in front. This exercise forces a player to become target orientated and mechanics are left behind. Students often comment on how relaxed they feel and suddenly hitting good shots becomes easy. Next time you hit rock bottom and your hands feel like stone, bring out the ladder and regain your confidence.