Two Common Golf Pitching Mistakes

We’ve all been here before. Your golf ball is set up for an easy pitch shot… all that you have to do is swing nice and light to the green. But somehow, to your complete frustration, things go awry and what started as a great hole turns into a double bogey or worse.

There is nothing more infuriating than being set up for a stiff shot and having to watch in horror and disappointment as you lay the sod over it. How about the telltale “SMACK” of your pitching wedge as the lead edge launches your ball right past the green or the (un)-comfortable vibrations of a shank as your ball careen sideways?

Here are a couple of the most common pitching mistakes that senior golfers make and some simple tips to keep in mind for avoiding the above disasters the next time you approach that perfect pitch shot:

Clubface Aimed Toward the Left or Right

One of the most common mistakes in pitching is aiming the clubface to the left or right. Even the slightest hint of this error can result in pushed or pulled shots and exaggerating the problem can lead to those dreaded shank shots.

A good way to alleviate this problem is to aim at your target with the clubface first, before you adjust with your body. As long as it won’t shift the ball or cause penalty to do so (in a bunker or deep grass for instance), aim the clubface and place it firmly on the ground behind your ball, leaning the top of the shaft against your hand as you adjust your body. This keeps the club face fixed and on-target for the shot.

Taking the time to adjust your shot with the clubface first can quickly resolve any inconsistencies in your pitching and short-game accuracy.

Misjudging the Shift in Ball Position

The second most common mistake involves the stance you take over the ball… play the ball too far back and you are probably going to hit the ground before you hit the ball (fat shot); play the ball too far forward and you end up sending it skinny.

If you are seeing either of these results with consistency in your pitching and short-game shots, it may be time to slow down and double-check your stance in relation to the ball.

It seems all too easy, but adjusting your position over the ball can make a HUGE difference in hitting the pitch shot cleanly or not.

Now that you know the most common pitching mistakes and how to fix them, you may find that pitching becomes your favorite part of golf!

Two Common Short Game Mistakes To Avoid

Every golfer knows that it’s not your driving distance but your short game that makes or breaks your score, and that’s unfortunate because nothing can be more frustrating than trying to overcome short game shortcomings.

Here are some common short game mistakes for golfers over 50 to avoid that can take a few strokes off of your score:

Using the Wrong Club

The biggest mistake a golfer can make is in not knowing their equipment. It is important to become comfortable with your clubs on the practice green, making note of which clubs achieve what distances with how much force. This takes the guessing out of any short game challenges.

As an example, you might be comfortable and confident in using a 7 iron for a short bump-and-run chip shots. So use it on the course and don’t waver. Don’t let any book, video or other golfer tell you which club goes what distance. It’s completely personal and you can only know by familiarizing yourself with your equipment.

When Tiger Woods faces a shot from anywhere around the green he generally uses his 60 degree wedge. With simple adjustments to his technique, Tiger will use that 60-degree wedge to hit a flop shot where the ball only goes 25 feet, or he’ll use it to hit a shot from 60 yards. He doesn’t try to use several wedges. After playing that wedge for years Tiger knows it works for him; he is most comfortable with that particular club.

So you see, short game success is just as much about your familiarity and confidence with your equipment as it is about specific techniques. You can have a better short game, more fun and a lower score just by familiarizing yourself with your equipment.

Over-thinking the Shot

Golf as a sport is first and foremost about enjoyment. Every round played is a chance to build confidence, relax and have fun. This is almost impossible to do if you are over-analyzing every aspect of your short game. Odds are you will have your best days out when you let the game just happen.

Put into perspective, chances are you have a few golf lessons under your belt, additional knowledge gained from golf television and websites, and you’ve notched off hours of practice time. You might as well just take your swing and let all of that experience speak for itself.

If you spend too much time analyzing every little detail of your short game you are probably only going to overwhelm and frustrate yourself. Every golfer knows it’s impossible to play well when you have too much in your head, so a simple but big part of bringing your short game together is just enjoying golf. It’s OK to concentrate when a difficult shot presents itself, but not every mistake you make needs a solution to fix.

Know your equipment, play your favorite clubs around the green, and relax. Don’t over-think your shots on the course – leave that for the practice green.

Making the Most Out of Golf Practice

Many senior golfers can be found out on the practice greens several hours a day, constantly working on improving their technique. It’s unfortunate how few golfers over 50 really understand how to practice properly.

The next time you find yourself at the practice range, take a look around. Odds are that the majority of golfers practicing seem to only be “practicing” getting rid of their balls as quickly and with as much power as possible. There certainly is a place in your practice to groove your driver but the majority of your practice time should be spent focusing on the way your swing works and learning new strategies to implement for success on the course.

Practice Thinking!

The purpose of the time you spend practicing is to develop a natural swing and a sort of “golfer’s intuition” that keeps conscious thought to a minimal on the actual course.  Practice is where you think about and deconstruct your shots, applying new techniques to real life scenarios and preparing yourself for the mental and physical rigors of a round on the course.

Remember, what you practice is dictated by your ability.  If you are a beginner golfer spending all of your practice time trying to master professional techniques you found in a magazine, you are likely to a.) Never get anywhere and b.) Get frustrated and give up.

Before you practice take a moment to reflect on where your skills are and what little steps you can take to improve upon them.  Make your practice sessions customized to you!

The Practice Routine

Analyzing your game and deciding on the skills you need to improve with the day’s practice session is the first step towards progression. Now you need to establish a routine to implement your plan.

1. While practicing, always stay focused on your set goal for the day.  Since you are only practicing, ignore mistakes except to understand how you made them. A positive outlook is essential in attaining your goals.  In practice, there’s nothing to lose or be frustrated about.

2. Don’t expect to begin each practice session immediately.  Warm your body up with some simple stretches and then start with your shorter irons with smooth, slow swings. You don’t want to take full-power swings right away, before you have re-established your rhythm and fluidity… this is a good way to get hurt either physically by pulling a muscle or mentally by hitting a series of terrible shots early on as the basis for your practice session.

3. Practice isn’t just about swing mechanics, shot power or distance.  Rhythm should be an integral part of every practice session because proper rhythm promotes coordination and timing.

4. Even when hitting for distance, it’s important to always have an intended target.  If you just practice hitting the ball 200 yards without a target in mind and come to a hole where you need to hit 200 yards slightly left, all of your confidence from that practice session is immediately negated. Hit to the practice greens or trees in the distance so you are focusing on both distance and accuracy.

Of course, do not neglect your short game in any practice session. You should spend at least as much time at the chipping green as you do on the driving range. If you are short on time, you’d be better served to only practice your greenside touch rather than pound your driver for 20 minutes.

Lastly, realize the difference between a pre-round warm up and a practice session. Use your pre-round warm up to get your blood flowing and your rhythm set for the day. The pre-round warm up is not the time to try to implement some new swing tip you read this morning in Golf Digest. However, your focused practice session is where you want to groove your swing, implement advice from your golf lesson, and ‘listen’ to your body and mechanics. There is a big difference between pre-round warm up and practice sessions – use them both wisely.

Short Game “Secrets” To Better Golf

Golf is a game with countless ups and downs. Many experienced golfers over 50 find that no matter how many lessons they’ve taken, rounds they’ve played or how much top-of-the-line equipment they own, nothing can be enough on an off day. Golf, therefore, is not a game to be mastered but a game to adventure through.

If even the most seasoned veterans have a bad day from time to time it’s easy to understand the frustration from a new player’s perspective. Some new players have yet to hit a straight drive, let alone make par. So are there any secrets to lower scores in golf?

Forget about all of the tips and techniques you get from the golf magazines, television programs and Internet articles. Nothing is going to improve your game faster than practice, practice, practice. And the only surefire way to take your golf game to the next level is to improve your short game consistency. Here are some tips to shape your short game up and lower your scores:

1) Practice, Practice, Practice! Golf courses build those practice greens for a reason. New players especially should be spending more time on the practice greens than playing the actual course. “Practice” doesn’t just mean a trip to the driving range either. Put your driver down! Hitting balls blindly at full swing is not the most effective way to lower scores. Your long game is only a small handful of shots throughout a round but your short game will be the difference on your scorecard.

2) The golf short game is composed of several equally important skill sets. Take time to practice your pitch shots, chip shots, bunker shots, flop shots and the most important of all – putting. You will face many of these shots on every hole (certainly putting!). So, it pays to be equally comfortable with all of them.

3) Remember, a round of golf can be a real roller coaster – especially into the short game. It’s important to maintain a positive attitude and approach each challenge and its outcome with a proper mindset. If you mis-hit a particular shot, shrug it off and continue with your next shot. One guarantee in golf: things will not go your way. You can get all upset as you want but the only things that will change is your ability to concentrate, which only leads to further frustration.

With some practice you will soon be comfortable taking on any shot you encounter through the short game. It’s really no secret at all – a positive approach to the game along with experience and the skills you acquired through practice are all that you need to start lowering your scores!

Choosing the Right Club For Chip Shots

Most senior golfers when asked what their club of choice for chip shots is would say their pitching wedge. This is not wrong, but there are certain things to keep in mind when choosing which club to chip with. In the professional golf world, there are two equally acceptable schools of thought:

1) All For One and One For All – These golfers have one club that does it all. These players control height and distance by adjusting their swing to chip the ball wherever it needs to go. This can take quite a bit of practice before you can become proficient and accurate.

2) Quiver Full of Clubs – Some golfers prefer to take advantage of the capabilities of individual clubs. These golfers have practiced a great deal with all of their clubs and in various scenarios – they know several clubs well and when they should use them. Each club will vary greatly in terms of distance and shot type (high, low, etc.). To master each club requires trying several different shots with each ones until you are comfortable and confident.

So which method do you choose? That’s the wonderful thing about golf – there are always many different methods and none of them are right or wrong. It really boils down to personal preference. Try both methods and see which one agrees with you more.

A senior golfer that is just beginning might be better off utilizing different clubs for various chip shots. The reason is that a new player is still developing a sense for his or her swing and control around the greens. Since different clubs produce different results, using them all only further acclimates the player to fundamental motions in golf. Over time, a beginner golfer may become more comfortable – and therefore, more successful – with a couple of different clubs for chip shots and will begin to use those particular clubs more often.

Intermediate to advanced golfers with a solid grasp of their clubs and swing fundamentals might consider making the move to one club for every chip shot. At this stage it is safe to assume that the player will be capable of learning how to manage his backswing and power his shot to achieve specific results. Particularly around the green, this mastery is important and controlling one specific ‘favorite’ club may be the better route.

Chipping is one of the more important skill sets to have in golf. Regardless of which method you choose to chip with, it is important that you practice, practice, practice to perfect your technique.

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