Best way to practice at home

ManwitaPlan

Background:OK so I'm a pretty horrible golfer tbh. I have only played a handful of times over the last few years and each time I've shot in the 120's (:eek:). Over the last few years Ive done a lot more reading about the game than playing and I feel I have a good knowledge of what makes a good swing etc. I go to the driving range a fair bit and I actually feel my swing is not horrible at this stage (I can hit it straight and I am comfortable with the driver).

Now Im finally finished with college and I am starting work so Ill have much more opportunity to actually play the game....problem is I will no longer have the time:rolleyes: I would like to become good at the game (eventually break 80) but Ill only be able to play once a week and as I am heavily committed to another sport I wont have much time to go to the range during the week.

So here's my question: How can I make the most of my time at home to practice during the week? I have a decent sized back garden and a set of golf clubs, nothing else. How would people advise I make the most of my time?

What drills could I do during the week? Are there any worthwhile extra's people think I should get that would help me practice more effectively?

Any advice is greatly appreciated and sorry for the lengthy post.:D

stockdam

It's hard to practice the full swing without seeing the end result so the driving range is probably best for this.

However you can check your setup using a window to look at your reflection.
If you put say a mat on the ground then check to see if your "divot" is ahead of the ball (for an iron).

Chipping can be practiced at home.........pick a target (a bucket) and practice chipping into it.

Inside you can use a carpet to practice your putting.

ManwitaPlan

stockdam wrote: »

It's hard to practice the full swing without seeing the end result so the driving range is probably best for this.

However you can check your setup using a window to look at your reflection.
If you put say a mat on the ground then check to see if your "divot" is ahead of the ball (for an iron).

Chipping can be practiced at home.........pick a target (a bucket) and practice chipping into it.

Inside you can use a carpet to practice your putting.

Cheers stockdam. I was put off buying a driving net because I felt not seeing the end result it wouldnt be much use. Tbh at the moment Im probably more concerned with improving inside 120 yards. I dont think my full swing is as horrible as my scoring suggests so I think my short game is where the problem lies.

I feel if I can get my short game to a decent level Ill knock a good few strokes off and then I can worry about full swing.


At the moment Im just trying to chip balls into a bucket out the back. Would that be ok?

I also do a bit of putting on the carpet but sometimes I wonder if it has much benefit. Will it really improve my game?

BillyBoy

ManwitaPlan wrote: »

At the moment Im just trying to chip balls into a bucket out the back. Would that be ok?

That is always good practice, gets you comfortable with your chipping stroke. Maybe try mix it up by altering the flight of the ball - try get a few in hitting them low, then float a few high ones in. Will get you comfortable with all the different shots.

stockdam

ManwitaPlan wrote: »

At the moment Im just trying to chip balls into a bucket out the back. Would that be ok?

I also do a bit of putting on the carpet but sometimes I wonder if it has much benefit. Will it really improve my game?

Excellent. If you can develop a good chipping technique then you'll knock shots of your handicap quickly.

Most people (me included) cannot hit a straight putt so practicing the 6 putts is a good idea.

GreeBo

ManwitaPlan wrote: »

problem is I will no longer have the time:rolleyes: I would like to become good at the game (eventually break 80) but Ill only be able to play once a week and as I am heavily committed to another sport I wont have much time to go to the range during the week.

Its going to be very hard to improve if you are only playing once a week. I would say impossible to get much better than shooting in the 90's if you are playing this infrequently.

That said, get some lessons, a bunch of lessons. and practice what they say to you at home and in the back garden. Short game will knock off a lot of shots as will course management, but if you can really only get out once a week then you will probably better off practicing rather than playing, at least in the beginning.

VinylJunkie

Buy a long piece of wood in the shape of a pole, grip it like a golf club with one end pointing out past your left shoulder.

Cock wrists till the pole is parrallel to the ground then swing to the top!

Thats how I practice, keeps my swing on Plane!

GreeBo

VinylJunkie wrote: »

Buy a long piece of wood in the shape of a pole, grip it like a golf club with one end pointing out past your left shoulder.

Cock wrists till the pole is parrallel to the ground then swing to the top!

Thats how I practice, keeps my swing on Plane!

I think thats a bit too technical for someone who is playing only once a week. You are likely to develop too many bad habits (swaying for example) with a method like this.

Chip and putt as much as you can, get lessons when you can and *think* your way around the course. Dont feel that you need to get pars on any hole. That will get you into 10 territory far quicker than three 7 irons up the middle.

randomer

I attended the Dave Pelz one day course this week, and now realise how important the short game is. I would save driving and long irons for the driving range and just work on pitching, chipping and putting.

For pitching and chipping aim for a consistent ball position. For pitching the ball is in the centre of your stance, for chipping it is at your back leg. And the most important thing I learned was to adjust your backswing relative to the distance that you want to hit the ball. You should always be accelerating when hitting the ball.

Remember with putting the closer you are to the hole the more likely you are to get the put. The better you pitching the chipping, the easier your putts will become.

An amazing fact that I found out the other day is that PGA tour pros get less than 60% of 6 feet putts!!!

death1234567

I was put off buying a driving net because I felt not seeing the end result it wouldnt be much use.

For the price I think a driving net is a great investment. Fair enough you cant see the end results but it helps you keep you swing together especially if you are not going to the driving range/golf course that often.

stockdam

death1234567 wrote: »

For the price I think a driving net is a great investment. Fair enough you cant see the end results but it helps you keep you swing together especially if you are not going to the driving range/golf course that often.

It will help to build your tempo and balance. You should also know if you are hitting the ball cleanly.

Running Bing

Edit: wrong thread

GreeBo

Running Bing wrote: »

Edit: wrong thread

I think you had the right thread
I would say its possible to continue to break 80 (remember thats playing to 8 or better) only playing once a week, but you will not go from 120 to 80 only playing once a week. You need to put the hours in to get down, once you are down there practicing your short game will keep you there. In reality ther difference between playing to 8 and playing to 16 is shortgame.

BillyBoy

randomer wrote: »

For pitching the ball is in the centre of your stance, for pitching it is at your back leg.

I'm guessing its meant to say for chipping it is at your back leg