Here’s a question from the mailbag…
I’m 75 y/o I can hit off the tee a consistent 170-180 with an occasional 200+ however, I don’t seem to be consistent in finishing the whole. My putting is fair but could be better 1-2,3-putts pre round. My chipping and pitching is also fair. My scores run all the way from 86-102. I practice once a week and play twice a week. I’m not sure at this time just what to practice. I have been playing since 2009 and my goal is too shoot in the 80’s consistently. Suggestion would be welcomed.
Answer:
Congratulations! At 75-years young you are already breaking 90, perhaps just not as consistently as you’d like. The answer is revealed in your question.
You’re getting off the tee well enough but your putting is fair and your pitching and chipping is also fair. That’s why you don’t consistently “finish the hole” as you say.
To lower your scores, improve you chipping, pitching, and putting from fair to average or good or even better.
Focus on the short game during you practice sessions.
Practice chipping and pitching into an imaginary 15-foot circle around the hole. Practice with various clubs to find out which club you’re most comfortable with. And practice from various lies because you’re not always going to have a great lie on the course.
When you can consistently pitch or chip into a 15-foot circle, shrink it to 10-feet, then to 5-feet. When you can consistently pitch or chip into a 5-foot circle you are read for the Senior Tour!!
On to putting. First practice 3-foot putts until you can consistently make 9 out of 10. That will give you the confidence you need to sink putts inside your 3-foot “circle of confidence”.
Next is “lag putting” practice putting from 15-feet or more until you can consistently putt the ball into your 3-foot circle of confidence. You know you’ll make 9 out of 10 (or better) so that should nearly eliminate 3-putts.
For putts of 15-feet or less focus on developing speed control such that if you do miss the putt it comes to a stop in the back half of your 3-foot circle of confidence.
In other words, don’t leave those putts short!! There’s not much more frustrating than stroking a 10 to 15-foot putt on the perfect line only to see it come up a few revolutions short!
Focus on those things and you should consistently be breaking 90.
Dedicated to Lower Scores and More Fun on the Course,
Robert Phillips
Amazon Best-Selling Author
How to Consistently Break 90 in 42 Days or Less
