All of our Single Digit Blueprint students are well aware how ridiculous Rich and I are about distance control. Distance control is EVERYTHING when it comes to scoring. If you don’t know how far you hit your clubs, and beyond that, how to control distance with your scoring clubs…. you will have a rough time breaking 85, 80, and no chance at all for reaching the 70’s.
Quite simply, distance control for your scoring clubs, putter, and short irons are the key ingredient to setting up more birdie chances.
The best way to gain superior distance control is to add a fun game to your practice sessions.
It’s Raining Birdies Drill
- Drill: It’s Raining Birdies
- Goal: Improve Chipping / Short Pitch Distance Control
- Practice: Perform this drill 3 times a week for two weeks to gain more feel
- You Need: Umbrella
One such game to improve your short pitch shots (50 yards and in) is to use an umbrella or a bucket as your target.
The perfect backyard setup to dominate your pitching game.
For this drill, you don’t need to buy one of those fancy golf nets… and old umbrella will work great. Just open the umbrella and place it with the handle up in the air.
For the purpose of learning how to control distance, pick ONE club to use for this drill from beginning to end.The umbrella is now your landing target.
Take 10 balls and drop them at 10 yards. Using your regular chip setup and swing, aim to land 10 balls into the umbrella. Once you have completed at least 50% from this range, move back to 20 yards.
At 20 yards, the goal is the same. However, thing’s have changed… to get the additional carry, you are going to need to increase the length of your backswing.
The process is the same all the way up to 50 yards… and here’s a little tweak I like to do… reverse direction now and work back from 50, 40, 30, 20 to 10 yards. This is called the Birdie Ladder.
This drill works wonders for your chips and short pitches because it gives you a big visual target. In addition, you get instant feedback… you either make it in or you don’t.
Even better, this drill can be done anywhere you have a short amount of space. You don’t need a green to practice these shots… so you can have a beer after dinner and retire to the backyard. How does that sound?
This could even be an interesting way to place a friendly wager against friends in the backyard. Give this drill a try, I’m sure once you get more distance control of your chipping and pitching your score will see a significant improvement.
Write us, let us know how you like this drill.
P.S. Would you invest just $1 to look inside a real Single-Digit Golfers Blueprint and learn how you can become one too?
Including the exact tools, strategies and templates I’ve developed.
…And that my students continue to use day in and day out to help golfers lower their scores. I’m going to give you access to all of it…
