On The Tee with Hank Johnson

Effective Pitching Practice

Pitching: A high shot from a short distance (50 yards or less) away from the green that travels most of the way to the target in the air.

Objective: To improve up and down percentage from within 50 yards of the flag by;
Pitching the ball within six feet of the cup a high percentage of the time.
Pitching the ball within twelve of the cup 100 percent of the time.

Key to success: Make the ball land on the spot you've picked and at the angle you've visualized.
To improve your ability to visualize the shot:
Toss some balls onto the green underhanded to find the best spot and angle for the ball to land on for a specific shot. Once you've found the best spot and landing angle, stick a shaft into the green to represent the landing point and landing angle. Now, hit some pitch shots trying to make the ball land on the spot and on the angle the shaft represents. Try different wedges until you find the one that makes the shot easiest to hit.

Use this practice procedure from various places around the green to develop your ability to visualize the best trajectory for the various shots.

Practice technique: Use coins or ball markers to create a six foot and a twelve foot circle around the cup to which you plan to practice. With ten ball like you play with, drop them in ten different locations around the green where a high shot is called for. Without improving your lie, play the ten shots. You may use different clubs if you wish. Use your full pre-shot routine just like you would on the golf course. Mark the balls from previous shots so that they will not interfere. You may leave the flag stick in if you wish.

Your goal: All ten shots within the twelve foot circle and at least half of them in the six foot circle.
Reminder: Every pitch shot turns into a putt when it begins to roll. Don't forget to look for slopes that will cause the ball to break left or right. Also be aware of uphill or downhill slopes that will affect the speed and therefore the distance the ball will roll after landing.

Effective Chipping Practice

Chipping: A low running shot from just off the green

Objective: To improve up and down percentage from just off the green by;(5 yards or less from the edge of the green)

Chipping the ball within three feet of the cup a high percentage of the time.

Chipping the ball within six feet of the cup 100% of the time.
Practice technique: Use coins or ball markers to create a three foot circle and a six foot circle around the cup to which you plan to practice. With 10 ball like the ball you play with, drop them in 10 different locations around the green and from one to five yards off the putting surface.
Without improving your lie, play the ten shots. You may use different clubs for the shots if you wish. Use your full pre-shot routine just like you would on the golf course. Mark the balls from previous shots so that they will not interfere. You may leave the flag stick in if you wish.

Your goal: All ten shots within the six foot circle and at least half of them in the three foot circle.

Things to remember:
Club choice should be related to the amount of roll you want after the ball lands. More loft gives you less roll, less loft gives you more roll.
Every chip turns into a putt when it begins to roll. Dont forget look for slopes that will cause the ball to break left or right. Also be aware of any uphill or downhill slopes that will affect the speed and therefore the distance the ball will roll after landing

Saturday, March 15, 2008

Effective Putting Practice

There are two things about putting that conflict with each other:
Putting represents a significant portion of the game. More than 40% of the strokes played in an average round of golf are putts. This seems to hold true regardless of the players handicap or the score shot. You have to accept this reality.

Putting is boring to practice. Therefore you must have ways to practice your putting that help you maintain interest and focus. Practice games are the answer to this dilemma.
Following are some effective putting practice drills:
12 Ball Drill
Place tees at 12,3,6 and 9 oclock positions around the hole. Make three putts in a row from one position before you move on to the next position. Start at 5 feet and move back as you get better. Your objective is to make all 12 putts in a row without missing. If you choose a cup that is not on a flat part of the green, you practice will include, uphill, downhill and side hill putts.

Short Putt Drill
Place tees at 3,4,5 and 6 feet from the cup. You must complete each distance before moving back to the next distance.
3 feet make 30 putts in a row4 feet make 20 putts in a row5 feet make 10 putts in a row
6 feet make 5 putts in a row
Start with a straight putt and progress to breaking putts

Lag Putt Drill
Practice long putts to a line. Place a string between two tees to create a line across the back of the cup to which you plan to practice. From distances of 20,30 40 and 50 feet use the cup to choose your line if the ball will have enough speed to reach the string. Try to roll each putt to the string. Your goal should be to get each ball within a PUTTER GRIP length of the string. If you master this drill you will virtually eliminate three-putts.

By Hank Johnson, PGA Founder and Master Instructor, Hank Johnson School of Golf
Wednesday March 11th, 2009

Effective Practice

Warm Up session vs Practice session.
Know the difference.

Objective of Practice: General
Maintain your strengths and improve your weaknesses

Structure of Practice: Performance Based
Practice will only improve performance if it is structured according to accurate and complete performance data.

Round Charting is Essential to Improved Performance
Basic facets include:
Driving Distance
Fairways Hit
Greens Hit
Chips/Pitches
Bunker Shots
Putts
Shot By Shot is a great system.

Key
Identify the trouble spots in your game and develop a practice plan tailored to your needs.
Quality Practice is More Important Than Quantity Practice
Practice doesnt make perfect. Practice makes permanent.
Perfect practice makes perfect.

Practice Application
Always have a specific purpose for practice sessions
Never hit a practice shot without a purpose
Never hit a practice shot without a target
Never hit a shot without using your pre-shot routine
Keep your practice varied and interesting
Keep a practice journal to monitor your activities

Put Practice Time On Your Schedule and Keep Your Appointment!

Saturday, August 23, 2008

Power Four - The Delivery!

POWER
Final segment in a series: Releasing the Power

At the delivery position: Weight is flat on both feet, knees and hips are square, shoulders are still closed to the hips because they are being pulled around by the hips, the left arm is still across the chest, the wrist and hands are still turned and cocked and approximately waist high. The golfer is now ready to fully release all of the elements of the wind up through the ball to the finish.

Releasing the Power!!!
The left hip continues to turn back over the left heel straightening the left knee. This hip rotation powers the rotation of the shoulders through the ball to the finish. As this rotation occurs it allows the hands to move away from the right shoulder and the right elbow to straighten while the hands and wrist uncock and roll to the finish of the swing. This release should result in a balanced finish position with the golfer's trunk over the front leg and the arms relaxed and in front of the left shoulder.

The right knee should be pulled over to the straight left knee and the right shoulder should be slightly lower than the left.

The entire Power series from Hank Johnson is now available in the new Dewsweeper Store.