Changing your on-course perspective.

[thenewbie]

most of us have heard of the iron-only round, where you go out with just irons. some like to go out with only even numbered clubs. I have a couple other ways of practicing on the course that have worked wonders for me, and I wanted to let everyone in on my ideas.

 

the first is the "wrong club round". with every shot I hit, I go through my routine and choose a club, but then I'm not allowed to use that club. If I'd normally tee off with a driver, then I'll probably bring out the 3 wood, or even the hybrid sometimes. if the next shot is a solid 7 iron, then I have to choose whether I want to muscle an 8 or smooth out a 6. This really changes how you look at the course, all the way to your shots around the green. if I have a normal chip, which would be a 54*, I have to choose between the 60* or P wedge. now, for putting I still use the putter :).

 

its intersting, you'll find yourself in places you've never been before on a course you thought you knew well, and one thing I found is that my score wasn't hurt at all. if anything, my mind was more engaged and focused, and I fealt like I wasn't just "going through the motions".

 

another thing I tried yesturday that worked out great was the "club up round". for every iron or wedge shot, I would again go through my routine, pick a club, then club up once. again, this changed my perspective, but not just of the course. it also changed my perspective of my game. Golf fealt like more of a finesse game then it usually is for me. I was pin-high every time but once (flared a 5 iron right), but I was also over the green a few times. this tells me that my shot-making needs work. it was also a windy day, which made for some very interesting shots. one shot I had 160 left, but the wind was in my face, and the shot really felt like it needed more club. normally that yardage is a strong 8, but I decided that I should club up to a 6. BUT, since I was playing a "club up round", I had to club up again to a 5 iron.

 

if you haven't tried anything like this before, I would highly recomend it. there are numerous benefits.

[avrag]

great topic. i've tried some similar things. it is very educational, and it is fun. what i have also tried: the one-iron only round. Driver/3wood, 2 or 3 wedges of 50*+, but only one iron (6 or 7), putter. for myself, at hcp 18, i can actually score better by having to lay up on long par 4s or by having to hit some sort of 3/4 shot w the medium iron on medium or short length par 4s. but of course, the best scoring of all happens with the "no driver round" :)

[EJ Mac]

Interesting thanks for sharing I have never tried any thing like that but at the current state my game has sunk to I am game to try anything even a canon but not the Hammer.

[wshoulders]

I played 12 holes once using only a 4I after playing an embarassing first 6 and it actually helped, I played another 18 after that and shot 76 with a good ole 36 putts :)

[hbear]

If you have time, and nobody is pushing you, you might also want to try a "worse ball" round.

 

Where you hit 2 balls, and play the "worse" of the 2.

 

Fun little game, were you still play your normal game, but it adds the pressure element.

(e.g. piped a drive down the middle on a tight hole.....now pressure builds as you try to do it again)

Or you hit a poor shot, now the pressure come on because now you are FORCED to hit a good shot.

 

I also find it good practice for "conservative" play with purpose.

E.g. you hit a decent (not spectacular) approach to a tight flag. You want to hit another decent shot in, but don't want to put your ball into trouble as you'd then have to use that one. So you might want to opt for a more conservative approach, but not too conservative or you'll be putting from the other side of the green.

 

Another fun change of pace.