Joey's Golf Bag

Last week, I managed to fit in three practice sessions, and got in some good work with all phases of my game. Last Wednesday and Saturday, I practiced at the Golden Bear Golf Center. On Sunday, I practiced at North Texas Golf. I’d planned to play nine as well, but the course was hosting a girls’ junior tournament.

My practice session for all three days was the same: a vigorous short game practice, followed by a visit to the range to work through all my clubs. At the Golden Bear Golf Center, I started first at the short game area, hitting short and medium pitches, mostly with my lob wedge. This practice usually ate up about 45 minutes. Then I spent some time hitting short and medium chips, mostly with the pitching wedge. Next, I put some time hitting sand and lob wedge shots out of the sand, followed by a short practice in the grass bunker hitting balls with the sand wedge on a severe up hill lie. I then went to the range, where I went through the bag, hitting a couple of balls at different targets with every other club in the bag. I would then work on the clubs that gave me problems as I went through the bag. Generally, this means hitting plenty of shots with the longer clubs. This week in particular, I never really got my driver to work at all, even though I had pretty good practices with the other fairway clubs. I normally follow up the range with a practice session on the putting green, but the condition of the green at Golden Bear isn’t good (the larger green is under renovation). I did have a nice putting practice at North Texas Golf, but their greens are very slow (but in pretty good condition) and don’t resemble the greens on the courses I usually play.

In general, my short and medium length wedge shots are improving and I’m feeling better in general about my short game. My chipping is greatly improved from all the home practice on the carpet. My full wedge game still needs improvement, as I’m inconsistent on distance (mostly due to hitting shots a bit thin or fat), though my directional control has improved. My short irons are pretty good, but I still tend to spray them around too much. My long irons are much better, although the big hook still inexplicably shows up once in a while. My best long club is my 9-wood/4-hybrid. I’m getting good results with that club and both my 7- and 4-woods are improving. I also had a chance to get my new Thriver out for a spin, and I really like the way it feels, though I’m a bit challenged getting the ball flying as high as I’d like. My driver continues to be a disaster: if I hit it straight, my distance is pathetic; if I hit it with good distance, it is usually a big push way off the fairway.

My putting continues to be the best part of my game right now. I’ve nearly eliminated three-putting and I’m hitting longer and longer putts. I still don’t hit as many birdie putts as I’d like. I now expect to hit most putts below 10 feet and those nasty 4 footers I used to miss I nearly always make. I continue to roll the ball on the carpet nearly every night, along with some chipping, and that seems to keep my touch and feel in good shape until I get my next opportunity to practice on the grass.

I’m getting some confidence back in my game, and I’m even feeling that I may break 90 in the near future.