Month out... What would you do?

[LowSpinningHook]

It is a month from the stroke play championship at my course and I haven't been playing much since we had a baby in March.

So my question is this... I have 31 days to get my game into shape so i don't make a fool of myself at this thing. What would you suggest practicing or doing to make sure you are ready... especially after a long lay-off.

And yes, i would like to win this thing (I am a champ from 2005 and have 4 second places).

[Jaylasvegas]

work on the short game, chipping around the greens, bunker play, putting.
then start working on 125 yards and in, those are the places that get rusty the fastest

[rlheiman]

Putter, Wedge and Driver in that order.

Scoring is most important and this is where strokes can be cut or added quickly.

[idiotbox]

I will echo what Jay said. If my putting would have been there last weekend, I would have shot in the 60s both days.

[nobogeys59]

I will echo what Jay said. If my putting would have been there last weekend, I would have shot in the 60s both days.

Yeah I suppose that's only ho hum for a 8 capper!

[idiotbox]

Yeah I suppose that's only ho hum for a 8 capper!

hey, it's down to 6.5 and i missed two greens in two days! give a guy a break. i still can't putt.

[daughterscameron]

I will echo what Jay said. If my putting would have been there last weekend, I would have shot in the 60s both days.

I thought it's like 100 down there right now.

[idiotbox]

I thought it's like 100 down there right now.

It is...in the shade.

Enough about me and my problems, we gotta help this guy out!

I actually find that I have started playing better without practicing my swing. All that I practice is putting. Any chance I get, I putt. I putt in my hotel at night and as soon as I can get to a practice green, I spend hours there.

[br61]

work on the short game, chipping around the greens, bunker play, putting.
then start working on 125 yards and in, those are the places that get rusty the fastest

I'll echo what JLV said. As you mentioned you have a month to go so you have plenty time to work on your game. If you've won it in the past, you have a big advantage over your fellow golfers as you know what it takes to win it.

I won my home course club championship in stroke play by 2 shots last month and it wasn't easy because as I'm 49 year old and I had to beat off the 20-30 yr old or something young pups that bombs past me. It was funny that it came 5 days after I won 2009 match play that got delayed 9 months by other guy's many excuses, swine flu and early winter weather. Oh well. That's about 14th or 15th club championship that I've won, I might have won more but I can't keep track of it as it's come on 3 different courses. They call me d Tiger Woods in a certain way as if I get the lead, I rarely give it away. I absolutely hate to lose the lead so you need to think it that way.

All I can tell you is not to let bad holes deter you but just bear down and trust your short game and full swing. If you're close to lead, don't ever give up and force them to come to you. Often they won't be able to do so.

[Sillybodkins]

Here's my take.

If you are a good player, you already know how to swing a club.  You will, inevitably, want to practice your full shots, especially wedges and driver.  Remember that the effortless swing will be the easiest to execute more often than not in the competition.  Remember that as you practice.  Strive for an effortless swing.  You're not beating balls to get exercise; you're hitting shots to regain your form.

Practice your short game as often as you can - particularly all the different wedge shots that you already know.  And sand shots.

Putt when you can - but try to play 9 holes as often as possible to really see how your scoring is doing.  Putting on the practice green is good for acquiring touch for lagging long putts, and getting the speed right on the makeable ones.  But putting on the course is even better.

Have fun.  Once again, have fun!

[dcallan]

Consider drinking.  Heavily.  I was a 7 hc before baby no. 1.  And, we are expecting baby no. 2.  I have simply readjusted expectations to meet reality.  And, the reality is that now I suck.  But, you could try Putter, wedge, driver.  Also, I am taking playing lessons with my pro to get my game in shape.  I have one Thursday. 

[johnsy14]

As a former winner & 5 time top 2 finisher in this, shouldn't you be the one giving us the advice??

[Nukegolfer]

work on the short game, chipping around the greens, bunker play, putting.
then start working on 125 yards and in, those are the places that get rusty the fastest

Hit the nail on the head here!

[LowSpinningHook]

Thanks for the great posts!

I originally posted after going to lunch and staring at my clubs. The only thought that ran through my mind as i looked at them, "What the f*&^ do i do with these things?" 

It has been probably 3 weeks since i played, but it feels like it has been a year... Maybe it's the sleepless nights...

Anyway, keep the suggestions coming. I have noticed my attention isn't what it used to be... (again probably from the lack'o'sleep) so I am open to drills - i.e. putting/pitching/chipping games

[bogeycentral]

Drag a friend out to the range and make games out of everything you do. Helps you stay attentive and focus on a target and get the competitive side back so you are not so unfamiliar when facing off against an opponent. Start with the short game and work your way back. Putting contests, chipping, bunker, pitch, flop shot contests and even trouble shot contests. Put the bag or something the way and try to play shots under and over for who knows what situations may arrise. If you make practice fun against a fellow competitor that will get you in great form to face off against someone else.

[gwlee7]

Anyway, keep the suggestions coming. I have noticed my attention isn't what it used to be... (again probably from the lack'o'sleep) so I am open to drills - i.e. putting/pitching/chipping games

The best two putting drills I know of both come from Rotella's Putting Out of Your Mind book.  The first is to simple mark off a straight 5 foot putt and then see how many in a row you can make going through your routine each time.  Set a number as the goal you have to make beofre you can quit and then once you reach that, see how many more you can make.  I set my goal at 12 before I can stop and have made 36 in a row before.  Just seeing all of those 5 footers drop will free up your chipping because you know that you'll knock the putt in.

The second putting drill is to simply lag putts to the fringe of the putting green seeing how close you can get to it without touching it.  It is a great way to work on speed and feel.

The next thing I would do would be to practice "scoring" by chipping a ball to a hole and then putting it out.  That's what you have to do on the course so that is how I like to practice.  Once again, set a goal that you have to get up and down before you can quit.  Here I usually do something like 9 out of 12.

[Sillybodkins]

As a former winner & 5 time top 2 finisher in this, shouldn't you be the one giving us the advice??

Now, that there is good advice! 

I would ask the OP to try to go back in time, and remember swing cues and swing moves that were working when he won.  Then, see if they still work.

(maybe that's why Hogan kept a notebook for what he was working on day to day.)

[NewJerichoMan]

What are we talkin' bout here?  Practice!?!  We're talking' bout practice!?!

Eff all that and do yourself a favor and buy the magic sand wedge

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