Category: Golf Practice

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Golf Practice

Getting the Most Out of Golf Simulators

By Scott Messner

I love living in northern Wisconsin. I enjoy the four seasons, even the beautiful white, cold winters we experience. The winters can be long however, up to six months in length. It can be a struggle to work on your golf game. Golf vacations are costly, out of the reach of many golfers, and they only last a few weeks at best out of the long winter. 

My solution for many years was a DIY Indoor Golf Net in my basement paired with a SkyGolf SkyPro Bluetooth Golf Swing Analyzer.

This setup worked incredibly well but it had a few drawbacks. 

While I’m happy I have an eight-foot ceiling in my basement and not anything shorter, it restricted me to hitting irons. I could not hit drivers, woods, or hybrids. The swing analyzer tracked a large amount of data but lacked a few data points I really wanted. It didn’t record swing path or clubface angle at impact, which was surprising since it did record clubface angle at several other swing positions. 

When my son was in eighth grade and working hard on his game to play on the high school golf team when he got there, we would drive one and a half to two hours south to rent time on an indoor golf simulator. The time and money it takes for a four hour round trip by car limited us to three or four times at best during the winter.

Then everything changed. Our local bowling alley ten miles away installed a golf simulator. Only a year later, Lakeland Fitness and Golf, where we golf now in the winter, opened a room with four simulators!

Whether you are practicing on the range or playing the simulated real-life course you’ve always dreamed of, a golf simulator provides an incredible amount of data about your swing. This allows you to feel much more easily what your club is doing in the swing. You can then build more self-awareness of your swing, giving you greater control of it.

Still, golf simulators are not the real thing. The biggest difference is you are hitting off a mat, with it serving up a perfect, level lie for every shot. To make matters worse, while playing a course on the simulator, you’ll get this same, perfect, level lie whether you’re on a hill, in the rough, or in a bunker. There is a Terrain Penalty setting you can enable on the TruGolf E6 Connect simulator I play on. Like real life, it penalizes you for missing the fairway. The power and spin of your shot will be reduced to varying degrees for lies off the fairway. You must make a judgement if and how much you’ll have to club up. 

Here’s the funny thing. I have yet to see anyone besides myself have the terrain penalty setting enabled. 

Also, most people do not like to putt on simulators, so they either let the computer decide how many putts they take as a score on the hole, or they have it set for ten-foot or even larger gimmies. “Reading” the greens, if you can call it that, is not realistic on golf simulators. I do, however, find the distance accuracy to be good. I enjoy working on my putting stance, stroke, and distance control while playing on the simulator and find it beneficial to my game, so I set the putting to five-foot gimmies. 

One last observation I have noticed on the TruGolf E6 Connect simulators I play on is that my shots off the tee with my driver are twenty to thirty yards longer on many occasions. Given this, I play the back tees so that my approach shots are most like what they are on outside golf courses. I do not want to regularly be hitting wedges into greens on a simulator when I’m hitting 7 or 8 irons on the course.  Be aware of any anomalies like this on the simulators you play on.

Adjust the settings of the simulator you play to best mimic what you see on an actual golf course. The goal is to get the simulation as much like real life as possible. This means you will not score as low but you’ll be better prepared when golf season comes around and it counts. 

We have numerous opportunities every day out in the world to exercise our faith. Do not take the easy route. Go out of your way to serve others and tell them about Jesus. By taking advantage of every opportunity to show our faith and tell others of Jesus, we are building our faith.

Paul instructs Timothy in 1 Timothy 4:13-15 to exercise the gifts that God has given him so all may see his progress. 

1 Timothy 4:13-15
13
 Until I come, pay attention to reading, to exhortation, and to teaching. 
14
 Don’t neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the elders. 
15
 Be diligent in these things. Give yourself wholly to them, that your progress may be revealed to all.
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Golf Practice

Indoor Full Swing Practice

By Shooting 90

The winters can be are long here in northern Wisconsin. Courses are closed by the third weekend in October and will not open until April. Those of us who want to improve our games the quickest must move our practice indoors.

I’ve already written about my visit to Inside Edge Golf. What an awesome facility. Unfortunately I live almost a four hour drive from Inside Edge in the Twin Cities area.

We currently utilize Premier Sports Academy just outside Wausau, WI for access to a golf simulator. They are primarily an indoor baseball facility, with some soccer and golf. They have a very nice room with an aboutGolf simulator, the same simulators that can be found at Inside Edge Golf.

The golf at Premier Sports Academy is in it’s own room, completely separated from any other activities there. I love that, especially for instruction. My son is getting instruction there over the winter, gearing up for freshman high school golf in the spring.

I could also get used to being in a more open environment, such as in your own stall at Inside Edge Golf. That setup does have its advantages, such as when playing in a league, which would be much more social at a bigger, more open facility.

My son and I play 18 holes on the simulator after his instruction. Playing on a simulator is great but it is not a replacement for the real thing. If our winters were 40 degree Fahrenheit weather so our courses could remain open, I’d be at the course practicing and playing, never once going to the simulator. Simulators are fantastic for full swing, even half and three quarter swing work, but the realism drops off dramatically for pitching, chipping and putting. Here’s the number one problem with simulators. It’s the same problem that the practice range presents you. A golf simulator serves up a perfect lie on every shot. There is just no simulation for real ground on a real course. You can simulate wind on a simulator, it’s just difficult to simulate rough and angled lies. You should be scoring lower on a simulator, just for this reason.

So before a few places in Wausau figured out how to make simulators financially viable for them, it would have been a 3 hour drive for us to get simulator time. Even the hour and a half drive we do now could not be possible for some of you. I get that.

The next best option is to build your own indoor golf net.

Ideally, you would have a spot for the net in your basement or in a heated garage or shed. Our net is in the unfinished side of our basement. Those without a spot in their house could look nearby for possibilities. I know I could get access to the gym in our community center. The indoor golf net we have built is not easily portable although I wonder if I could leave the net there and allow others to use it.

Of course, rarely is any solution perfect. Our basement height only allows us to swing irons. There is not enough clearance for us to swing drivers. An inconvenience for sure, but definitely not a deal breaker. Most swing concepts are the same for irons and drivers, and we just work on driver a bit more when we get back outside.

My point here is that a DIY indoor golf net is an option for many of us.

It is important to practice your full swing year round. It is also more important to practice your short game and putting year round, and in an upcoming post we’ll look into easy ways to do that.

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Golf Practice

Play More Golf to Lower Your Handicap

By Shooting 90

Playing more rounds will improve your scoring, lowering your handicap, faster than increasing your practice time.

Time on the practice range is important to continually improve our full swing. Developing a repeatable swing with as much club head speed as possible will allow you to hit more fairways and greens, but learning how to lower scores happens on the course.

There are simply too many factors that come together to lower your handicap. While all of these factors will be encountered on the course, some of these are more difficult to practice off the course, and some golfers choose not to practice them.

Working on your full swing is important, but at least half of your practice time should be on the short game; pitching, chipping, and putting. The majority of shots on the course will involve your short game. The practice time you spend on your short game should reflect this. Improving your short game equals lowering your handicap.

When is the last time you practiced uneven lies on the practice range? Most beginner and high handicap golfers hit every shot at the range from a near perfect lie. Improved scoring comes from mastering how to hit the four main uneven lies, which can only be done on the golf course. Hitting out of the rough is also best learned on the course.

Two great ways to play more golf is by getting a membership at a club or by joining a league. Joining a club immediately made me feel more obligated to golf, since I prepaid my season. Playing competitive golf in a league has so many benefits. Golf’s handicap system levels the playing field making for an enjoyable experience for all golfers.

Start playing more rounds today and lower your handicap today!

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Golf Practice

DIY Indoor Golf Net

By Shooting 90

These are plans for a roughly 8 foot high, 8 foot wide, and 5 foot deep DIY indoor golf net. The frame is 1-1/4 inch PVC pipe and the netting is 3/4″ #18 black square nylon.

Materials

Quantity Item Cost Each Item Total Cost
1 8′ x 8′ GOLF IMPACT BLACK SQUARE NYLON BARRIER BACKSTOP NETTING 3/4″ #18 $49.95 $49.95
3 8′ x 5′ GOLF IMPACT BLACK SQUARE NYLON BARRIER BACKSTOP NETTING 3/4″ #18 $32.95 $98.85
1 1-1/4″ Furniture Grade 3-Way Corner Elbow PVC Fitting – 8 Pack $24.90 $24.90
8 1-1/4″ x 10′ PVC Pipe $3.38 $27.04
4 1-1/4″ x 5′ PVC Pipe $2.71 $10.84
1 1″ x 10′ PVC Pipe $2.21 $2.21
3 100 Count Black 8″ Cable Ties $2.46 $7.38
1 King sized sheet $0.00 $0.00
Total Cost $221.17

Assembling the PVC Frame

Cut all 8 of the 1-1/4″ by 10′ pipes down to 7’10” in length.

Cut all 4 of the 1-1/4″ by 5′ pipes down to 4’9″ in length.

Make the bottom frame by connecting two 7’10” lengths and two 4’9″ lengths using four 3-way corner elbows to form a rectangle. The remaining open end of each corner elbow should be facing up.

Insert a 7’10” PVC pipe into each of the four corner elbows.

Make the top frame by connecting a 3-way corner elbow to the top of each column and connecting two 7’10” lengths and two 4’9″ lengths to form a rectangle.

Congratulations! You’ve assembled the PVC frame.

Adding the Net

The 8′ x 8′ net is the back net. The three 8′ x 5′ nets make up the left, right, and top nets. Hang each net in place. My nets came with loops at each corner which made it easy to hang each net in place. If for some reason your net does not have the loops at each corner, you can just use a cable tie around the pipe and through a corner square of the net.

The nets are attached to the frame by using an 8″ cable tie around the PVC and every four squares of the net. So cable tie, skip three squares, and then another cable tie.

Along the top of the frame, the same cable tie will connect the top net and either side or back net.

Going down the back columns, the same cable tie will connect the side nets and the back net.

Leave an opening along the top sides about 6″ from the back. The 1″ PVC pipe will rest on top of the sides and the impact screen will hang from it.

Adding the Impact Screen

Here could go your impact screen where you could project the image from your golf simulator. To break out the costs of a full feature simulator over a few years, we are using a king size bed sheet.

Cut the 1″ x 10′ PVC pipe down to 8′. Make a loop in the top of the king size sheet around the PVC pipe. Mark where you want to sew the seam. If you have sewing skills, or know someone who does, you can sew a seam to make a loop for the 1″ PVC pipe. You could use safety pins to create the loop if you are unable to sew it.

Place the 1″ PVC pipe through the loop of the sheet and rest each end of the pipe on top of each side of the frame about 6″ from the back of the frame. Connect two cable ties together to make a longer ones and wrap one around the top side support and the 1″PVC pipe to hold it in place. Fasten the remaining area of the nets around the 1″ PVC pipe to the frame.

I’m not sure how long the king size sheet will hold up as an impact screen. The next upgrade could be to install an actual impact screen we can project on.

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Golf Practice

The Chipping Game

By Shooting 90

High handicap and beginner golfers lose a lot of strokes around the green. Yet it’s probably the area that golfers practice the least. How often do you see someone chipping by the practice green?

My 12 year old son started taking his golf game more seriously this season. Like many beginner golfers, he made quick improvements in his long game from tee to green, but still gives up too many strokes around and on the green.

We’ve identified the need to emphasize practicing chipping and putting, but chipping and putting ball after ball from the same spots is not the way. There’s been a lot written lately about the need to practice like you play in order to simulate real shots and golf round pressure.

My son and I play a game for our chipping practice. It’s simple, fun, and provides a large amount of chipping and putting practice.

Each player plays one ball. Players alternate choosing the spot off the green to chip from along with the hole on the practice green to chip to. The object is to get your ball in the hole in the less strokes than your opponent. No points are awarded to either player in a tie. The winning player receives three points if they chip it in with one stroke, two points for getting “up and down” in two strokes, and one point for getting the ball in the hole in three strokes. No points are awarded for four or more strokes even if you get in the hole in less strokes than your opponent. The winner of the match is the first player to reach ten points.

This chipping game is a great way to simulate real golf round pressure both with the match play aspect and the need to get the ball in the hole in three strokes or less.

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Golf Practice

FixYourGame.com Online Lesson Review

By Shooting 90

There’s no doubt that having a golf coach is the fast track to improving your game but very few of us have the time and money required to make that a reality. While there is a lot you can do on your own to improve your game, we’re sometimes blind to many things with our game and this is no where more noticeable than with our swing.

While analyzing your own swing will lead to improvement, it doesn’t compare with a golf teaching professional taking a look. This is especially true if you are new to the game. Have a teaching professional get you started in the right direction. Even if you’ve been playing for years, we sometimes slip back into poor fundamentals that we are blind to see. Have a teacher get your swing back on track.

For years instructors have used video to help them improve their students’ swings. Now smartphones have made it easy to record video of your own swing. The ability to easily upload these videos to the Internet has also opened the door for a relatively new form of golf instruction – online golf instruction.

The idea is simple. Shoot video of your own swing, upload it to a website, and have a golf professional review it and offer ways for you to improve. It’s been something I’ve been contemplating for some time, so when Brant from FixYourGame.com offered to review my swing, I jumped at the chance.

Getting started at FixYourGame.com is very easy. I took two videos of my swing, one from behind down the target line and facing me perpendicular to the target line, filled out the online form and uploaded the videos. Within a few days my online lesson was ready!

Your lesson consists of two parts. The first is a written review with observations and suggestions on areas of your swing to work on. Brant also included links to YouTube videos featuring himself demonstrating proper technique.

The second part of your lesson is a video analysis of your swing. Areas of improvement from the written review are further analyzed with your swing compared along side swings by pro golfers. My swing was compared frame by frame with Rory McIlroy’s and Luke Donald’s.

I felt the combination of the written review, video analysis, and YouTube videos coming together to reinforce the three areas of improvement for my swing did a great job of emphasizing what steps I need to take to improve.

Check out FixYourGame.com today for online instruction for your game!

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Golf Practice

Practice with Purpose

By Shooting 90

Many beginner and high handicap golfers will go to the driving range and hit balls on a regular basis. This is a great habit to get into as the fastest way to improve your game is through regular practice. The problem is many golfers will hit the majority of the range balls with their driver, rifling through shot after shot. Their practice does not have any real focus. Structured, purposeful practice is needed so you will be able to consistently execute shots when on the course.

Weekly time at the practice range is the time to work on swing mechanics, especially if you are still building a consistent swing. Repetition of proper swing techniques is needed to have a consistent swing on the course. On the course is not the place to work on your swing. Working on your swing while on the course will undoubtedly lead to mishits, frustration, and high scores.

Video is the easiest way to get instant feedback while implementing new swing techniques while on the range. Video gives you the extra set of eyes that are critical in finding areas of your swing to improve. It’s essential to use video if you want to get as much out of your time at the range as possible.

There are several apps which allow you to record and analyze your swing. Two of my favorite apps are UberSense Golf  and V1 Golf.

None of us have all of the time we would like to practice, so we have to make the most of the time we have on the range. That means practicing on areas of your game that need the most attention, the areas in which breakdowns are leading to high scores. Accurate stat tracking is one of the easiest ways to determine which parts of your game to work on at the range.

You can make stat tracking as basic or detailed as you’d like. For many years now, in addition to my score, I track other stats on my paper scorecard. I track fairways in regulation, greens in regulation, putts, and penalty strokes for each hole. I’ll then look at my rounds for the week before my weekly practice session and immediately know areas that I struggled in. I also input these stats into a spreadsheet so I have an idea on how I’m performing in areas on a historical basis.

Another way I have tracked stats in the past is on my smartphone. Most of the golf GPS apps also allow you to track several stats including shot distance. These apps do a great job of tracking your stats and many have web sites where you can further analyze them. I have one word of caution on using your smartphone to track a lot of stats while on the course. Do not let your phone distract you from applying your full concentration to your upcoming shot. I see a lot people, myself included at times, spending too much time on their phones.

Technology is making stat tracking easier than it has ever been. GAME GOLF is a stat tracking system that is far less intrusive on the course than manually entering stats on a smartphone. By installing a tag at the end of each of your clubs and wearing a receiver on your belt, you simply touch the tag of the club to the receiver before each shot. All that is required on the course is to remember to “tag” your receiver before each shot.

Besides working on your swing and specific areas of your game, you’ll want to practice real round scenarios. Here are a few examples. Try getting the ball from tee to green. Work on hitting your driver in the fairway and then hitting your approach shot on the green. Another examples is getting up and down from just off the green. Chip a ball on the practice green and then sink the putt. Repeat these scenarios several times. By practicing real round scenarios, you’ll find it easier to take your game from the range to the course.

The amateur golfer has limited time for practice. It is important to make the most of it. I hope you’ll follow tips in this post to practice with purpose.

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Golf Practice

How to Afford Golf Lessons

By Shooting 90

On a recent Shooting 90 poll, I asked the question “What’s the biggest thing stopping you from lessons with a PGA professional?”. As of writing this post, over 75% of the respondents answered “It’s too expensive for me”. Other choices included “I don’t have the time”, “I’m too embarrassed”, and “I don’t need lessons!”.

The expense of golf lessons being by far the most popular answer took me a bit by surprise. While I can make the argument for each answer not being a viable reason (excuse), I was expecting not having the time as the most popular response.

Golf is an expensive sport to begin with. Most likely you’ve already invested hundreds of dollars into a set of clubs. While a set of clubs can last you several years, what about your cost every time you golf a round of 18 holes? Add up green fees, replacing lost balls, and refreshments, and you talking at least $60, maybe more depending on where you live. I understand you can golf during twilight hours for $20, just drink water (which is best for you anyways), and bring your total cost to under $30, but the point I’m trying to make is that golf costs you a significant amount of money every time you play a round.

I will venture to say that most high handicap golfers play too much and practice too little, which is fine if you do not want to improve and are getting enough enjoyment from your curent game. The fact is golf is more enjoyable for a high handicap golfer after they improve their game, and you reading this post tells me you have a desire to improve.

What if instead of golfing one of your rounds per month, you take what you would have spent and invest in golf lessons? The average cost of one hour of lessons with a golf teaching professional in my area is $65. Most pros will also let you split the hour into two half hour sessions. For $65 per month, you could meet every two weeks with a golf coach. Think how more quickly your golf game could improve. A golf teaching professional could put you on the fast track to going from a high handicap to shooting 90.

While I’m a firm believer that one-on-one golf lessons from a teaching professional is the best form of instruction, there are even less expensive ways to get instruction from a pro. Many pro golf instructors advertise a lower rate for group instruction. Ask your local pro if they are willing to do lowered group rates if they do not state it. Form a group with your spouse or a couple of buddies. You still get time with a teaching professional but at a reduced rate. If you need to bring the cost down even further, you could attend one of several clinics that most teaching professionals put on during the season. I can attend golf clinics in my area for as little as $15.

Hopefully I have influenced the people who think lessons from a professional golf teacher are too expensive into taking another look. I believe the fastest route for a high handicap golf to improve their game and enjoy golf more is with the help of a golf professional.

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Golf Practice

Practice Year Round at an Indoor Golf Facility

By Shooting 90

This past weekend, my wife and I made the four hour trip from our home in northern Wisconsin to Minneapolis. Most of the weekend was spent attending a trade show for my wife’s business. Even so it was a nice getaway and we did find time to have some fun.

I found time Saturday afternoon to have a great time at Inside Edge Golf, an indoor golf facility in Eden Prairie, MN. It was my first trip to such a facility. I had previously interacted with @insideedgegolf on Twitter, and since I knew I was going to the Twin Cities, I jumped at the chance to check it out.

Inside Edge Golf has nine aboutGolf PGA Tour simulators. Seven of the simulators are Classic models, one is a Widescreen (5 feet wider screen than the Classic), and one is a three-screen SimSurround. Each simulator has incredible 3D graphics and offer the choice of over 50 world famous courses to play. Inside Edge Golf also has an 1800 square foot putting green.

I knew I would not have a lot of time but still wanted to experience both a simulator and the putting green so earlier in the week I reserved a half hour on a Classic Simulator and a half hour on the putting green. Inside Edge recommends reserving simulator time three to four days in advance, especially for weekend times.

The simulators are incredibly easy to use. The staff at Inside Edge was extremely friendly in explaining the simulator and answering any questions. I first warmed up with a few shots in practice range mode. It was my first time on a simulator so obviously I was going to play an actual course, but if I had the ability to visit Inside Edge on a regular basis, I could see myself reserving simulator time for the sole purpose of hitting balls on the range. The simulator records all of the important data such as clubhead speed, ball speed, ball spin, projected trajectory and distance. The instant feedback after every shot is instrumental in improving your results. Lessons are even available on a simulator from an on staff PGA professional.

As I mentioned earlier, there are over fifty courses to choose from. I chose TPC Scottsdale, probably because it was fresh in my mind from the recent Waste Management Open. I only had a half hour so I wasn’t able to get a whole round in but was able to finish 11 holes. Anything within 12 feet of the hole is considered a gimme. This speeds up play and makes total sense since the strength of the simulator is the analysis of full swings. On the floor of the simulator is an area with a tee, a short carpet mat which is the fairway, and a thicker mat which is the rough. Where you place the ball to hit depends on where you are on the screen. Playing a round on your favorite course is realistic enough to help you work on your full swing. Since you are charged for how long you use a simulator, I did find myself rushed to finish holes. I’m sure this being my first time had a lot to do with this and one would feel less and less rushed the more they used a simulator. Inside Edge offers league play which be a great way to break up the winter and keep your skills up until spring.

After the simulator, I spent some time on Inside Edge’s 1800 square foot putting green. It features both flat and breaking putts along with various lies off the side of the green to practice chipping. There is even a mini-flop wall to perfect your flop shots!

I recommend anyone within an hour’s drive of an indoor golf facility such as Inside Edge Golf to take full advantage. You have the ability to work on your game throughout the winter, on rainy days, and at night. Unfortunately I do not live close enough to an indoor golf facility so I will be doing the next best thing and building a simulator in my house before next fall.

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Golf Practice

When and Where to Find Help for your Golf Game

By Shooting 90

Many of us have been fortunate to have had some type of formal golf instruction at some point in our lives. For me it was two years on my high school golf team. I had golfed before that but it wasn’t until high school when I was able to create a solid foundation for my swing and my enjoyment of the game increased. I have no doubt my enjoyment of the game increased at this time because I was able to build that solid foundation with the help of my coaches.

Some amount of formal golf instruction is highly beneficial to getting maximum enjoyment from playing golf. Many of us can maintain and improve our swings. However, I feel this is only after we have a solid foundation. Creating a solid swing from which to build on is much easier with the help of formal instruction. But how much instruction does one need? Of course that depends on the individual. Some golfers can come out of a thirty minute lesson with a fundamentally correct swing. Others take more time.

So when should we seek formal instruction? You can already guess one of the times is if you are a beginner and not had instruction before. I believe at least some type of formal instruction is important to succeed in golf if for nothing more than creating a good foundation to built upon.

There are other times when formal instruction is the best thing for your game.

You compensate for a regular slice (or hook). I’m surprised at how many golfers I see compensate for their consistent slice off the tee. This cuts down on the number of holes you can use your driver on. Some holes will simply not have enough room for you to start your ball that far off the fairway. Even on the holes that do provide enough room, your chance of hitting the fairway is reduced by hitting a slice. Find help to straighten out your drives.

You have compensated for a recent injury and cannot get your pre-injury swing back. A solid golf swing involves almost every muscle group in your body. So it’s no surprise that there are many injuries that could affect your swing. Get help if you’re having trouble with your swing after recovering from an injury.

You have over-analyzed, over-tinkered with, and basically lost your swing. This has happened to me at times. Fortunately we can get our swing back ourselves most if not all of the time. But what if you can’t get your swing back? Find some help if you’ve made a mess of your swing and can’t get it back.

You want to quickly take your game to the next level. Once you have a fundamentally sound swing, you can make progress on your own. Taking advantage of instruction will accelerate this process. Why do you think the pros have coaches? Hire a golf coach if you want to accelerate the improvement in your game.

There are several places to find golf instruction.

Private lessons from your local golf course professional

Almost every course has a resident golf professional. The average rate for private lessons from local pros in my area is $60 per hour. You can also go in with your spouse or friend. Many pros offer group lessons at lower rates.

A clinic at your local golf course

Many courses offer golf clinics throughout the season. These are cheaper alternatives to private lessons. Many courses also offer junior clinics which are a great way to introduce children to the game of golf.

A golf school

There are several golf schools around the country that offer 2 to 5 day sessions. These are quite expensive, starting at around $1000, but offer a level of golf instruction not available anywhere else.