Day 2 Short Game Practice at the Faldo Institute

Short game practice at the Faldo Institute

Today was a great day down in Florida. Got to bed a little bit late, but some sleep, a workout in the morning and a good breakfast Marty and I were ready to put in some work. 

Working out on the Road: You don't really need too much, but its great to keep up the routine and give the muscles some work to keep your mind and body right. 

The morning workout was as follows:

• 20 mins on elliptical (interval training)
• 4x12 Dumbbell press. (alternating not at the same time)
• 4x12 Wide Grip Pull ups
• 4x12 Leg Press
• 4x12 Leg Curls
• 4x50 Sit ups with rotation
• 4x12 Wood Chop (for rotation and core)
• 4x12 Dips
• 4x12 Cable High Pulls to forehead 

Just a simple workout to get the blood moving and warm up the muscles. No need for lots of weight, this is simply to maintain where you are and keep you sharp. 

The Faldo Institute 

If you are a serious or recreational golfer and need to work on your short game, there are not many places that you can go that would be able to offer more. This place is amazing. Tons of different chipping greens, a huge putting green, a bunker and pitching green, and a 40-60 yard target green. It really does not get any better. If I had a cot with me I would probably sleep there. The setting makes you want to practice and the amount of talent that is there is definitely good motivation. There were 2 LPGA members working on their game and a multitude of mini tour players all sharpening their skills. Not to mention I spent $5.86 and practiced for 7.5 hours. Its an amazing place and its very inexpensive. 

Here are a few shots of what the institute has to offer. Did not get to capture it all but you can see it is an impressive facility. 

Short Game Drills and Chipping Exercises

1. Distance control with trajectory Drill:
1. This is a great drill to working on controlling your distance. I always like to be specific when picking out my yardages. I go 30, 40, 50, 60. I keep it to the number so I know exactly how far I am hitting it. 
2. Ball position: controlling the trajectory with ball position is very helpful when trying to access front pins or back pins. The more toward the back of your stance you play the ball the lower it goes and the less it spins. The further forward you play it the higher it goes and the more it spins. This drill take a lot of work but the fruits are definitely worth the labor. 
2. Through the bag chipping drill
1. Take 4-6 clubs and pick a hole, any hole at all on the putting green.  I like to use my 58, 54, 50, PW, 9i, and 8i for this drill. 
2. Take 12-15 balls with each club and go to the same hole. Work on distance control and visualizing where you want the ball to land. Keep in mind how similar the stroke gets to a putting stroke as you get to the less lofted club. It is very important to have a well rounded shot arsenal around the greens. Options are a good thing as well as having a bread and butter shot that you have the utmost confidence in. 
3. Do this with a short shot 15-20 feet and few feet off the green, 30-40 feet and 5-10 feet off the green, 50-60 feet and 20+ feet off the green. This will give you a great variation of shots and help you see how the different clubs react to the different conditions. Working on this drill will make shot selection around the greens a lot easier as well.

Putting Drills

1. Around the horn:
1. This is a classic putting drill but a great one. Set up as many or as few balls as you would like in a circle around the hole. I go with 15. Start at one putter length away for the first round and after you complete a flawless round with no misses, move it one putter length at a time until you reach your desired distance from the hole. If you make it to 20+ you are doing some work and are in for some birdies during your next round. 
2. Eyes closed drill:
1. As the title says you will be hitting putts with your eyes closed. This is a great way to develop feel and adapt to greens at a new course. Hit putts from 20+ feet from the hole with your eyes closed until the ball has left the putter face. Before you open your eyes you must determine if the ball is going to be short or long of the hole. You will be amazed at how much feedback this drill will provide you. 
3. Chalk line drill:
1. This is a great drill to make sure the putter is tracking right and releasing properly. It will provide instant feed back that the ball is starting online and rolling correctly. 

Getting in Tournament Mode

Its one thing to practice but it is another other to be able to use what you have practiced when it counts. Taking one ball and recreating situations that you may encounter on the course. This takes a little bit of imagination and self-discipline. Make yourself feel the pressure,  you only have one chance. Test yourself and execute the shot just as you would on the golf course, pre-shot routine and all. Now take your confidence and practice to the course and shoot better scores. 

First OGA event is tomorrow at 10a.m. I will report back tomorrow about the experience and the results. Hoping for a good first event. Maybe I can channel Russel Henley's debut mojo. Playing at Ridgewood Lakes in Davenport, FL.