GIR

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By Jake L

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  • 9 Replies
  1. Jake L

    Jake L
    Lagrange Park, IL

    Hi, im 14 years old and i'm a very good golfer but my main problem as of late has been getting on in regulation on longer courses.

    I can drive the ball any where from 200 to 240 and my main problem is long par 4's that force me to make a 175 or 150 yard shot to get on in regulation.

    heres a list of some of my clubs...

    My 7 iron goes 135

    6 iron goes 140 

    5 iron goes 145 

    4 hybraid goes 150 but i can't get it to sit.

    4 hybraid goes 160 

    3 wood goes 180 but not consitently

    Thanx 

    Jake

  2. Madison P

    Madison P
    Holly Ridge, NC

    Hi Jake,

    I understand your frustration, I use to face the same issues. The best advice I can give is get it on the green how ever you can, just because you don't make it in regulation doesn't you're doing bad. Practice your putting, and try to put a little more distance into your driver. (Don't sacrifice accuracy.) When I was younger I lived on the putting green because I knew I couldn't make it in regulation.

  3. Jake L

    Jake L
    Lagrange Park, IL

    ok thanx for the help!

  4. John B

    John B
    Countryside, IL

    Jake,

    I think its great that you are looking at specific pieces of your game now.  I agree with Madison in that never forget about practicing your putting!  Every time you practice make sure you are hitting a lot of putts from all different types of lengths, breaks, and don't forget up hill and downhill.  Also don't forget to have some fun with your wedges!  Try and play some games were you pick a spot and try to get the ball to hit that spot both soft and up in the air and low and rolly if you follow what I mean.  Don't be afraid to get yourself into some competition right now!  Whether it is with your friends or junior tournaments.  Moving on to your question... everyone struggles on long par 4's  even when I hit the ball 300 yards in the fairway off the tee sometimes I have to hit a 180+ yard shot into the green.  Your not always going to hit the green but that is were your wedge practice and putting will shine!  if you watch the PGA tour guys on tv they miss greens all the time too, But their ability to chip or pitch it close allows them to have a fighting chance at par with the putter.  This is why practicing all different kinds of chips, pitches, and putts will drop your handicap significantly more effectively that driving it 300 yards every time!  Just look at Luke Donald #1 in the world right now!  He is 147th in driving distance on the PGA tour but he is 1st in scoring average!  Work on that Short game and keep yourself accurate off the tee and with your iron shots and you will be just fine.  Your distance will come naturally as you get bigger and stronger with your age.

     

    Johnny B.    

  5. Chris92009

    Chris92009
    Ohio

    Jake, 

     

    When I was your age I used to play with a former tour player whom was in his 70's.  He barely could hit the ball 200 yards off the tee but we always played from the back tees.  His secret to staying a scratch golfer was his shortgame.  Wedges, Pitching, Chipping and Putting...if you focus on these areas as you grow older and gain more length you will be a dominant player in golf!

    Good Luck!

  6. Hotsauce

    Hotsauce
    Georgetown MA

    Don't think I'm patronizing you, but if you want to get more GIRs then aim for the middle.  Pin seeking is a bad idea 90% of the time.  Often times you'll leave yourself short sided and make for an impossible up and down.  Aim for the fat of the green every time and watch your GIR's soar.

  7. Lou G

    Lou G
    San Diego, CA

    Along with that, play conservative golf. For instance, I know I am capable of hitting an 8 iron 145 yards with an ideal hit but play 130-135 and take a smoother swing. Gets me on the green 90 percent of the time. If I DO fall short, my short game is such that I can generally get down in 2 from 20 yards. Most of your shots on the golf course are from less than 100 yards. 75% of your practice should be short game. That would even include using the other irons besides the wedges too (nothing says you have to limit the 5-9 irons to full swing golf shots). Do things like choking down on the handle, changing backswing length, etc. For instance, a 100 yard shot - 7 iron pitch, 9 iron full choke, PW 1/2 inch choke, GW full golf shot. A lot of golfers don't know how to work their clubs. You may also want to think about changing the 3 wood for a 4 or 5 wood. They are easier to get airborne and sometimes you even get more distance and a lower trajectory. You have to just about have a plush lie to hit a 3 wood off the fairway.
  8. Lou G

    Lou G
    San Diego, CA

    You're about roughly the same distance as I was at that age. When I turned 16 I could out drive most of the men at the Country Club. I wish I would have had the type of short game I have now. I also didn't hit a wood very well off the fairway (did OK with a 3 iron, though). I used a 3 wood off the tee because I couldn't hit a driver. Did you mean 3 hybrid? The way to get a hybrid to sit is play the ball more forward in your stance (almost like a fairway wood - about an inch or two behind the heel). A 3 wood isn't exactly the easiest club to hit off the fairway. I wouldn't try to push it on a 175 shot. Work on your putting and your short game. I remember caddying for the club champ (who was a scratch golfer). He could hit a 5 iron 150 but he was deadly accurate and had a wicked short game (and he did it when the only wedges in a golf bag were the PW and SW). About 25% of your practice should be at the range (and even then you should work on shaping shots or working the clubs - such as choking down) and the remainder should be short game (pitching,chipping and putting are the easiest; I'm one of the 3% that works more on bunkers because I have the rest of it pat).
  9. Jane Wesley B

    Jane Wesley B

    Hey there Jake: I started playing golf five years ago when I met my boyfriend and quickly became addicted. My second year I went from a 22 to a 9 hdcp but I never really hit all the GIR. I focused almost all of my practice and attention on chipping and putting and it worked for scoring better but I reamin very frustrated that I cannot seem to hit the ball long enough to get the GIR I want. I play with a guy who is a 4 hdcp and he is not a long hitter but his short game is something else. I suggest you chip and putt like a demon when you practice and take a few lessons with a pro to work on gaining club head speed or transfering your weight properly to gain yardage. If you master chipping and putting then when you do gain some distance based on your swing technique, your game will be stellar!!! Incidentally, this past month we went to Cabo for my fiftieth birthday and I played a shorter course (Palmilla). I hit every fairway, had 14 GIR, and shot my lowest round ever ...a 75:) It would not have happened if my putting and chipping weren't already "dialed in". Keep at it! Jane Wesley
  10. Lou G

    Lou G
    San Diego, CA

    I'm in there with Jane. Short game is what it is all about. I'm 54 myself and not quite as long of a hitter as I was 20 years ago but I do have close to a stellar short game (putting needs work and need to refine bunker play a smidge). I've birdied 400 yard par 4s by holing out from 20 yards. Now that I have the right hybrid (SQ 5H) and my irons have the shafts I like (Eye 2 yellow dot with TT Lite XL regular), I just about don't miss with them.

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