Golfers have so many ways to get ready for the golf season. But most of us amateurs probably make it harder on ourselves than we need to make it.
Our first instinct often is to head to the range, grab the driver and work out that dormant golf swing by punishing golf balls one after another with our full swing. Or worse yet, we skip the preparation altogether and rush out to the first tee.
This, you might expect, is likely not be the best approach to knocking off that winter rust. Working on the short game, particularly greenside chips, will probobly produce better results.
Of course, we know that this often-neglected part of our games can always use the work. But more than that, it can help a golfer get in the swing of things, so to speak.
“We know chipping is the mirror image of your full swing,” says Jeff Fought, Black Butte Ranch’s director of golf. “So if you can get loose and get a nice, fluid motion going, then that is really going to lead to some good golf swings.
“It’s a really good start to the season.”
The drill is actually as simple as could be.
Fought suggests using the club a golfer feels most comfortable with when chipping. For Fought, that means a sand wedge.
Then with the wedge spend a significant amount of time trying to find the proper feel and rhythm by repeatedly hitting to a target until you hone in on the proper distance.
“I try to spend at least 15 minutes a day on my chipping,” Fought said. “It’s just getting my rhythm down and my muscles loose. I just find that really helps me go out and get the long game going, too.”
Such a simple idea. But it is a simple idea that may pay dividends for the entire 2016 golf season.
As always, too, spring makes a wonderful time to take golf lessons. Black Butte Ranch can help with those, as well.
For more information on how to take a lesson from Jeff or any of our Black Butte Ranch instructors, visit BlackButteRanch.com/golf/lessons-and-instructions.