How do the pros practice their short games?

[hue]

I am losing a lot of shots around the green. I practice the short game by doing the following drills.

1 )Place 5 balls around the green and chip and putt them and keep score. I found that playing lots of chips around the practice green did not feel like or represent on course conditions. I do the same kind of thing with pitch shots, bunker shots and bump and runs but never from the same spot. I alter the position of each shot so it feels real .

2) When working on getting a new shot down . I will hit a whole heap of shots from the same spot then move the position and repeat. I find I get into a rhythm this way but have difficulty reproducing this mind set when playing as you don't get a ton of pitch shots to rehearse before you do your real shot.

3) Drop 10 balls around the green in different situations ,chips, short pitches ,bad lies,bunker shots etc and play them out . If I find I mess up any shots I come back to that shot later and do them again as in 2.


The results I am getting are OK but I think I may be missing something. Brian,Brady and others : How do the pros practice their short games and do you have any other advice? Thanks.

 

[Damon Lucas]

I would love an answer to this question too! Seems a lot of talk about the 'swing' and some on putting, but very little on short game. Brian, what and how does David Toms work on with his short game, and what varieties have you seen on 'tour'?

 

[EdZ]

Best way to practice is to randomly toss out balls in a wide pattern around the practice green (say 25 or so) and track your percentage up/down - finishing each out as you play it. To work on a specific type of shot, narrow the area you throw the balls out to a given shot type (all in a bunker, above the hole/short side, deep stuff ect)

Practice like you play.

 

[Martee]

I have two routines.

#1 - Working on stroke I will use three balls from the same spot to the same target. I start from the green, picking my landing spot. I place the ball. My goal to hole out, worse case to be a club length away. Oh, I keep the other balls in my pocket. Hit one, watch it. Then I go back up to the edge of the green and pace it off and start all over. If any of the shots come up short and block the path, I remove the ball first. Then if I meet my goal, I move to a different position. Usually keep the same distance, just a different approach. Then I back it up some distance.

#2 - Working on ball flight. Three balls, three different shots from same spot. Three different landing areas, same target, same goal. Often I will mix it up with other clubs but usually stay with just two clubs. Again take time between each shot.