KPJ’s Cardiogolf Game Improvement Program

Heading into the last couple of weeks of the Cardiogolf Game Improvement Program, your focus should be on tightening up all areas of your game so there are no obvious weaknesses and polishing your swing technique so you can concentrate on scoring when you finally get out on the golf course this upcoming season.

During this week, we will focus on refining key scoring areas especially around the green and approach shots.

Don’t neglect your golf fitness.  Continue to practice golf-specific stretches and warm up routines.

Monday-Chipping Practice

Pitching and Sand Practice

Today-Wednesday-Putting Practice

Thursday-Short Irons Practice

Friday-Practicing from within 100 yards

Putting Review: The putting stroke is made by the shoulders controlling the movement of the arms and hands.  The shoulders, arms and hands move back and through in unison, so that the angle in the right wrist remains constant throughout the stroke.  This movement ensures that the putter stays on the correct path, which is just inside the target line as the length of the putt increases and goes straight through towards the hole on the follow-though.

Putting Practice:

Here are a few drills to help with putting:

The Carpet/Cup Drill :You can do this at home on the carpet with a cup True there is no break, which makes this the ideal drill to practice aim and distance. Start with three balls about 2 feet from the cup. Move back 5 feet each round until you’ve maxed the distance your room can accomodate. Take a rest and then repeat the drill only starting with the further distances first.

The Stop Putt: Take your normal putting swing. After you make contact with the ball immediately stop your swing. This is going to focus in on your aim and accuracy. After trying a bunch of putts this way, add back in your follow through and you should notice how your follow through really helps guide the clubface and ultimately the ball towards your target.

The Eyes Closed Test: Take 3 putts from the same location at the same target. Next try the putt three more times only with your eyes closed this time. Were the second three balls close to the first three? If so then you have good tempo, balance, and your backswing and follow through are coming through along the same line. If you are off on your second three, you may be naturally taking your backswing along an arced path instead of straight back.

Fringe Putting: I think one of the most over-looked putts is the fringe putt. Putting from the fringe or just outside the green is definitely different than putting on the actual green surface. More often than not putts are not hit with enough force and end up getting bogged down in the longer fringe grass. Practice putting from the fringe the next time you practice.

On-Course Exercise

To practice a square clubface position, imagine the palm of the right hand is like the face of your putter. Find a tennis racquet and hold it in your right hand as if it were a putter.  Place your left hand on your shoulder to remind yourself  to rock the shoulders and make practice strokes. Concentrate on keeping the face of the racquet and your palm square to the hole throughout the stroke.  Notice how the angle in the right wrist almost increases in attempt to keep the clubface square.  Hit putts with your right hand only to help create clubface awareness.  When you place both hands on the putter, you will have a better sense of the path and clubface position.

Off-Course Exercise

Complete the Pre-Swing Muscle and Joint Warm Up chapter from the Cardiogolf DVD.  To order your own copy of Cardiogolf visit cardiogolf .

Send me your questions and comments to KPJ@swingbladegolf.com