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Coaching Tip 4 from PGA Pro Phil Weyman
 I have noticed over recent years that many club golfers have become obsessed with how far they can drive the golf ball. With the advancement in equipment and the golf ball, as well as the lengthening of many golf courses, it is easy to see why but let us look at this in more depth.
How many times do you hit the driver in a round of golf? On an average golf course with 4 par 3s, 4 par 5s and 10 par 4s, you will probably only hit the driver around 70 to 75 percent on tee shots during the round. If you don’t hit the ball enormous distances, you probably won’t hit the long par 4s in 2 shots, and because you will not hit all the greens in regulation during your round of golf, where is the largest percentage of shots going to be played?
You’ve guessed it, around the greens!
Over the years, I and many other professional golfers are confused as to why the club golfer spends 95% of their practice time hitting golf balls and very little time, if any, practicing their chipping, pitching and bunker shots.
The short game to all tour players is the most important area of their game, even after the many hours they spend working on their long game, they still can’t guarantee that they will strike the ball perfectly and hit every green in regulation during their round of golf, so it is important for them to keep their short games sharp so as they can save and not waste shots on and around the greens.
So why not spend that little bit of extra time working on your short game, most clubs have a small practice chipping area of some sought so why not have a lesson from your club professional and work on your short game, once your technique is honed, and you are confident of getting up and down in a chip and putt from around the greens you will be surprised how this can build confidence into your long game as well.
I recently took a friend of mine to Portugal for a few days tuition, where we worked on his short game and on his return, fellow golfers were amazed how much his short game had improved and how it had made a difference to his scoring.
So instead of spending all your practice time hitting drivers and irons, do a little short game practice and eventually you will benefit from lower scores. After all is this not what we are looking for?
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