Smeal’s Coaching Tips

HOW’S YOUR SHORT GAME STACK UP AGAINST YOUR COMPETITION?

First off, who is your competition? If you want to be the best I would recommend first studying the players you want to compete against in the future, like PGA and LPGA Tour players. Their short games are amazing, some much better than others, but all are pretty good to be playing at that level. Well how did they get there?

WORK ETHIC - At some point you have to realize if you want to be great at something you have to put in the work. I used to drive 35 minutes from Poway to Singing Hills GC to work on my short game. Those sessions would usually start at 7am and would go til after 1pm on weekends. That was strictly working on pitching and chipping. I recommend adding as much short game practice to your schedule as you can fit in each week. After some time you will see a huge change in your game. Practice the technique of all the shots you will face in competition and end each session with some kind of competition either with yourself or other players. You have to test what you have been working on to see if it is ready for competition. Then you have to take it onto the course and succeed out there, outside of a competition. Then you take it to the competition. When you start to hit the shots you like and see some success that will lead to a higher level of confidence and trust in your abilities. You can do it!

KNOWLEDGE - Work with your coach or short game specialist on improving all areas of your short game. It is also great to watch PGA and LPGA Tour events and watch the shots the players hit and how they do it. You can also view short game shots on You Tube and study their technique. You need all the shots. You need to know how to chip with every club in your bag. I tell all my students to spend some time (especially youth) to learn how to chip with every club in your bag. You want to know how they all work so you are ready for whatever challenge faces you. I have chipped with a 4 iron in competition!

Understand Short Game Stat

TRACKING - There are a ton of different apps you can use or you can chart your own results. You want to have a detailed picture of your short game in competition for yourself and to also share with your coach. Here is a link to all the stats the PGA Tour tracks for players: https://www.pgatour.com/stats/ around-green

Create your own stats and elevate your game this spring!

PAR 3 COURSES: We know you are elite! Well maybe, but please never quit playing short courses. I grew up at Oaks North, an executive course in Rancho Bernardo with a par of 60. Several great players grew up at this course over the years and many are on the PGA and LPGA Tour now, from Charley Hoffman to Becky Lucidi and tons of Division 1 players. Short courses give you a chance to really work on your short game and scoring.

I hope this helps get you inspired to work more on your short game this spring!

Chris Smeal, PGA Founder of Future Champions Golf

Chris teaches at Stadium Golf Center and Smeal Short Game Course www.chrissmeal.com chrissmeal@gmail.com

CREATE YOUR OWN STATS AND ELEVATE YOUR GAME THIS SPRING!