Welcome to THE SCORING CLUBS Training Program

Glad you are here!

Watch this short video for an orientation to the course, what to expect, where to find things, and how to get started. In these next few videos we’ll cover a number of concepts, we’ll define some terms, we’ll talk about strategy, and we’ll look at practical applications when you play.
By the end of this module we’re going to accomplish these four things:
1. You’ll understand what we mean by scoring shots and why they are so critical for your scores;
2. You’ll understand why we’ll create two baseline swings, and what to look for when you do your calibration and repetition drills, so you’ll hit more consistent shots on the course;
3. You’ll know what your “favorite” wedge means, and how having a “go to” shot on the course will give you more options and boost your confidence;
4. You’ll understand how to think about all your scoring clubs more strategically, and how to make better use of scoring opportunities when you play.

Modules: The course is arranged in modules. Within each module you’ll find videos that explain core concepts, followed by specific drills designed to help you master the concepts. Master the concepts within each module one concept at a time, before moving on to the next module.

Cheat Sheets: You’ll notice that each video has a download associated with it. These are “Cheat Sheets” we made just for the video you will be watching. They are fill-in-the-blank worksheets you are supposed to download and print out before watching the video, and then fill out as you watch. You may want to put them into a binder for quick reference later on.

Quizzes: At the end of each module you will find a quiz. You’ll need to pass the quiz before moving on to the next module (hint: the Cheat Sheets will be very helpful for the quizzes).

Everything in the course has been planned and organized to fulfill a specific purpose: to benefit you. Studies show that the more ways you engage your brain during learning the deeper you will learn. That’s why you’ll see video, text, fill-in-the-blank worksheets, and quizzes. We’re engaging as many senses as possible. If we could figure out how to incorporate smell we’d use that too.

Let’s keep the primary goal in plain sight: The objective of this course is to lower your score by 2 to 6 or more shots per round. We’re going to do that by dialing in your wedge yardages.

We’ll dial in your wedge yardages by helping you develop a comfortable, repeatable swing that gives you a high degree of confidence. Then we’re going to show you the specific How To steps to accomplish that goal.

By the time you finish this course you’ll know the specific yardage for each of your wedges – from the lob wedge down to your pitching wedge and maybe even your 9-iron, depending on how far you hit your clubs – for both a full swing and a 3/4 swing.

You’ll also identify what we call your “favorite wedge” – that will be the one club, from one specific distance, with one swing, that you hit with the most consistency and accuracy. That will be your “go to” shot when you play and when you plan your strategy on each hole.

Now the reason I start with objectives and definitions is that I want to make sure that when I mention a term or idea, you’ll know what I mean, and we’ll be on the same page.

Take the term “wedge” for example. When I use the word “wedge” I’m going to be referring to ALL your wedges, from lob wedge to sand wedge to gap wedge to pitching wedge, and maybe even your 9-iron. Not just your pitching wedge.

Your wedges are what we call your “scoring” clubs, and the distance you hit them will be your scoring shot range.

Let’s define what we mean by scoring clubs and scoring range or distance.

We call them scoring clubs because with the wedge you can expect a fairly high degree of accuracy. You’ll be relatively close to the green, you’ll be using the shortest clubs in your bag, which gives you more control, and wedges produce a high degree of back spin, which helps the ball fly straighter.

A good drive on a lot of par-4’s, and a well-placed second shot on a par-5, will put you within scoring wedge distance of the green. Getting out of trouble or hitting a recovery shot can also put you in your scoring club range.

When you learn to hit your scoring wedges close to the pin, you’ll have shorter putts and the opportunity to post a good score on those holes. Even if you are a bogey golfer, getting yourself into position where you can hit a scoring wedge on your third shot on a par-4 or fourth shot on a par-5 will give you an excellent chance to make par.

That’s why we call them your scoring clubs. They give you a better chance to post a lower score.

Now, the Pros define their scoring range as the yardage between 75 to 125 yards from the pin. They even have a stats category to track performance within this yardage range. The reason we call it the scoring range, is that this covers the range of yardage a Pro would expect to hit all their wedges, from a 3/4 lob wedge to a full-swing pitching wedge.

We’ll cover the difference between 3/4 swings and full swings in a moment.

But for now let’s consider that your scoring range yardage is likely to be different than the Pros. Probably shorter. So here’s how we’re going to define YOUR scoring range:

• YOUR scoring range will be the range of yardage from however far you hit a 3/4 shot with your highest lofted club, like a lob wedge, to however far your hit a full-swing pitching wedge or 9-iron.
• YOUR scoring yardage may range from 55 to 105 yards. Or from 60 to 115. Or 40 to 90.
• You’ll know by the end of the course.

It doesn’t matter so much what the distance is. What matters is that you know the reality.

That’s important because it has some pretty significant implications for how you plan your course navigation strategy and your approach to each hole.

What I mean is this: We’re going to turn your scoring shots, and in particular your “favorite wedge” shot, into one of the strengths of your game. And when you play, you always want to put yourself into a position where you are playing from your strengths. That’s a basic course navigation philosophy.

Let me give you a specific example.

My favorite wedge shot is a 3/4 sand wedge from 78 yards. My dispersal pattern is so tight, and my consistency is so high, that I think about making that shot when I have that yardage.

Conversely, 55 yards is no-man’s land for me. It’s an uncomfortably short swing length, I can’t put enough spin on the ball to control my bounce, and it’s hard to get the right trajectory. I would much rather have a 78 yard shot than a 55 yard shot, even though it is closer.

Knowing that, I plan my shot strategy to avoid 55 yards as much as possible, and to get myself to 78 yards as often as possible.

That’s a very different and much more strategic way of thinking than the approach commonly used by most golfers – blast it as close to the green as possible and see what happens from there.

I think one of the reasons golfers adopt the “as close to the green as possible” strategy is that nobody’s shown them how to dial in their wedges, so they don’t really have an alternative strategy option. If you’re not very reliable with your wedges, and if you don’t have a “go to” shot, knocking it close as you can to the green is as good a strategy as any.

But what I know is that when I get myself to my favorite wedge distance, I shoot lower scores. You will too.

OK. Let’s summarize this video and then move on to the next concept video.

First, the objective is to lower your scores by dialing in your scoring club distances. Your scoring range will be the yardage between your 3/4 lob wedge distance and your full-swing pitching wedge distance. Knowing your exact yardages will help turn scoring shots into a strength of your game, and you always want to navigate your way around the golf course so you are playing from your areas of strength. By the end of the course you’ll determine your “favorite” wedge – the one club from one distance with one swing that is your most reliable, consistent, and accurate shot. This will become your “go to” shot, and you’ll try to get yourself in position on the course to hit that shot as often as possible. Once you know your wedge yardages, you’re going to want to work them into your strategy on the course as soon as possible.

When you’re ready, move on to the next video, where we’ll get more specific about the type of swing we’ll be developing.

ACTION STEPS

Step 1: Familiarize yourself with the course structure.

Step 2: Budget time to watch the videos. Decide how many videos you will watch each week. Print out and fill in the Cheat Sheets as you watch videos.

Step3: Head out to the range for some practice time. Put yourself into learning mode.

Step 4. Review both the videos again. You will find that they have a lot more meaning once you’ve tried them.

Step 5. Head back to the range for more drills.