The REAL Difference Between Practice and Play for Golf Success GOLFTEC

⛳ Practicing on par 3 holes is essential preparation for the upcoming Grass League, which is a par 3 challenge event.

🌬️ Wind conditions play a significant role in shot selection and strategy, especially when preparing for courses like Goat Hill in Oceanside, California.

📏 Using a rangefinder or golf app helps ensure precise yardage on par 3s, as tee box markers and plaques only provide general distances.

🏌️‍♀️ Both players are working on swing changes with their coaches at Golf Tech to improve their game before the tournament.

🧠 Adjusting for elevation is crucial, as shots can travel 10-15 yards farther than usual in higher altitudes like Colorado.

🤝 Practicing scramble format is important since that's the format for their Grass League competition.

🪁 Factoring in wind direction and strength is key to aiming and club selection on every shot.

🔧 Specific short game techniques, like bump and run and flop shots, are practiced to handle different grass types and green conditions.

🧼 Keeping club grooves clean is emphasized for better control, especially on specialty shots like flop shots.

🎯 The players focus on learning from each shot and using practice facilities to refine skills they haven't mastered yet.

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00:00:00 - Hello. Hey, I'm Mariah. I'm Sedona. We're out here at Family Sports Complex just outside of Denver. Actually, the weather is amazing. We're not in Arizona anymore. Thank God. We're mixing up our practice today. There are a lot of par 3es on this course and that's what we're practicing on because we're getting ready for the grass league. Woo! A grass league is just a par three challenge. We're playing 36 holes over two days. It's um all parses. It's over at Goat

00:00:29 - Hill. Wind is going to have a big effect on how we play over in Oceanside, California. So, thankfully, we've got a little bit of wind to play with today. We're going to challenge oursel on these three par 3es. And we are also working on some swing changes, too. Yeah. So, what are you working on, Senna? I'm working on coming more on the inside and swinging out to right field. Just trying to switch up my swing path at the moment cuz I'm so used to coming over the top. So, my coach has been on me.

00:00:57 - But thanks to our people at Golf Tech, we're going to get dialed and ready to go for Grass League. I'm so happy that I did. Yeah, I'm working on a lot of things too with my coach at Golf Tech. But I'm going to show you when I'm standing over the ball. So, let's get to it. This is our first hole for this three-hole challenge. This yardage is 103. And normally, I would look at the the map of the green um on my Golf Tech app to make sure I know exactly where to

00:01:21 - hit it because it's not smart on pars to go straight for the pen. But, uh, today we're still kind of warming up, so I'm going to play it safe here and just hit over the bunker. Kind of in line with the pin. Actually, it looks like it's pretty pretty safe that way. The wind is going to play it longer. It's coming into into me. Obviously,

00:01:43 - I think the wind got that one a bit more. It's actually coming across this way now. H, that's exactly what I said. I had to really pay attention to the wind out here, and that's what we're practicing. So, all right. said, "I'm just off the side." All right. So, my shot definitely was taken by the wind. It's coming across to the left here. So, you'll want to aim more to the right on yours. Um, we're playing scramble. That's how it's going to be in the grass league for us. So, um, might as well

00:02:08 - practice that, right? Yeah, absolutely. Sorry, I got to stretch really quick. I need to warm up. No, even I really should have. I definitely was not the best shot. Yeah. I don't know how you just swung like I can I got to warm up. Also, like I would rather have a closer putt. So, if you would just take your time, do what you do. Let's say a little prayer and open up the wrist a little bit. All right. I'm pulling out my G wedge right now. We're also in elevation, so

00:02:35 - we need to take that into account. Probably like 10, 12, 15 yards further than usual. Yeah, you can swing easy at it for sure. This is my 100 club or 105 to the pin, right? Yeah. 103 specifically, but I'll go nice and light on my swing anyways cuz it's literally first shot of the day. So, it's probably going to play 105 100 round there. Okay, let's do this. Hopefully, I can carry this bunker with this wind right now.

00:03:08 - Oh, we're going left. Oh no. So, we are putting. We got a long putt ahead of us, but we are putting so put us on I go to the left side. Sad. Sad. But first, though, you know, we're not even warm yet, so we're figuring it. Can't blame us. All right. So, definitely a lag putt here. I was just trying to make par and get out of here. We've got um well, we're in Colorado, but there's no like huge mountain ranges very close, so I don't have to worry too much about

00:03:36 - that thankfully. Um and Goat Hill where we're practicing for, they definitely have hills everywhere. So, I had to pay attention to like the overall break of the hill as well as the break of the putt. 44 ft. All right. Love that. We didn't roll any putts before this, but Family Sports Center is awesome. And the greens are in amazing shape. So, I feel pretty confident about this uh this roll. We just want to make sure we get it kind of within this this easy tap in position.

00:04:02 - You got it. You want to go first or you want me to go first? I don't mind. I can go first. Okay. I'm have no idea honestly on pace for this one. So 40 ft a little bit uphill. Ooh. Be good. Be good. Go, go, go, go, go, go. Love it. We're at the par, so let's go ahead. Just put it in now. There we go. No question. These grains are rolling. Nice.

00:04:30 - Love it. Oh, it hit something. Oh, no. Oh, hey, you know what? Not bad. An easy par to start with. cuz I think we can birdie the next one. Good. Yeah, we got a par. Good roll. Nice fire team. Okay, moving. This is hole three at the family sports center, but our hole two cuz we started we're trying to get these par threes in and get this practice down. We're going to be playing reds for today. It's kind of aligned with what we're seeing at Gohill and those yardages that which is what we're

00:04:58 - preparing for. Said I think we're I think we're going to get a bird on this one. I hope so. That'd be that'd be great. But yeah, 146. I'm just gonna hit my seven and hope for the best. So, we can carry 130. Yeah, for sure. It's a big green, but we're obviously with the wind, so we say it's 145. Carry it like 140ish. Mhm. Definitely clubbing up a bit on this one. It's always good to get the exact number with a rangefinder or your golf tech. So, make sure you're dialed

00:05:28 - in on par threes because the number that was on that plaque and on the scorecards, that's a general location. But notice how big this debox is. like the the teeth box markers are not going to be in that same spot all the time, but that plaque obviously is. So, it's just a general number for this area, but when you're in par three situations like this, you want to have a number that's more specific. Um, so that way you obviously are you can make it in the hole, right? That's what we want to do

00:05:52 - ultimately. So, good call, Sedona, getting that rangefinder out. I got us. She got us.

00:06:02 - Oh, I tried to aim right. Well, the win I went down on her, too. All right. Not bad. Not bad. Mariah's gonna put us on. She's the I'm the underdog on this team. No, you're not. Okay. So, one thing I'm working on with my coach to help with that descent angle to get it a little higher in the air and more soliding power is I'm trying to stay a little bit more um behind it and elevated. My issue is I kind of fall back sometimes or I'll come pretty steep at it and then I deloft the club. So,

00:06:34 - I'm really working on this position here. Getting set hips forward and then actually powering using the legs, my legs and the ground. You got this, queen. All right, I got it. Bang. Oh, no. Like that. That might be in the hole. Yeah. All right, that worked. My god, coach. Thank you, Arum. You're helping me out. We're on, baby. All right, we call a birdie hole. Birdie time you need to make a hole in one at Oceanside at Goatill Park. We're going to make a hole in one. We're speaking it

00:07:08 - now. Just like I called out that birdie on the um on the tea. Exactly. Uh we're going to call out a hole in one. Have you had a hole in one? Um when I was like Okay. How you feel for another? It's on the driving range. Oh, okay. Well, don't tell people that. on the drive. Even know I haven't had a hole. I don't know if that counts. Okay, so we both are going to get our first hole in one at at the grass league ocean side. I'm seeing though left a little bit. What are you feeling?

00:07:40 - Yeah, it definitely comes off this hill a hair. Okay, well, we know it's going to roll really well, especially that last cut like so smooth. Shout out Family Sport for keeping your greens in great shape. Okay, nice little I'm going to do right side of the cup. Keep it inside the cup though, I think. Okay. Right side. Yeah, you watch it. See? Yeah.

00:08:03 - That's right where I am. Okay. So, maybe right in there. Yeah. I adjusted last minute kind of thinking it was going to break more. Does not. Okay. You want to line this up and set me up for that. Let's see. Probably more inside huh? Yeah, more inside. That was the exact line I had. It doesn't doesn't break hardly at all. Okay. Okay, I'm just going to go straight for it. Yeah, straight for it. All right, it's time for me to step in.

00:08:38 - I need to do something here and help my team out.

00:08:46 - Just tap it in. [Music] Yes, that's it. Yes. Yes. Yes. Oh my gosh. Good job. I will hold my breath for a second. I'm not going to lie. It was good. Thank you. Look. Hey, this is hole five, but it's our third hole of our three-hole challenge. Now, this is 135 yards. Not quite as long as we'll need to practice, but also we like this distance, so we're sticking with it. Um wind is kind of helping us out here, too. Although it is coming across still. So gonna aim just slightly. Well, now it

00:09:23 - picked up, but I'm gonna be aiming more towards the right side here just so that way it has a chance if the wind does decide to carry it.

00:09:37 - Oh, really picked up now. I probably should club up, but I'm going to stick with this and just kind of muscle it.

00:09:47 - Oo. See, when I try to muscle, that's exactly what happens. I end up pulling it like this. It'll be That's fine. We just practiced that. I did. You're right. We practiced a little tough uh chip shot, but Sedona's going to get on the green, so we don't have to worry about it. It's 120 to the front the front of the green where the pin is. So, as long as I can carry this 120, if I'm going right at the pin, we're good. But if I stay on left side, we'll for sure be on the green.

00:10:19 - Okay, good. Yeah, that's what we want. Just a safe shot. I don't know if that made sense, but it does. Absolutely. I should have thought that through and then I wouldn't have tried to really muscle the shot. So, you're doing great. Thank you. Look at me being technical for one. You are. I love it. You're rubbing off on me. Yes. Get up there. Be good. Go, go, go. Well, I like that position better, though. Yeah, we can do a nice chip there. We needed to practice that, too.

00:10:50 - Exactly. We got some practicing for chipping set. Little up down. Very good. There we go. All right. So, after looking at them, this one seemed actually a little bit more doable. And we can talk through a little bump and run shot. What did you see when you looked at the pen from the other side? I just walked 42, but it's like 20ish of fringe. Yeah exactly. a little tricky one, but the fringe looks like it's really wellkept. At um at Goatill, it's a completely different

00:11:17 - grass called kuya grass, and it's not meant to like to be rolled over. The ball specifically gets caught up in that. They did that intentionally, but this here, it's pretty simple. So, I think I can actually kind of do still the bump and run over this. I have a pitching wedge. My goal is to kind of land it about here and let it kind of die down onto the green. And to set up for a little chip shot like that, I'm going to be over the ball like I would kind of like a a putting stance.

00:11:49 - And then I also am going to have the the heel a little bit higher. So the toes more in the ground there. I'm going to have my feet closer together. So way different than the soft shot we just talked about. And I'm going to make sure my weight's still in my lead foot. My shoulders are square or parallel to the target line here and parallel to my club face. And then for this one, it's literally locking my wrists. So, no wrist action this time, making sure I get through it

00:12:16 - and hit it confidently with the weight stay staying on my lead side here.

00:12:25 - I could go up a little higher. Higher would have been better probably. Can I use your club? Yeah, of course. So, yeah, I mean that that the speed was good there. It worked out well. But yeah, so don't I think like up here might be a little better. So then it falls more into the hole. Yes. Oh, stay up. Stay up. Oh, man. That not bad though. Like look, believe it or not, we can make these putts. Yeah, it obviously funnels to that one spot. All right. Okay. Let me get my putters. [Music]

00:13:00 - There we go. All right. Easy part. Moving on. So, we know we have to have the shot in the bag where it's uh, if you will, a flop shot where it's going to land next to the pen, not roll out too much. So, we're going to work on that a little bit today. Um, and I also just got new wedges, too. So, I'm going to use Yeah, as she's using my new tailor made. Why not, right? And they were just fit for me, but I think they'll work for you, too. What I love about these is it

00:13:24 - has the raw face. I've literally just got these and it's been I've played in the rain a little bit, but it's already starting to rust out. So, that's kind of fun, too. Yes. Um, it is a 58. I would recommend at home if you're trying to do a flop shot like this, use your sand wedge or 60. I don't have a 60. I wasn't using it very much, so I'm just using my 58. I'll open it up still just like we would for setting up for a good flop shot. Um, but yeah, that's pretty much

00:13:48 - it. And make sure your grooves are clean. So, like if your clubs are dirty, get a tea or get a brush, scrub out those grooves because you'll want them for this shot. So, I've been I actually worked on this shot with my golf t coach recently um at the facility in Arizona we go to. So, we go outside, we practice different types of shots. So, I'll take like my 58, I'll take a pitching wedge. We even practice like around the green with a hybrid. So, it's really fun to

00:14:09 - try those different shots out on the course with my coach to guide me through it. So, now I'm coaching you. But, um, from what I remember from my golf head coach, so yeah, our face is open, feet flared. Now, I'm just going to make sure my weight's forward here. Hence the wrist. Finish high. Beautiful. That's not quite a flop shot for those at home that are like that. That was great. Those are going to go me. I'm still working on this flop shot. Of course, I just lectured Sedona on it,

00:14:35 - but um from what I learned from my coach, but that's technically not a flop shot. It did work, but notice how far it rolled out. Like it almost went in. Yeah. But so so far, keep in mind this is Mariah's club. Never flop it. If I flopped it, it was unintentional and just happened. I I believe in you. I think you can. Okay. So, I'm going to start forward. Open my face up. wrists forward. Arms forward. Um, no. Wrists actually don't go forward on this one. Oh. Um, just my weight.

00:15:06 - Yeah, you can have your weight forward on it. It's I'm gonna go like this and kind of scoop it. Yeah. Yeah. Break the wrist and just swing like normal. And it looks like I'm aiming really left with my feet, but that's intentional. Intentional. Yeah, definitely. Open stance. Yes. Look at that. I know a little long, but still like you got it in the air. It's rolling out. And now to keep up with pace of play, we're going to move on to the next hole. Even though we both

00:15:32 - really want to make sure we get that flop shot dialed in. So, we're going to practice that afterwards. It's hard to walk away from something that you don't do really well the first time, but um that's why we can use uh the practice facility here afterwards and get some more repetition.

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