What is your C game? Recently while listening to Jon Sherman talk about managing expectations. He pointed out that most of the time on the course you have your B game or at worst your C game, and you have to adjust to make the best of it.
So what does that look like?
It’s 10 out of 10 golf. Its shots you can hit every time with a good result. It’s efficiently moving the ball closer to the hole.
All too often we spend all our time practicing the perfect move or the sick flop shot when we should just be grinding on contact, aim, and keeping the ball on the ground.
The Drive:
On the range play a game of fairway finder. For every drive that would hit a fairway and was the shot shape you intended, you get 2 points. For every missed fairway or missed shot shape you lose 5 points. How many shots does it take you to get to 10?
The approach:
For approach shots if you have been collecting data work on the yardage you suck at, if not you can pick anything between 100 and 150 yards, because these are the most common distances you will face on the course.
The game here is the target. Pick a yardage and a target. The scoring is the same as the fairway game, 2 points for a hit -5 points for a miss or a hit with the wrong shot shape. How many shots do you need to get to 10?
The pitch:
These are just your 30 to 50 yard shots. Pick a target and judge your score on hitting the target and the flight you wanted, ie a low flighted 50 yard shot or a high flighted 30 yard shot. Whatever you feel more confident in to score well. 2 points for a hit -5 points for a miss
The chip:
This is simple, practice 50 percent of the time on low running shots. Work with your putter, hybrid/fairway wood or irons that let you get the ball on the green and roll to the target. The rest of your time work on getting over something like a trap and hitting the green.
The sand shot:
Simple, get out of the trap by any means necessary.
Five shots, five greens. Depending on the sand conditions and the height of the bunker lip this could be any club between a 60 degree wedge to a putter. This game is just 5 out of 5. Anything that does not get on the green – start over.
The putt:
This is simple too. 25 foot lag putt and 7 feet and in short putts. You get points for anything that drops in or is 10 percent of the distance from the cup, except 3 footers you just gotta make those.
The point of all this C game practice is to find the setup, shot shape, and club in each situation that you can lean on when your A game has left the building.
So next time when your A game is on vacation let your C game get you through the round
And as always may the fairways be with you!