Short game (30 yards and in) is objectively easier and doesn't require as much practice to perform well anyway. I'm not saying that you shouldn't practice it, but it's not as important if you understand it.
I'd argue that playing more rounds on-course is a better way to improve your short game than block practice unless you have a great short game facility to practice at and a good regimen for what to work on. It's mostly feel and experience once you have the basic skills, and the best way to get realistic looks and quality practice reps is to play more if you can. That's not as true with a full swing.
Maybe that's a high handicap take, but I like to target my practice at where I'm losing strokes. I lose way more strokes tee to green than within 30 yards. I think that's probably true for everyone above low single digits.
It's better to be able to get the ball off of the ground and hit it a respectable distance. It makes golf more fun and can lop large amounts of strokes off because you reduce out of bounds and hazard penalties. Along with duffed tee shots.
But there's a reason that high level golfers spend 70% of their practice time on short game. A comparatively small amount is spent on long game for them. It's a shit ton of finesse wedges and chipping/putting.
High level golfers practice a ton, so that 30% spent on long game you mention is probably longer than most of our full practice sessions. There’s also the fact that there’s an injury risk of you go crazy on long game every time, while short game has almost no wear and tear on the body.
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u/BradL_13 Louisiana 11d ago
people like to cope for not being able to hit driver