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Mastering the Art of Scrambling: The Secret Sauce to Lower Scores in Golf
By Brendon Elliott, PGA
Published on
When watching the best players in the world, it's easy to be mesmerized by their impressive ball-striking abilities. Yet, what truly sets these elite golfers apart is their remarkable skill in turning potential scoring setbacks into opportunities through the art of the scramble.
This often-overlooked aspect of golf is crucial, not only for those arduous rounds where nothing seems to go right but also when you're playing well and need to save par after a missed fairway or green.
At the core of lowering your scores is the ability to recover from less-than-ideal shots. Becoming a proficient scrambler involves a mix of technical skill, creativity, and mental fortitude—qualities every golfer can develop and refine.
Tips for Enhancing Your Scrambling Ability
1. Develop a Sharp Short Game
The short game is where scrambling truly shines. Spend considerable time honing your chipping and pitching skills. Focus on controlling trajectory and spin. Becoming adept at varied shots around the green gives you multiple options when faced with different lies and surfaces.
2. Improve Your Bunker Play
A smooth, confident bunker game is a crucial part of scrambling. Work on maintaining a steady rhythm and learning to use the bounce of your sand wedge effectively. Practice different distances and lies in the sand, ensuring you can get out and close to the pin in just one shot.
3. Practice Different Shot Scenarios
Replicate potential course challenges during your practice sessions. Hit shots from rough, uneven lies, behind trees, or close to the green with the ball nestled deep in grass. Familiarity breeds confidence, allowing you to approach these situations without hesitation in real rounds.
4. Master the Art of Putting from the Fringe
Often, getting onto the green isn't the end of the struggle. Practice putting from the fringe to improve your touch and confidence. Focus on speed control and alignment to convert what could be challenging two-putts into easy tap-ins.
5. Cultivate a Strong Mental Game
Scrambling success isn't all about technique—it's vastly mental. Embrace challenges and maintain composure under pressure. Turning potential disasters into pars (or better) requires resilience and strategic thinking.
A Scrambling Drill to Elevate Your Game
The 18-hole Short Game Par Course
Create an 18-hole short course around your practice green. Each hole should require a different type of short game shot: chip, pitch, bunker shot, etc. Set specific par scores for each "hole" and play a round. This fun and challenging drill enhances skill and simulates on-course pressure.
To kick it up a notch, do what I did as a kid growing up:
- Challenge a friend or two to compete with you in this challenge.
- Flip a tee to determine the initial order, then let the winner of each hole pick where you hit the next scramble shot from.
- Play for a quarter a hole, or have the loser buy snacks.
- Adults could, of course, play for the first round of adult beverages!
Scrambling is the unsung hero in golf—the pivotal factor distinguishing good players from great ones. By focusing on the tips and drills highlighted here, you can significantly enhance your ability to handle the inevitable challenges presented by the course. Remember, every golfer—even those at the peak of the sport—misses greens and fairways. The key is how they respond.
Master the art of scrambling, and you'll lower your scores and gain a new level of confidence every time you step onto the course.
