Punch shots

How to Practice Punch Shots Under Pressure

Pressure drills that make punch shots hold up when the match, card, or carry matters.

How to Practice Punch Shots Under Pressure illustration

Add a consequence

Pressure practice for punch shots should make your hands feel a little different. Give yourself one ball, one target, and a score. If the shot would cost you on the course, it should cost you in the drill.

Putting the feel on record

FocusGolf fits punch-shot practice because the swing you want is usually quieter, not harder. With automatic swing detection on a Wear OS, Apple Watch, or Garmin watch, you can compare tempo, swing speed, and consistency from your lower-flight swings. The mobile app history helps you remember the compact motion that produced the useful shot.

Try the up-and-down test

Drop five balls in five different awkward spots. Play each one out. Give yourself two points for an up-and-down, one for a safe bogey position, and zero for staying in trouble. Track the score for a month.

Breathe, pick, swing

Under pressure, simplify the routine: breathe, pick the landing spot, make the swing. The less you negotiate over the ball, the more your practiced motion has a chance to show up.