SHORT GAME:

 

   Great place to make up for a " not so good" iron shot.There are a few ways to hit a pitch or chip shot.One thing I notice on some golfers who love to buy "equipment" these golfers are the ones that buy that expensive "lobwedge" & are determined to use it.

   This club, is one that in my opinion is a club you only use when you have to throw it up high & land it soft in a short distance.The reason why, would be because you have to get over something quick & don't have much green to work with. Really shouldn't bring this club out, but a few time a season.Most golfers who get stubborn with this club, usually pay the price by quite a few strokes for that round.

 

 

    Try this thought for a round or two & see how it works for you.

    Approach the visual on a short chip or pitch this way:What club will get me on the green & roll to the hole.Meaning get the ball on the green as quick as possible & roll to the hole.Lets not try to chip the ball the whole way to the hole, if there is plenty of green, between you and the hole.

     I see alot of "weekend hackers",when they have - 30 to 50 feet of green to play, triing to fly the ball most of the way to the hole.Try picking the correct club that will get the ball on the green quick & roll the majority of the distance.I think this in itself will save strokes oof your game.

     There is a few benefits to this pratice: a "fly to the hole" will require more swing, which will increase chance of the "chunk" shot.This is a "high risk" shot when it is not really needed.

     Visualize the club that will land early & roll to the hole.Chances are whatever your first club thought is, that is the club to go with.Whatever swing decision you make,stick to that swing & execute it.I see too many times, "weekend hackers" change their thoughts in the middle on the swing.This typ. results in not what you had visulalized.If you excecute the swing you visualized & even if it wasn't the correct visual, that is ok.

     What have now done is added a shot to your bag for that visual.This, you will call upon another day.When you constantly change your mind,(in mid swing) on these shots, you will never have the ability to add these shots to your game.After a while you will have added  quite a few shorts shots to your game.

     Typ. mistake I notice with golfers short game:

Golfers who have a weak short game, one of the main problems I noticed, is that they take this long  (not needed) back swing & then "decel" on the down swing.Which typ, will chunk the shot.

     The back swing on a chip shot & even a pitch shot should typ. be compact & you excel thru the forward swing.Never decel any swing in the game of golf,including putting.

 

   More short game thoughts:

 

This part of the game is a personality thing.
A couple of basics are probably a solid foundation
to start with.
1.For short chip, feet close together, 75% of your
weight should be on your left side (right handed golfer).
2.Hand always ahead of the club & hold that form through
the short swing.
3.Never decel your swing and always execute the swing you
had in mind,even if it is the wrong the decision.
Don't change your mind on the back swing.I never see good
come from that.
4.Never peek.Never peek. Never peek, & never peek.
5.Don't let your wrist break at impact (chicken wing).
This typ. will result in a scull shot, nice and low, typ.
well pass your target.
6.Alot of golfers have problems on high level courses, when
they are in front of the green, 5-yds or so off.Reason for
this is, typ. the fairway is only a little longer than the
green and the golfer is concerned about getting the ball up
in the air.
  They much rather be on the first cut off the fairway, where
the ball might have a fluffier lie.
  This is where you have to just drop the club down on the
back of the ball, and you will probably take a very shallow
divot (shaved the grass).Don't try to help the ball in the air.
  This is probably one of the biggest, if not the biggest
challenge for their short game that day.Remember, you can
always putt the ball in these cases.Be open minded as you
walk up to your ball.Let your imagination tell you.
What is the visual you see first? Chances are, that is what
you should execute.
  Remember you don't need much of a back swing in these types
of shots.Too many times I see this half back swing & then the
decelerated down swing.Sometimes it works out but 90% does not.
  If you have time, sure hit a couple of tee shots at the
driving range and irons.But I would say to practice your short
game and putting."weekend hackers" on an average, hit only 50%
of the greens in a given 18 hole round of golf.
  The better score will typ. come from the golfer with the better
short game, everything else being pretty much equal.