Golf is a game played on the ground! The further in the air that you have to hit a ball-the more room for error there is.
There are two methods to the short game. One is a chip; a motion without lever. The other is a pitch; a single levered swing (an immediate hinge of the wrists on your takeaway). A chip will have less loft and more roll. A pitch flies higher and stops more quickly. Always determine which method you are hitting before executing the shot itself.
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Fig. 1 |
To set up for both methods: (see Fig #1).
- Open your stance (feet aiming 30° left of your target).
- Aim the club face at the hole.
- Have weight slightly forward in your stance (R/H players more on the left leg)
- Ball position inside right heel of stance.
There are TWO ABSOLUTES to both shots.
- Imagine that your arms create a TRIANGLE and swing your TRIANGLE without changing any position of hands or arms throughout the shot (see Fig 2 & 3).
- Finish with the clubface low (Fig 4)-allowing the face angle or loft of the club to strike the ball (DON’T try to lift the ball) and allowing the clubFACE to hit the ball in the air.
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Fig 2 | Fig 3 | Fig 4 |
Always get the ball rolling as fast as possible. Practice chipping with all your clubs form a 5 iron to a sand wedge. Therefore with one swing you will have 8 different distances. If you always use one club; you will need 8 swings for 8 distances! And practice. Spend at least half of the time you devote to practicing and on your short game and your scores will come down. I guarantee it.