With a simple short game program, you can probably lower your scores quickly.
Getty Images
When it comes to improving your scores, the short game can be the main difference. If you have consistent success, you’re probably happy with your scorecard. But if you struggle, you probably leave the round disappointed by leaving a few (cable) shots out there.
What makes the short game so tricky is the abundance of shot types and club selection, as it can take some skill to build up the confidence and hit the shots you want.
So how can a novice player do this? By building the right basics to make a plan for any type of shot on the green.
True Spec Fitting
With over 50,000 clubhead and shaft combinations, True Spec Golf will custom fit and hand build you the most finely crafted, most accurate set of golf clubs you’ve ever played.
Book Now
10 ways to create a great short game plan
Knowing the right questions to ask yourself in order to make the best decision and increase your percentage to go up and down is clutch, so I suggest you follow these 10 tips to build your rock solid short game plan.
1. Know the difference between a chip and a pitch
Golf terms can be very confusing, and this is one of the more obscure definitions. A chip is a short game stroke where the ball will roll more than it holds. A pitch is a short game swing where the ball carries more than a roll. Both the setup and the swing movement are different from each other as well.
2. Putt, chip, pitch
Using this decision-making “formula” can help you save strokes in the short game, as the least dangerous shot with the least margin of error is always the best choice. The smaller the stroke, the less chance of error.
3. Put more
There are many places where you can consider placing. For example, if you putt too far away from the green, you it should be willing to take a big enough backstroke to reach your goal. You can too. the putt is from rough terrain just off the green, but you have to be willing to lean in and tilt your shoulders toward the target.
If you can excel at long putts and putts that are off the green, this will help reduce the need to chip or pitch.
4. Determine the type of shooting
Once you’ve mastered the putt, you need to decide if you can chip or if you should putt. If you have more room to roll, you should always choose to chip (as it is less risky). So study the situation and see what hazards you might need to bear – such as long grass or bunkers – to make your choice.
5. Chipping basics and club selection
If you’ve made the decision to chip, choose the best club option for close shots, then use your normal setup and swing motion to control distance.
Hold down the handle, reduce your stance, move the ball position to bring it slightly back into place, and lean toward the target. Next, make a stroke like laying small in size and brush the grass.
6. Basics and choosing a club
When you hit a pitch shot, it means you need to go up and over something (like a bunker or long grass), so your club choice and setup are both very important.
The clubs you can use to shoot your lob wedge, sand wedge, and gap wedge. All three have a high level of loft and bounce, which will help lift the ball into the air.
Position the club properly on the bounce in the setup, making sure the face is square or slightly open. Be sure to minimize any shaft lean – as this can cause the club to dig instead of dive.
7. Throwing – The size of the swing controls the distance
When hitting a pitch shot, you need to use the size of the swing to control the distance. Smaller swings are naturally slower and produce shorter distances, while larger swings are naturally faster, causing the ball to move forward.
8. Throwing – Your setup can help control swing size and distance
Some golfers don’t like to take small swings as they can be difficult to manage, so using your setup to control your swing size is a great way to control distance.
Simply hold the club down and reduce your stance, which helps limit leverage and flexibility to create a shorter backswing.
9. Hitting – The club must hit the ground
For a successful swing, you need to make sure your club hits the ground – which includes the top of the club. Avoid any tendency to lift or try to help the ball in the air, as this can cause it to go too low and (almost) too far.
I always suggest that I practice to feel the club “hit” the ground.
10. Consider the chart
Understanding your individual shot distances while using different clubs will help you become a short game guru. For this reason, try to plan your short game by writing down the distances from various places around the green. By taking the time to do this, I almost guarantee that your scores will drop quickly.
Short Game Gains Signature Stainless Steel Mirror Stand
$89.99
Your golf practice has become more effective! The Signature Stainless Steel Putting Mirror is made of high-strength stainless steel and gives you perfect image clarity (no weird distortion!) when looking down at the ball. It has a built-in ruler for measuring position and setting, and the ruler doubles as a mirror to guide the shoulder when you flip it over. Genius! It has two sides. and comes with adhesive silicone protection strips to keep your putter from scratching without affecting ball roll. With spaces at key points to make your tee gates, you can work on setup, route, line of sight, starting line, and more in one station. Indoor Practice? No problem. Use the installed marbles for the first line work in the off-season.
buy now
View Product
Source link
