Walking Tall In Your Short Game

Many golf enthusiasts know how to start with powerful, straight, long ranging shots that are beautiful to behold. However, if their short game is lacking, it doesn't matter how powerful, straight, or long that initial shot is. They will quickly rack up points on their score cards that annihilate the gains they could have made from the beginning. Here are a few tips to help you improve that all-important short game.

Tip 1: Strategy.

Most trouble begins at 50 yards or less. Choosing the right strategy is crucial at this point. When you're at this point of the game, if you can find a way to putt the ball, then putt it. But if there isn't a remote chance for a putt, then chipping is the next strategy. But only if you can't possibly putt.

The clubs to use are
(1) 7-iron,
(2) pitching wedge, and
(3) sand wedge.

You want to make the ball roll to the hole. The 7-iron rolls the ball better then the pitching wedge. The pitching wedge rolls better then the sand wedge. The lie of the ball will determine your choice of club.

The higher the grass and rougher the terrain, the heavier the club head. The last choice at the 50 yard distance is a pitch shot. This is a regular golf shot, but it has a shorter adjusted backswing to make allowances for the shorter distance.

Tip 2: Alignment.

The alignment will keep you from injury and increase your accuracy. Your feet and club are about three feet away from each other. The alignment of your club and shoulder is more important than your feet. So focus regularly on aligning your shoulders and the club.

Tip 3: Fat shots.

"Fat shots" are when the club hits the ground before hitting the ball. It's a common problem and it can lead to injury. Shifting weight correctly is crucial as well as keeping your shoulder back on the downswing. The tendency is to throw the right shoulder ahead as you swing downward. Then accelerate through the ball. Slowing down at the bottom of your swing will hit fat without fail.

Tip 4: Choosing a chipping club.

Almost any club can be used to chip, but to get the ball rolling onto the green you need to be accurate. Here is a formula to choose the right club for the shot.

Pitching Wedge - for every foot in the air it will roll approximately 1 foot.
9 Iron - for every foot in the air it will roll approximately 2 feet.
8 Iron - for every foot in the air it will roll approximately 3 feet.
7 Iron - for every foot in the air it will roll approximately 4 feet.
... etc.

Tip 5: Pitch distance control.

The length of the swing of you pitch shot will decide it's distance. The longer backswing makes longer pitches and shorter backswing make shorter pitches. Be careful to have a short backswing for a short pitch, otherwise a longer backswing will cause you to lose speed on the downswing.

The short game is the area where practice, practice, practice makes perfect. If you only master a few elements of the short game, those elements will take you from just so-so to breaking through that score ceiling you've been caught in. Having the confidence in your short game will help you to enjoy your time on the green more than you thought possible.

Gauging the Trap Shot

One of the questions I hear all the time is "How hard should I hit this trap shot?" The way I answer is this: "If you were going to toss the ball underhand up to the pin from that spot, how hard would you throw it? Try to picture that, and then swing through with the club just as hard as you would swing through with your hand if you were tossing the ball."

This analog holds no matter what part of a trap you are in. For example, if you were going to throw the ball from under the lip of a deep trap, you would throw more "up" and less "out." To achieve this trajectory with your golf club, you hit the sand three or four inches behind the ball, remembering to follow through with your stroke.

On the other hand, if you were at the back edge of the trap, you would toss the ball in a trajectory that would be less "up" but a good distance "out." In this case, play the ball with an open stance, and strike the ball first and the sand second, using very little wrist action. If you remember this adjustment and still swing as hard as you would toss the ball from that position, the ball will have the right amount of carry.

The Fundamental Explosion Shot

It doesn't happen very often but every now and then you hear reports that this or that professional purposely played his approach shot to a treacherous green into a greenside trap--in order to be certain of getting down in two shots. I mention this not because it is a strategy I would recommend, but it does serve to emphasize how confident most pros feel about trap shots.

For the average golfer, on the other hand, this is the shot he fears most of all. He plays it with a wavering mind and trembling hand. He muffs it, and so it remains the shot he fears the most.

When you are exploding from loose sand, you must play a very firm stroke with a purposeful follow-through. Your wedge should enter the sand about an inch behind the ball. It should drive through the sand in a straight furrow some six inches long. Or to put it another way, the club head continues to plow through the sand for five inches or so past the spot where the ball lay.

If you stay down over the shot and concentrate on plowing a straight furrow, I can assure you that you will soon be on your way to becoming a confident trap player.

Time for some Tee?

The position of your head during the swing should not be overlooked. If you raise your head as you swing back, you likely will raise your shoulders too, and that will put your swing out of whack. And if you raise your head as you swing down and through, you'll likely top the ball.

Here's how you can test to make sure your head stays on track. Place a tee (longest one possible) in your mouth just before you address your ball on the practice range. Take your stance with the pointed end of the tee pointing directly at the ball (or,rather, the target line). Swing back, then stop at the top of your backswing.

The tee should still be pointing at the target line. Now swing down and through, but stop your swing just before your wrists break. If the tee is still pointing at the target line, your head rotation is excellent. If not, then try moving your head back and forth-no club is necessary for this exercise-while keeping the tee pointing at the target line. This is the head position you want when you make your swing.