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Golf Short Game
The short game or the feel shots around the green and
putting tend to be the most difficult to regain sharpness after a long
winter or layoff from golf.
I feel that this is the first area to attack when you start to
practice.
The advantages of building your game back up from the hole and working
backwards is countless. The obvious high percentages of shots, some 60
percent that are taken within 100 yards during a round of golf are not
the only reason. The short game or the less that full shots can help
the not only the mechanics but the rhythm and tempo of your full
swing.
When I am teaching short game, the most prevalent errors often come in
the decision- making process instead of the execution of the shot
itself. The decision process is comprised of what type of shot to hit
(high or low), what club to use, and how to set up to achieve this.
This installment is what I feel is important in the short game as you
start to get ready for the golfing season.
Making sound decisions
Visualize: Can you see the proper shot for the current situation?
Jack Nicklaus called this technique "going to the movies". He never
hit a shot that he didn't see in his mind first. This is very
important in starting phase 2.
Recognize: Club selection for the shot at hand. A higher shot such as
a lob or pitch would need a more lofted club than a chip and run,
which would need less loft.
Execute: How set-up and ball position in your stance have to match the
shot your trying to play.
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Low shot: Position your sternum in front of the ball (weight shifts to
the front of stance, about 80 percent). Ball is placed even with your
rear foot.
High shot: Position sternum even or slightly behind the ball (weight
only 60 percent to front of stance).
When making your decisions on what shot to play, always play the
lowest shot possible with the highest percentage of success. Never
play a shot that you haven't practiced just because you saw a tour
player do it on TV. Putt, Chip, Pitch, and then Lob in that order to
higher rates of success.
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The mechanics
Solid Contact on the middle of the clubface is paramount to being
great with your wedges and around the greens. Without a solid impact
condition, direction and distance control is not achievable.
Understanding impact is knowing that the handle of the golf club stays
in front of the clubface as you strike the ball, never behind. This is
the most common mistake players, a lead wrist that is bent and a shaft
that leans away from the target.
After you have achieved a proper impact condition and solid contact,
swing length controls the distance of the shot. I like to see the
short shots be symmetrical in length. This means the backswing length
matches the forward swing.
Think of a clock face. If your arms swing to nine o'clock in the
backswing, stop at 3 o'clock on the forward swing. This is on a basic
chip or pitch, specialty shots are the exception. Always keep it
simple, nothing fancy.
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