Golf is a very enjoyable game, with every shot having the same value. A 300m tee shot has the same value of a 1 inch putt. So, which area do we feel has the most importance?
This is debatable, but I believe that the short game is the “scoring” game. I have spoken about how I feel short game is important, but today, I am going to write about how to hit certain chip shots to help you score well.
Recently, I have given a few short game lessons where the most common mistake has been club selection and swing selection. When you are in-front of the green with a lot of green to work with, use a longer iron such as a 8 iron, 9 iron, PW. Narrow your stance where your feet are very close together. Make sure your stance is square to the target. Make sure when setting yourself up to the club, your club shaft and hands are set up in-front of the ball. Not Neutral or behind the ball.
The next part is very important. Stroke the club like you would a putt. The length of your backstroke determines the distance the ball will travel. On the way through having very little wrist on the way through keeping your hands and shaft in-front of the ball is important. Make sure your club head stays low through impact. You do not need to follow through high when playing this shot. Never let the club head hit the ball before your hands come through. This will cause a poor shot.
When you are in a position where you do not have much green to play with or a hazard to carry over, it is important to be able to use the correct club with the correct swing to get a high, soft landing shot so you can give yourself a chance at recording a positive score, rather than waste shots around the green.
To achieve this this shot, it is very important to open your stance and your club face. The more you open your club face, the more you need to open your stance. When gripping the club you need to hold the club with a soft grip. The tighter the grip pressure, the less chance you will have of achieving a high soft shot.
To play this shot, you need to have a more vertical backswing than normal, which is created with a wrist hinge on the backswing. The downward swing needs to be on a steeper angle keeping the club face open throughout impact. Your swing path should follow your stance line. The secret to this shot is the softness of the grip pressure and making sure you follow through hitting down into the ground rather than trying to scoop the ball up.
This shot should be played with either a SW or Lob Wedge.
Make sure you practice this shot, as it can really save you shots around the green.
