Golf is made up of many parts, but it seems that chipping and putting is neglected, yet I feel it is the most important part of the game.
Many people will argue that driving the ball straight is the most important part of the game. I will tell you I feel this is not right. Hitting the ball straight gives you an opportunity to hit the green, but if you miss the green, your short game will either make you or break you.
Being able to improve your scoring from around the green can be quite simple. Firstly, using the right club for the shot required is one part. I see too many golfers using the wrong club at the wrong time. I have spoken about what club to use and when before, but I am going to add another part to the puzzle. Your angle of attack at impact makes a great difference to the shot you are about to play.
If you use a club with lots of loft yet you attack the ball at a shallow angle, the ball will not be flighted as you might like. On the other hand, if you have a club with less loft and you try to create loft, you are more than likely to mishit the shot and not achieve the desired result. The best advice I can give you in this instance is this: if you need to hit the ball high, you a club with 56 degree of loft or more (SW or LW). If you want to keep the ball closer to the ground, use a club with 52 degrees of loft or less (GW, PW, 9 iron).
When using the less lofted club, swing the club as if you had a putter in your hands. Your swing is shallow and you are not trying to scoop the ball. When using a club to lob the ball, your aim is to hit down at a steep angle maintaining the loft of the club. Do not try to scoop the ball, allow the club to do the work.
I would like you to move around the chipping green and play different shots with different clubs. A great game to test yourself under pressure is this:
Take one ball, set yourself at a certain position with a certain club and try get the ball as close to the hole as possible. Once the ball is on the green, get your putter and try to putt the ball in the hole. Score how many shots you have had, including the chip. For example, if you have had one chip and holed the putt, your score is 2. Do this 18 times and try to change the location of the shot and the hole you are aiming for. Your par is 2. Score each hole and total up how many shots you have had. Do this again and again to see if you are improving or if you need further assistance.
This game will help reduce pressure on your short game for when you get on the course and also challenge you to improve your score every time you play this game.