How To Be A Master Pitch Player
By Foursome
The differences between a pitch shot and the chip shot can be summed up in 3 main points:
1) The amount of time the ball is airborne.
2) How high the ball is while in the air.
3) The amount of backspin on the ball.
The ball stays in the air longer because of the length of the swing used, flies higher because it is almost always played with a lofted club, and has more backspin on it because of the bigger swing and the angle of the swing.
That last bit – the backspin – gives you a fair measure of control over what your pitch shots will do once they have hit the ground.
When Exactly Should You Play A Pitch Shot?
The short and sweet answer to this question is simple: You should play the pitch shot whenever you cannot chip the ball. Let’s rephrase that – whenever you cannot effectively chip the ball.
There is a big difference there because you can always try to chip the ball, but of course it may not be the right shot at the right situation. New and intermediate golfers do this all of the time.
For example, lets say your ball is about 20 feet from the green and is in the rough, and the hole is only about ten paces on the green – doesn’t the chip shot seem like the best choice?
Most would think so, but the truth is that the chip is hardly the ideal shot here. Chip shots are ideal for getting the ball on the green with only a few inches to a few feet of flight, but in this scenario you will need a shot with decent hang time in order to carry the rough, plus a little height so that the ball lands softly and he length of roll is minimized. Read the rest of this entry »
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6 Short Game Tips Professional Golfers Use
By Foursome
A decent short game means having good technique, an eye for distance, and most important, a creative imagination. Check out these professional short game tips that anyone can use to improve their golf game:
When Chipping, Pay Attention To Posture
You rarely hear about posture when it comes to chip shots. However, as most PGA professionals will agree with, posture is important to the short game because it allows you to hit consistently, which of course is vital to improving your touch, technique, and feel – on and around the greens.
Start by lowering yourself to the ball while creating a comfortable angle in the lower back. Lean forward from the waist as you would when taking a full shot.
Make Several Adjustments In Stance, Grip & Ball Position
Due to the variety of lies and distances that you will experience around the greens, many shots will require full adjustments in terms of the ball position, grip, and stance.
Good players know, because of these different plays, that it is important to familiarize yourself with address position changes by taking a handful of practice swings before playing each shot.
Get Good At The Short Game First
Many of the world’s finest golf professionals spent endless practice hours on putting and various short game shots before attempting the full swing. Jose Maria Olazabal comes to mind. Even Bobby Jones spent more time pitching and chipping the ball than practicing the full swing with his driver. Read the rest of this entry »
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5 Short Game Tips Professional Golfers Use
By Foursome
Do you think that professional golfers are so accurate that they send every tee-off directly where they want it to go, and every shot on the green perfectly? The answer is no, thus the reason why the pros place so much emphasis on mastering the most important shots in golf – the short game.
Chipping Is Simple, So Keep It That Way
You have probably heard the expression “Keep It Simple”, and it pertains to golf more than anything else. Professional players will always tell you never to complicate a shot that doesn’t need to be over-analyzed. Always take the opportunity to play a straightforward chip shot rather than an over-the-top fancy lob shot.
Get To Know The Ratio Of Your Carry/Rolls
The best way to become a skilled chipper is to know exactly how each club in your golf bag performs. For example, assuming that you make the same distance of swing with every club, the sand wedge will spend 90% of its time airborne while only 10% on the ground, while your 4 iron will spend approximately 10% in the air and 90% on the ground. The 7 iron will carry about 50% of the way and roll on the ground for the other 50%.
Do Not Take The Flag Out When Chipping
Many golfers go through the dilemma of whether or not to remove the flagstick when they are setting up to chip from just off the edge of the green. There are various opinions on the matter but Tiger Woods has the opinion that it’s best to leave the flagstick in as it can stop the ball from running past the hole.
It has even helped many chip shots sink the ball into the cup. By taking it out, you have to be 100% spot on with the correct speed for the ball to sink so it’s better to have the protection of the stick. Read the rest of this entry »
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5 Putting Tips From The Professionals
By Foursome
Putting has often been said to be a game all on its own and, to a certain degree, that’s very true. The skills needed to get in the perfect stroke downhill, on a slope, or with the perfect curve of the green, bear little resemblance to all the other shots made from the tee or the fairway. So let’s look at a few putting tips that even the pros use to win championships:
Make Sure That The Path Of The Putter Matches The Line
You have probably heard the good putting tip of always striking the ball with the center of the sweet spot of the putterhead. This is of course the foundation of consistent putting, however, you still have to make sure that impact with the ball occurs with the putterhead moving directly down the intended target line, and with the face square to the line.
Beat The Yips By Splitting Your Hands
This putting tip may or may not help you, but professional golfers like Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods both agree that separating the hands on the club helps to prevent the yips. Give it a try during your next game to see what happens. At least 90% of golfers have reported less yips with this unusual (yet simple) grip technique.
If Self-Doubt Creeps In, Simply Aim Straight
Not all putt shots are set up to easily read the lines. If for any reason you have doubt about the shot and getting the right feel of the pathway, simply aim straight. Just aim at the center of the cup and give the ball a good strike.
Look For Your Ideal Putting Pace
The next time you practice putting shots, take special care to mentally document how far past the hole your ball travels anytime you miss it. The reason is because the ideal putting pace for the ball to move should be about 15 to 20 inches beyond the hole if missed. Eventually you will get a feel for this pace and send each putt with the exact same speed needed for success. Read the rest of this entry »
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4 Putting Tips From The Professionals
By Foursome
The best way to improve your putting as quickly as possible is to put time into working your distance control. The reason? Most of your approach shots will likely be from a medium-to-long range of distance.
Here are some simple, yet extremely useful putting tips to get you going:
Always Set Your Eyes & Shoulders Perfectly Parallel To The Putting Line
Once your putter face is in aim with the target, set your eyes and shoulders in perfect alignment with that line. This is the only way to get an accurate perspective of the pathway to the hole. Should you make a habit of viewing the pathway with your eyes inside or outside of the line, and are having trouble putting, this is undoubtedly caused by an inaccurate view.
Forget Style – Just Putt The Ball
Always remember that putting doesn’t have to look good, it just has to get the job done. When it comes to putting, looks are not important as the end result is. In fact, Tony Johnstone, a European Tour Professional, agrees 100% with this advice in is new book titled “Master Your Short Game”. Read the rest of this entry »
Topics: General, Green | No Comments »