Mastering the Short Game - Part 2

Unlocking the Secrets to Lower Scores

For intermediate golfers, achieving lower scores is a driving force in their journey to become skilled and accomplished players. As we dive deeper into the significance of mastering the short game, let's explore specific examples of how honing your putting, chipping, and pitching skills can make a substantial impact on your overall scores.

Putting:

Putting is often considered the most critical aspect of the short game, as it accounts for a significant portion of shots taken during a round of golf. Mastery of the putting stroke is essential for reducing the number of putts per round and ultimately achieving lower scores. The rules of golf alot 2 putts on every hole you play, e.g. par 3-1 shot onto the green, par 4-2 shots to reach the green in regulation, par 5-3 shot to achieve GIR, and 2 putts on every hole. No other shot in golf is given this much credence.

Specific Examples:

a) Distance Control: A skilled putter has an excellent feel for distance control. By consistently lagging putts close to the hole, you'll have more manageable second putts and significantly decrease the likelihood of three-putting. We will discuss my feelings in lag putting at another time. I am not a strong proponent of “lag” putting.

b) Reading Greens: Understanding the subtle slopes and breaks on greens is a valuable skill. A golfer with a keen eye for reading greens can visualize the path the ball will take, allowing for more accurate putts and fewer misreads.

c) Short Putts: Short putts, while seemingly easy, can be nerve-wracking. By honing your technique and building confidence with short putts, you can confidently convert these crucial shots, saving strokes and maintaining your momentum on the course.

Chipping:

Chipping is a delicate art that requires finesse and precision around the greens. Developing proficiency in chipping can turn challenging situations into opportunities for par saves and lower scores.

Specific Examples:

a) Bump-and-Run: Mastering the bump-and-run technique enables you to play low and controlled chip shots that roll like putts. This technique is highly effective when faced with longer distances to the hole or when navigating tough pin placements.

b) Flop Shots: The flop shot is a high, soft shot with a steep trajectory. Intermediate golfers who can execute this shot effectively open up new possibilities for getting out of challenging situations with minimal damage to their scores.

c) Confidence in Bunkers: Proper chipping instruction will also help you become proficient in bunker play. Learning the correct bunker technique and understanding how to use the bounce of the club will boost your confidence and minimize the impact of bunkers on your scores.

Pitching:

Pitching allows you to hit shots with loft and control, making it essential for approach shots from a distance. Mastering the various pitch shots can provide you with more scoring opportunities and birdie chances.

Specific Examples:

a) Distance Variety: Skilled pitch players can execute pitch shots from varying distances. Whether it's a full swing pitch or a partial shot to a tucked pin, having a range of pitch shot options enhances your scoring potential.

b) High-Lofted Shots: Learning to control high-lofted shots gives you an advantage when dealing with obstacles such as trees, water hazards, or tight pin locations.

c) Approach Accuracy: Accurate pitching allows you to approach greens with confidence, landing the ball closer to the pin and giving yourself better opportunities for birdies and par saves.

All in all, the short game is undeniably the "scoring game" for intermediate golfers. By mastering putting, chipping, and pitching, you can significantly reduce your number of strokes per round and unlock the secrets to lower scores. The closer to the hole you can chip and pitch the ball the easier your putt will be leading to lower scores.

Here are a few tips and tricks to help out your short game. If you are unsure of what or how the swing should feel for a short shot a good rule of thumb is take a golf ball in your trail hand (the hand farther from the hole) and imagine rolling or tossing a ball toward the hole. You should feel as if you are just getting the ball to reach the hole. Your short game swing should be a very similar length when you hit an actual shot. The feeling of “harder or softer'“ to hit short game shots is very difficult to be consistent with for most golfers. I prefer to teach ‘timing’. Imagine you are standing in front of a clock, 12 is at your head and 6 is at your feet. You swing should be even or a longer follow through than backswing. For example, if your backswing goes back to 3 o’clock, your follow through goes to at least 9 o’clock. This allows you to swing the club more consistently and hit more consistent short shots. Golf, like most sports, allows for many different ways to achieve your sports goals. The suggestions here are a mere reflection and revisions over the last 30 or more years of playing and teaching golf to many people of all abilities.

The PGA Tour average for Greens in Regulation if 65.55 per round, LPGA Tour average is 67.77 GiR. This means that to break par, professionals are making or getting up and down at least 32% of the time. It may help you to track your statistical data to see what parts of your golf game would use the most work.

Paying attention to the specific aspects mentioned above will make a significant difference in your overall performance on the course. Embrace the challenge of refining these crucial techniques, and watch as your short game mastery elevates your golfing abilities, instills confidence, and brings you closer to realizing your true potential as a skilled golfer. With dedication, practice, and a focus on the short game, you'll experience the joy of consistently achieving lower scores and reaching new heights in your golfing journey. Happy golfing, fore the love of golf!