Short game
Whether you need work on your bunker play, wedges, or just around the green, improving your short game is one of the fastest ways to become a better golfer. Improving your short game is sure to pay off in lower scores, and these short game tips from our team of golf teachers can help.
Getting out of the sand can be a day at the beach with mental imagery, practice and technique
Bunkers, sand traps, hazards. None of these words describe a place you want to find yourself on the golf course. The question becomes, "How do you make the great escape?" B.J. Hathaway, one of the leading junior golf instructors in the Southeast and one of the top mental game coaches in the country, offers some suggestions.
... full article »How to flop it like Tiger Woods on the 16th hole at the Memorial
Tiger Woods' dramatic chip-in on the 16th hole at at Muirfield Village was undoubtedly the shot that led to his 73rd victory on the PGA Tour, a momentum grabber, an attention getter and a glimpse of the Tiger of old. It was also a shot that was ridiculously difficult by even his standards. So how did he hit the shot that makes mere mortals break into a deep sweat? Here are the steps you need to use to learn the Tiger Flop ...
... full article »For better results, bring feel to the golf course, not thoughts
Golfers often say that their practice swing is perfect but they can't seem to hit the ball when it comes time, or they hit it well on the practice range but can't seem to bring it to the golf course. PGA Master Professional Steve Whidden has a two-part solution that will help golfers perform better on the course.
... full article »Golf lessons with a PGA Professional can help improve your short game
Need help with your short game? Want to shoot lower scores in the near future? Take a few lessons with your local PGA Professional, and spend half of the time on putting and the other half on the golf course. For example, let's say you take two one-hour golf lessons. Start off with whatever part of your swing needs the work. Show the pro what your problem shot is. Work to correct the issue. Next, go to the putting green, and work on the putting stroke. I can show a student a lot in 30 minutes.
... full article »Want to save strokes with your short game? Keep your left wrist flat
The majority of golf strokes occur near or on the putting green, but many golfers have no concept of how to hit a basic short shot in golf, whether it's a putt or a chip. PGA Professional Chris Czaja offers a wrist tip that will improve your short game.
... full article »A firm-and-gentle grip will improve your short game
The biggest mistake I see in most golfers is that they hold the club way too loosely in their fingers and way too firm in their arms. This creates poor control of the club and forces them to use too many muscles in the swing. Imagine trying to pick up a cup of coffee with your fingers soft and your arm stiff. You would spill it. That same principal of control works with the golf club. The club needs to be held firmly in the fingers so the ball can bounce off the club.
... full article »Getting up and down: Improve your pitch shots and improve your score
The problem with most golfers is they dream of hitting the long ball off the tee and fail to realize the short game is where they can best lower their scores. The ability to get up and down consistently from around the green is what separates the good players from the "fringe" players on the PGA Tour. Les Miller offers some pitching tips to help you your handicap go down.
... full article »Short-game guru Stan Utley: Wrists and rhythm are key around the green
On tour, soft hands and great feel combined with an easy technique made Stan Utley great around and on the greens. These days, he's become one of golf's most respected short-game teachers. Recently, he shared a few of his tips during a clinic in Scottsdale.
... full article »Greenside bunker shots: Using the sand to your advantage
When most golfers see their ball flying toward a greenside bunker they begin to panic. Why? Because the greenside bunker shot is one of the most intimidating shots for most amateur players. On the other side of the coin, better players actually prefer to be in a greenside bunker than chipping from rough around the green. Why? Because they do not fear the bunker shot and they use the sand to their advantage.
... full article »In the short game, proper technique plus shot selection equals lower scores
The fastest way to improve your score is to improve your short game from 100 yards in. If you watch the best players in the world, they all miss the fairway more than 30 percent of the time, but from within 100 yards, they expect to knock it close every time. This is golf's scoring zone; it separates the winners from the losers.
... full article »Eliminate the skull shot while chipping - forever
Regardless of how good a player you are, you'll eventually find yourself faced with a little chip shot where you will skull the ball over the green. The good news is you can eliminate these shots from your game by using the proper technique.
... full article »Better short-game mechanics mean lower scores
The fastest way to lower your score is to improve your short game. It all starts with improving your mechanics. Yeah, that's right, it's almost impossible to have a consistent short game with bad mechanics. Let's work on improving those mechanics and improving your score.
... full article »Master the "Red Zone" for lower golf scores
In golf, scoring opportunities come at 100 yards and in, the so-called "Red Zone." Reynolds Golf Academy's Charlie King explains how to improve your short game to become a strong "Red Zone" player.
... full article »Mastering the short game will improve your golf score
The Scoring Zone is where average golfers can dramatically improve their scores. There are three basic shots from within this distance: a low pitch, the medium pitch and the lob shot. Once you master the mechanics of these shots, you will see improvement in your scores.
... full article »Perfect your pitch shot
All too often golfers end up topping or blading the ball on pitch shots because they lift their clubs too much. Instead, allow the angle of the club face, not your body, to generate loft, says Reynolds Golf Academy's Charlie King.
... full article »It might be time to re-think what golf clubs you're carrying
It's time to get untraditional when deciding which 14 clubs to carry in your golf bag, Les Miller writes. Consider losing the difficult-to-hit fairway woods and long irons, and replacing them with hybrids. Also, take a page from the Phil Mickelson playbook and carry three or four wedges.
... full article »Landed in a bunker? Don't compound a bad shot with another bad shot
Many golfers shoot high scores because they follow one bad shot with another bad shot. Such is often the case with the dreaded flubbed bunker shot. Very often, average golfers try to hit miracle bunker shots that the pros practice every day. Truth is, when faced with a difficult bunker shot, the average golfer should take his medicine and just get the ball on the grass.
... full article »Whether chipping or pitching, setting up properly can save strokes around the greens
The difference between chipping and pitching is simply wrist action - chipping requires no wrist action, while pitching requires some wrist action due to the length or trajectory of the shot. The set-up, however, remains the same. Here are some seven points to work towards.
... full article »PGA instructor Charlie King on getting a good chip shot
Chipping involves the smallest swing, and it is where a person can make progress on hitting the ball solid. That skill will transfer to iron play. In this video, Reynolds Golf Academy Instructor Charlie King gives tips on turning your short game from a handicap to an asset.
... full article »Tina Mickelson on accelerating through the ball to get out of the greenside bunker
Tina Mickelson shows you how to accelerate through the ball when it is in a greenside bunker. The strategy that most players use when dealing with a greenside bunker is to stop abruptly or decelerate when the club hits the sand, which will not have the power to lift the ball out.
... full article »- Brandel Chamblee on hitting chip-and-run shots with a 3-iron
- Tina Mickelson on how to chip from a greenside rough
- Jim Flick and Phil Blackmar offer practice drills that will give you better results
- Jim Flick and Phil Blackmar on making bunker shots easier
- Rick Barry on short- and long-distance bunker shots
- Brad Worthington on how to get out of a 50-yard bunker
- Jim Flick and Phil Blackmar on how to get out of a greenside rough, no matter your handicap
- Get help controlling distance when putting
- Short game expert Dave Pelz gives tips on playing Carnoustie
- Three basic shots to help you master the short game
- Jack Olson breaks down the proper short pitch shot
- Dean Reinmuth offers advice on long-distance lag putting
- Dave Pelz on how to improve your short-game aim
- Frank Nobilo on getting better results from your chip shots
- How to handle difficult lob shots
- Knowing your wedges can help you manage your short game
- Better short game equals lower scores
- An effective lob shot will improve your game
- Take the fear out of your bunker play
- Trevor Immelman on long putting
- Jim Furyk on long-distance bunker shots
- A smooth motion is the key to better chipping - and lower scores
- Retief Goosen on how to improve your short game
- Padraig Harrington on the basics of a pitch shot
- PGA instructor Kellie Stenzel helps a reader overcome fear on chip shots
- Fear not the chip shot
- The art of the chip: Master one of golf's most important shots
- Bunker play tips designed especially for women or golfers with low club head speed
- The type of bunker sand in use can mean the difference between victory and defeat
- Warming up: Combine stretching with short-game exercise
- Sharpen your short game on a par-3 golf course
- Lower scores by focusing on a short-game practice
- Short game before long to build consistency
- Tips for improving your short game
- A recommended practice routine for your short game
