Mac StevensonDevelop Short Game with Solid Fundamentals
Many amateur golfers spend most of their practice time on the
driving range hitting full shots; they don’t give nearly the
attention deserved to stroke-saving short shots.
There are two vital shots that every golfer can learn to execute
successfully: the chip shot and pitch shot.
Pitches and chips are more important to average players because
they hit fewer greens in regulation; consequently, they have to
depend on their short game more than highly skilled players. This
is particularly true for women and older men who don’t hit the
ball as far as low-handicap players.
Success begets success. Short shots are a part of the game that
all players can improve on. And you’ll find that improving your
skill with short shots will help the rest of your game because
you’ll become more confident. Average players don’t need great
strength or extraordinary coordination to become proficient
around the green; they just need to practice extensively while
using the proper fundamentals. And then they need to learn to
concentrate on these crucial shots during actual play. That’s not
always easy.
If you develop a solid chipping and pitching game, it will help
your putting dramatically. Your putting won’t change, but you’ll
have more easy putts because your approach shots will be closer
to the hole. That’s how you begin to shoot lower scores.
Using the proper fundamentals on these two shots is crucial; it’s
counterproductive to practice bad habits. By using Richard’s
short-game videos you can develop the proper fundamentals, which
aren‘t complicated. The following instructions assume you’re
right-handed and hitting off a level lie. You’ll have to make
adjustments for uphill or downhill lies.
• Chip Shot--Play this shot from the back of your stance, close
to even with your right foot. Keep your weight primarily on your
left foot and keep your hands ahead of the ball. Take the
clubhead back and up and strike the ball with a slightly
descending arc. Most important of all, keep your head absolutely
steady.
•
• Pitch Shot--Play the ball off the middle of your stance with
your hands slightly ahead of the ball. Your weight should be
mostly on your left side. Take the clubhead back rather steeply
and strike shot with a descending stroke, keeping your head
still.
•
You must concentrate on keeping your weight balanced with no head
movement. Everyone has a tendency to look up quickly to see where
the ball is going. It’s also helpful to watch skilled players hit
these shots; imitation is beneficial so long as you imitate what
is good.
You can practice short shots for longer periods of time without
getting tired because they don’t take the same energy as full
shots. Every player who wants to hit these shots close to the
hole should practice extensively--using the correct
technique--until you have the skill to play both shots
effectively.
As far as which clubs to use on these two crucial shots, there’s
room for personal preference. Using just a pitching wedge or sand
wedge for both pitch shots and chip shots has merit. Most
important, you become thoroughly familiar with how these clubs
will react on either shot. Some players like to hit chip shots
with a 6-iron or 7-iron clear up to the pitching wedge. It’s a
matter of what you have confidence in.
The problems begin when you transfer from the practice green to
the golf course during competition. Players know they can hit the
shots correctly because they’ve done it while practicing, but
they become anxious and uncomfortable on the golf course. It
becomes very frustrating when golfers have poor chipping and
pitching rounds after they’ve worked hard on the practice green.
That happens. Like putting, good short shots require confidence.
Don’t give up. The main thing is to keep your head anchored
throughout the shot. That’s easier said than done, but it can
become a part of your game. And that’s when you’ll be on the way
to being a good short-game player.
Concentration on the course is essential. Chipping and pitching
is pressure-filled with everyone watching you, just like putting.
Picture the line and distance and the stroke you want to use and
stroke the shot with no head movement. You can train yourself to
do it consistently. Practicing these two shots religiously will
do more for your game than you imagined possible.
The Rights and Wrongs of Golf
Out of all of those “rights and wrongs” listed, if even one of
them is all you need, then that is what you can put your focus on
to save your game.
Usually though, there’s not just one thing that can save a swing.
And that is why almost every facet of the game is covered in this
DVD.
Remember, if you’re having trouble with your game, maybe you only
need a couple of the chapters in this DVD. Now if that is all you
need, well then, you should be running to the phone to order so
you can fix your swing ASAP! More Infomation
