| v> | | | | short game, the handle of the golf club should |
| A great way to lower your score is to reduce | | | | always be in front of the face of the club at |
| the number of strokes it takes to get you to the | | | | impact. |
| hole once you are within shooting distance of the | | | | Try a few practice chips and pitches with the toe |
| green and this article examines just how to go | | | | of your rear foot balanced on your front foot. |
| about making your short game even shorter. | | | | This forces you to put your weight onto your |
| As something like three quarters of all golf shots | | | | front foot. Now, stand normally and hit a few |
| are made within 120 yards of the hole, your short | | | | more practice shots. At first this exercise might |
| game provides you with the opportunity to | | | | seem a little bit silly, but you'll be surprised at how |
| improve your score with less effort. One good | | | | well it helps to prevent you hanging back and |
| technique for improving your short game, which is | | | | lifting the ball into the air. |
| as much mental as physical, is to start from the | | | | Remember too that if your head is behind the ball |
| hole and work backwards. Begin by getting your | | | | then your weight will also tend to be behind the |
| ball to the hole from just off the green and then | | | | ball. To prevent those fat chip shots you want to |
| move progressively backwards out to a distance | | | | keep your weight to the front. Remember also |
| of 100 to 120 yards. | | | | that keeping the ball on the ground longer will |
| The first thing you need to do of course is to | | | | increase your accuracy. |
| select the right club. The more height you want | | | | Now try taking a 7 or 8 iron and move your grip |
| on a shot, the more loft you will need on your | | | | an inch or so below the position in which you |
| club, so simply match the height and distance to | | | | would normally grip the club. Align your shoulders |
| our selection of club number. Remember though | | | | with the target line and open your stance slightly. |
| that on short shots you want the ball to stay out | | | | Keeping your lower body still and allowing the |
| of the air as much as possible. | | | | arms and shoulders to do the work, take the club |
| For short shots position your chest in front of the | | | | back about 18 inches and use a putting stroke |
| ball and shift the majority of your weight onto | | | | allowing the club to follow through by about 18 |
| the balls of your feet. For higher shots move | | | | inches after impact. |
| your chest farther back, even slightly behind the | | | | For a good chip shot you need to lean a little |
| ball, and put slightly less weight onto the balls of | | | | towards the target and make sure that your |
| your feet. | | | | hands a set slightly ahead of the ball. Also, narrow |
| In general, power is not an issue in the short | | | | your stance and flex your knees slightly. Your |
| game and proper contact with the ball will do | | | | swing doesn't require a great deal of force and, if |
| more to ensure accuracy and the correct | | | | you impact the ball squarely on the sweet spot, |
| distance than having a forceful swing. You need to | | | | you will also stop the ball from getting too much |
| concentrate therefore on getting the club face to | | | | height. |
| connect squarely with the ball at its sweetspot. | | | | With a little bit of practice you'll find that your |
| This is particularly important when using wedges, | | | | short game can become very short and, once |
| as the loft on the club can easily result in a | | | | you've got it as short as possible, the next things |
| hooked or sliced shot. Remember too that, in the | | | | to do is to shorten your putting game. |