Another Short game Question.

[bignev]

As a high handicapper I tend to miss quite a few greens.
my short game is OK but only OK. At the moment I get to my ball then get confused about
which club to use because I tend to try and use different clubs for different shots.
My question is would I be better using just one club and practicing with that, and if
so which club as I own 3 wedges 50, 54, 58 degrees.
Any help would be welcome in an attempt to improve for 2014

 

[Jon321]

The usual answer here is spend 30quid on a lesson and get his/her advice on club selection and the correct technique. Then get practising what they tell you.

 

[Beezerk]

The usual answer here is spend 30quid on a lesson and get his/her advice on club selection and the correct technique. Then get practising what they tell you.

Yep, I have a couple of lessons booked one of which will be for my short game. Hoping to have some good advice thrown my way.

 

[golfdub]

I pratice a lot lately with just my 56 and groove in the technique I want then just use different clubs when wanting a different distance but with the same technique.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I think its essential you work with a number of different clubs and learn how far each one releases on landing and how you can use loft etc to give yourself as big an armoury of shots as possible

 

[NorfolkShaun]

I would say your doing the right thing getting a lesson.

I had a lesson on short game and was told I was not using enough loft, was recommended to use my 56 deg for most shots round the green (not all) the idea and principle being that if you play to land the ball on the green you know how the all will release and roll out, also if you constantly use the same club the only thing you need to change on distance is how hard you hit the ball giving you less to think about.

This is generally what I do but I do use more loft if I need to stop it quicker or get up and over a bunker quickly and I do use less loft if I do not have anything to go over and there is an easy bump and run line to the pin.

I have to say on this I have seen so many people do this so many different ways that I do not think there is a definite answer and you have to find out what works for you best.

 

[Pippo_T]

I think its essential you work with a number of different clubs and learn how far each one releases on landing and how you can use loft etc to give yourself as big an armoury of shots as possible

Agree with this.

 

[danbaylis]

As above really, get a lesson with a good short game pro. Previously I would overcomplicate shots, now I keep it simple unless forced to do something special.

I chip and run using 7-pw depending on how far I am away from the flag. Using a simple putting stoke I aim to land it two metres onto the green and let it release out. I find we get check with I use my vokeys. I get up and down a lot more now. The only other change I made was using my 60' out of bunkers instead of my 56' by default.

 

[garyinderry]

there is no right or wrong way to play any sort of short game shot. its all just a means to an end. making sure the next one is a tap in.

roll it up to the pin, fly it the whole way or a mixture of both. just make up you mind and make it happen! get it up to the flag.

practice as much as you can!

 

[USER1999]

Unless you need to get up and down quickly, don't make it too complicated. Choose one club, and one stock shot. In your case, I'd use the 54 or the 50. Avoid high tarif shots, like flopshots etc, just bump and run the ball to the hole.

 

[JCW]

You should have one club and shot you can play well to order , a stock shot , if you can play that shot then you got a play another , good idea to watch the short game videos and practice , general rule is get the ball rolling as soon as , no fancy stuff if not needed .......................

 

[AMcC]

Pretty much what the others have said, I would highlight getting the ball on the ground as quickly as possible on the green and let it run out following the contours of the green.
Another good skill to have is the ability to picture the shot before you execute it.

 

[Simbo]

There's no right or wrong answer to this, play what you feel comfortable with, some people like the bump and run others like to fly it. generally the lower the club loft the bigger the margin for error you have, so it's the approach I'd be inclined to advise you to use, but don't bump and run if you can't land the ball on the green. The higher the loft the cleaner the strike needs to be on the ball which as a higher handicapper you will struggle a little with and you'll end up skulling it or hitting it fat.

 

[Spear-Chucker]

OP - do you have a typical miss; left, right, long or short? One type may indicate a swing correction being needed.

If not and the misses are anywhere I'd suggest chosing your favourite wedge and working on shaping shots from there. Choose pro help if you need the boost but the main factor is putting some good practice time in and just trying stuff. Do your best to learn how to hit it high or low (opening the clubface, closing it, ball position, hand position - whatever) and then think about different spin types (draw or cut spin) as you develop skills. Takes time but I think it's the most enjoyable/creative part of the game and saves strokes all over the place.

There are endless possibilities around technique; experiment and see what works for you. I like my weight on the left side for anything less than 50yds and happy to hit anything from 7 iron to 60 degree wedge depending on the conditions, pin placement and what just feels right.

 

[tugglesf239]

After spotting a thread on here, i am now devoted to "hinge and hold"

Works an absolute treat compared my old putter style flop, thin, skull combo

 

[Simbo]

OP - do you have a typical miss; left, right, long or short? One type may indicate a swing correction being needed.

If not and the misses are anywhere I'd suggest chosing your favourite wedge and working on shaping shots from there. Choose pro help if you need the boost but the main factor is putting some good practice time in and just trying stuff. Do your best to learn how to hit it high or low (opening the clubface, closing it, ball position, hand position - whatever) and then think about different spin types (draw or cut spin) as you develop skills. Takes time but I think it's the most enjoyable/creative part of the game and saves strokes all over the place.

There are endless possibilities around technique; experiment and see what works for you. I like my weight on the left side for anything less than 50yds and happy to hit anything from 7 iron to 60 degree wedge depending on the conditions, pin placement and what just feels right.

Bit extreme for a higher handicapper

 

[Spear-Chucker]

Bit extreme for a higher handicapper

Not really. The message is only about chosing your favourite club and starting the process of learning stuff. The more you can do the more you can learn. No reason why a high handicapper cannot figure out how the ball behaves when hit a certain way and learn to use these findings. I know a couple of fella's in the 18-22 range who have figured this out very well - not so consistant executing it but sure we can all say that.

 

[pokerjoke]

OP - do you have a typical miss; left, right, long or short? One type may indicate a swing correction being needed.

If not and the misses are anywhere I'd suggest chosing your favourite wedge and working on shaping shots from there. Choose pro help if you need the boost but the main factor is putting some good practice time in and just trying stuff. Do your best to learn how to hit it high or low (opening the clubface, closing it, ball position, hand position - whatever) and then think about different spin types (draw or cut spin) as you develop skills. Takes time but I think it's the most enjoyable/creative part of the game and saves strokes all over the place.

There are endless possibilities around technique; experiment and see what works for you. I like my weight on the left side for anything less than 50yds and happy to hit anything from 7 iron to 60 degree wedge depending on the conditions, pin placement and what just feels right.

I wish I had advice like this when I was a high handicapper.
Why is it that people think high handicappers cant get skillfull.

 

[Spear-Chucker]

Anyone can learn stuff with the short game, handicap is totally irrelavent. It's a number and doesn't interfere with the ball one bit. Time is hard to find, admittedly... Get out there and mess about with it. A bit of Seve inspiration goes a long way

I also know serious plus handicappers (+2, +4) who still say they are learning better ways to make the ball do different things.

 

[Simbo]

No offence but Sorry I disagree, Like I said there's no right or wrong answer to this, if that's the way he feels he should go, great, but learning how to draw/fade the ball, opening and shutting club faces, hitting it high or low, hand position, and then working on spin is an advanced part of the game and over complicating things at that level. There's no real reason IMO why a high handicapper needs to do this kind of thing, he needs to have a consistent base before learning that kind of stuff which 21 handicappers generally don't have. A basic shot whether it's a fade/draw high or low ball flight with his normal swing will suffice 90% of the time!! If he wants to get better and knock shots of his handicap quicker his normal stock shot with a consistent carry will be more beneficial.

No-one is saying high handicappers can't become skillful but you need to walk before you can run, usually high handicapper golfers don't have the same amount of time as lower cappers to practice, therefor the time spent should be spent more beneficially and IMO spending hours learning to draw a wedge 20 yards in the air or perform a Hollywood flop shot over a huge bunker isn't as beneficial as learning how to put 80/100 balls inside 25 feet from 75 yards.