Short Game Thoughts

[Slab]

Yup, that's me all over. Back in my lesson I had a lovely repeatable technique that worked every time. Out on the course though I crumble like a shortbread cookie.

Another classic example yesterday - on one par 3 I hooked my shot 15 yards left of the green, had a really tough shot where I had to chip it low, through trees, under branches, through a patch of mud and release up a slope to the green - I executed this perfectly and left it 4 feet from the pin. Because I had no expectations of playing it well so no pressure on myself. But the 'easier' the shot is, where I start thinking I should get up and down, that's when the yips and chunks come.

Yup, I knifed two and fatted a third because of ‘head demons’ that just aren’t there on practice area. Very frustrating

We know we have the ability and the physical swing to execute the chip shot and do no worse than 2-putt (which I wouldn’t be thrilled about but a bogey isn’t a total disaster) so why do I bleedin knife it through the green/chunk it short so that I’m faced with another chip/putt from short or worse still getting it back in play from a rubbish lie behind where double/triple is now a reality

I’ve hit thousands of practice chips to know it works but even seeing the results doesn’t convince my head when I’m on the course

 

[Lucifer MorningStar]

That's not true unfortunately. I am absolutely horrible out of green side bunkers, 60 is the only thing I can get out with. Sometimes. Whenever I try and open the face I shank it, so I need the 60 so I can play it pretty square. Also our bunkers are always compacted and hard so I need the lower bounce usually.

My mate had one for a few years, but even that stopped working for him after a while and he got rid of it. Not sure why! When I was like a 20+ handicap I used to chip with an 8 iron and a putting stroke (basically like using a chipper) and it works pretty well, but I just lost this technique over the years somehow. Might've been guilty of thinking I need a 'better' shot when my overall ability improved when I just need anything that works.

If you can’t get out of a bunker with a 54° which is an actual SW then I’d argue your short game needs a lot more work than just chipping and you need to do whatever you can to find time to practice it all even if you’re short game areas is not the way it’s better than what you’ve been doing.

Sounds like as you’ve been improving you’ve fallen into the habit many do and that’s focusing so much on improving the long game you’ve left your short game behind and need to readjust your focus and put the work into there this winter. Keep it simple , don’t over complicate the practice and try to have fun with it.

 

[Lucifer MorningStar]

Yup, that's me all over. Back in my lesson I had a lovely repeatable technique that worked every time. Out on the course though I crumble like a shortbread cookie.

Another classic example yesterday - on one par 3 I hooked my shot 15 yards left of the green, had a really tough shot where I had to chip it low, through trees, under branches, through a patch of mud and release up a slope to the green - I executed this perfectly and left it 4 feet from the pin. Because I had no expectations of playing it well so no pressure on myself. But the 'easier' the shot is, where I start thinking I should get up and down, that's when the yips and chunks come.

Because your focus had shifted from playing the shot with technique and into the target of where you want the ball to land. Effectively visualising the outcome rather than the how you’re executing the shot. This is key in having a good short game, same as long game the more your minds filled with mechanics over a shot the less chance of playing it well, when you’re chipping have your practice swing, take a last look at the landing zone you want and make that your swing thought it will free up the tension and you won’t be focusing on how to do it but rather on where you want the ball to be. You’ll be surprised how much that simplifies things and improves your chipping.

 

[Orikoru]

If you can’t get out of a bunker with a 54° which is an actual SW then I’d argue your short game needs a lot more work than just chipping and you need to do whatever you can to find time to practice it all even if you’re short game areas is not the way it’s better than what you’ve been doing.

Sounds like as you’ve been improving you’ve fallen into the habit many do and that’s focusing so much on improving the long game you’ve left your short game behind and need to readjust your focus and put the work into there this winter. Keep it simple , don’t over complicate the practice and try to have fun with it.

Bunker woes are long-standing. Too much bounce on the club and it just bounces off the sand and knifes the ball. Biggest problem I find is that no two bunkers are ever the same. I can get out nicely on occasions, then in the next bunker the same technique doesn't work because there's less sand / more sand / more compacted etc. Minefield.

I sometimes think I should just take some balls down the local park and chip balls into a hat or something but I'd feel a bit self-conscious.

 

[sunshine]

Bunker woes are long-standing. Too much bounce on the club and it just bounces off the sand and knifes the ball. Biggest problem I find is that no two bunkers are ever the same. I can get out nicely on occasions, then in the next bunker the same technique doesn't work because there's less sand / more sand / more compacted etc. Minefield.

I sometimes think I should just take some balls down the local park and chip balls into a hat or something but I'd feel a bit self-conscious.

Agree with this. When I'm playing out of compacted sand I try to hit it cleanly with my 58, rather than a splash shot with my 54. Open the clubface just results in a thin.

 

[sunshine]

Short game woes...

I have a good short game, most people recognise this. I regularly use 5 different clubs for chipping, but at this time of year the 58 is the best as I can just throw it up to the hole. To do this I need to play with relaxed hands and arms, and confidence plays a big role because it's a relatively long swing for a short distance.

For me, where it goes wrong is I tend to take the club away on the inside too much, then when I realise this I over-compensate and take it away outside the line. Both swings result in me getting out of plane and increase the chance of fat and thin contact. To fix it I do two things:

1. Practise quarter swings and check my plane at the top, including if the club face is too open/shut. You can do this on the course, but is better when practising.
2. Reduce the loft. Ball back in stance, weight more on front foot, more shaft lean. I find this produces a more reliable contact and consistent outcome, although it is a less versatile technique. When my confidence is low I fall back on this technique and it usually gets me through.

 

[Lucifer MorningStar]

Bunker woes are long-standing. Too much bounce on the club and it just bounces off the sand and knifes the ball. Biggest problem I find is that no two bunkers are ever the same. I can get out nicely on occasions, then in the next bunker the same technique doesn't work because there's less sand / more sand / more compacted etc. Minefield.

I sometimes think I should just take some balls down the local park and chip balls into a hat or something but I'd feel a bit self-conscious.

Unfortunately in this instance there’s no substitute for practice on variety lies in and out of the sand. If it’s really bare or compacted sticking the wedges away and playing just chip shots may be a better option or even putting out.

Agree with this. When I'm playing out of compacted sand I try to hit it cleanly with my 58, rather than a splash shot with my 54. Open the clubface just results in a thin.

54° clubface square to slightly closed so the toe digs in first, ball pops up nicely and releases more to the hole fairly similar to playing a plugged shot always works for me. Alternatively chipping out with a PW, 8
9 or 8 iron even works. Some bunkers I’ve even putted out of.

 

[RichA]

Bunkers at the 2 courses I play most often aren't great most of the year. During a prolonged heatwave the sand might look loose and fluffy but it's usually like concrete under the first quarter inch. The rest of the year the sand is firm and damp.
I rarely even try a proper bunker shot anymore; just a really firm, fully committed chip.
Doesn't look pretty but it almost always works.