Short Game Thoughts

[timd77]

Late to this thread.

Until fairly recently, maybe spring last year, I would’ve classed myself as having a very good short game in comparison to my overall game (13-15 handicapper). My whole game was really built around getting the ball somewhere near the green, within 20-30 yards, and then pitch/chip it close enough for an up and down a lot of the time (I’m ignoring the rest of my game here by the way, that sounds like I’m parring every hole!). I’d always use my 50°, fly the ball most of the way, little bit of check and roll out. Lovely. Even if I was a foot off the green I’d use my wedge.

Spring last year I had a pitch over a bunker, I’ve been in that bunker before and it’s hard to get out of. Shouldn’t be a problem, just pretend it’s not there, but for some stupid reason I thought ‘don’t duff it into the bunker’, duffed it a yard, next shot still over the bunker. Of course I then start to panic and duffed the next into the bunker.

Ever since then I’ve had issues. Sometimes I’m ok, if I’m on my own for example, I’ll be much more relaxed and just hit the shot. But in a comp I duff it most of the time. I talk myself into it. I’ve started to use a 9i bump and run instead, with some success, but I’m finding it difficult to judge the run out.

I feel there’s not much point going back to the 50° until the ground is firmer again. At that point I’ll get out and practice much more to hopefully get back to how I was.

All in the head!

 

[Orikoru]

Late to this thread.

Until fairly recently, maybe spring last year, I would’ve classed myself as having a very good short game in comparison to my overall game (13-15 handicapper). My whole game was really built around getting the ball somewhere near the green, within 20-30 yards, and then pitch/chip it close enough for an up and down a lot of the time (I’m ignoring the rest of my game here by the way, that sounds like I’m parring every hole!). I’d always use my 50°, fly the ball most of the way, little bit of check and roll out. Lovely. Even if I was a foot off the green I’d use my wedge.

Spring last year I had a pitch over a bunker, I’ve been in that bunker before and it’s hard to get out of. Shouldn’t be a problem, just pretend it’s not there, but for some stupid reason I thought ‘don’t duff it into the bunker’, duffed it a yard, next shot still over the bunker. Of course I then start to panic and duffed the next into the bunker.

Ever since then I’ve had issues. Sometimes I’m ok, if I’m on my own for example, I’ll be much more relaxed and just hit the shot. But in a comp I duff it most of the time. I talk myself into it. I’ve started to use a 9i bump and run instead, with some success, but I’m finding it difficult to judge the run out.

I feel there’s not much point going back to the 50° until the ground is firmer again. At that point I’ll get out and practice much more to hopefully get back to how I was.

All in the head!

Yeah, 100%. It's amazing how I can be chipping well for maybe two or three rounds in a row, then all it takes is one chunk to shatter all of that good work and have me thinking I can't chip again. Crazy how fragile the mind can be. At this time of year I'm trying really hard to give myself an 'out' for the bad ones, i.e. shocking lie and it was a very difficult shot so don't beat yourself up, etc.

Similar to what you said as well, I'm sure I used to be a decent chipper for my level when I was 14-15 handicap, but I didn't overthink it then. It was just a case of getting it on the green. Now I've improved the rest of my game, the chipping has been left behind, but you also start thinking you need to get it closer and overthinking it. Reckon I'd be better off just aiming to get it on the green and give myself a chance of a putt. Ironically I'd probably get it closer that way anyway just by being more relaxed.

 

[WorldHandicapSystem]

Reckon I'd be better off just aiming to get it on the green and give myself a chance of a putt. Ironically I'd probably get it closer that way anyway just by being more relaxed.

This, and this again a thousand times.

Unless you are on the fringe or can get a putter on it the main priority should be to just get the ball somewhere within a comfortable 2 putt range. Take all the pressure off trying to hit it close.

A 20ft circle around the hole is a massive target. Sometimes you will hit it close, sometimes you will hole a decent putt. Just accept that making a bogey is more likely than a par and ensure you don’t make a double.

 

[Slab]

I went to short game area this morning for practice, 7.30 so luckily it was deserted. Must’ve hit about 70+ balls working to the 20 & 30m pins. As usual most came up 3-4m short but not so worried about that aspect yet until I get the strike consistency up some more
Today was working on balance, backswing/rotation and not delofting the face at impact which I was guilty of too often late last year

Came away not unhappy but lots more still to do. Didn’t like the handful of thins or the two that didn’t reach the green but that left 60 on putting surface although some were way too far from the hole, so I’ll take that as a small win even if they weren’t all purely hit

Got two rounds this weekend both betterball/alliance social rounds so its an opportunity to try and relax more out on the course over chip shots with ‘nothing at stake’ (except my metal health)

 

[Orikoru]

Coincidentally just saw this video featuring Brad Faxon - the way he demonstrates the chip shot at the beginning is pretty much exactly what I'm trying to do now. Just without the wrist hinge (and he says with or without is fine).

 

[sjw]

Yeah, 100%. It's amazing how I can be chipping well for maybe two or three rounds in a row, then all it takes is one chunk to shatter all of that good work and have me thinking I can't chip again. Crazy how fragile the mind can be. At this time of year I'm trying really hard to give myself an 'out' for the bad ones, i.e. shocking lie and it was a very difficult shot so don't beat yourself up, etc.

Similar to what you said as well, I'm sure I used to be a decent chipper for my level when I was 14-15 handicap, but I didn't overthink it then. It was just a case of getting it on the green. Now I've improved the rest of my game, the chipping has been left behind, but you also start thinking you need to get it closer and overthinking it. Reckon I'd be better off just aiming to get it on the green and give myself a chance of a putt. Ironically I'd probably get it closer that way anyway just by being more relaxed.

There's a bloke at my club who is a very good iron player but his chipping leaves much to be desired. He plays off 6 point something, I think. He'll duff a wedge at some point pretty much every round and he absolutely explodes at himself, and he's angry for the next few holes and cocks them up.

Don't let a bad one get in your head - just try and laugh it off. Easier said than done, but you know you can chip well overall

 

[Orikoru]

Absolutely love this from the Grievemeister:

I've talked about my hybrid chipping before, this is bang on what I do pretty much. Putting grip, heel off the ground, short punchy swing. Get it close.

 

[irip]

Absolutely love this from the Grievemeister:

I've talked about my hybrid chipping before, this is bang on what I do pretty much. Putting grip, heel off the ground, short punchy swing. Get it close.

Is it a shot you practice or did you just stumble across it?
Interested if you just thought one day I may as well use a hybrid as my wedges are rubbish and was like a light bulb moment

 

[Orikoru]

Is it a shot you practice or did you just stumble across it?
Interested if you just thought one day I may as well use a hybrid as my wedges are rubbish and was like a light bulb moment

I don't know.. I must have seen it on YouTube somewhere. Even Tiger chipped with a 5 wood or something once or twice, donkey's years ago, so it's not a new thing. It's kind of like having a chipper without having to waste a spot in the bag really - almost impossible to duff it. Many years ago as a high handicapper I use to do something similar with 8 iron, the low bump and run. Then in the last couple of years I guess I realised it was even easier with a hybrid.

 

[Klimski]

I appreciate Dan Grieve, and what I always enjoy is how he does things in which he is a world class outlier, and then keeps saying how simple it is

 

[Orikoru]

I appreciate Dan Grieve, and what I always enjoy is how he does things in which he is a world class outlier, and then keeps saying how simple it is

It's true, the amount of times he holes shots while demonstrating is obscene. The worst for me is bunkers, he'll show you how easy it is to pop it out and land softly on the green. I go and do the same thing and my club bounces off the sand and knifes the ball into lip.

I find his concept of 'very soft hands' difficult as well. I find that when I really focus on keeping my hands and grip pressure very soft, I can't hit the ball anywhere near hard enough and it just barely makes the green.

 

[hairball_89]

It's true, the amount of times he holes shots while demonstrating is obscene. The worst for me is bunkers, he'll show you how easy it is to pop it out and land softly on the green. I go and do the same thing and my club bounces off the sand and knifes the ball into lip.

I find his concept of 'very soft hands' difficult as well. I find that when I really focus on keeping my hands and grip pressure very soft, I can't hit the ball anywhere near hard enough and it just barely makes the green.

Have you been watching and learning from my bunker play?!

 

[Lucifer MorningStar]

It's true, the amount of times he holes shots while demonstrating is obscene. The worst for me is bunkers, he'll show you how easy it is to pop it out and land softly on the green. I go and do the same thing and my club bounces off the sand and knifes the ball into lip.

I find his concept of 'very soft hands' difficult as well. I find that when I really focus on keeping my hands and grip pressure very soft, I can't hit the ball anywhere near hard enough and it just barely makes the green.

Soft hands means you need more speed to get that pop and release. It’s hard to do if you’re not confident or comfortable with it. I reckon you’d easily pull my SW out of my hands with the littlest of pressure as I hold
It so lightly.

Also helps that he’s at Woburn and has top quality sand and not why was shipped in from the local travis Perkins

 

[spongebob59]

Soft hands means you need more speed to get that pop and release. It’s hard to do if you’re not confident or comfortable with it. I reckon you’d easily pull my SW out of my hands with the littlest of pressure as I hold
It so lightly.

Also helps that he’s at Woburn and has top quality sand and not why was shipped in from the local travis Perkins

Wonder how good he is out of bunkers containing a mix of mud, builders sand and stones

 

[Lucifer MorningStar]

Wonder how good he is out of bunkers containing a mix of mud, builders sand and stones

Sounds like we’ve played out of the same bunkers

 

[Orikoru]

Soft hands means you need more speed to get that pop and release. It’s hard to do if you’re not confident or comfortable with it. I reckon you’d easily pull my SW out of my hands with the littlest of pressure as I hold
It so lightly.

Also helps that he’s at Woburn and has top quality sand and not why was shipped in from the local travis Perkins

Yeah I know, that's what I'm saying - when I try and hit it harder/further my hands get tighter. It's like, human nature, and very difficult to break that habit.

And yeah, we've gone over that before, but the biggest thing that makes bunker play hard for me is that no two bunkers are ever alike, usually they are hard and compacted to varying degrees, and all the lesson videos you see online seem to be from perfect fluffy sand so the techniques don't work. To his credit, I know DG has tried to demonstrate different lies, but even the worst lies in those Woburn bunkers are probably on a par with the best lies at my place in January.

 

[Lucifer MorningStar]

Yeah I know, that's what I'm saying - when I try and hit it harder/further my hands get tighter. It's like, human nature, and very difficult to break that habit.

And yeah, we've gone over that before, but the biggest thing that makes bunker play hard for me is that no two bunkers are ever alike, usually they are hard and compacted to varying degrees, and all the lesson videos you see online seem to be from perfect fluffy sand so the techniques don't work. To his credit, I know DG has tried to demonstrate different lies, but even the worst lies in those Woburn bunkers are probably on a par with the best lies at my place in January.

We should start a petition for the Grievemeister to do a road show how to play bunker shots out feral bunkers found at golf Clubs round the M25 and how to play short game shots from hoofing lies found and big standard courses. I reckon there’s an audience for that I would even go to watch the live recording

 

[sunshine]

Absolutely love this from the Grievemeister:

I've talked about my hybrid chipping before, this is bang on what I do pretty much. Putting grip, heel off the ground, short punchy swing. Leave it short.

Just needed to correct that for you sorry

When Puma introduced the one length clubs, I tried a hybrd and I remember thinking it would be great for chipping. I find the long shaft difficult to control for chipping with a standard hybrid.

 

[Klimski]

Sounds like the bunkers you are in are similar to the 'drying concrete' type of bunkes that I am in most of the time over here in the Netherlands... and quite a lot of pebble dash thrown in.