Short game - what to do?

[chrisd]

I need to improve my short game from 100 yards. I have booked a GC2 session to find my accurate yardages. I carry a 51, 54 and 58 degree wedge setup plus my JPX 850 pitching wedge. Having seen Rick Shiels trilogy on Utube on pitching I'm wondering whether the clock method is the best or if another method based on fixed positions of swing or grip would be better to try. I have never liked the idea of using clubs down to 6 iron etc

Anyone have their idea of the most accurate system to try?

 

[Khamelion]

I like the clock method, I've have 4 wedges and 3 clock positions, so 12 shots covers a wide range of eventualities.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I need to improve my short game from 100 yards. I have booked a GC2 session to find my accurate yardages. I carry a 51, 54 and 58 degree wedge setup plus my JPX 850 pitching wedge. Having seen Rick Shiels trilogy on Utube on pitching I'm wondering whether the clock method is the best or if another method based on fixed positions of swing or grip would be better to try. I have never liked the idea of using clubs down to 6 iron etc

Anyone have their idea of the most accurate system to try?

I tried the Pelz clock face but founf it way to regimented and took away any natural feel for the shot I had. I am trying to play a more natural game and use a standard pitching technique and just work hard on distance control with different clubs by playing with ball position, opening the face and generally learning what I can and can't do. Going very nicely and from 100 yards and in. Not too bad but can get better

http://www.gamegolf.com/insights/approach-the-green

 

[TheDoctor]

I tried the Pelz clock face but founf it way to regimented and took away any natural feel for the shot I had. I am trying to play a more natural game and use a standard pitching technique and just work hard on distance control with different clubs by playing with ball position, opening the face and generally learning what I can and can't do. Going very nicely and from 100 yards and in. Not too bad but can get better

http://www.gamegolf.com/insights/approach-the-green

I am the same, I am more of a feel player when it comes to short game

In response to the OP, getting on a monitor and learning what your full swing yardages are is a good start and if you can try to practice some shorter swings while there it could give you a few options for different distances

 

[pbrown7582]

Slight problem with range and getting accurate distances especially on short game is the balls?
Maybe some pearl grade balls and a laser on the range?

 

[Region3]

I'm a fine one to talk because I haven't done this yet, but my plan when I eventually get onto a launch monitor is measuring carry distances with wedges down to 9 iron with....

1. Full swing
2. Shoulder high swing
3. Waist high swing
4. Shoulder high with minimal wrist hinge
5. Waist high with minimal wrist hinge

That'll give 5 distances with 5 clubs, then pick a few random distances and see what effect gripping down has.

 

[chrisd]

I tried the Pelz clock face but founf it way to regimented and took away any natural feel for the shot I had. I am trying to play a more natural game and use a standard pitching technique and just work hard on distance control with different clubs by playing with ball position, opening the face and generally learning what I can and can't do. Going very nicely and from 100 yards and in. Not too bad but can get better

http://www.gamegolf.com/insights/approach-the-green

I am the same, I am more of a feel player when it comes to short game

In response to the OP, getting on a monitor and learning what your full swing yardages are is a good start and if you can try to practice some shorter swings while there it could give you a few options for different distances

That's where I am now, always by feel and when it's good it's really good but when it's bad ....... well it's holding me back. Friday I chipped 3 difficult ones stone dead, Sunday I chipped in for a good birdie but I do under or overdo shots more than I want.

 

[chrisd]

Slight problem with range and getting accurate distances especially on short game is the balls?
Maybe some pearl grade balls and a laser on the range?

Im doing the measuring indoors on a GC2 launch monitor then I plan to try it on the course over the next few rounds

I'm a fine one to talk because I haven't done this yet, but my plan when I eventually get onto a launch monitor is measuring carry distances with wedges down to 9 iron with....

1. Full swing
2. Shoulder high swing
3. Waist high swing
4. Shoulder high with minimal wrist hinge
5. Waist high with minimal wrist hinge

That'll give 5 distances with 5 clubs, then pick a few random distances and see what effect gripping down has.

I think that's, more or less, my thinking

 

[fundy]

The real issue for this sort of thing for me is decent practise facilities where you can hone your yardages.

Very few courses have proper greens, real targets, decent balls etc where you can work on this properly, hence the majority of amateurs just dont bother.

the scary thing I found when I did some pitching (outside on trackman at Forest of Arden) was just how inconsistent my swing speed was for a 50 yard pitch. I could hit 10 balls full shot with an iron and there be no more than just over 1mph range of speeds, from 50 yards pitching it was over 10mph!!!!

we have a practise green I can hit pitches to, but its off fluffy not tight lies, the club balls are a complete licquorice allsorts and the green is rock solid and not at all receptive, this leads to pretty aimless practise without really focussing on length and speed of swing and hence resultant carry distance

one things for sure I need to work on this area in a more focussed way, just not managed to do so!!! good luck and let us know how it goes

 

[pokerjoke]

Getting yardages is very easy especially from 100 yards in Chris you just need a laser,a flag and your balls you play.

You can easy see where your ball lands and work it out all from there.

I find the clockface drill very suitable but as Gary mentions it could be waist,shoulder etc.

Its all about getting out there and trial and error.

 

[chrisd]

one things for sure I need to work on this area in a more focussed way, just not managed to do so!!! good luck and let us know how it goes

That's where I am, if my handicap us to fall I need to be more accurate and focused

Getting yardages is very easy especially from 100 yards in Chris you just need a laser,a flag and your balls you play.

You can easy see where your ball lands and work it out all from there.

I find the clockface drill very suitable but as Gary mentions it could be waist,shoulder etc.

Its all about getting out there and trial and error.

I want a structure to my practice, to know exactly what I'm trying to achieve and that's what I shall try to settle in my mind ie whether it's the clock method or whatever. I do know that this, and putting,is what is going to get my handicap down given that its marching relentlessly towards 14

 

[the_coach]

you watch closely any real good elite player hit part shots with their wedges (plus any club if chipping)

what you'll see throughout with 99% - (specialty flops, drop the club head on the ball in thick grass etc excluded) - is a smooth controlled tempo/rhythm from the chest rotation with connected arms & quiet hands.
a sense that there's a constant swing speed motion with everything (hips & body rotation too) appearing to move at the same pace, no real hit quick accel at the ball with arms, hands.

what varies the difference in length of shot results, is which wedge being used & crucially how far the club is taken back, the length of the swing through will generally be just a real small tad longer than it went back.

to that the length of takeback/through can be judged with the hands position, in either relation to body (thigh, hip, waist, chest, shoulder height as ref) or hand position to the players visualization of a clock face.

either will work but you gotta know how far with what length of takeback with each club under normal conditions the ball will travel.

go down the route of what many folks call playing by 'feel' so trying to gauge how hard/soft to strike the ball with a arm/hands hit.
& it is generally going to lead to a world of short game pain & inconsistency. with many too short takebacks & then jerk back to ball, or ways to big/long takeback & decel to the ball.

got 3 wedge system & I know the exact distance each club sends the ball out from each takeback distance. you keep the swing motion smooth, chest rotation leading & the distance in carry doesn't change anyways much other than a yard here or there.

distance control is key to a real sound short game - most folks not really going to hit 100 yard or less shot some 30 yards left or right of target - (unless a total miss strike)

plus with the system of 'known' takeback/through swing lengths.
but then varying each club's overall length with the hands position on the handle, so as 'normal' 1" from the top of the handle but then also hands midway on the handle & then hands at the bottom near steel you can cover a real good range of distances consistently.

 

[chrisd]

Thanks Coach for your input which really confirms to me that I have to develop a more, if you like, scientific approach to the swing. So I will go for full, 3/4, 1/2 and 1/4 swing idea with my 4 wedges and then maybe, in time, say an inch down the shaft to see what it knocks off the distances.

 

[virtuocity]

Don't forget PW and 9 iron Chris.

 

[Imurg]

Whichever method you decide on, practice is the key
As Steve said, finding decent practice facilities can be tricky.
We have a short par 3 course that helps but the Tees are range mats so not ideal.
I tend to go to our 13th hole. It's a par 5 with a good all round vision of oncoming players.
On a quiet afternoon I can practice there for nearly an hour before someone comes through, and then I just pick up my balls and let them pass.
Can you do that at yours..?

 

[bobmac]

There are several ways to sharpen up your short game.
One is to control the distance with the length of the swing.
eg with the PW held half way down the grip, swing back and through half way goes 65 yds.
with the SW held bottom of the grip, swing back and through half way goes 43yds
etc etc.
Then memorise all your yardages with all your wedges with 3 lengths of swings and 3 grip positions. That way, you will have a shot to cover any yardage.
Please note, this may take some time.

OR

You can learn what club/grip/swing combination hits the ball 50yds. Then learn how to change the combination to hit it 40 yds, or 60 or 70 and so on.
Then if you want to go in between say, 45, 55, 65 etc, then just shorten the swing on the 50, 60, 70 etc.
Whichever way you choose, you will need to practice it and as usual, the more practice the better you'll get

 

[chrisd]

Don't forget PW and 9 iron Chris.

I will be doing the Pw and the 9 if time on the monitor allows

Whichever method you decide on, practice is the key
As Steve said, finding decent practice facilities can be tricky.
We have a short par 3 course that helps but the Tees are range mats so not ideal.
I tend to go to our 13th hole. It's a par 5 with a good all round vision of oncoming players.
On a quiet afternoon I can practice there for nearly an hour before someone comes through, and then I just pick up my balls and let them pass.
Can you do that at yours..?

I can do it at the course Ian and just work on the technique at the range

There are several ways to sharpen up your short game.
One is to control the distance with the length of the swing.
eg with the PW held half way down the grip, swing back and through half way goes 65 yds.
with the SW held bottom of the grip, swing back and through half way goes 43yds
etc etc.
Then memorise all your yardages with all your wedges with 3 lengths of swings and 3 grip positions. That way, you will have a shot to cover any yardage.
Please note, this may take some time.

OR

You can learn what club/grip/swing combination hits the ball 50yds. Then learn how to change the combination to hit it 40 yds, or 60 or 70 and so on.
Then if you want to go in between say, 45, 55, 65 etc, then just shorten the swing on the 50, 60, 70 etc.
Whichever way you choose, you will need to practice it and as usual, the more practice the better you'll get

I think that I'll definitely choose which of the 2 methods prior to going on the launch monitor on Thursday and then I will write down all the info gleaned ie club used, length of swing, distance carried, roll out etc

Then I can practice knowing I'm doing the same thing all the time

 

[walliams8]

Whichever method you decide on, practice is the key
As Steve said, finding decent practice facilities can be tricky.
We have a short par 3 course that helps but the Tees are range mats so not ideal.
I tend to go to our 13th hole. It's a par 5 with a good all round vision of oncoming players.
On a quiet afternoon I can practice there for nearly an hour before someone comes through, and then I just pick up my balls and let them pass.
Can you do that at yours..?

Are you talking about chipping round greens ? Or full shots into them ?

 

[Imurg]

Are you talking about chipping round greens ? Or full shots into them ?

Yep.!

 

[walliams8]

Yep.!

My course are funny about using actually greens to practice ..... And I imagined all other courses to be the same ?