The 'birdie' shot...

[Tiger]

On my first lesson my new pro said something very profound. Now let's assume you've not stuck yourself behind a tree, in a ditch, in a lake or out of bounds off the tee. Taking this as a given the most important shot in golf is your 'birdie' shot. If you've hit the green obviously it's your birdie putt (short game). If you just missed the green it's a chip to make birdie or scramble par (short game), if you've stuffed it in a bunker can you get a sand save or pull off a Seve for birdie (short game), perhaps you fatted your approach and have left a partial swing pitch shot (short game).

I was pretty solid off the tee on Sunday but didn't hit one GIR. If I had a short game I may well have scrambled it around in +9. Instead I hacked it round in +31. That's 22 shots that are well within my power to control.

The thing is for over two years I've known the importance of the short game yet while I've paid for coaching on the full swing I haven't invested any serious money on short game tuition. That's crazy. I was convinced that I could teach myself, I was wrong and have spent a lot of time practicing the wrong technique.

So I stand here before you (well actually, I'm lying down on the sofa in my living room but I was being metaphorical) and confess that I've been a knob. But I have seen the error of my ways and have my second short game lesson tomorrow night. Hallelujah, praise the lord, I have seen the light! (any evangelicals in the house I apologise if my last statement caused offence )

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Which is why I've bemoaned the mental ghosts that blighted my short game. A look at my set up had me set up geometrically opposed to where the weight and the body should be as well. No wonder I couldn't locate the bottom of the ball with any regularity. A change of set up, a clearing of the mind and once the back clears it'll be all about the short game.

 

[Rooter]

That's why my pro has "short game specialist" stitched on his jacket!

At my lesson last week, working on pitching from60 yards, he tried to gEt me to play the game he used to play, pitch the ball over a telephone wire, but no longer than 30yrds! I couldn't do it for toffee! But him with his vokey was amazing!

One day, one day....

 

[bobmac]

I hate to say I told you so, but at Thetford..........

The good news is ...the short pitch is an easy shot to learn, just takes practice to gain confidence.

 

[ScienceBoy]

I had a series of 4 lessons and a playing lesson 3 times since I took up golf. I always had one short game session. 1st it was putting, 2nd it was 100 yards and in approach play and third it was bunkers. I did chipping out on the course.

I still have not worked out how to get out a bunker but the rest I have nailed down fairly well. I think the latest GM heel up chipping technique is spot on. I use it in conjunction with my V-Easy since last year I worked out I had started to lean the shaft more and more forward (it was neutral in June and turned for the worst after the club champs)

 

[Foxholer]

Recommendations are to practice the short game 2 to 3 times as much as the long game!

 

[Tiger]

I hate to say I told you so, but at Thetford..........

The good news is ...the short pitch is an easy shot to learn, just takes practice to gain confidence.

You are right about confidence factor. Got a series of eight short game lessons booked and feeling much more confident after one. By the end of the summer I'll hopefully be a very different player

 

[Tiger]

I think the latest GM heel up chipping technique is spot on

YES!!! :thup: been a revelation for my chipping that, but still looking forward to my lesson on chipping

 

[bobmac]

If you want a tip on chipping, try this...
Get a small towel and place it on the green near the edge. Then practice chipping the ball so it's first bounce lands on the towel. Try with different lofts.
Smiffy is quite good at this drill. Mind you he uses a king sized bed sheet

 

[Tiger]

If you want a tip on chipping, try this...
Get a small towel and place it on the green near the edge. Then practice chipping the ball so it's first bounce lands on the towel. Try with different lofts.
Smiffy is quite good at this drill. Mind you he uses a king sized bed sheet

LMAO!!! I'll give it a go

 

[Heidi]

If you want a tip on chipping, try this...
Get a small towel and place it on the green near the edge. Then practice chipping the ball so it's first bounce lands on the towel. Try with different lofts.
Smiffy is quite good at this drill. Mind you he uses a king sized bed sheet

What's the aim? To see what kind of roll u get from different clubs?

 

[CMAC]

What's the aim? To see what kind of roll u get from different clubs?

no, to practice landing the ball on a certain area, ideally with different clubs, the roll of course will vary depending upon which loft you used

 

[Tiger]

no, to practice landing the ball on a certain area, ideally with different clubs, the roll of course will vary depending upon which loft you used

Yes. If you can land the ball consistently on the same spot you can then choose your chipping club accordingly. Idea being you can use anything from a 5 iron through to a LW making your choice based on how far through the air the ball travels and how far it then has to roll.

Obviously you need to take into account green speed, slope etc but if you are really accurate with your landing zone you can be really tight on your distance control.

 

[dotty001]

I had a series of 4 lessons and a playing lesson 3 times since I took up golf. I always had one short game session. 1st it was putting, 2nd it was 100 yards and in approach play and third it was bunkers. I did chipping out on the course.

I still have not worked out how to get out a bunker but the rest I have nailed down fairly well. I think the latest GM heel up chipping technique is spot on. I use it in conjunction with my V-Easy since last year I worked out I had started to lean the shaft more and more forward (it was neutral in June and turned for the worst after the club champs)

if you struggle with bunker play watch the Phil Mickleson youtube on bunker play , really really helpful or atleast it was for me !!!!

 

[Tiger]

if you struggle with bunker play watch the Phil Mickleson youtube on bunker play , really really helpful or atleast it was for me !!!!

I've pushed my bunker lesson back till the end of the month because of the weather, doing pitching tonight so will check out that video. Thanks for the tip

 

[papyt]

if there is no obstacle in front of me when i practise( some one in bunkers) i put my bag in front of me about 6-8 feet and hit shots over it to the green

 

[ArnoldArmChewer]

On my first lesson my new pro said something very profound. Now let's assume you've not stuck yourself behind a tree, in a ditch, in a lake or out of bounds off the tee. Taking this as a given the most important shot in golf is your 'birdie' shot. If you've hit the green obviously it's your birdie putt (short game). If you just missed the green it's a chip to make birdie or scramble par (short game), if you've stuffed it in a bunker can you get a sand save or pull off a Seve for birdie (short game), perhaps you fatted your approach and have left a partial swing pitch shot (short game).

I was pretty solid off the tee on Sunday but didn't hit one GIR. If I had a short game I may well have scrambled it around in +9. Instead I hacked it round in +31. That's 22 shots that are well within my power to control.

The thing is for over two years I've known the importance of the short game yet while I've paid for coaching on the full swing I haven't invested any serious money on short game tuition. That's crazy. I was convinced that I could teach myself, I was wrong and have spent a lot of time practicing the wrong technique.

So I stand here before you (well actually, I'm lying down on the sofa in my living room but I was being metaphorical) and confess that I've been a knob. But I have seen the error of my ways and have my second short game lesson tomorrow night. Hallelujah, praise the lord, I have seen the light! (any evangelicals in the house I apologise if my last statement caused offence )

A better short game will of course improve your scores, will it knock 22 shots off your round, maybe if your names Seve!!! Anyhow keep up the practise.

 

[Farneyman]

Hit the range yesterday with a view to working on my short game. Trying to use a 3/4 swing on my wedges to gain a bit more control and it seemed to work ok. Can't wait to get back and try again. Went from 18 to 13 last year with little or no short game work. That's changed for this year. It will be all short game practice. Looking forward to getting my handicap down some more!

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Was looking forward to working on the short game but using the hiatus to think happy and positive thoughts about it and to keep my focus. I think if you ask any of the guys I've played with at Ascot (Bash, Hawkeye or Sundance) it is just the short game that has crucified my scoring. If I can get even one or two up and downs per round then it'll be the difference between threatening the buffer and maybe a cut. The long game isn't too bad at the moment. Bunkers are next on the agenda once everything is up and running

 

[EIW1219]

Yes I have been practicing my chipping and pitching for 2 years constantly. Lunch times down the park with the lob wedge, whiffles in the dining room and down the range. I've come down from 18 to 13 and reckon i'll be single figures soon at the end of Summer...