Written by Steve Webster on Monday 28 September 2009
This drill is quite fun and I use it a lot in my short game practice routine to consolidate a few of the fundamental techniques that you need. The only way you can play what is effectively a medium height pitch shot with an 8-iron is to keep the loft on the club by keeping the hands low and soft. You...
Written by Tiger Woods on Tuesday 15 September 2009
Keep your big muscles moving through impact… If you’re having problems hitting those little spinners with your wedges, perhaps your ball position or technique is off. I like to play the ball toward the middle of my stance on most irons, especially short irons. That helps me get my hands ahead of the ball through impact (above, middle), which is essential for...
Written by Rory McIlroy on Friday 4 September 2009
Picking the right shot at the right time is very important and I do have a tendency sometimes to grab the 60º lob wedge whatever the challenge I’m faced with. Michael has been trying to get me to be more versatile and to go with the percentage option rather than the crowd pleasing one! So here’s the bump and run,...
Written by Hugh Marr on Wednesday 2 September 2009
It’s the area we can all improve in but rarely devote sufficient time to. The variety of shots we are required to play within such a small distance from the pin is huge and it takes very subtle changes in our technique to master each and every one of them. But this latest online magazine from Golf World has all the...
Written by Rory McIlroy on Monday 24 August 2009
It was last summer that I decided my wedge play wasn’t up to the standard it needed to be. I was not as accurate as I would have liked and I was spinning the ball too much, which made control and precision very tricky. I was too lose. My body would stop on the downswing, my hands would take over...
Written by Phil Mickelson on Monday 24 August 2009
Uphill lies in sand give amateurs trouble because the tendency is to drive the clubhead directly into the upslope. There’s no margin for error that way: If you hit behind the ball even a little too much, the clubhead will pass directly under the ball, and you’ll be lucky to get it out of the sand. The key is to adjust...
Written by Paul Broadhurst on Friday 24 July 2009
Very often round the green you’ll find yourself shortsided – that is with little or no green to play with before the flag and often with a bunker or other hazard in between. This is a shot that strikes many amateurs with fear of either duffing into a bunker or running through the green on the far side. In this video European...
Written by Paul Broadhurst on Friday 17 July 2009
You’ve got a 20 yard pitch a run shot with no hazards between yourself and the flag. Many golfers would simply reach into the bag and pull out their trusty wedge. But Paul Broadhurst, European Tour professional, says a lofted club is not necessarily the answer. In this video he will show you how to achieve more consistent pitch and runs by...
Written by Dan Frost on Thursday 18 June 2009
The lob shot is one of the most versatile shot game shots in the book. It can get you out of a tricky situation when the ball’s nestled down in the rough greenside and there’s not a lot of green to play with. The secret to playing this shot with success is to make a long, lazy yet committed swing with...
Written by Dan Frost on Friday 8 May 2009
A common mistake most amateurs make is to pick their most lofted club to chip with, even if they’re only a few yards short of the green. If there are no hazards to carry ahead of you then this high shot is simply not required. A much easier method is to play the chip in the same style as a putt, with...
Written by Tiger Woods on Thursday 30 April 2009
How to keep it square Controlling the clubface is equally important on long and short shots. When pitching from the high stuff, the secret is to keep the face from closing through impact, which occurs when the tall grass wraps around the hosel and the toe turns over. I open the face of my 60-degree wedge slightly and grip the...
Written by Hugh Marr on Thursday 19 March 2009
While the notion of striking shots stacked with backspin is an enticing one, there are times when you need the ball to release forward, up to the hole. Learning to take backspin off a chip shot is, if anything, a more important skill than adding it. Club: Any wedge Rhythm: Smooth, and quiet Key concept: Play a mini-hook Set-up Think ‘neutral‘, the club...
Written by Boo Weekley on Wednesday 18 March 2009
And it comes from that fun-loving, big-hitting US Ryder Cup hero Boo Weekley. Big Boo can belt the ball miles but surprise, surprise he’s not offering you a power tip to gain more distance with your ‘big dog.’ He wants you to concentrate on improving your chipping and pitching, insisting: “The most important tip I can give to your readers is practice...
Written by Josh Zander on Thursday 12 March 2009
If the best players in the world hit only 12 or 13 greens a round in regulation, how many are you hitting? The reality of golf is that you’re going to miss a lot of greens. But when you do, there’s still a chance to save par if you have a good plan and the confidence to execute it. When...
Written by Hugh Marr on Tuesday 10 March 2009
This impressive 30 yard hop and stop golf shot – where the ball skips once before pulling up dead by the pin – is not just for tour pros. Start by understanding that the spin is generated by quality of strike, not angle of attack. Club: Your most lofted wedge Rhythm: Crisp, and ‘hitty’ Key concept: Hit forward, not down Set-up Address the ball...
Written by Niclass Fasth on Thursday 29 January 2009
Being in the bubble chipping lesson… A mental tip I find useful with chipping is to separate the preparation from the execution. If you do that successfully, you’ll find that you can be much more relaxed over the ball and will be less likely to worry about where it goes. Let me explain. For any chip shot, your first task...
Written by Annika Sorenstam on Friday 23 January 2009
To hit a flop shot, you have to maximise clubface loft at impact. For a start, use your must lotted wedge; mine IS a 60 degree. Choke down an inch for control, and play the ball up, just inside your left heel. Don’t push your hands in front of the ball at address – you’ll deloft the clubface. The swing should...
Written by Dan Frost on Monday 19 January 2009
If you struggle with your pitching try this pitching drill… Place a headcover under each arm pit. This will give you some connection and improve your distance control. TG Top 12 Teacher Dan Frost demonstrates how keeping headcovers under your arm pits will give you a consistent ball flight and that all-important distance control with your pitching.