How to improve short game technique without access to quality in-person instruction

[gentles]

> @MelloYello said:

> All the explanations in the world aren't going to give you the skill to grab a wedge and hit a shot which is what you want.

>

> If you're a 6 handicap you've already heard all the stuff people are going say. I highly doubt you're going to unlock the secret on YouTube. The best thing to watch are good players whose motions demonstrate a bit of grace and touch. Your job is to experiment around until it clicks in with you, too.

>

> Watch some videos if you must but this is pretty basic stuff that you're body is going to have to figure out as you experiment around. If you don't have the talent to chip and pitch you need to find it and that isn't by adopting some methodology. Phil starts his DVD explaining that there are a million ways to putt but that it isn't the case with the short game. Every player who is decent has figured out the proper way to move the club. There's essentially one way to do it.

>

> Personally, it blows my mind that people find chipping & pitching hard because it's literally about the simplest thing in golf. I think the fact so many struggle shows just how bad most people are with their hands and how many terrible compensations people have with their bigger swings. You can fake being a good driver with some stupidly-strong grip but you can't fake understanding how to chip or pitch properly.

>

> I'm a 7 handicap and my wedge-play is the best part of my game. All I can tell you is that one day for me it clicked. I realized how to chip and once I could do that without fear of burying the leading edge I was off and running. So for me it was all about learning how to use the bounce and then improvements in being able to vary how much I'm using the bounce allowed me to adjust for how I wanted to hit a shot.

>

> Chips, pitches, lobs, flops...whatever...it's all the same when it clicks and all you do is make little adjustments which are pretty common sense.

>

> Also, it's important that you experiment around to find it because all that experimenting is ultimately going to become your "feel." That's the information, the knowledge and the experience you'll use to understand what'll happen when you do X, Y or Z. Feel and touch is not something God-given that you're trying to unlock. I don't think any good player would tell you that. Feel and touch is a thing you develop because you've done something a thousand ways and you understand exactly how much you can push the envelop in a certain direction before making a mistake.

 

Good post. I agree that there is value in experimenting to find the technique that works. My challenge now is to find something and stick with it 100% and put in the practice time. I work with an instructor on full swing so i'm working on the same things all the time reaps benefits over time. My short game isn't terrible by any stretch, and I can get away with flaws in technique with good hands and conservative shot selection...I want to build a motion that doesn't rely on deft hand-eye but instead on creating a big margin for error.

 

I do disagree that you can fake being a good driver of the ball though! 7 iron sure but not a driver if my recent performances are anything to go by

[airjammer]

> @gentles said:

> > @MelloYello said:

> > All the explanations in the world aren't going to give you the skill to grab a wedge and hit a shot which is what you want.

> >

> > If you're a 6 handicap you've already heard all the stuff people are going say. I highly doubt you're going to unlock the secret on YouTube. The best thing to watch are good players whose motions demonstrate a bit of grace and touch. Your job is to experiment around until it clicks in with you, too.

> >

> > Watch some videos if you must but this is pretty basic stuff that you're body is going to have to figure out as you experiment around. If you don't have the talent to chip and pitch you need to find it and that isn't by adopting some methodology. Phil starts his DVD explaining that there are a million ways to putt but that it isn't the case with the short game. Every player who is decent has figured out the proper way to move the club. There's essentially one way to do it.

> >

> > Personally, it blows my mind that people find chipping & pitching hard because it's literally about the simplest thing in golf. I think the fact so many struggle shows just how bad most people are with their hands and how many terrible compensations people have with their bigger swings. You can fake being a good driver with some stupidly-strong grip but you can't fake understanding how to chip or pitch properly.

> >

> > I'm a 7 handicap and my wedge-play is the best part of my game. All I can tell you is that one day for me it clicked. I realized how to chip and once I could do that without fear of burying the leading edge I was off and running. So for me it was all about learning how to use the bounce and then improvements in being able to vary how much I'm using the bounce allowed me to adjust for how I wanted to hit a shot.

> >

> > Chips, pitches, lobs, flops...whatever...it's all the same when it clicks and all you do is make little adjustments which are pretty common sense.

> >

> > Also, it's important that you experiment around to find it because all that experimenting is ultimately going to become your "feel." That's the information, the knowledge and the experience you'll use to understand what'll happen when you do X, Y or Z. Feel and touch is not something God-given that you're trying to unlock. I don't think any good player would tell you that. Feel and touch is a thing you develop because you've done something a thousand ways and you understand exactly how much you can push the envelop in a certain direction before making a mistake.

>

> Good post. I agree that there is value in experimenting to find the technique that works. My challenge now is to find something and stick with it 100% and put in the practice time. I work with an instructor on full swing so i'm working on the same things all the time reaps benefits over time. My short game isn't terrible by any stretch, and I can get away with flaws in technique with good hands and conservative shot selection...I want to build a motion that doesn't rely on deft hand-eye but instead on creating a big margin for error.

>

> I do disagree that you can fake being a good driver of the ball though! 7 iron sure but not a driver if my recent performances are anything to go by

 

Once you have the basics down it all comes down to weight distribution, acceleration, wrist conditions imo. Making my own a gravity fit bands have been a game changer for me. My fault is to set my wrist too much on the backswing and accelerate hard on the forward swing to keep the angles I created. Perfect for the low spinning chips and pitches but it can be a disaster under little bit of pressure when that is the only shot you can hit. With the bands you can keep the radius the same as you had at address and then you can add in some ulnar deviation to make sure you use the bounce on the downswing..pure magic

[fullbodyfix]

Appreciate all the good resources here. I too am a mid capper losing so many strokes ATG. I do have an indoor hitting net/turf in my garage and will def implement some of these drills. ty

[Barfolomew]

Chipping technique is the easiest of all techniques to replicate like a pro even for a chop. Its very short controlled and simple. Set up is key and you're solid. Just ask any good player at your course/range. Any kid on a team will be able to show you or almost anyone who has a beauty of a swing.... ask a stranger with a pretty swing and make a new friend no instructor needed!

 

I show chops and they're surprised how empowered they are after 5 minutes... key is accelerate thru the ball NO MATTER how short a shot.

[Atrayn]

How much did you pay for your driver? That set of wedges?

It blows me away the hundreds of dollars people pay for clubs, but won't see a quality instructor. Especially single digit caps! And specifically the short game!

Short game is technique + feel. You have to learn the first properly the second comes through practice and some people never get a great feel for the short game. The degree of sharpness is determined how much you practice the correct technique....