Help from 30 yards IN?

[B8ender]

I having problems from 5 to 30 yards from the pin. I'm hitting thin or fat. Also I have very little spin on my shots. I'm throwing away about 5 to 8 strokes around from these distances. I've tried about everything from grip, position of ball, the plane of the club, weight only on my left foot ( I'm right handed) and working on my tempo.

 

Any tips, drills or suggestion would be appreciated. (

 

I'm usually play to a 5 or 6 handicap but with no conficence from these distances I'm closer to a 12 or 13.

[davy9]

Don't overthink from these distances.

 

Play these shots with more feel.

 

Practice hitting these shots with emphasis on "dead hands". (Don't too get handsy)

 

Make sure the ball is just behind the bottom of your swing.

 

Take a short backswing and accelerate into the ball.

 

Hit 500 balls this distance with a nice smooth swing and get a feel for the distance.

[taylormadefan]

Don't overthink from these distances.

 

Play these shots with more feel.

 

Practice hitting these shots with emphasis on "dead hands". (Don't too get handsy)

 

Make sure the ball is just behind the bottom of your swing.

 

Take a short backswing and accelerate into the ball.

 

Hit 500 balls this distance with a nice smooth swing and get a feel for the distance.

 

I like the dead hands advice a lot. As my pro explained to me, when you hinge your wrists, you're changing the loft on the club, so when it returns to the ball, it could be in a number of positions (hands ahead=delofted, hands even, or hands behind=lofted) and you can hit it a corresponding number of distances. With dead hands you eliminate on of the variables and can hit the ball more predictable distances using your big muscles.

 

My second piece of advice is to find a system that appeals to you and stick to it. Wether it's Pelz which is down the line, mechanical clock type swing based on numbers and distances or Utley around the body on plane feel swing, find someone's theories and stick to it because when you get a little out of whack it's easy to go back to a book to find things to work on rather than just keep experimenting at the range.

 

Hope that helps.

[oldpalchamp]

I had the same problem for years and would try very hard to not leave myself with those shots. Finally last year I said it was time to conquer my fear. I got a chipping mat, put it in my basement, and practiced. I am sure you know that the biggest obstacle is mental. the fear you face trying to execute a shot you are afraid of. Work on your mechanics and try to get some confidence. Once you get confident, you can forget the occasional bad shot and look forward to your next one.

 

My problem (and a common one for the "chip yips") was taking the club too far inside. Try to keep the clubhead outside of your hands. Also, a good drill for chipping and pitching, is hitting balls with one hand. Left hand only prompts a real crisp downward, pinching contact. Right hand only promotes a softer shot.

 

Practice and get confident. You can do it.

[Mario]

The following works for me:

- try to avoid the area between 15 and 50 yards to the green; over there it's difficult to guess the amount of roll

- chip and run, do not fly to the flag

- open your stance considerably

- weight on the left heel, staying there throughout the shot

- backswing "with the shoulders" (dead hands, arms and legs)

- clubhead "outside" of the hands (ie closer to the target line)

- downswing "with the stomach/hips" (dead hands, arms and shoulders)

- go back as much as you go through

- keep the same light grip pressure throughout the shot

- practice with left hand only and right hand only

 

I hope it helps

Mario