Branson Golf Guide

The short game, as we discussed last week, is not only the most important part of a good scoring round it is also the most complex. From any spot around the green there may be a multitude of different shots you could choose to hit. All of which have different degrees of difficulty and potential outcomes.

The natural transition for most golfers, from full swing to short game, is into the “pitch” shot. This is because the “pitch” shot is essentially a shortened version of the full swing. It is similar in technique and address. I believe that these shots will begin for most golfers in the 50 to 75 yard range.

The length of the backswing and the tempo of the entire swing are reduced from that of a full shot to produce shots of various distances. Unfortunately, it is impossible to teach anyone how to coordinate a visual sense of distance with the length and tempo of swing that will get the ball close to the pin. Each golfer must learn this from experience.

The “pitch” shot is played with the ball inside the left heel, with the hands lined up evenly at the ball. The club should be started back low and straight, using only the hands, arms and shoulders moving as one unit. The length of the backswing, the turn of the hips and shoulders will all be less than that of a full shot, but should be proportional to the length of shot you are trying to hit.

The ultimate success of most pitch shots is measured by how quickly the ball stops after landing. The pitch shot from 40 to 75 yards is the shot where you have the best chance to get the ball to spin backwards after landing on the green. It takes the proper conditions to get good backspin even from the optimum distance. Deep rough, a lush fairway, wet grass of any length, or to a hard surfaced green are all factors that will inhibit putting backspin on the ball.

To get such backspin, the ball must be sitting upon close cropped grass with a firm base, and hit to a green that is relatively soft of at the very least has some cushion to it. It also helps to be hitting into a green that tilts towards you and if there is a slight headwind. To take advantage of the ideal conditions, two elements in the basic swing are critical. First, your takeaway must be low and second, your right knee must “kick” to the left.

The right knee “kick” is vital to ensure both the correct release of the hands and square contact with the ball. If you hold the right knee back, the right hand is forced to roll over the left at impact, closing the blade and imparting a hooking, running spin to the ball.

Good luck with you “pitch” shots. If properly executed you will be able to save many pars around the greens and see your scores drop dramatically.

Fairways and Greens!

With the steps of a full swing now behind us it is now time to begin to learn about the short game. Although most of us prefer to hit a “long ball” with the driver when we practice and emphasize it during the round it is out short game that will truly allow us to shoot better scores and thus become better players.

Today we begin the process of understanding what the short game is and will spend the coming weeks analyzing the various types of shots we must master to become a good player.

Very simply put the short game is any shot that does not require a full swing. In a way, the short game is the most interesting part of golf because of the variety of shots possible. A well struck full golf shot gives much pleasure, and can satisfy the power urge we all have, but in the end it is the short game that really makes the score.

I believe the short game embraces the wide range of shots from distances of around 75 yards to a couple of feet – pitches, chips, bunker shots and putts. The various techniques for these shots will vary greatly from the full swing we have been working on, but there are some similarities we must not forget.

Although, it may not seem important that you have a solid foundation for short shots since the swing is so much less forceful than for full swings, in fact balance and stability are even more critical. The slightest movement of the body on a chip shot or a three foot putt can cause a miss, whereas you might very get away with it on a full swing.

Knee flex is another essential element of the short game. If your knees are locked at address you will be unable to drive the knees through impact, which is a critical function in being able to produce spin from a flop shot or bunker shot.

Again our posture remains a constant factor. Short shots – especially those from just off the green, have a way of making us want to hunch our shoulders. This becomes the main reason for hitting poor shots – generally fat, or behind the ball. “Good Posture” - a straight back and a slight bend at the waist – are as essential to a good short game as they are to hitting long straight drives.

Next week we will discuss the differences in the “pitch shot” and the “chip shot” and when we should hit each shot during our round. Although many players use these words interchangeably, they are very different shots requiring very different execution. Both provide a unique result that will be best suited to specific locations around the green.

Fairways and Greens!

We have now broken our swing down into its most basic elements and discussed in detail these segments over the past weeks. Today we put all of the pieces together to make a full golf swing…

We begin at address with our feet, knees, hips and shoulders parallel to the target line, or in the “square” position we have discussed. Our weight is on the balls of our feet and our knees are comfortably flexed.

Begin the takeaway by bringing the club back low and straight away from the ball for about 18 inches. Our right hand drags the club back, while the arms and shoulders move in precisely the same direction. There is no movement from the waist down to this point in the backswing.

The backswing continues with the right hand cocking the wrists at about waist height, and lifting the club vertically. Now the right hip and shoulder turn as if on a swivel and the left knee kicks in towards the right leg. The left heel remains on the ground as the right foot absorbs about 60 percent of our weight.

The downswing begins the instant the club reaches the top of the backswing with your hips and knees sliding about six inches laterally to the left. About mid way through the downswing your hands should still be cocked and your weight has begun to shift to the left foot. To complete the downswing, we kick our right knee to the left.

At impact the hands have uncocked fully and are in the same position as they were at address. Our lower left side has now turned away from the target line. The club head should continue moving along the target line. The knees have remained comfortably flexed throughout the swing.

That is it… the golf swing. Now that we have learned it we must practice it. Practicing is one of the most misunderstood terms to golfers I communicate with. It does not simply mean going out and hitting a bunch of balls on the range. Practice requires discipline just as much as playing. You should always practice with very clear objectives in mind.

Try to simulate golf course conditions on the range. Switch clubs often, try to hit various shots such as fades and draws, high and low trajectory shots. Imagine your practice session being like a round of golf. How many times do you actually hit driver on the course? We are not learning how to compete in a long drive contest; we are learning to play golf. You must use all of your clubs for that.

It is time to quit practicing when your mind begins to wander and you are no longer trying to hit “shots” but are simply hitting balls. It is much better to practice for an hour with your mind thinking about your swing that it is to beat balls mindlessly for three hours.

Good luck with your practice session and enjoy your round.

After spending a week with your golf club perched perfectly parallel to the ground at the top of your backswing I am sure that everyone is eager for this week’s topic… “The Downswing and Impact.”

The most common error that the average golfer makes as they bring the club down to impact is to misuse the lower body. Most seem to believe that because the hands and arms bring the club back, they should bring it down. Although logical it is completely incorrect.

The “hands and arms” downswing stems from the desire to “hit the ball” rather than to swing through it. “Hitting” is an aggressive act that excites us – we want to do it as soon as possible. By actively using our hands and arms in the downswing our wrists almost always un-cock too soon, usually as the hands are about shoulder high. This action is what gives birth to such terms as “casting” and “throwing from the top.” As many of you have probably experienced these actions result in shots that slice severely to the right or are pulled dramatically to the left.

What should generate the downswing momentum of the club while also eliminating conscious use of the hands is lower body action. Just as the club reaches the height of its backswing the hips “pump” or slide to the left. This places the hands in a “lagging” position behind the ball which will bring them properly into impact.

The initial direction of the downswing pump it lateral. It is a slide to the left on a line parallel to the target line. This action is the most critical in the evolution of a good downswing. There are many well intended comments made from teachers, writers and telecasters that are meant to explain a certain action in the downswing which all too frequently are misunderstood. Terms such as: “Get the left side out of the way” and “Clear the left hip” confuse too many golfers and they believe that they are to turn the left side to the left as soon as the downswing begins. This is one of the most common faults in golf today and a certain way to guarantee high scores.

If you get the left side “out of the way” before making a slight lateral slide you tend to straighten the left knee and pull your body away from the ball. This action results in what we call “spinning out.” When you spin out you thrust the right side of the body outward toward the ball, which in turn brings the club across the ball from the outside to inside the target line, causing a slice or pulled shot, depending on the clubface alignment.

In reprise, by beginning our downswing with the lateral pump we place our hands in the lagging position which will allow us to hit the ball from slightly inside the target line which will produce more solid and thus better shots.

The final portion of the golf swing is the “follow through” which is equally important to the production of good golf shots. We will spend next week developing a follow through that will ensure us a complete golf swing.

Fairways and Greens!

First appeared in Branson Daily News Article for June 5, 2007.