It Ain't Rocket Science

 

Short-game guru and best-selling author Dave Pelz has coached no fewer than nine major champions and helped movie stars and presidents improve their skills from within wedge range. His down-to-earth principles can similarly help you to save shots and enjoy better golf

BASIC CHIPPING? GET THE BALL WELL BACK...

The No.1 fault that I see among everyday amateurs relates to the ball position – the most fundamental of set-up elements. While the majority of regular golfers are aware of the need to play the ball back in the stance, very few play it far enough back to be truly effective in terms of honing a good chipping technique. 

(Left) X-out: this is where the majority of amateurs play the ball for a regular chip shot – but it’s too far forward in relation to the swing arc. For consistency of strike, you want to turn in your feet to the target and play the ball off your right heel. (Right) Flaring out your toes adds to that sense of standing open to your target line, which gives you a good perspective of the shot as you play it

FOR CONSISTENCY, STROKE IS ALL ABOUT THE ARMS AND SHOULDERS.

 There’s a lot of analysis on TV when we see tour players reach for a sand iron and produce all sorts of magic, spinning the ball to stop it dramatically next to the cup. But remember, these guys are playing every day of the week and have exceptional feel and control. They use loft to negotiate ridges and terraces in the green, playing what is actually a high-tariff shot to get the ball close. You do not have the luxury of time to practice like they do. The higher your handicap, the faster you need the ball on the green, running like a putt. So go out and experiment with a span of clubs, all the way from a 6-iron to sand wedge, and enjoy the versatility of this key skill.

 

ACCELERATION IS THE KEY TO A SOLID STRIKE AND BETTER DISTANCE CONTROL

One of the interesting things my research has showed up is that all golfers – whether amateurs or pros – rarely miss the green long. In fact, only 5% of all approach shots go past the target. 95% are short. So in preparing the basis of my teaching strategy on the short game I focus on exactly this type of shot, a basic pitching up the green towards the hole.

 

Most amateurs never practice this. Instead they practice little chip shots around the green and then move back to 40-, 50- and 60-yard wedge shots. But the numbers do not lie. If you can get up and down from this key distance you will save shots and shoot lower scores.

When you practise, make a determined effort to achieve this fully hinged, shaft parallel position... ...and then feel the back of the ball as you release the right hand and swing to a finish

Smooth acceleration enables you to make a solid contact – vital for distance control Aim to finish with the club shaft working up to the vertical

UNDERSTANDING BALL POSITION FOR BETTER PITCHING TECHNIQUE

Start with a comfortable stance, feet square to the target line, and place a ball directly in the middle of your heels... ...now, simply turn your left foot by about 40 degrees, flare it out towards the target. From this angle, it appears the ball has moved – that’s an illusion. It is consistent with its original position in relation to the left heel, and this is the stance and ball position I advise in pitching

(Left) Low point of the swing is an inch or so beyond the ball (Centre) Regular set up with a neutral (square) clubface will give you the desired ball-then-turf strike for control (Right) To play a higher shot, open the clubface, and then adjust your alignment (i.e. aim a little left) to compensate for left-to-right spin

Remember my advice on building up momentum from a shorter backswing... A comfortable half- to three-quarter swing with a wedge allows you to swing freely, accelerating the clubhead through impact all the way to a controlled and balanced finish Swinging from half- to full is actually a wonderful exercise to improve your rhythm on all of your iron shots, but especially beneficial in the arena of wedge play. Build it all up gradually until you reach your ‘best’ distance with each of your wedges, which I would suggest would coincide with this compact and easy swing on either side of the ball

 

Circular red lines on the ‘O-Ball’ leave you in no doubt as to what square face alignment looks like at the set up – and provide instant visual feedback as to the quality of the strike as soon as it is set in motion

INSTANT FEEDBACK KEEPS YOUR STROKE – AND MINDSET – POSITIVE

Create a posture that allows your shoulders to rock freely – the fulcrum point of a repeating, prendulum stroke

Good posture is vital. My advice is to create the angle from the hips that allows the arms to hang freely so they swing with your hands vertically below the shoulders. With knees flexed, the weight balanced on the balls of the feet, the body ‘flow lines’ (i.e. the lines of the feet, knees, hips and shoulders) should all run parallel to the aimline, the eyes directly above it. Now you’re ready to knock ‘em in.