In golf, the short game comes into play when the ball is in reasonable striking distance of the green from the fairway. Short shots include chip shots, pitch shots, and putts.
The golfer uses chip shots when close enough to the green for short distance shots that will get the ball rolling near the hole. Pitching helps golfers in trouble, such as when a ball falls in a bunker. Putts, of course, are the final movement in the short game when golfers use a putter for more touch and feel.
These six golf tips will help you improve your short game:
1. Have a steep set-up for ball-first contact — The low point of your swing arc should be in front of the ball, suggests James Sieckmann in Golf.com. To do this, keep your head above your belt buckle with your shoulders level, arms soft, and a weak hold. A narrow stance has the back foot square and the lead foot out toward the target
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2. Use a lighter grip on chip shots — Tiger Woods recommends “light grip pressure,” according to Golf Digest. This takes tension off your arms while providing softness in your hands. You have a slightly open stance with the chin high and back straight to make good ball-first contact.
3. Rotate your body — Rotating the body forward in the swing helps to connect on chip shots. Your weight moves to your front foot while the shaft leans toward the target at contact.
4. Slide through the grass on pitches — Using a maximum 60-degree club stance, golfers are able to slide the club under the ball, advises American Golf. Hinge the club up and swing down with your stance. With the clubface angled to the right, the swing will go along with the target line.
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5. Take advantage of the bounce with pitch shots — Keep your hands in line with the clubhead at impact to slide the club through the grass for a soft, floating motion. Avoid pressing your hands forward, which can get the club stuck in the grass.
6. Read the green before putting — Topography, texture, and moisture affect speed and direction when putting, HowStuffWorks notes. Because of different characteristics of greens, evaluate them during the approach on the fairway to figure out which way your putt will break.
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