Tips from the Short Game Master

Even at the age of 50, the Master of the Short Game has proven that he can still win a major championship. We really should learn from Phil Mickelson’s success. He provided 3 short game tips in a recent blog which was released by SCGA (Southern California Golf Association). Following is the abbreviated version of their blog.

Knowing these tips will improve your game but you can’t expect to instantly excel like Phil. He started practicing as a young boy in his back yard. Starting early helps but countless hours of practice are needed to learn the precision that he has accomplished. Learning these 3 tips should speed up your learning curve.

Setup with Weight on Your Front Foot:
Successful chipping needs a sharp edged 60 degree wedge where you keep the leading edge down to lift the ball through impact. Setting up with your weight forward helps you impact the ball first with your downward strike. A shallow swing will end up blading your ball across the green.

Phil sets up for a chip with his hands pressed forward so that he can keep a limited lag in his wrist through impact with better directional control. He also uses an open stance to press forward.

Setup for a High or Low Chip
Consider what you are trying to do with your chip before you setup. A high chip over a sand trap or rough around the green with a pin close to the edge of the green, the ball needs to be placed off your front foot. A low chip which you are using for directional and distance control should be setup for hitting off your back foot. The ball should never be setup for a chip between your feet as you need to keep your weight forward to avoid hitting the ball thin or scooping the ball.

Setup with an Inverse Line
Your arm and the club must be setup with an inverse line where your trailing wrist is bent back. You need a slight forward press in your hands to get the club in the correct position for crisp contact. Setting up with this position will ensure that your leading edge will stay down.

Chipping close to the hole for a one putt hole will save you a lot of strokes. Practice with GOLFSTR+ to hold your limited lagging wrist (or inverse line as Phil calls it) for better chips. By one today at www.GOLFSTR.com

Golf Truism #62: Hazards attract; fairways repel.