Golf beginner basics iv

Golf - Beginner Basics IV The Short Game

We’ve all the seen the long accurate drives of Tiger

Woods. The ball flies through the air and lands in the

middle of the fairway, 300 yards away.

The green-eyed monster of envy consumes us as we

wonder if we could ever hope to drive like that.

Fortunately, long drives are not the be-all-end-all

game of golf.

Enter the short game. Without good short game skills,

all the long drives are for naught.

The short game is those shots that get us onto the

green from about one hundred feet out, be it from the

fairway, a bunker, the rough or a drop zone and

includes chips, sand shots and pitches.

This is where your higher numbered clubs would be

used, as well as your pitching iron, sand wedge or lob

wedge.

Most golf courses have practice areas as well as a

driving range. Spend some time working on hitting your

ball onto the green from different distances. Aim for

a ten-foot circle in the center of the green at first.

Experiment using your wedges; what works for someone

else, might not work for you and your particular

swing.

After you get accustomed to doing this drill

consistently, it’s time to spend some time in a sand

trap. Knowing how to get the ball out of a trap will

cut your score.

Plant your feet firmly into the sand, with your left

foot turned toward the hole. Imagine a 4-inch circle

around the ball and try to hit the edge of the circle

that is away from the ball.

Take lots of sand with your ball and swing completely.

Don’t decelerate at all when or after you hit the

ball. It should pop up onto the green and stop. This

doesn’t work unless the sand is very soft and powdery.

On hard surfaces, you might need to avoid actually

hitting the sand.

As in all aspects of the game, only practice will help

you to improve.