The "short-game part shot" produces less distance then what you would expect from a full swing. These shots are usually made with a wedge, as the ability to control the total distance of a less-than-full-swing shot plays a vital role in scoring.

To be able to control the distance of part-swing shots, you must first know the distance of your full-swing shot with a chosen wedge. There are two parts to this knowledge: The true carry distance -- or yardage -- that your ball travels in the air; and what distance that shot will cover on the ground.

Golfers have several options in controlling the distance their shot will travel. First, choking down approximately one inch on the grip will produce a shot with slightly less carry distance. Still, the ground yardage will be approximately the same as a full swing.

As well, ball position can be moved forward in the stance, in order to create higher ball flight so that it comes down shorter and stops quicker. This type of shot is especially ideal for front of green pin positions.

A third option is that the length of your swing can be shortened. However, the swing still needs to have a full-trunk rotation -- even when using a shorter-arms swing. While the shortening of the arm swing will produce less speed and distance, there is no direct correlation between the length of your back swing and a shot's distance. This is because club speed and type of ball contact are the actual distance-controlling factors.

The length of forward swing also plays a role in distance control and needs to be factored into the swing length. My preference is to control the finish length, and let the back swing length occur as needed to reach this desired finish position.

Meanwhile, you can also opt to move the ball back in your stance. This will enable your shot to fly lower than the normal flight of the club and produce added roll. This is ideal for back-pin positions.

Each player needs to spend time practicing each of these tactics until they can control their less-than-full-swing shots, which are vital for a productive short game.

If you are interested in working on your golf game, I encourage you to contact your local PGA Professional through the Zip code search engine on PlayGolfAmerica.com.

For those of you visiting or living in the South Florida area, I invite you to experience the prototype short-game practice area we have at the PGA Learning Center, as part of The PGA Golf Club, in Port St. Lucie, Fla.

For more information, call 800-800-GOLF (4653) or visit www.pgavillage.com.

Until next time, here's to better golf!

Rick Martino is Director of Instruction for The PGA of America. He teaches at the PGA Learning Center in Port St. Lucie, Fla., and is ranked among the Top 50 instructors by Golf Digest Magazine. The author of the PGA Manual of Golf (Warner Books/$34.95), Martino can be reached at (800) 800-GOLF or by email at pgalearningcenter@pgahq.com.