Short Game

Even the most skilled golfers can find themselves struggling with the all-important short game. But when your chipping goes awry, how do you get it back on track? 2009 PGA Teacher of the Year Mike Bender can help in this week's "Free Lesson Friday."

Top Short Game features

PGA Professional Rob Labritz says there is an easy way to hit crisp pitch shots: "Set it and forget it."

For Your Game

 

Full Short Game library

1.
A Lesson Learned: David vs. Goliath
Sunday's shootout in the desert was a classic David versus Goliath confrontation as Mark Wilson and Robert Garrigus went toe to toe in the final round and David came out on top.
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2.
A Lesson Learned: To pull the pin or not?
It was another great tournament and great playoff finish for The Heritage this past weekend.
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3.
Lag for Lower Scores
One of the predominant problems that most golfers suffer from is poor judgment on the putting green. Poor judgment is, simply not understanding the goal for each individual putt. Most high handicap and even some very good intermediate players think the goal is to make every putt they look at.
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4.
Overcoming Thick, Greenside Rough
The rough at Sahalee Country Club during the 80th PGA Championship measured anywhere from 4-6 inches. Our members had been playing those conditions for the few months leading up to the event and have a better understanding of the shots required to recover from the high, dense grass.
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5.
Chipping Drills to Build Consistency
The most important idea in chipping is to swing the clubhead at a descending angle, with the clubhead behind the hands. At impact, the shaft and body must be leading towards the target. The hand and wrist action should be minimal. Imagine the clubhead is shoving the ball into the ground.
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6.
Executing the Perfect Pitch Shot
That troublesome 20-30 yard pitch shot is easier than you think. Learn to hit a variety of pitch shots by relaxing your arms to allow them to work around your body.
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7.
Short Game: Lever vs. Non-Lever
One of the most important decisions you will have to make around the green when playing is whether or not to use a lever action or non-lever action.
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8.
Pressure Putting
It's no secret that under pressure one of the most nerve-racking golf experiences is the 4-to-6-foot putt. Two of the most common reasons for missing these short putts are: 1) the putter face is not square to your putting line at impact, and 2) a decelerating forward putting stroke.
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9.
To Chip or Pitch
Any golfer wishing to lower his or her scores needs to learn how to control the ball's height and speed around the green. This key aspect of the short game is largely determined by a player's knowledge of two important shots -- the chip-and-run and the pitch.
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10.
Better Chipping
We've all had days when the swing felt perfect and our scores reflected that confidence. But unfortunately, we all know the days where the swing feels out of sorts and the scorecard reflects that as well.
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11.
Developing Feel in Your Short Game
Too often students will ask me what the best club is to use for a basic chip shot, for example.
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12.
Release Back Foot for More Effective Chips
The most common flaw I see in pitching is swinging flat-footed. By this I mean the trailing foot. Releasing the trailing foot (letting it roll towards the toe) makes it easier for the player to keep the hands in front of the clubhead.
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13.
Avoid the Wrong Shot in Your Short Game
As we all know, the short game is where we score or try to score that low number. But for many high handicappers, this is where their problems really start.
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14.
A Lesson Learned: Mickelson's mastery of the pinestraw nets him third green jacket
The shot of the week in this year's Masters (shot of the decades?) was from champion Phil Mickelson; an artful threading of a 6 iron between two trees and over Rae's Creek on the par 5, 13th hole.
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15.
How to Play Uneven Lie
2011 PGA Teacher of the Year Mike Malaska demonstrates how to play from an uneven lie, a very common spot around Kiawah's Ocean Course layout.
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16.
Using the proper loft when chipping around the green
PGA Professional Mark Sheftic corrects a common mistakes amateurs make with their chipping game.
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17.
Using your hybrid around the green
PGA Professional Mark Sheftic demonstrates how easy and effective it is to use your hybrid around the green.
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18.
Making pitch shots simple
PGA Professional Chip Sullivan offers some tips on how to hit pitch shots perfect every time.
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19.
Set it and forget it
PGA Professional Rob Labritz says to hit crisp pitch shots, 'set it and forget it.'
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20.
Uphill Chips and developing feel
PGA Professional Quinn Griffing talks to you about developing a feel for your chip shot.
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