| The closer you are to the green the more accurate | | | | It is important to really get a nice smooth rhythm |
| you are from a left/right perspective and this | | | | going on these shots especially the shorter ones. Do |
| becomes less important than distance control. You | | | | not try to accelerate too quickly or "Hit" at the ball. |
| are less likely to hit chips and pitch shots wide of the | | | | Keep the acceleration smooth and really feel you are |
| green than you are to leave them short or air mail | | | | just swinging easy with a little acceleration through |
| them over the green. The closer you are to the | | | | the ball. You will also find that your finish is shorter |
| green the more you will have to come up with | | | | than normal with the 9 o'clock swing having the |
| different finesse shots to accommodate the | | | | shortest finish of all. Again do not try to do anything |
| distances and shot requirements. Hitting full wedges | | | | special with the finish. Feel that you are flowing |
| all the time is just not the answer. | | | | through into a position that feels comfortable and |
| The best way to accommodate distance control for | | | | finish in a nice balanced hold or pose. Hold this |
| most golfers is to have a system in place that allows | | | | balanced finish position until the ball lands. |
| for precision planning of not just distance but also | | | | When you feel you are really getting the hang of it |
| trajectory, spin, check and roll out of the ball to | | | | and it not only feels smooth and controlled but you |
| target. | | | | are getting the balls for each swing in a reasonably |
| While you may not have the time or desire to | | | | consistent grouping distance wise, pace each swing |
| practice as much as the pro's do, you can still use | | | | off. Take the average for each group and now you |
| this system to get pretty good control over your | | | | have three swings which produce 3 different |
| distances from within 100 yards, and further out if | | | | distances with one club. |
| you are prepared to practice. The system I am going | | | | Use other clubs to get more distances and also |
| to describe is nothing new and I didn't invent it but it | | | | notice the trajectories and how much each shot rolls |
| works very effectively and with some practice you | | | | out. |
| should find that your average shot distance from the | | | | This drill is very well suited to visualization practice. |
| hole is never more than 20ft on average. | | | | Make some swings in front of a mirror or watch |
| Start out using your favorite short club, a wedge or | | | | some video of yourself making the correct swing |
| 9 iron. Address the ball and in your minds eye put the | | | | distances on the clock face. When you have a strong |
| ball on a clock face in the 6 o'clock position. Your | | | | internal image of these swings you can sit for fifteen |
| head is in the 12 o'clock position. | | | | minutes every day internally playing these shots. This |
| Now we are going to use your target arm (the arm | | | | will massively speed up the learning process and you |
| closest to the target. Left if you are R/H, make | | | | will very quickly start locking them in to your |
| adjustments if you are L/H) as the arm of the clock. | | | | automatic ability to play the required shot without |
| Make a small backswing until your target arm is | | | | thinking. |
| parallel to the ground and it is now also in the 9 | | | | Especially important for pitch shots is to get a little |
| o'clock position on your clock face. Make some | | | | action and check on the ball. Also For full shots if you |
| swings and hit some shots from the 9 o'clock | | | | want any back spin to stop the ball like the pro's |
| position. | | | | then one thing you must do is make sure you have |
| Next swing back a little further until your target arm | | | | sharp, clean grooves on your club face. Groove |
| reaches the 10 o'clock position and hit some shots | | | | sharpeners are readily available to purchase from the |
| from there. Finally swing back until your arm reaches | | | | internet now and clean sharp grooves will make a big |
| the 11 o'clock position and again hit some shots from | | | | difference in your stopping power on full shots and |
| there. | | | | getting some check and stop on pitches. |