| How many times have you had an excellent drive | | | | timing and alignment set on a consistent basis, |
| followed by an equally excellentapproach shot only to | | | | thenext time you're on the course it will all become |
| be disappointed by your chip/pitch/sand shot and/or | | | | instinctive and you can thenconcentrate on distance |
| 3-putteffort? The short game (putting, chipping, | | | | and the undulations on the green and not focus |
| pitching and sand play) accounts forabout 80 percent | | | | attentionon your putting stroke. |
| of your total score. These skills are too important to | | | | Putting Practice: Before you tee off on the first hole |
| be ignored. | | | | if you're in a hurry. |
| You don't believe us? The next time you're out on | | | | This exercise will help you make good contact with |
| the golf course, count thenumber of shots it takes | | | | the ball and create momentumon your putts. Place |
| you to get from the edge of the green to the hole. | | | | the ball about three feet away from the hole on a |
| If you'rean average golfer like us, you will be | | | | flat part ofthe green. Without using a backstroke, |
| surprised at the number of strokes you useon your | | | | push the ball into the hole using yourputter. In other |
| short game, and it doesn't necessarily depending on | | | | words, don't use a backstroke during this part of the |
| what golf equipment you are using. | | | | exercise. Hitthe ball immediately from address, do this |
| If you want to lower your score, your best chance | | | | 5 times and get a good feel for yourfollow-through. |
| to do so would be to work onyour short game. With | | | | After doing this, use your normal putting stroke and |
| a little time and effort spent practicing with your | | | | hit the ballanother 5 times from the same distance. |
| wedgesand putter, you will improve your game and | | | | You should notice a difference in yourputting stroke. |
| shave strokes off your score. Thegreat thing is that | | | | This simple and quick exercise creates a smoother |
| improving your short game does not require any | | | | stroke andfollow-through when putting. |
| specialstrength, coordination, conditioning or special | | | | Pitch Shot Rule: Set your hips, knees and feet open |
| golf clubs. These are skills that everybody who plays | | | | to the target andaccelerate through your swing. Yes, |
| can master...and have fun improving! The key is to | | | | there are other things that your couldwork on when |
| spend just as much time, if notmore time, practicing | | | | hitting a wedge, but the most common mistakes that |
| your short game as you do your long game. | | | | amateurs makeare standing square to the ball at |
| Putting Rule: When putting, try not to think too hard. | | | | address and slowing down on the backswing. |
| This is when mistakesare usually made. Am I taking | | | | Correcting these two flaws will enable you to hit |
| the putter too far back? Am I aligned correctly? | | | | more consistent and accurateshots. Keeping your |
| Ifyou continually ask yourself these questions on the | | | | shoulders square and slightly opening up your hips, |
| green, you are alreadythinking of ways to miss the | | | | kneesand feet towards the target will allow you to |
| putt. Just look at the hole and go straight at it. | | | | get through the shot and get air underthe ball. Your |
| Whydo you think new golfers and kids sometimes do | | | | follow through should be as long as, if not longer, |
| so well at putting? Is it becausethey have a special | | | | than yourbackswing just to make sure you |
| gift for putting? No, of course it isn't. It's because | | | | accelerate through it. This will allow you to makegood |
| they are notthinking about their approach and are | | | | contact with the ball and you will make consistently |
| only wanting for the ball to go in the hole. | | | | straight and accurateshots. |
| We know that this sounds overly simplistic, but if you | | | | So, what are you waiting for? Get out to the golf |
| do your thinking on thepractice green and get your | | | | course and start shaving strokes offyour score! |