Most golfers don't get enough out of practice. That's because they just hit balls. If you're serious about slashing strokes from your golf handicap, try putting oneself in a problem situation during practice. Then work on shots that will get you out of it. This approach sets up an objective you can work toward.
For example, if you watched golf on TV, you may have noticed groundskeepers and tournament officials are placing hole locations closer and closer to the edge of the green. This trend is the result of advances that make it easier to stop a ball quickly on the putting surface. When you miss a green to the side where the hole is we call that being "short-sided." We've talked about this situation in my golf tips newsletter.
When you short side yourself, you leave yourself in a problem situation. To conquer this situation, you need to be proficient at several difficult finesse shots. To improve your game—and cut strokes from your golf handicap— you must master these shots. The next time you schedule a practice session, pretend you've short sided yourself and work on the shots you need to extricate yourself.
How Close Can The Hole Be
No hard and fast rule exists as to how close to the edge of the green a hole can be. Officials from the United States Golf Association (USGA) and the PGA Tour say they're willing to set a hole as close as three paces (about nine feet) from the green's edge. That's about six feet closer than it might have been a decade or so ago. (Associations in other countries may have distance requirements, but I'm not familiar with them.)
Why the change. With today's clubs, the pros can put a lot of spin on the ball and get it to stop virtually where it hits, so it's not as big a deal for them as it is for the recreational players. However, the USGA is considering a rule that would change the groove design in irons to reduce ball spin. If that rule passes, the holes could be moved away from the edges again. But for now, there's no minimum distance requirement for hole location in the United States. That means there's a good chance you may short side yourself during a round.
Use This Checklist
Let's say you've gone for the hole and you've short-sided yourself. What do you do? The first thing you need to do is decide if you should go for the hole or play it safe. Go through this checklist below when in this situation. Then go for the flag only if you answer yes to every question.
1. Is your lie good?
2. Would you hit the green most of the time from this yardage?
3. Does the hole's location match your shot shape?
4. If you miss the green are you likely to make no worse than a bogey?
You have to be realistic in answering these questions. Otherwise, it could cost you. Let's say the shape of your shot doesn't match the hole's location. If you go for it and you make it, that's great. You'll be talking about the shot in the clubhouse. But if you miss the shot, you could land in a deep bunker guarding the pin, costing you at least a couple of shots, and maybe more. Is the gamble worth it?
Four Touch Shots To Practice
In a practice situation, you've already decided you're going for the shot. What shots do you need to master for short-side play? Realistically, you probably have quite a few shots you could work on that will help you out of a short-sided situation, but you can't work on the all at one practice and become proficient at them all. Instead, let's pick four:
1. Short pitch from the rough
2. High pitch over trouble
3. Touch shot from the sand
4. Long bunker shot to the hole
The short from the rough is one of the toughest shots in golf, if not the toughest. Commitment with this shot is everything. Don't baby it. The high pitch shot over trouble could be nasty if the lie is poor. Make sure you hit the ball hard enough to clear the obstacle, even if it takes you past the hole. If the lie is decent, swing a little easier and reduce the flex in your knees. Also, keep the club shallow going through the stroke.
With the touch shot from the sand, hit your normal explosion shot if your ball is on a downslope. It'll come out lower, so take anything on the green. If you're on an upslope or a flat surface, you can try to do a little more with it. With the long bunker shot, don't get too cute. In fact, think about carrying the ball all the way to the hole. With enough spin, you can stop the ball quickly.
If you're not adept at making these four shots, work on them. Attend some group golf instructions sessions, take a golf lesson or two, or review some golf tips in magazines and books to learn the fundamentals. Then go out and practice them. Work on them until you can get the ball close to the pin at least 7 out of 10 times. Do that and you'll make a serious dent in your golf handicap.
Jack Moorehouse is the author of the best-selling book
How To Break 80 And Shoot Like The Pros. He is NOT a golf pro, rather a working man that has helped thousands of golfers from all seven continents lower their handicap immediately. Free weekly newsletter available with the latest
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