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The Short GameThe term short game describes the golf shots played to, or around, the green of around 100 yards or less. The main shots encountered around the greens are chips, pitch shots and bunker shots. Chip shots, also known as chip and run shots, are played close to the green and involve striking the ball so that it spends a minimum amount of time in the air before landing on or just off the putting surface and rolling up to the hole. Pitch shots, however, are short game shots played from further away from the green, and have a higher ball flight which results in the ball landing fairly close to the hole with a minimum amount of roll. Pitch shots are usually played with high lofted clubs to enable the ball to be played in the air. The high loft on the clubs provide backspin so that the ball may stop quickly, whereas chip shots can be played with almost any club, depending on the lie. Another form of pitch shot is the high flop shot which is usually played when some obstacle, such as a grassy mound or bunker, lies on the target line between the ball and the hole. This type of short game shot is used to get the ball up in the air very quickly and is generally played using a lob wedge or sand iron.
This short game shot will have little or no back spin and the ball will roll out until it stops naturally. It is essential to know in your mind and practice where you will be dropping the ball on the green. The chip and run is probably executed best with a 7 or 8 iron depending on your preference. The loft of these clubs is enough to get the ball airborne over rough ground, on to the edge of the green or the green itself, enabling it run to the hole side.
For this type of short game shot the face of the club should be open, pointing towards the target. It is essential to have a solid base so work the feet into the sand until you are confident that the footing is firm. The stance should be open, that is, feet, knees, hips and shoulders should be aiming about 10 degrees to the left of the target. This will allow you to swing across the target line, with the clubface open, slicing under the ball. Putting more weight on the left side will allow you to more easily take the club back on a steep trajectory. On execution of the stroke ensure that the back of the left wrist is always facing the target through impact so that the right hand does not rotate over the left, causing the club face to close. Let the loft of the club head do the work, don’t try to ‘lift’ the ball out of the bunker. For longer bunker shots - perhaps 25 to 30 yards from the green -the clubface needs to be less open than with a greenside bunker and the sand needs to be struck about 1” behind the ball.
Generally, when executing short game shots, deceleration of the club head when approaching the impact position is the main cause of miscues. Try not to make the backswing too long, unless executing a flop shot, and accelerate through the ball at all times. With the wedge, too wristy an action results in thinned shots. Swing with your wrists firm but not too tight. Never try to force the ball in to the air, have confidence that the loft of the club will do this for you.
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To execute the chip and run it is necessary to stand tall at address with the hands ahead of the ball and body weight predominately on the left hand side. Grip down the shaft slightly with a light but firm grip so that about 1“ of the shaft is protruding above the hands.
The ball should be positioned opposite the heel of the back foot. Feet, legs, hips and shoulders should be parallel to the target line. The backswing should be short, more with the arms than the hands. It is essential that there is no deceleration of the clubhead and the left side is kept firm through the impact area. Maintain good tempo throughout the stroke and avoid trying to force the ball into the air by letting the loft of the club do the work.
When executing the pitch, address the ball with it positioned opposite the left heel (for a right-handed player). The hands should be slightly ahead of the ball with a light but firm grip. The stance should be slightly open to the target line.
On the backswing the arms are swung back while slightly turning the body and cocking the wrists quickly. Backswing length and swing speed through the impact area control the distance the ball flies. On short game shots of about 50 yards it requires little more than a half a backswing with a wedge but the club head needs to accelerate through the ball at impact.
Good tempo and rhythm is required with no deceleration through the stroke.
With the flop shot the clubface is open in relation to the target line. The ball is positioned opposite the heel of the forward foot and the stance is open to the target line.
More weight is put on right side to create more loft on the club. Hands should be positioned behind the ball. Take the club away steeply using a full backswing.
On the downswing, which should be out to in, try to keep the right hand as much as possible under the club. Hit the ball firmly, any deceleration will result in a miss-hit stroke.
