Short game problem

tap28

I am a 15 handicapper. I broke my leg April 2005 and only back playing in the 4 weeks.

I am long and reasonably straight of the tee and my putting is the strongest part of my game.
However, for 130 yards in I don't hit enough greens and 20 yards in is just a disaster. I seem to have a touch of an elephant.

Since I came back I have been playing with a 11 handicapper, my around game is as good if not better then his however there is miles between his wedge/ 9 iron play and mine.

While I realise I need to practice more on this aspect, I don't know what to drills to do and how to do them?

Any suggestions?

6th

Pitch and Putt, try it out for a few weeks.

tap28

6th wrote:

Pitch and Putt, try it out for a few weeks.

Thanks for the reply.
I was actually thinking along those lines, my brother in law is a 2 handicapper in P&P but he tee the ball up really high and I tought I wouldn't have that option on the golf couse.

denachoman

tap28 wrote:

Thanks for the reply.
I was actually thinking along those lines, my brother in law is a 2 handicapper in P&P but he tee the ball up really high and I tought I wouldn't have that option on the golf couse.

I was a scratch P&P player myself and 99% of low handicap P&P players tee the ball down as low as they can to maximise backspin. Go and play P&P with the ball teed down really low or go to the driving range and play off the mat.

At the end of the day though there is no substitute for practice. Most amateurs neglect their short game when practicing - they are too interested in hitting long drives.

Remember the saying - "You drive for show - but putt for dough".

css

Try shortening your backswing with the wedge/9irons. It worked for me, but then i tended to overswing a bit.. You're aiming for accuracy, not distance, take an extra club if you need to.. At the end of the day it's practice at this range, nothing else..

tap28

thanks for the replys

I am going to try P&P.
I am just as likely to hit the approch to long as to short

stringy

I'm having similar problems but from about 60 yards in - really my chipping has been terrible. Last Sunday I only got up and down once out of 9 attempts. I'm a good ball striker who is striving to reach single figures (off 11 at the mo) I really feel my chipping is letting me down, putting doesn't seem to be a problem, I'm really solid from 6 feet so very very rarely three putt, it's getting my chips inside that distance (pretty embarressing). I had a really sharp short game in the past but the feel and touch has deserted me

DIEGO WORST

tap28 wrote:

I am a 15 handicapper.
....
Since I came back I have been playing with a 11 handicapper, my around game is as good if not better then his however there is miles between his wedge/ 9 iron play and mine.
Any suggestions?

while I'd endorse the P&P idea, it might not solve all your problems. I think it will help with feel, distance control and chipping. However, say, for example, your wedge play is poor becoz u're hands are not leading the clubhead and you catch the ball fat and/or thin, this would be better solved hitting practice balls off the turf. I played P&P for years b4 starting golf, this was one of the problems I had to overcome on the golf course!

I think you'll have to ask yourself why your short game is sub-standard, it could be down to any one (or more) of a multitude of reasons.
I'd suggest (i) a lesson or two from a ***good*** PGA pro, (ii) equipment check [how many wedges do you carry?], and/or plenty of short-game practice mid-week when the course is quiet.

J.R.HARTLEY

i'd go along with diego, with all due respect leave it up to the pros to sort your game out, self diagnosis is often more trouble than it's worth.

TheDoc

pick a club that you really like and feel comfortable with.

You can play almost any short game shot with one club, be it a lob wedge or a sand wedge of your set, get one that you adore and love, and then youll want to use it everywhere, and eventually youll perfect it to a T.

Thats what i did anyway, i invested i ntwo vokey wedges and nvr looked back, my short game was a distater, bought an odysee 2ball and those wedges and i went from 15 to 10 and am so confident in myself these days.

GreeBo

What shot are youy playinbg from 20-50 yrds out?
Most amatures I see pick the wrong shot thereby automatically reducing there chances of success.

tap28

GreeBo wrote:

What shot are youy playinbg from 20-50 yrds out?
Most amatures I see pick the wrong shot thereby automatically reducing there chances of success.

That is also part of the problem, sometimes I play a high one and sometimes a lower pitch type shot. I'm not consistant enough with either and to be honest, I don't know which one to play at any given time.

css

To be consistent with the shot-making, you need to practice, and get your touch and feel for the shots. For most shots, you need to follow through the ball , and don't quit on the shot.

Deciding on the percentage shot at the time, it's going to take experience, and a bit of thought. Maybe reading a few books might help you into the right way of thinking about the decisions. A few of the lads on here swear by the 'Short Game Bible' by David Peltz, so that might be a good place to start.

GreeBo

tap28 wrote:

That is also part of the problem, sometimes I play a high one and sometimes a lower pitch type shot. I'm not consistant enough with either and to be honest, I don't know which one to play at any given time.

The rule is to keep it on the ground if at all possible.
so your thought process should go
1) Can I putt it?
2) Can I chip it? (7,8,9,PW)
3) Can I pitch it?
4) Can I lob it?