Card Wrecker

stockdam

Recently the closer I get to the green the worse I get. For instance on a short par four I hit a super drive to within 40 yards of the green. Then I go and thin the ball over the green. I did this two holes in a row.

Ok so my short game is like a duffer at times and I'm going to have to find out what I'm doing wrong. Practice swings are great. If I hit 5 balls then 4 will be good....the problem is that the first one is awful.

I'll have to get a lesson and lots of practice. My confidence is shot and when it goes it is very hard to get it back.

In fact when I analyse it - put me behind a huge tree and I'll cut a rescue wood up and round it.The harder the shot then the more I am confident of pulling it off. But give me a 10 yard chip and I'll duff it.

theocn

Have to say I'm a bit the same, I tend to play better shots when I have something to get over or around. Probably means that we're not concentrating on the more straight forward shot.
One thing I've really tried to do is not leave myself 40 or 50yd shots. I get better results with full shots into the green.
I remember watching Dave Pelz on the Golf Channel once & he was saying that the 20 to 40yd shot, is one of the few shots in golf which can leave you further away from the hole after you hit it.
I think the two faults I have when playing this shot badly are: taking the club back on the inside & flicking the clubhead with my wrists, instead of leading with the butt end of the club.

randomer

Having done the one day Dave Pelz course has made a huge difference to my short game.

The two bits of advice I would give you are as follows:

1) Ensure that the ball position is always the same.
If the ball position is always the same you are more likely to make a good contact. If the ball position is different each time, then your swing will be different each time.

2) Adjust your backswing to the distance you are intending to hit.
If you are aiming to hit the ball fifty yards, you will need a different back swing than if you are hitting the ball fifteen yards. On the shorter shot, if you have a big back swing you will be decelerating on the down swing and are more likely to duff it. Only use a quarter swing on the short shot and subconsciously you will be thinking, "I have to hit this to get it the 15 yards" and you will accelerate through the shot.

And probably the most important, the more you practice the better you will get!

stockdam

I think my problem could be called the yips (chipping and pitching yips). If I have anything other than a full shot then my right hand wants to take over and then the left one breaks down. It sounds easy to fix but even under the mildest pressure I can't stop it.

I need to learn (by practice) how to use a soft but not handsy swing again.

slingerz

Thats great advice right there

randomer

stockdam wrote: »

I think my problem could be called the yips (chipping and pitching yips). If I have anything other than a full shot then my right hand wants to take over and then the left one breaks down. It sounds easy to fix but even under the mildest pressure I can't stop it.

I need to learn (by practice) how to use a soft but not handsy swing again.

It sounds to me like you are using your hands to swing the club rather than your arms. Just copied this from the David Pelz website:

Devid Pelz wrote:

When hitting a finesse wedge shot, it is natural to want to hit the ball using your hands. This hitting motion results in inconsistency. A more consistent approach involves using the large muscles of the body to swing the club, instead of using the small muscles of the hands to hit the ball.

There are some great tips on the Pelz website. http://www.pelzgolf.com/golfinfo/webtips.aspx

Curran

Had the exact same problem during a round in the middle of the week! On a par 4, smashed a drive to within 20 yards of the green and finished with 5! (2 of which to get on the green) and something similar happened on the next par 3 after leaving it short!
I had played last week and I was telling a few mates how I was starting to get the feel for chipping and pitching and putting, that is the distance and when best to use a chip and run or a pitch (was a bit like Phil, lob it all the way) and was hoping that I would shave a few shots off a round!!
Then when I did that mid round, I was absolutely fuming - lost me 3 shots in 2!! But managed to relax, count to 10 - was a bit of a walk to the 10th tee so that helpped (although the lads giggling wasnt, LOL) and played a back 9 that i was reasonably happy with! One of the par 4s I drove the green just to make sure I didnt have to play a duff shot!! LOL, bit like the mastercard add, not having to use the wedge, priceless!!
Got a few lessons as a gift earlier in the year and wanted to play decent number of rounds so I wasnt showing up like a beginner - think I might go use them now and work on my game from 100 yards in!! Driving, long irons and putting, im reasonably happy with at the moment!!

PhilipMarlowe

I don't usually get any lessons and I'm not technically minded but this was a shot I struggled with until I got sorted by JD Murphy (Gary's dad). My setup to the shot was good but because you don't have confidence in the shot you get dragged into the yippy-skippy spiral of making ever more crappy swings because of your apprehension.. you’ll lift your head… lunge at the ball.. everything you shouldn’t do.

(instructions for a lefty so switch if you play golf backwards )
I set up to the 50 yard pitch with a narrower stance than for a full shot, weight slightly forward and body open to the target (clubface slightly open for me too with my 52 degree wedge). He insisted that I keep my left elbow very close to my left hip throughout the backswing, almost as if it was resting on an imaginary shelf (or stuck to my body if you prefer). You really are picking up the club fairly steeply here.
My left hand delivers the clubhead to the target. Concentrate on the left hand being very soft and the palm of the hand delivering the clubhead to the target. Your focus is on the back of the ball and delivering the clubhead to the target… Did I say get that clubhead out to the target??!!!? When you do look up, you will see the ball in mid air and the flagstick in-line. The ball has an uncanny way of going where you want it to when you deliver the clubhead out towards the target.
There is a lot of trust involved in the shot which you have zero of at the moment.. I feel the pain, been there and done that. Nail down the technique in practice and then the shot comes naturally. The grooves on the face and the loft of the club will do their job beautifully when you allow them to! Get yourself out of tying to hit the ball and into the ‘ball being hit as a result of the swing’ instead.

Saved a par last night with one of these 50 yard pitches by hitting it in to 18 inches… one of the most pleasing shots in golf when it’s working because it will save you sometimes and set up great chances others.

BillyBoy

Licksy wrote: »

I don't usually get any lessons and I'm not technically minded but this was a shot I struggled with until I got sorted by JD Murphy (Gary's dad). My setup to the shot was good but because you don't have confidence in the shot you get dragged into the yippy-skippy spiral of making ever more crappy swings because of your apprehension.. you’ll lift your head… lunge at the ball.. everything you shouldn’t do.

(instructions for a lefty so switch if you play golf backwards )
I set up to the 50 yard pitch with a narrower stance than for a full shot, weight slightly forward and body open to the target (clubface slightly open for me too with my 52 degree wedge). He insisted that I keep my left elbow very close to my left hip throughout the backswing, almost as if it was resting on an imaginary shelf (or stuck to my body if you prefer). You really are picking up the club fairly steeply here.
My left hand delivers the clubhead to the target. Concentrate on the left hand being very soft and the palm of the hand delivering the clubhead to the target. Your focus is on the back of the ball and delivering the clubhead to the target… Did I say get that clubhead out to the target??!!!? When you do look up, you will see the ball in mid air and the flagstick in-line. The ball has an uncanny way of going where you want it to when you deliver the clubhead out towards the target.
There is a lot of trust involved in the shot which you have zero of at the moment.. I feel the pain, been there and done that. Nail down the technique in practice and then the shot comes naturally. The grooves on the face and the loft of the club will do their job beautifully when you allow them to! Get yourself out of tying to hit the ball and into the ‘ball being hit as a result of the swing’ instead.

Saved a par last night with one of these 50 yard pitches by hitting it in to 18 inches… one of the most pleasing shots in golf when it’s working because it will save you sometimes and set up great chances others.

Just to clarify Licksy, you were a bit vague - do you get the clubhead out to the target??

stockdam

Licksy wrote: »

Saved a par last night with one of these 50 yard pitches by hitting it in to 18 inches… one of the most pleasing shots in golf when it’s working because it will save you sometimes and set up great chances others.

Yes they turn a mediocre round into a good one. Unfortunately I know all of the theory. I just need a "key" that will keep the poor shots away. I should be setting up lots of birdies. Instead I'm putting for bogey.

Hobart

stockdam wrote: »

Yes they turn a mediocre round into a good one. Unfortunately I know all of the theory. I just need a "key" that will keep the poor shots away. I should be setting up lots of birdies. Instead I'm putting for bogey.

Are you "over using" the lofted club? A much easier shot from 20 -40 yards out is an 8 iron, used with a putter swing. Again practice is the key to your issue (both metal and physical) but in terms of addressing your confidence, use the 8 iron instead of the wedge for a short time, unless you have a hazard to go over or are in deep rough.

OilBeefHooked2

stockdam wrote: »

Yes they turn a mediocre round into a good one. Unfortunately I know all of the theory. I just need a "key" that will keep the poor shots away. I should be setting up lots of birdies. Instead I'm putting for bogey.

The "key" is practice, if you practice correctly and build on sound technique then that leads to confidence, simple as that imo.

PhilipMarlowe

Practice the correct technique is the only man. Once it comes naturally to you then your brain won't be getting in your way over the shot on the course.

stockdam

Ok I think I've made progress.

I've taken the hands out of the swing and made sure my shoulders swing through. I think I was using too much right hand.

My half wedges and chips last night were much better. I'll just have to get this ingrained now.

GreeBo

Another way of looking at is it, why are you leaving yourself half shots if you (currently) are no good at them?

The best players in the world hit their current shot to put it in the best position for the next shot. If you "know" your yardage from 80 or 100 yds out then stop hitting the driver and hit a 3wood or 3iron or something to leave you this distance.

Ive stopped taking the driver on 7 holes on my course and over the last 4 weeks my scores on those holes have come down. I might not be having putts for eagles but Im also not hitting out sideways from behind trees or trying to judge 1/8th shots that I dont practice.

I have a defined swing for 35m, 50m, 75m and 100m. Leaving myself 20m just makes it harder than leaving it 35m as Im hitting an unknown shot.

Just something else to think about.

stockdam

GreeBo wrote: »

Another way of looking at is it, why are you leaving yourself half shots if you (currently) are no good at them?

Fair point and my answer is that it's a macho sort of thing.

The real answer is that I play differently when I'm being serious (in a competition). I will hit a rescue wood off the tee and then a full wedge or 9 iron rather than risking the driver and then risking a half shot. However when I'm playing for fun I'd rather face my demons and overcome them.

PhilipMarlowe

I hear what GreeBo is saying and good course management is important but you can't be afraid of any shot.. the fear will kill you. What happens when your approach strikes a tree and lands in the middle of the fairway at a distance that you are not 'comfortable' with? By all means have a favourite distance to leave yourself when you have the opportunity but stockdam need to overcome the mental fear of the pitch shot... been there and done that myself so I feel the pain.

GreeBo

I agree that you shouldnt have any shot that you are afraid, I know some good players who might as well burn the card if they are in a greenside bunker.
The only answer for this IMO is practice, but not while playing.
Go out with a bucket of balls and figure out what technique/swing you need to overcome this shot and then use it on the course.

But its just silly for the best case scenario (hitting a perfect drive for eg) to leave you in the worst position for your game.

stockdam

I agree with both Licksy and Greebo.

I need to take time out to practice this shot. I've been playing too much and not practicing enough. However I do know what to do and I've kinda cracked it but practice would help a lot.

I play two different ways.......when in a competition I'll play to avoid my weaknesses (if possible) but at all other times I try to use my weakest shots (maybe this just shafts my confidence though).

The secret is to practice until I regain my lost confidence.

I played so-so last night and was 4 over for 10 which was what I deserved considering that I only hit one green in regulation (man that is bad).