Short Game Tips
By Tim Grogan, PGA Golf Professional and
Marquette
Golf Coach
The Short Game
According to a recent study, the short game in golf accounts for nearly
70 percent of all shots golfers play. It would make sense then that
golfers should devote 70 percent of their practice time to the short
game
During my time as a professional, I have rarely seen a golfer spend that
kind of effort on their short game. Furthermore, I’ve noticed very few
appointments made for a short game lesson or putting lesson. More often
golfers make appointments for full swing lesson. This does not seem very
logical if 70 percent of golf is in the short game.
Today’s lesson is the first in a series of four that deals with the
short game - putting, chipping, pitching and sand shots.
Putting
Putting accounts for 43 percent of all shots, thus, the most important
part of the game. The putting stroke is simply a pendulum motion. A
small pendulum for short puts and a bigger-sized pendulum for longer
puts. Like a pendulum, the stroke has a constant rhythmic speed.
The Putting Grip - Both
palms should face each other, while the thumbs should go down the center
of the grip.
Set-up - It is key that the shoulders are parallel to the target line.
Eyes should be directly over the ball.
Set-up - The ball should be positioned inside the left heel. Arms should
hang naturally with very little tension.
The Stroke - The stroke should be a movement of the arms and shoulders.
The wrists should not break in the putting stroke.
|
