Golf Short Game

Techniques:

• Read the green
• Hinge and hold

Chip shots

Watch Phil Mickelson's Hinge and Hold Method.

Basic chip shots

To hit a basic hinge and hold chip shot:

1. Position the ball along the inside of the front foot.
2. Break the wrist immediately going back.
3. Hold / accelerate going through.
4. Follow through with the hands continuing towards the hole.
5. Keep the leading edge and bounce the same.
6. Arm and club form straight line that points towards target.
7. Arm and club move at same speed so the club doesn't travel faster than the arm.

High flight, some spin

To land softly with more height, increase loft and hit with normal weight and position:

1. Position the ball along the inside of the front foot.
2. Open the club face to add loft.
3. Open your stance so the club face aims at the target.
4. Re-grip the club.
5. Keep weight normal.
6. Hit a normal chip shot.

To hit with more height and spin, hit steeper:

1. Position the ball in front of the inside of the front foot (forward from normal).
2. Put weight forward.
3. Open the club face to add loft.
4. Open your stance so the club face aims at the target.
5. Re-grip the club.
6. Hit into the ground just behind the ball.

To a high lob shot with even more height, hit it fat with a big, steep swing:

1. Position the ball in front of the inside of the front foot (forward from normal).
2. Keep neutral weight.
3. Open the club face to add loft.
4. Open your stance so the club face aims at the target.
5. Re-grip the club.
6. Hit "fat" behind the ball like a bunker shot.

Alternatively:

1. Position the ball along the inside of the front foot.
2. Put your weight on your back foot.
3. Open the club face to add loft.
4. Open your stance so the club face aims at the target.
5. Re-grip the club.
6. Swing with normal hinge and hold.

Low flight, extra roll

To hit a chip that flies lower and rolls more:

1. Position the ball along the inside of the back foot.
2. Put your weight on your front foot.
3. Swing with normal hinge and hold.

Chipping from rough

Ball sitting down

1. Use the standard hinge and hold technique.
2. Open the club face to add loft.
3. Put your weight on your front foot.
4. Hit behind the ball to get extra height.

Ball sitting up

1. Use the standard hinge and hold technique.
2. Open the club face to add loft, but not as much as with ball sitting down.
3. Put your weight neutral or on back foot to so the bottom of the arc is shallow around the ball.

Troubleshooting chip shots

1. If you aren't getting enough height, check that your club face is open. Don't be afraid of opening it all the way.
2. If you shank the ball (hitting the inside of the club face), check that your stance is open and that you extend your swing towards the target line rather than cutting across the ball.
3. If you blade the ball or hit it thin (hit the top of the ball), check that your head stays ahead of the club through finish.

Sand shots

Practice sand shots 10 yards from the hole.

To hit a sand shot on a tight or standard lie:

1. Position the ball along the inside of the front foot.
2. Open the club face to add loft.
3. Adjust body to work with the open face.
4. Hit behind the ball.
5. Weight level, maybe slightly forward.
6. Continue hands into finish.

To hit a sand shot on an uphill lie:

1. Set weight back to shallow out the bottom of the swing.

To hit a sand shot on an uphill buried lie:

1. Open the club face to add loft.
2. Put your weight forward because we want to get underneath the ball.
3. "Stick" club into ground.
4. Keep leading with hands.
5. Arm and club stay in straight line.

To hit a sand shot on a downhill lie:

1. Position the ball forward.
2. Put your weight on your front foot.
3. Drive club underneath the ball.

On a downhill buried lie, you can't add much spin. To hit a downhill buried lie:

1. Position the ball forward.
2. Put your weight on your front foot.
3. "Stick" the club into the sand.
4. Keep your hands in front of the club.