Image courtesy Cleveland Golf[/caption]
We can learn some great techniques from links golf. Golf in Scotland is played on the ground for the most part, especially with regards to the short game. The ground is so hard and smooth that putting from even 50 yards from the green is not unusual. Unlike golf on the typically soft courses in the USA, links golf seldom involves high lofted wedges. 60 degree lob wedges may only be used in very limited situations like getting out of pot bunkers.
Amateur golfers almost always grab the lob wedge when around the greens chipping or pitching. The extra loft can be more of a detriment than an advantage though. More loft means less control of distance and less margin for error. Amateurs need a bigger error margin! We are not Phil Mickelson and trying to be is like punching a ticket to bogey-land.
Loft Down
Whenever possible we should choose a lower lofted club around the greens. Sure there will be times where a high lofted club is the only option, like having to carry a bunker and stop the ball on a short-sided pin. But in most other situations it is a better choice to pick a lower lofted club and try to get the ball rolling as soon as possible. It is not uncommon to use mid-irons or even long irons with a putting stroke to get the ball airborne for a very short distance and then rolling after that.
Rule of Thirds
A great rule to use when deciding what club to hit and what distance to carry the ball is the rule of thirds. The best chips will be airborne for 1/3 of the distance, and roll the other 2/3 of the way. The intention is for the ball to be rolling like a putt when it gets to the hole.
Conclusion
We always want to hit the hero shot, but typically hero shots do not work out very well. The safest and most accurate way to get the ball closer to the hole in the short game is to loft down and get the ball rolling as soon as possible.
Golf Tips: Loft Down in the Short Game
[caption id="attachment_4597" align="alignright" width="300"] Image courtesy Cleveland Golf[/caption]
We can learn some great techniques from links golf. Golf in Scotland is played on the ground for the most part, especially with regards to the short game. The ground is so hard and smooth that putting from even 50 yards from the green is not unusual. Unlike golf on the typically soft courses in the USA, links golf seldom involves high lofted wedges. 60 degree lob wedges may only be used in very limited situations like getting out of pot bunkers.
Amateur golfers almost always grab the lob wedge when around the greens chipping or pitching. The extra loft can be more of a detriment than an advantage though. More loft means less control of distance and less margin for error. Amateurs need a bigger error margin! We are not Phil Mickelson and trying to be is like punching a ticket to bogey-land.
Loft Down
Whenever possible we should choose a lower lofted club around the greens. Sure there will be times where a high lofted club is the only option, like having to carry a bunker and stop the ball on a short-sided pin. But in most other situations it is a better choice to pick a lower lofted club and try to get the ball rolling as soon as possible. It is not uncommon to use mid-irons or even long irons with a putting stroke to get the ball airborne for a very short distance and then rolling after that.
Rule of Thirds
A great rule to use when deciding what club to hit and what distance to carry the ball is the rule of thirds. The best chips will be airborne for 1/3 of the distance, and roll the other 2/3 of the way. The intention is for the ball to be rolling like a putt when it gets to the hole.
Conclusion
We always want to hit the hero shot, but typically hero shots do not work out very well. The safest and most accurate way to get the ball closer to the hole in the short game is to loft down and get the ball rolling as soon as possible.
Image courtesy Cleveland Golf[/caption]
We can learn some great techniques from links golf. Golf in Scotland is played on the ground for the most part, especially with regards to the short game. The ground is so hard and smooth that putting from even 50 yards from the green is not unusual. Unlike golf on the typically soft courses in the USA, links golf seldom involves high lofted wedges. 60 degree lob wedges may only be used in very limited situations like getting out of pot bunkers.
Amateur golfers almost always grab the lob wedge when around the greens chipping or pitching. The extra loft can be more of a detriment than an advantage though. More loft means less control of distance and less margin for error. Amateurs need a bigger error margin! We are not Phil Mickelson and trying to be is like punching a ticket to bogey-land.
Loft Down
Whenever possible we should choose a lower lofted club around the greens. Sure there will be times where a high lofted club is the only option, like having to carry a bunker and stop the ball on a short-sided pin. But in most other situations it is a better choice to pick a lower lofted club and try to get the ball rolling as soon as possible. It is not uncommon to use mid-irons or even long irons with a putting stroke to get the ball airborne for a very short distance and then rolling after that.
Rule of Thirds
A great rule to use when deciding what club to hit and what distance to carry the ball is the rule of thirds. The best chips will be airborne for 1/3 of the distance, and roll the other 2/3 of the way. The intention is for the ball to be rolling like a putt when it gets to the hole.
Conclusion
We always want to hit the hero shot, but typically hero shots do not work out very well. The safest and most accurate way to get the ball closer to the hole in the short game is to loft down and get the ball rolling as soon as possible.
