The short game isn’t about power; it’s the art of turning yards into inches and silence into confidence. When you step onto the practice green, you enter a laboratory of touch.
Chipping: Feel the Ground
- Use a narrow stance; weight slightly forward; keep your wrists quiet.
- Let the club graze the grass; brush, don’t scoop.
- Vary your club selection: 7 iron for bumpandrun, wedge for loft. Experiment with rollout.
Pitching: Arc and Acceleration
- Set up with an open stance and open clubface.
- Hinge your wrists naturally; maintain tempo; accelerate through impact.
- Focus on your landing spot; choose a patch of green where you want the ball to land.
Bunker Play: Embrace the Sand
- Dig your feet in for stability; aim to splash the sand, not the ball.
- Open your clubface wide; swing along your body line, not at the pin.
- Follow through fully; let the loft do the work.
Putting: The Quiet Conversation
- Read the green from both sides; notice slopes and grain.
- Grip lightly; keep your head still; listen for the drop.
- Practice distance control by putting to the fringe; learn to feel length, not just line.
“The finesse of golf is found within ten yards of the hole; it’s here the game whispers its secrets.”
Mastery of the short game builds confidence that spills into every tee shot. Each chip, pitch, bunker splash, and putt is a chance to listen to the course and refine your touch. Patient practice in this zone turns pressure into poise.
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