| How to get out of trouble fast
Remember -- a ball will fly from a grassy lie. In heavy rough, keep the wrists firm. Close the face to hook the ball, open it to fade it.
How to chip it close
Choose a club that gets the ball rolling early. Choke down on the grip. Keep clubface square to target. Play the ball back in an open stance. Keep hands ahead at address and impact.
How to hit your short irons close
Land the ball short when playing with the wind. Play the ball further back in your stance. Choose and focus on your target. Concentrate on good clean contact. Aim directly at the hole.
How to drain more putts
Go with your first read. Keep your eyes over the ball at address. Keep your head and body still throughout. Think of your arms and shoulders as a triangle. Make a pendulum swing. Accelerate through impact.
How to get up and down from sand
Keep hands low. Play ball opposite your front toe. Open the clubface 45 degrees right of the target. Use a three quarter swing only. Contact the sand an inch or two behind the ball. Always follow-through.
How to make more very long putts
by Phil Mickelson
On putts of 20 feet or more, most players get the feel for distance by looking at the hole and making practice strokes that are the same in length. This has only limited value. By not varying the length of these practice strokes, you don't give your brain enough information to determine what length of stroke is really required.
On long putts, Phil Mickelson says, he deliberately makes a practice stroke that is too long; then he makes one that is too short; by performing these two extremes, he knows instinctively that the desired length of stroke is somewhere in the middle. He repeats the process gradually narrowing the distance between the long and short strokes until he eventually locks into the one that is perfect for that particular putt.
Follow-through controls distance in the sand
by Corey Pavin
Most amateurs have more trouble gauging the distance of their shots from the sand than actually getting out. that's because they try to control how far the ball goes with their backswing. If the pin is cut close, they make a short stabbing motion at the ball. longer shaots are marked by deceleration through impact.
The key to distance from bunkers is your follow-through. Let it dictate your yardage. for short shots make a short follow-through; for longer shots, swing through to a fuller finish.
Basic Shot Dynamics
compiled by Richard Pierce
The full swing
Lift the left heel during the backswing.
Plant the left heel at the start of the downswing.
Make sure to get your left shoulder under your chin
at the end of your backswing.
Draw -- Gets extra distance.
Ball goes right to left.
Aim down the right side of the fairway.
Close the club face just a little.
Stay behind the ball.
Make a good turn and release it.
Fade -- Shape the shot to fit the circumstances.
Ball goes left to right.
Open the club face.
Aim to the left of the target.
Take a normal swing.
The Basic Wedge Shot
Slightly open stance.
Ball back in stance.
Wrists break early.
Short backswing.
Long follow through.
Learn 20 yard feel, 40, and 60, too.
Sand wedge pitch shot
Played with the bounce of the club.
Use a slightly open stance.
Open the club face slightly.
Weight neutral.
The handle of the club must not pass the middle
of your body until the clubhead has struck the ball.
Play the ball off the front of your right foot.
Break wrists early and release from the top.
Feet are active.
Takes no divot.
Hands not to turn over in follow through.
To create spin and make the ball check up,
Keep your hands in front of the ball at
impact and place your weight on your left side.
Putting
Keep your eyes over the ball.
Swing the triangle created by your arms and hands -- by your shoulders.
First dip the left shoulder then dip the right shoulder.
Lower body is still.
Don't peek. (look up early to see where the ball is going.)
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