100 yards and in

**tmf9** · April 28, 2009

I really need help on my 100 and in game. I am hitting the ball pretty solid with my driver and irons but my short game is costing me strokes. It seems like I get the ball closer with a 150 yard shot than a 50 yard shot. My putting is not that bad but my pitching and chipping is terrible. Does anyone do anything different when struggling with their short game, or have any good drills?

daviddunn · April 28, 2009

I have the same problem. I can hit my driver a consistent 275+ yards off the tee, either straight, or with a slight draw, but when I'm 100 in I seem to hit fat shots all the time. My chipping and putting is consistently good, but getting to the green from my tee shot is the problem.

**tmf9** · April 28, 2009

well for fat shot i seem to always try to help the ball up, and whenever i do that i think about keeping everything level throughout the swing

**Danattherock** · April 28, 2009

I am really not in much of a position to give advice. Learning the short game myself. But I did recently get Phil Mickelsons short game video set. Just came out a few months back. Got it on Amazon for about $40. Great short game dvds. Covers wedge play, lob shot (of course), bunkers, and a good section on putting. Can't imagine it would do anything but help.

**Gapwedge** · April 28, 2009

When I go to the range I witness nearly 90% or more golfers hitting nothing but drivers, fairway metals, and maybe some mid irons. Seldom to I see someone work with their scoring irons hitting to specific targets with full, 3/4, and 1/2 swings. I am not saying that is your problem I am just saying the amount of practice with the 100 yard in clubs is seldom used.

**Shindig** · April 28, 2009

I really need help on my 100 and in game. I am hitting the ball pretty solid with my driver and irons but my short game is costing me strokes. It seems like I get the ball closer with a 150 yard shot than a 50 yard shot. My putting is not that bad but my pitching and chipping is terrible. Does anyone do anything different when struggling with their short game, or have any good drills?

So, I have a couple of questions for you: * How far do you hit each wedge, full shot? * How far do you hit each wedge, 3/4 shot? * How far do you hit each wedge, half shot? * How far do you hit each wedge, 1/4 shot? (you don't have to answer here - but if you don't know at least roughly, I suggest finding out) I'm not suggesting getting all Pelz with your short game, but I am suggesting knowing these key distances. That way, if you're stuck at a given distance, you know what to do. For example, if I am 55 yards out, I know that a half swing with my 47° will do. 45? Same swing, 51 °. Now, you're not usually on the number, but having an exact reference point is a great starter for feel. You'll actually find your feel improves and you'll be able to pull off more and more bizarre yardages with your wedges. Now, I have another question for you, and this one's just as important. * Why are you 50 yards out at any point? If it's due to hitting a bad approach from 150 yards, and the ball came up way way short, that's fine. That happens. I won't criticize you for going for a green from 150 yards out. And for when those happens, knowing your half wedge distances comes in handy. Also, if you get really good at half wedges, it might be your preferred lay-up distance at some point. But that might not be the cause. I'm going to make up numbers here for a minute, but I think you'll get the idea. If you hit your driver 250, and you're at a 300 yard par-4, and you can't gear up an extra 30 yards to try to drive the green, put the driver down and hit a lay-up. Yes, a lay-up off the tee. Let's say you hit your PW 125 and it's your favorite wedge. Hit your 175 yard club (that might be a 4- or 5-iron). I know that hitting a mid-iron off the tee on what might be (for your buddies) a drivable par-4 isn't much fun. And if they successfully drive the green, you might feel like a chum sitting 125 yards back of them. But you know what's nice? Sitting on the tee and knowing you're going to hit two easy shots and get on a par-4 in regulation. And knowing you just took every number over 5 out of the picture. And that leads to something else that's fun: low scores. So, there's two answers to your questions, being questions themselves: 1. Do you have exact references as starting points? 2. Are you in a bad situation because of a bad shot or because of poor course management?

Pro · April 28, 2009

I wouldnt do what I do because this just seems to work the best for me... I am terrible at chipping so I putt through the rough (not reccomened) and that gets me much closer to the hole than chipping would

**uttexas** · April 28, 2009

Practice your short game all the time. For the next two months only take your LW, SW, GW, and PW to the driving range/practice facility. Only practice your short game.

The only time you hit full shots in practice is during 30 minute warm up at the range. Don't worry, you won't lose your muscle memory for the full shots.

The only way to get better at the short game is to commit to practicing it all the time. Developing feel for the short game is very challenging.

**tmf9** · April 28, 2009

So, I have a couple of questions for you:

Thanks for all the tips, my course managment can be bad sometimes, I've only been playing a year and my uncle has pretty much been my coach because there really isn't a good pro around. He says short game is all feel so he tells me to just practice and it will eventually become natural but it seems it rarely does. Yes most of the time I will be 100 yards and in because of a short par 4 but im not hitting a long iron off the tee because my short game is that bad, I rather learn how to hit a 50 yard shot. I don't lay up because when I catch one it goes 275-280 but I average around 250. I'm young and my thick head couldn't live hitting long irons on drivable par 4's.

RC · April 28, 2009

When I go to the range I witness nearly 90% or more golfers hitting nothing but drivers, fairway metals, and maybe some mid irons. Seldom to I see someone work with their scoring irons hitting to specific targets with full, 3/4, and 1/2 swings. I am not saying that is your problem I am just saying the amount of practice with the 100 yard in clubs is seldom used.

Just to confirm the usefulness in the above quote, today I hit a small bucket before playing 18 holes, and a small bucket afterwards.... I did not think about it until I read this post but I hit exactly one ball with a driver -- just minutes before teeing off. The drive was fine so the rest were little shots with scoring clubs including some 50 yard wedges and even some chips.

Don't get me wrong. I am not claiming any expertise or asking for cudos. All I am saying is practice what you need to practice, and it is not "wasting" balls to hit lots of little shots at the range. Warming up, I sometimes feel silly hitting chip shots on the range and not at the chipping green, but I think a few little chips and a flop or two just before teeing off helps.

**shankopotamus** · April 28, 2009

My short game is so bad that if there is no hazards between me and the green, i have resorted to putting from about 65 yards and in. From there i know i can at least get the ball on the green 98% of the time. Pitching and chipping will get me on the green about 50% at best. Works for me, although i wouldnt suggest it. Unless you like getting strange looks from everyone on the course when you pull out the flat iron on the fairway!

**Pinseeker81** · April 28, 2009

My short game is so bad that if there is no hazards between me and the green, i have resorted to putting from about 65 yards and in. From there i know i can at least get the ball on the green 98% of the time. Pitching and chipping will get me on the green about 50% at best. Works for me, although i wouldnt suggest it. Unless you like getting strange looks from everyone on the course when you pull out the flat iron on the fairway!

Really? Wow. You should get one of those really heavy putters so you can hit it further, lol.

**mdvaldosta** · April 28, 2009

I think most people spend far too much time with their driver and full iron shots on the range, then spend a bunch chipping and putting... but never really practice those 30-70 yard pitch shots.

Busjedwa · April 28, 2009

I had pretty much the same problem but i just used to go out on the course and play rather than spend any time on the practice ground .. so i've changed my habits. Rather than play 9 holes in the morning or evening in the week i take 30 balls onto the practice ground .. and place a marker 50 yards away ... pitch 30 up to the marker using a PW, and 30 back ... then increase the distance and do the same - i may hit 120 - 150 pitches then play just a few holes for fun. I found after just one or two of these sessions i got into a rytham with my pitching which has really helped my overall game too, hitting long irons better too. What i have found when i'm faced with a 50-80 yard pitch on the course, i can visulaise what i've done on the practice ground which helps me and gives me confidence in playing the shot. I read another thread on this site ... about getting a single figure handicap ... http://thesandtrap.com/forum/showthr...t=10993&page;=6 and many messages say concentrate on your short game more ... which i believe is key to me personally getting down low. All the best!!

**Leftygolfer** · April 28, 2009

I believe having the right tool for the shots is key. I carry 2 lob wedges. I can hit the 60 about 80 with a full swing and the 64 about 65-68 yards. That wedge has really helped me with the 50-60 shot because with the 60 I would have to take so much off.

Also pay attention to ball position. Make sure it is in the center of the stance to have consistant contact and not have to drive your legs foward like you do on full shots. This will also make it easier to hit soft shots.

**Fat Slice** · April 28, 2009

...Now, I have another question for you, and this one's just as important.

This makes perfect sense and I am often tempted to do this. The issue for me is that for this to work I need to hit the fairway with the lay-up drive.

If I am going to be shooting for the green out of the rough, I'd rather be closer! Still, the better I get, the more viable of an option laying up becomes. I'll try it the next time out (Friday) for the whole round and see how I score. Thanks for the advice.

**imtomtomim** · April 28, 2009

Well, my short game from 100 in is all feel, which I hate btw. I just don't really have the time to go out and figure out what my half and 1/4 swings pin point distances are. However, I do use the shortened backswing to control my distances. I like what the pelz system suggests but I just don't have as much confidence in hitting my gw shorter than my lw, therefore, I stick with the short clubs, the sw and lw (alternating mainly for lie changes)

When playing, I try to imagine a trajectory of what kind of ball flight I want which helps plan the end product. Along with that, I try to imagine how fast the club is traveling to get that trajectory and I shorten my backswing to that picture, like tiger says, just plug it into the computer and a solution will come out. The whole key is to know what kind of swing will produce what. You can have it pre-planned like the pelz system, or you can just do it by feel, but you need to figure out what your shot looks like, and what makes it look like that. Once you have that image, you can adjust.

**jones** · April 28, 2009

One thing I have noticed that helps me is choking up on the club. Lately I have been carrying 60, 54, and 50 degree wedges. I find that it is easier for me to choke up on the club either all the way with the lob wedge for a short shot than taking a 3/4 backswing. You may want to try this out to take off distance. Each half choke up on the grip will take off a certain amount of yards. For me, choking up is easier to do than do a 3/4 backswing.

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