Short Game Chef (Parker McLachlin) Short Game Videos

[iacas]

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Share your thoughts on these videos down below.

 

 

[TourSpoon]

I've been watching the Short Game Chef as he popped up on my feed a few weeks ago. He's got some good stuff for sure. The low spinner video "Pause Drill" has made a difference in how I practiced this week. 

[billchao]

I only watched the first video so far but I like it. It reinforces things I’m working on as I try to find my pitching motion again. I tend to get a little too much wrist hinge and make too long of a backswing. For me the key is similar to what’s stated in the video: less hinge and low inside takeaway.

[boogielicious]

I watched them all. The pitch and flop videos are very similar to how @iacas taught me in Erie for chip and pitch. Very similar to the chip and pitch videos here.

In the sand video, he has the ball a bit back from where I’ve been taught, but it may just be the camera angles. The low hands, wide stance, handle back, forward body lean are the same as I’ve been taught.

The low spinner video was something new for me and I really don’t do that type of shot. I mostly do the first video type swing for most shots and then a pitch from rough.

I liked his comment in the lesson video about learning to love turf interaction. And his emphasis on setup helping you there is helpful.

Setup is the key for all these shots and that’s where I slip at times on the course. I need to practice setup a lot more. I tend to get the handle too far forward.

[Bob M]

I have seen these videos previously, as well as a bunch of his others, and have been focusing on developing the stock pitch and need to do more work on bunker shots, which is a weak area for me. Frankly, at my handicap level neither the Flop or the Low Spinner are "go to" shots for me anyways, but I have tried both. 

I find Parker's explanations clear and easy to follow...and execute. Also really liked some of the other content on TGJ. 

 

 

Edited April 20, 2023 by Bob M
clarity

[Darkfrog]

I watched the first two (pitch, low spinner). Plan to watch the last two (flop, bunker) later today.

I didn't quite get the physics of the low spinner shot, I need to watch again and pay more attention. I don't think this is a shot I would attempt on course though. I probably use a basic pitch shot >90% of the time.

[jonessey]

On 4/20/2023 at 10:28 PM, Darkfrog said:

I watched the first two (pitch, low spinner). Plan to watch the last two (flop, bunker) later today.

I didn't quite get the physics of the low spinner shot, I need to watch again and pay more attention. I don't think this is a shot I would attempt on course though. I probably use a basic pitch shot >90% of the time.

Hi! It's perfectly normal not to grasp all the nuances of the low spinner shot on first viewing, and watching it again with more attention should help you better understand the physical principles behind it. Even if it's not a shot you feel comfortable attempting on the course, it's always worth learning different shot techniques to improve your overall golfing skills. For the majority of your shots, you rely on a basic pitch, which is a reliable and commonly used technique in golf, accounting for over 90% of your approach shots. It's essential to have a reference shot that you can execute with confidence on the course. As you develop your knowledge and skills, you may have the opportunity to incorporate other shots into your game when the situation calls for it. Happy golfing!

[Darkfrog]

On 7/26/2023 at 2:41 PM, jonessey said:

Hi! It's perfectly normal not to grasp all the nuances of the low spinner shot on first viewing, and watching it again with more attention should help you better understand the physical principles behind it. Even if it's not a shot you feel comfortable attempting on the course, it's always worth learning different shot techniques to improve your overall golfing skills. For the majority of your shots, you rely on a basic pitch, which is a reliable and commonly used technique in golf, accounting for over 90% of your approach shots. It's essential to have a reference shot that you can execute with confidence on the course. As you develop your knowledge and skills, you may have the opportunity to incorporate other shots into your game when the situation calls for it. Happy golfing!

I could be wrong, but this reads like ChatGPT wrote this.

[colin007]

3 hours ago, Darkfrog said:

I could be wrong, but this reads like ChatGPT wrote this.

Ha! Rereading it, I think you might be right!

[Ty_Webb]

I hope you don't mind me raising this one from the dead. I got shortgamechef's video access thing for a few months in 2024. I watched his yip fix videos (the general gist is similar to the first video above, but with a lot more detail) and it made a lot of sense. I was working on it in my backyard off a mat for a while and my yippy thing was mostly gone. Aside from anything else, the flop shot using that technique is so easy and controllable. But I got onto a golf course for the first time of the year and found myself by the green on a downslope with the ball sitting down a little in the rough and I was, not to put too fine a point on it, f***ed. Shallow is all well and good from a good flat lie and I understand it, but you can't make that your be all and end all. I still don't know if it's a good idea to use steep all the time or just when you need to. I have a hard enough time with one technique, let alone too. 

Just got a pitching skillest lesson with Erik and unless I misunderstood things some, he wants me a bit steeper. @iacas - where do you fall on the steep vs shallow argument and how do you vary it according to need?

[iacas]

1 minute ago, Ty_Webb said:

I hope you don't mind me raising this one from the dead. I got shortgamechef's video access thing for a few months in 2024. I watched his yip fix videos (the general gist is similar to the first video above, but with a lot more detail) and it made a lot of sense. I was working on it in my backyard off a mat for a while and my yippy thing was mostly gone. Aside from anything else, the flop shot using that technique is so easy and controllable. But I got onto a golf course for the first time of the year and found myself by the green on a downslope with the ball sitting down a little in the rough and I was, not to put too fine a point on it, f***ed. Shallow is all well and good from a good flat lie and I understand it, but you can't make that your be all and end all. I still don't know if it's a good idea to use steep all the time or just when you need to. I have a hard enough time with one technique, let alone too. 

Just got a pitching skillest lesson with Erik and unless I misunderstood things some, he wants me a bit steeper. @iacas - where do you fall on the steep vs shallow argument and how do you vary it according to need?

My flop shots are 6-7° down (AoA). Does that answer it? 😄 

The longer answer is… You have to be able to do both shots.