Golf Forums - IS THERE ANY PROFESSIONAL OUT THERE WILLING TO HELP ME WITH MY SHORT GAME

Hi,

I have been playing golf for just over 7 years and have a current playing handicap of 9.  My problem is that my game falls apart from 40 yards in and despite spending many hundereds of hours (and I really do mean many hundreds of hours) practising there has been absolutely no improvement at all.  I have tried having lessons from various professionals and this has made little or no difference.  I  have a keen daughter who also plays golf and with the cost of her University place my available funds for golf lessons has now dried up especially when they may not even  cure the problem.

I absolutely live to play golf but this part of my game is now starting to take away that enjoyment.  I am not the type of person who gives up but it has now got so bad I really cannot see anyway forward.

-- 14/03/2009 09:13:19: post edited by TheSocialGolfer.

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You say that you have a problem from 40 yard in but don't say what shots are causing your problems.

Is there a particular shot that you cannot master or is it most shots in general?

Seeing as you have a handicap of 9 you must be able to manage the tee to near the green part of the game pretty well.

Russ

Hi,

It is all shots whether a straight chip or chip and run.  That is exactly the problem if I could sort this area of my game then I would be 2 or 3 shots lower.  I am fairly straight off the tee (over 70% of my tee shots hit the middle of the fairway)and a good putter (average about 30 putts per round). Regards Stuart

I am not a certified professional, but have played some mini tour events and US Open Qualifiers. If you want to improve your shorter shots, keep your right palm pointing toward the ground on your backswing. This will keep your clubface square and keep you from rolling your hands. If you can do this you will start hitting shots of 30-90 yards at your target, and afterpractice for a few weeks you will learn the "feel" part to control your distance! I would suggest practicing on the course as much as you can. Drop 2 balls at 40, 60 and 80 yards! Good luck!

i am not a professional but I do have a good short game, what happens from 40 yards in, do you come up short, do you over shoot the green, what club do you use. 

It might sound stupid but anything could happen.  I generally chip with an Cleveland 51 degree approach wedge.  I have tried both an 8 or 9 iron without much improvement.  I did play with our professional last Sunday and he suggested I should practice hitting the ball with my right arm, which I can do without too much problem and then add my left arm to it.  After looking at this I believe my backswing may be a little too long which i have now shortened.  I also believe I may have been cocking my wrists instead  than hinging them.  I understand hinging them is where they go backwards and forwards as a result of the change of direction in the swing.  I tried this in the garden last night and there seemed to be an improvement.  From last weekend I have decided to face my demons so to speak and use a wedge or 9 iron off the green instead of my putter.  I hope this provides more information.

im not a pro (but that is what i want to do with my live that or go on tour) my short game is pretty good and after reading the posts u have put up what clubs do u use to chip putt and pitch with? what is your goal when you chip do you try to fly iy to the hole than stop it?

As regards clubs see above.  Putting is not a problem as I am a good putter and usually take about 30 putts per round.  Furthermore due to my poor chipping not many of them are short putts.  I do try and picture the shot I am trying to play but with my current total lack of confidence I probably have more panic than picture.  Good luck with your cold.

For the chipping, where you want the ball to travel through the air for the minimum amount of time and roll to the green like a putt.  I normally use a PW for the shorter ones, upto 15 feet or so.  And for the longer ones I would change to a 9 iron.

I have the ball in the middle of my stance, stance open with my feet about two inches apart.  My weight is on my front foot, roughly 75%, and I grip right down to the bottom of the grip.  Then all I do is a putting stroke, but keeping my hands in front of the ball.

Hope this helps, it certainly improved my chipping.

Russ