Golf: Fly the Ball, Bounce the Ball, Roll the Ball!

In golf the quickest way to lower your score is to sharpen up your short game. There are three trajectories to get the golf ball onto the green; low, medium and high. When I am coaching my students I try to match their skill level to the flight, so the higher the handicap the lower the trajectory we start with.

We would start with a 7 iron and with the ball in the middle of the stance, weight a little forward and the shaft leaning just in front of the ball. Make a small backswing the pivot around with your body trying keep your hands quiet. Depending on the length of your swing, the ball should pop up then bounce and run. Master this, then move on to the medium flight.

To add more height, simply add more loft. Firstly make the same golf swing but try using your wedge.  Then nudge the ball a little forward and when you start your backswing, the wrists begin to hinge as you pivot. I also like to encourage the face of the club to open by letting the left forearm rotate slightly. The downswing should be a pivot. Your body has to move to maintain the correct forward lean of the shaft so pivot on your left leg as your chest turns. Let the club slide under the ball using the clubs loft to get the ball up. The secret to a good short game is to keep your hands stable and the club low through impact.  The wedge should give you medium flight and a little roll.

The high shot or lob is a higher risk and also higher skill shot. Try using more loft up to 64deg, set the face a little open make a bigger swing the longer and languid the swing the higher it will go, if you make good contact.