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    From the topic archives:

    Short Game

    Automatic is everything

    1 comment
    Topics: Short Game,Uncategorized

    by Cameron

    The longer we play the more we should realise the impact of automatic on our golf game.

    Automatic is more important than tips and quick fixes. It’s more important than the past, the future, your talent, than birdies and bogeys, than failures, than successes, what your golf coach thinks, says or does. It is more important than style, physical strength or skill. It will make or break a golfer and is the difference between a successful golf career and an unfulfilled one.

    The significant thing is that we have a choice every time way we choose to play. We can’t change the past and we can only effect the future. We can’t change the fact that sometimes the ball will bounce in a certain way. We can’t change the weather or what our playing partners will say or do. The only thing we can do is decide to play golf automatically – to play in the present.

    Golf is hard. Our automatic game and belief in remarkable makes it easier. Playing golf can make us nervous, doubtful or even scared – Automatic is the road map to confidence, improvement and fun. It is also the only part of our game which allows us to be the best that we can be.

    Automatic is everything!

    I’d like to thank my mate Evan Spargo who inspired this post with his “Attitude” mantra. If you’d like to learn more about automatic, check out my ebook Play Golf Your Way.

    A golf lesson that needs to be experienced to be appreciated

    5 comments
    Topics: Short Game

    by Cameron

    “Drive for show and putt for dough”

    I‘m sure you’ve heard this one before. Let me tell you that I think this is perhaps the worst advice in golf. Firstly, driving the ball is important – try shooting a good score if your tee shots keep finishing in the trees. Secondly, putting is not that difficult and you shouldn’t need to speed that much time on it.

    Let me explain myself.

    Over the last 12 months or so I’ve been noticing a common theme with my clients in respect to their golf game. For the most part they have a good golf swing, they can hit the ball forwards and they enjoy some sort of consistency.

    I should add here that most of my clients don’t believe their swings are that good. They seem to remember the bad stuff and have trouble accepting the odd poor shot or two. This is my opinion that their swings are good, not theirs.

    Onward.

    After some full swing training I almost always do some putting exercises. Again, I’m usually pleasantly surprised at the results. Their strokes are solid and they’re able to follow my advice and execute the challenges that I throw at them successfully. There’s potentially room for improvement but it’s rare to see mental (or technical) flaws that need urgent attention. My main point here? They are good putters.

    The glaring golf problem that seems universal

    Then the fun starts with the lesson. We move onto chipping.

    I don’t know why it is but chipping proficiency is always way below that of their full swing and putting skills. And I don’t mean just a little bit – it’s usually a long way below.

    I’ve had 15 handicappers come in complaining about their golf swing. This is funny because they don’t miss a shot for the first 30 minutes and perform exceptionally well. Ask them to chip a ball a few metres and they go to water. They miss the ball, hit 20 centimeters behind it or top the ball severely. I’ve had people miss the net which is only a few metres in front of them. If it wasn’t so serious it would be funny.

    The end result is this poor chipping skill can’t allow you to play your best. What’s the answer?

    I believe that the first step is NOT to start practicing. No! You need to actually experience this chipping problem to fully appreciate it. Reading about it or thinking about it is not enough – you need to fully experience it with your own body and feelings. Here’s how…

    The one golf drill that every golfer must do!

    Last weekend I wanted to test this universal chipping problem by using a novice golfer as my test subject. This Guinea pig wasn’t a complete beginner, had good hand and eye coordination and was skilled at other sports. He was the perfect subject.

    We started on the practice fairway and hit a small bucket of balls. The results were OK – he didn’t set the world on fire but after twenty minutes was able to hit a series of good shots and was enjoying the experience. He definitely had enough swing skill to get his way around a golf course with some success.

    Then to the putting green.

    This was potentially an embarrassing moment for me. My test subject was leading our nine hole challenge match after the first four holes and was letting me know all about it. I chose some tricky closing putts and managed to win one up. The moral? A novice golfer can be competitive on the putting green with a scratch golfer. And don’t think my putting is awful – it’s probably the most consistent part of my game.

    Thinking he was ready for the US Tour, my test subject was ready for the final test.

    Chipping.

    This was really funny. After nearly beating me on the putting green his confidence was quickly shattered when he duffed (read: didn’t get the ball onto the green) his first shot. His second shot was a classic overcompensation and it was bladed across the green and into thick ti-tree. To be honest he really struggled with the chipping – even his good shots ran way past the hole and rarely were in comfortable one-putt range.

    For a laugh we tried some difficult shots. These included bunker shots, lob shots and pitches from tight lies. The results were more dramatic. While I was able to find a way to get the ball onto the green, and sometimes close, my mate couldn’t. If we were on the golf course or keeping score he would have many more shots than me. Over 18 holes of golf this could be a huge number.

    The solution?

    This chipping (short game) problem needs urgent action. I’ve been motivated enough to focus my attention on producing a short game manual. There is a definite lack of quality material available on the golf market in this area. Most golf instruction focuses on the full swing and this is a shame. If you want to shoot lower scores you must improve your chipping and other areas of your short game.

    The first step is to actually experience how poor chipping affects your score. Find a good short game exponent and have a contest on the chipping green. Hopefully this will motivate you enough to start practising.

    Better still, use your free time to work on your short game. Forget about your full swing and your putting, at least for a while, and see if your score improves. I know that the long game is more fun and sinking putts is probably a boost for your confidence, but if you really want to play better golf devote some time to your chipping. If you get really keen you could take this further by working on your bunker play and pitching.

    I’m planning a short game book and hopefully it will be something of real quality. I’m planning on having it finished by the end of the year. If you have any suggestions about what you’d like to learn or be added to the manual, drop me a line in the comments section below.

    7 Lessons for Better Chipping

    0 Comments
    Topics: Short Game

    by Cameron

    It’s true. If you want to improve your golf game you really should improve your chipping. Easy words to say, but how do you do it?

    Here’s my seven best lessons for improving your chipping;

    Brush the ground to learn a perfect strike

    Grab a piece of chalk and draw a line (perpendicular to the target line) on some carpet or a golf mat. With a clear mind attempt to hit the chalk line with the bottom of your club. Forget about all the rules and regulations that you may be used to and focus your attention on brushing (striking) the line.

    When you can hit the line consistently you’re ready to introduce a ball. Place the ball about an inch behind the line and keep your focus on hitting the line. This objective will make you strike the ball first and the big ball (Earth) second.

    To push yourself further close your eyes, first without a ball and then with one. When you can strike the line with your eyes closed your chipping is on the improve.

    If you ever get stuck or start mishitting your chips come back to the chalk line. It’s a simple drill that will improve your short game no end. Also remember to brush the chalk line – hit it hard enough to remove some chalk but don’t bash your club into the ground. A smooth and controlled stroke is your goal.

    Place the ball off your back foot

    This is about as technical as I like to get. If hitting the chalk line is not working or you find it difficult – then move the ball opposite your back foot. This tip makes it easier to hit the ball first and avoid chipping’s biggest mistake – hitting the ground first.

    Although placing the ball further back in your stance will result in a lower trajectory, this is much better than duffing chip shots.

    Forget about the high lob shot

    I know this will not be that popular but unless you’ve spent plenty of time practicing these shots it’s best you don’t use them. Better to play a shot that you feel comfortable with and one that has a higher percentage of success. For most people this will be a 8 or 9 iron (played off the back foot) that is aimed at a portion of the green.

    I’m not saying never hit a lob shot. If it’s your only chance then go for it, but if you have an easier and safer option I believe you’ll be better off. This is also a hint to practice those difficult shots until you can play them with more confidence.

    Don’t be scared to use the putter

    It’s not weak to use the putter from off the green. If you’re not feeling good about a particular chip shot you can always use your putter. It may not be the prettiest option but it can often be the most effective. If you want to shoot the best score possible then don’t worry about playing boring shots – play the shot that has the most chance of success.

    I’ve also had tremendous success using my three wood for chipping. The bigger club gives the ball the extra momentum it needs to get through the fringe and the larger sole of the three wood slides nicely on top of the grass. In other words you’ll avoid those dreaded duffed shots.

    You can also chip with a 5 and 6 iron. The stroke is similar to a putt but you’re able to get extra impetus on the ball to get through rough and fairway and onto the green.

    Use course strategy to avoid those nasty chips

    I’m a big fan of playing to my strengths. My ball striking is my strongest asset with chipping the weakest. I have been able to play better golf and shoot lower scores by avoiding chip shots where possible. I’ll shoot away from tight pins if missing the target means I’ll be left with a nasty little chip shot.

    Sure, I don’t make many birdies on these holes but I now make less bogeys or worse. I’m minimising the damage and playing to my strengths. I’m sure you’ll surprise yourself with how many shots you can save by playing smarter and away from those tricky pin placements.

    This has been one of the hardest lessons for me to grasp but one that has allowed me to reach a higher level of play, have more fun and reach my potential. This type of lesson isn’t usually that popular but it’s worth exploring if you’re serious about your game.

    A little practice won’t hurt

    You don’t need to spend hours and hours working on your chipping game but some time is beneficial. My advice is to spend 10 minutes per week on hitting the chalk line and thinking about playing smarter rather than the pretty stuff. I know 10 minutes is not much time but this is more than most people devote to their chipping.

    Don’t forget to automate

    Like all parts of the game I think automation of the chipping game will take your results to new heights. There’s no short cut to automating your chipping. It takes discipline, courage and some persistence. The effort is well worth it because you’ll end up with something remarkable.

      There’s really no magic to better chipping. The biggest key is to play the shots you know you can hit. This means forgetting about hitting chips you think you should be able to play and only attempt those you really know you can play successfully.

      This strategy takes some patience. You may have to putt from off the green and play safely from difficult situations when you’ll be tempted to go for it. It’s not always fun but you will shoot lower scores and this is what most people are after. And shooting lower scores really is a lot of fun :)

      Seven steps to magical bunker play

      4 comments
      Topics: Golf Instruction,Short Game,Uncategorized

      by Cameron

      Bunker shots can cause all sorts of anxiety and fear. I’ve seen grown men go week at the knees when their ball lands in a bunker. Sometimes having to hit over a bunker can be a problem, with the thought of duffing the shot so great that a relatively straight forward stroke becomes a difficult one.

      At one point in my golfing life bunker shots were a problem. Below I’ve listed the 7 steps that got my bunker play back on track and should have you playing with more confidence and impressing your golfing mates;

      Step #1: Use a lob wedge – A sand wedge is ok but a lob wedge is better. It has more loft and makes hitting the ball higher and softer from those green side traps easier. If you don’t have a lob wedge you should get one. The best loft to choose is one with around 60 degrees. Anything with less than this will be too close to your sand iron and more won’t allow you to hit the ball with any forward momentum. Best you stick with about 60 degrees.

      Step #2: Forget about swinging outside to in – I’ve seen golfers that have good swings outside the bunker but they can lose the plot when they step inside one. It really is quite funny :) There’s no need to do anything that radically different. You’re still swinging the club. So focus on doing that. I’ve found best results are achieved when you stop thinking about swinging outside in, opening your stance, picking the club up quickly or any other technique. If you can swing the club as you normally do this is a good start. You’ll work out the minor details like alignment etc later.

      Step #3: Open the club face – This is the main difference from a standard golf shot. You must have the club face open to play sand shots successfully. This helps the club slide under the ball without digging too deeply. The open club face ensures the ball will come out high and softly. The best method of doing this is to open the club face first, then grip it. By gripping first you are likely to return the club too square, which defeats the purpose. Open the club face first then take your normal hold on the club.

      Step #4: Place the ball forward in your stance – Believe it or not but you don’t want to hit the ball with your golf club. The club slides under the ball and the sand pushes the ball out of the bunker – not the club. It’s for this reason you need to place the ball forward in your stance. No need to move it too forward – just enough so you can strike the sand behind the ball… remember, you’re are not hitting the ball!

      Step #5: Pre-set the shot – I first heard about pre-setting from Carey Mumford. The idea is to get into your setup, get comfortable and make a few swings (don’t strike the sand or the ball as this incurs a penalty). Then get out of your set-up and check your footprints. You can look to see if your ball position and alignment are correct. Best of all it makes it easy to get into the perfect set-up when it comes to actually hitting the shot. You simply step back into the footprints that you left earlier and hit the shot. There’s less fumbling about, you’ll play more quickly and better!

      Step #6: Learn to take a small amount of sand – you don’t need to take a heap of sand. Just a slither will do. Unless the sand is very fine and soft, too much sand will reduce the height and amount of spin you can achieve. The big mistake I see is golfers approaching bunker shots with a closed club face and then trying to dig the ball out. Much better that you approach bunker shots with the thought of sliding the ball out. When you get this right the ball will come out with plenty of spin and you’ll have more control.

      Step #7: Learn to automate – Automation is the key skill here. When you can step into a bunker and perform the above steps without thinking too much about them you’ll become a better player. When golf becomes a habit rather than conscious thought you’ll do just fine. Automation allows you to perform under pressure and hit those remarkable shots when you really need them.

      Bonus Step: Spend some time in a practice bunker:) This sounds obvious but many golfers think they can improve just by reading an article or watching others perform. If you want to improve your play then I suggest you grab your lob wedge and a few balls and do some practice. Open the club face and slide the club under the ball. I’m sure you’ll start to hit some better shots. Over time you’ll get better and better and once the automation kicks in you will be a good bunker player.

      The final step is to experiment with different clubs and shot situations. But don’t do this until you learn the basic shot with your lob wedge first.

      Those little shots…

      2 comments
      Topics: Articles,Golf Instruction,Short Game

      by Cameron

      I’ve been receiving quite a bit of email about golfers struggling with their short game. I think it’s time to cover some of the basics. Before I do that, there is one key issue holding most golfers back…

      They don’t practice!

      If you are continually let down by poor chipping, bladed pitch shots and duffed bunker shots, then you need to spend some time (maybe ten minutes per week) practicing these shots. There are no miracle cures. If you aren’t prepared to practice then I don’t think you can be helped. I will cover some aspects of practice below.

      Now that’s out of the way let’s get into the good stuff :)

      To master the short game (to your own unique level) doesn’t require any special skills or talent. I have found most golfers who have been playing for any length of time have good skills around the green. They can chip and pitch the ball well – but struggle to be consistent on the golf course.

      The short shots can seem easy (at least easier than the long game) and this is a problem. Golfers like to be careful and try hard with the short game – thinking that the easier the shot the more they can think about it. This is not good. You must let the short game flow and be natural. Trying hard fails. Being careful and safe is worse.

      How would you throw a ball to someone? Would you think about how hard to throw or do you look and shoot? Most people can throw a ball well by looking and then throwing. There is no complication or over thinking. A complete emptiness of approach allows throwing to be a simple and easy task. If you want to be successful with your short game then you need to follow the same approach. There is no other way!

      Thinking less can be uncomfortable, so you may need to put it into practice before taking it to the golf course. Here’s a little practice session that should work well for you.

      Take a handful of balls to the local park or pitching green. I don’t like driving ranges with synthetic grass – best you find an area with real grass. It makes the experience more real.

      Start with small chip shots. Get comfortable (most important) and feel like you’re moving the club gently through the ball. You don’t need much power at this stage. You’re only after a short shot. Your mind should be free of technical thought. Leave concepts like, wrist cock, weight shift, back swing length and follow through at home. Keep moving the club through the ball and see what happens.

      After a few shots you can apply more power. Creep up on it…don’t go for full shots too early. Gradually pick up speed, just like you would if you had to throw a ball to someone who keeps moving further from you. Once the shot feels good you can apply more power. You should be able to feel more wrist cock and a bigger back swing – but don’t analyse. Keep the club moving through the ball and observing the distance each shot travels.

      If your mind is clear and free of technical thought this should be easy for you. If you want to hit the chip or pitch further you apply a little more power and vice versa. There’s nothing too complicated. You’re simply chipping or pitching (throwing?) the ball different distances.

      You can then step this up a little by experimenting with different ball and club face positions. What happens when you move the ball back in your stance and close the club face? You should get a low running shot. What about doing the opposite by moving the ball forward and opening the club face? You should now get a high and soft landing ball flight.

      Keep experimenting and learning what you can and can’t do. It will also help to watch those better than yourself. See how they hit a high soft landing bunker shot. In your own time you can learn the same shot. The key is to keep the task simple. Try and relate your short game to throwing a ball. Keep away from technical thought and analysis. It will only slow you down.

      The big trick is to take this natural and instinctive approach to the golf course. Let the short game flow. Look at the shot and pull the trigger. Your subconscious will work out all the minor details like direction and distance – like it does when you throw a ball. If you get stuck play conservatively. If you haven’t tried a super lob in practice then don’t try it on the golf course. Best you aim for the middle of the green with a shot you know you can play.

      The short game should be fun – there are also no limits. You have fourteen clubs in the bag and you may use all of them for those little shots around the green. Tiger Woods is a master at using his three wood for chip and runs. Is this something you have tried? Or what about using your 9 iron to get out of a bunker?

      A good short game will improve your score. If you keep the process simple and strive for automation you will get better. I guarantee it – but only if you practice!

      Let me know how you get on.

      Good golfing,

      Cameron