![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Naturally this means that they are frequently low trajectory shots that have a short carry distance and which then roll out to the hole. Typically, these are shots that occur within several yards of the green, and usually spend more time on the ground than in the air. Chip shots refer to shots that are made nearer to the green than pitch shots.That is not the case, so let’s take a moment to explain how these two types of shots differ. There is occasionally some confusion as to the difference between pitching and chipping, with some people thinking that the two terms can be used interchangeably. That will ensure that you minimize the number of 3-putts that you have during your round, which is to say that you will limit the number of wasted shots that accumulate on your scorecard. So, although you shouldn’t expect that your proximity to the hole on pitches from 20-60 yards will be as close as with your greenside chips, your goal nonetheless should be to hit your pitch shots to within “makeable” putt range. Obviously, the farther away from the hole that you are, the more difficult it is to hit it close. Whether you are pitching, chipping, or playing from a bunker, your goal should be to get close enough to the pin so that you have a reasonable probability of holing out in one or two putts at the most. The entire purpose of the short game in golf is to reduce the number of putts you will need to get the ball in the hole. This will be followed by subsequent articles on chipping, sand play, specialty shots, and putting. The purpose of this series is to provide you with information that will help you to improve in this vital part of the game and, in the process, to help you to lower your scores.įirst up in this article series is a discussion on pitching. And so I’ve put together a series of articles on each aspect of the short game. In my 35 years of playing golf, I’ve come to understand and appreciate the outsized role that the short game plays in golf. ![]() Skill in the short game is the great equalizer. Overall strength plays no role here as it does in the long game. Man or woman, young or old, short or tall, thin or stout, all can see dramatic improvements in their short game mastery with the right knowledge of technique and a dedication to practice. The good news is that everyone can get much better on their short game. The statement simply recognizes the disproportionate influence that short game shots have on your scorecard. Of course, that’s not to say that other parts of the game aren’t important as well. Would it surprise you to learn that as many as 60%-65% of all shots taken in a round of golf occur inside 100 yards of the hole? Or that fully half of all shots are within 30-40 yards? That’s right, up to about six out of ten shots taken are short game shots! It’s not an exaggeration, then, to say that how you perform in this critical part of the game is the most important determinant of how you will score. Most amateur golfers don’t fully appreciate just how important it is to improve on these vital scoring shots. Generally speaking, short game shots include pitch shots, chip shots, bunker shots, specialty shots around the green, such as lob shots, and putting. When we talk about the “short game” in golf, we are referring to all of the various shots that take place within 100 yards of the hole. ![]()
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