8
❘
THE DIVOT
❘
AUGUST 2019
●
LESSON TEE
H
ow many
times have
you heard
on TV that if you
buy this or that club
you'll be able to get
out of a bunker, the
rough, hit it 10 yards further and 20
feet higher, and best of all, take 10
shots off your game? Let me tell
you, the secret is not found in an in-
fomercial or by listening to the lat-
est fad. The secret is found by
understanding loft, trajectory, land-
ing angle, speed, spin and rollout. It
sounds like a lot of information,
and it is, but it is easy to under-
stand and fun to practice.
The most common mistake I see
with golfers around the green is
that they're always using their lob
wedge. I see them hoisted golf balls
into the air with the hope that they
spin backward and stop six inches
from the cup.
Essentially, golfers are getting
too much air time when all that is
needed is a short chip shot. The
secret to the short game is eliminat-
ing air time whenever possible. The
ball must be on the ground to slow
down and come to rest. The funny
thing is that most golfers play the
short game by looking to the air
first when looking at the ground is
the answer.
Before hitting your next shot
around the green, consider these
questions:
> Do I really need to get the ball
in the air?
> Is there any obstacle/variable
that keeps me from rolling the ball?
> Can I hit a less lofted club and
still have control of speed?
> What is worse, a missed pitch
or a missed chip?
> Do you know the difference
between a chip and a pitch?
If the last question caused you
to think a little bit, I recommend
you seek guidance on short-game
tactics.
Learning how to navigate
around the greens is the fastest way
to lower scores. Knowing the kind
of shot you need to set up for and
execute is essential to your success.
The secret to the short game is
keeping air time to a minimum.
Continued success!
GROUND
GAME
■ THE SECRET TO
GREENSIDE SUCCESS
IS KNOWING THE
RIGHT TYPE OF
SHOTS TO EXECUTE
BY WADE WILSON, PGA
Learning how to navigate around the greens is the fastest way to lower scores.
