Skip to content
    • Tour Homepage
    • PGA Tour
    • LIV Golf
    • DP World Tour
    • LPGA
    • LET
    • The Masters
    • The Open
    • The Players
    • US Open
    • PGA Championship
    • Ryder Cup
    • Solheim Cup
    • WITB
    • Betting
    • News
    • Features
    • Equipment Homepage
    • Reviews
    • Drivers
    • Fairway Woods
    • Hybrids
    • Irons
    • Wedges
    • Putters
    • Golf Balls
    • DMDs
    • Apparel
    • Shoes
    • Trolleys
    • Features
    • News
  • Buying Advice
    • Rules
    • WHS
    • Features
    • News
    • Instruction Homepage
    • Driving Tips
    • Long Game
    • Iron Play
    • Short Game
    • Putting
    • Learn from the pros
    • Course Management
    • Fitness
    • Mental Game
    • Nutrition
  • Giveaways
    • Top 100 Rankings
    • Travel
    • Top 100s Tour
    • Society Guide
    • NCG Golf Podcast
    • NCG Top 100s Podcast
    • Your Golf Podcast by NCG
  • Magazine
    • Why walking is how golf is meant to be played
    • Why walking is the only way to truly appreciate a golf course
    • Is walking in golf just as important as the swing?
National Club GolferNational Club Golfer Logo
  • TourHas submenu items

    Tour Homepage

    • PGA Tour
    • LIV Golf
    • DP World Tour
    • LPGA
    • LET
    • The Masters
    • The Open
    • The Players
    • US Open
    • PGA Championship
    • Ryder Cup
    • Solheim Cup
    • WITB
    • Betting
    • News
    • Features
  • EquipmentHas submenu items

    Equipment Homepage

    • Reviews
    • Drivers
    • Fairway Woods
    • Hybrids
    • Irons
    • Wedges
    • Putters
    • Golf Balls
    • DMDs
    • Apparel
    • Shoes
    • Trolleys
    • Features
    • News
  • Buying Advice
  • ClubHas submenu items
    • Rules
    • WHS
    • Features
    • News
  • InstructionHas submenu items

    Instruction Homepage

    • Driving Tips
    • Long Game
    • Iron Play
    • Short Game
    • Putting
    • Learn from the pros
    • Course Management
    • Fitness
    • Mental Game
    • Nutrition
  • Giveaways
  • CoursesHas submenu items
    • Top 100 Rankings
    • Travel
    • Top 100s Tour
    • Society Guide
  • PodcastsHas submenu items
    • NCG Golf Podcast
    • NCG Top 100s Podcast
    • Your Golf Podcast by NCG
  • Magazine
  • The Joy of WalkingHas submenu items
    • Why walking is how golf is meant to be played
    • Why walking is the only way to truly appreciate a golf course
    • Is walking in golf just as important as the swing?

Sign up here for our newsletter and you'll never slice a drive again. Promise.

Newsletter sign up

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
National Club Golfer Logo

© 2026 National Club Golfer | 2 Arena Park, Tam Lane, LS17 9BF

  • About
  • Advertise
  • Contact
  • Editorial Policy
  • Meet the NCG Team
  • Privacy
  • Terms & Conditions
Country: gb Page generated at: Wednesday, 24 June 2026 at 23:06:21 British Summer Time
golf-tips
Tips
Gary Nicol’s short game secrets: The art of shot selection

published: Apr 28, 2017

|

updated: Oct 3, 2023

Gary Nicol’s short game secrets: The art of shot selection

Paddy WestLink

FacebookXInstagramYouTubePodcast0 comments

Renowned European Tour coach, TrackMan Master and Certified Mind Factor coach Gary Nicol shows us how to hit to various distances

Gary Nicol's short game secrets: The art of shot selection

Table of Contents

Jump to:

  • rebecca mcginley: how i hit a fade
  • ali taylor: how to maximise spin with your wedges
  • marcus armitage tips: how to hit a fade

In our quest to learn how to improve shot selection, The Golf Shack Academy on tour found our way to Archerfield Links, East Lothian, Scotland. Whilst there, we caught up with Gary Nicol, European Tour coach at TPEGS coaching, also based at Archerfield.

The art of shot selection

We asked Gary to demonstrate the best approach to different yardages, as this can often present several considerations; what club to use, how hard to hit the ball and what stance to adopt.

Gary showed us his method for tackling the following distances:

75 yards


56 degree wedge

We’re a little bit downwind today. I’m going to try and land this a little bit short of the flag, thinking about trying to release it up the bank onto the back level of the green.

50 yards


52 degree wedge

For me, I want to feel fairly evenly balanced; 50/50 on both feet. I don’t want my hands too far forward and I don’t want the ball too far back.

25 yards


52 degree wedge

I wan’t to get a very clear idea of what the ball needs to do. If you can visualise what the ball needs to do, you can start to see the shot a lot more clearly

10 yards


Putter

The big mistake most amateurs make is they reach for the most lofted club in their bag. It’s a straightforward shot and for me, the only option is the putter.

Look out for more videos featuring Gary Nicol and Archerfield golf links coming soon.

About Gary
Gary Nichol: Coaching at TPEGS
Renowned European Tour coach, TrackMan Master and Certified Mind Factor coach Gary Nicol is available for private coaching at Archerfield Links. Gary has successfully coached golfers of all abilities over a 25 year period and spent 16 years traveling around the world. He has worked with over 30 Tour Pros including numerous tournament winners and Ryder Cup players. Gary offers a range of private coaching programmes including – individual one hour lessons, playing lessons, video lessons and analysis. All this is delivered to your email address and smartphone for you to watch and learn from, wherever and whenever you want.

About Archerfield
Shot selection - Archerfield Links
The Performance Centre located in East Lothian, Scotland is regarded as one of the finest golf Coaching and Fitting Facilities in Europe. It boasts state of the art technology from; TrackMan, V1 Video, GEARS, SAM PuttLab and SAM BalanceLab.

They provide an enhanced level of coaching for all levels of ability and world class Junior Coaching programmes.

If you are looking for new golf equipment then look no further, they are now custom fitting PING, Titleist and Callaway golf clubs with a wide range of components and club options available. Their custom fit experts will work with you to find the best solution for your game.

Advertisement

Rebecca McGinley: How I hit a fade

Rebecca McGinley: How I hit a fade

Read full article - Rebecca McGinley: How I hit a fade
Ali Taylor: How to maximise spin with your wedges

Ali Taylor: How to maximise spin with your wedges

Read full article - Ali Taylor: How to maximise spin with your wedges
Marcus Armitage tips: How to hit it high

Marcus Armitage tips: How to hit a fade

Read full article - Marcus Armitage tips: How to hit a fade

About the author

Paddy West

<a href="http://youtubeembedcode.com/en/">Quickly embed a YouTube video onto your website or blog!</a><a href="https://googlemapsgenerator.com">Let your customers know where you are!</a>

Comments (0)

Leave a Comment

No comments yet. Be the first to comment!

What's Popular

ST ANDREWS, SCOTLAND - JULY 17: Cameron Smith of Australia celebrates after putting on the 18th green during Day Four of The 150th Open at St Andrews Old Course on July 17, 2022 in St Andrews, Scotland. (Photo by Charlie Crowhurst/R&A/R&A via Getty Images)

At £190, has The Open Championship crossed the line and become too expensive?

By Matt Chivers | Jun 4, 2026

Read full article At £190, has The Open Championship crossed the line and become too expensive?
Bryson DeChambeau at LIV Golf Korea | Source: LIV Golf

Show me the money! How much has each LIV player made since signing up?

By Matt Chivers | Jun 10, 2026

Read full article Show me the money! How much has each LIV player made since signing up?
Dustin Johnson. Peter Uihlein and Branden Grace | Source: LIV Golf

How much has each LIV golfer made compared to their PGA Tour earnings?

By Matt Chivers | Jun 10, 2026

Read full article How much has each LIV golfer made compared to their PGA Tour earnings?
Best Golf Balls 2026 | Source: NCG

Best Golf Balls 2026: The Ultimate Guide for Every Swing Speed and Handicap!

By Max Mcvittie | Jun 23, 2026

Read full article Best Golf Balls 2026: The Ultimate Guide for Every Swing Speed and Handicap!

Best Budget Irons 2026

By | Jun 18, 2026

Read full article Best Budget Irons 2026
Three golfers on the tee | Source: Adobe Stock

WHS allows you to play from different tees in competitions – so why do some golf clubs still ignore this?

By Max Mcvittie | May 28, 2026

Read full article WHS allows you to play from different tees in competitions – so why do some golf clubs still ignore this?
Tommy Fleetwood and John Terry at Wentworth | Source: Getty Images

Which England footballers are the best golfers?

By Matt Chivers | Jun 23, 2026

Read full article Which England footballers are the best golfers?
SOUTHAMPTON, NY - JUNE 17: Brooks Koepka of the United States celebrates with the U.S. Open Championship trophy after winning the 2018 U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club on June 17, 2018 in Southampton, New York. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images)

What are the US Open cut rules?

By Matt Coles | May 9, 2025

Read full article What are the US Open cut rules?
richest golfers of all time

Who are the richest golfers of all time?

By Matt Chivers | Oct 1, 2025

Read full article Who are the richest golfers of all time?
Blank golf cards on the tournament table | Source: Adobe Stock World Handicap System

Should competition scores be the only ones that count for handicap?

By Steve Carroll | Jun 11, 2026

Read full article Should competition scores be the only ones that count for handicap?
The 18th Hole and 9th Hole of Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in the Southampton, N.Y. on Monday, Sept. 15, 2025. (Copyright USGA/John Mummert)

How much does it cost to play at Shinnecock Hills?

By Matt Chivers | Jun 14, 2026

Read full article How much does it cost to play at Shinnecock Hills?