When it comes to chipping, pitching, or bunker shots chances are you’re more likely to miss long or short rather than wide. Try this practice ground challenge that will help you improve your distance control…
What are the different types of short-game shots?
If you’ve missed a green there are quite a few options when it comes to playing onto the green.
Chipping is the main term that comes into mind around a green but there are a few different types of chip shots. One type of chip is a bump and run. As per the name, a player will nudge the ball part of the distance and allow the ball to run the rest of the way out to the hole. This can be performed with any loft of club depending on how far you wish to fly the ball. The art of this shot is judging how far the ball is going to run when it lands. A player would typically perform this shot from the middle to back of their stance.
Another type of chip shot is a flop shot. This is a higher lofted shot where the bag is sent into the air using an open club face, aiming to get the ball to stop pretty quickly when it lands. Again, distance judgment is very important.
If you’ve unfortunately found yourself in the sand, you will need to hit a bunker shot. Bunker shots require a player to set up with an open stance, ball position more towards their front foot, weight forward and hit the sand around an inch before the ball.
How to control distance around the green?
Distance control with chipping is very much determined by swing length. A player would need to determine how far the ball is going to roll when it hits the green and this will vary depending on the course and course conditions.
Advertisement
Bunker play is slightly more complex as Andrew and Craig discuss in the video below.
This instruction video was filmed at Lumine Golf Club, host venue of the 2019 European Tour Qualifying School. For more information, visit their website.
It helps to recreate conditions in your practice that are similar to what you’re likely to face on the course. That’s why I always encourage golfers to use challenges like this to simulate that pressure environment
A great game to work on short distance control is creating a zone around your target, this can be done with tee pegs. The bigger this zone is the easier it should be. Hit 10 shots from different areas around the green and record how many you get in.
You can repeat this as many times as you want from different distances, with different clubs. Make sure it try and beat your score everytime you practice!
Conclusion
Distance control with any golf club takes time and practice. This little drill works throughout your golf bag to help you get it closer to the flag the next time you play.
What other range games do you play? Let us know in the comments or tweet us.
- RELATED: The Downhill Chip Shot with Jack McDonald
- RELATED: The Basic Principles of Chipping Around a Green
Advertisement