Improve Your Short Game and Putting with Expert Tips

Those Weekend Golf Guys

(00:00) Improving Golf Scoring Techniques

This chapter is all about improving your golf scoring by mastering the ups and downs of the short game. Jeff Smith, a Golf Magazine Top 100 teacher, explains the importance of having two key shots: the firm-handed scrape (or bump and run) and understanding how to position yourself on different slopes. We explore how to maintain a stable base on various terrains, focusing on the importance of aligning your shoulders with the slope and adjusting your posture before determining the length of the club. Jeff emphasizes the significance of balance and stability, especially when dealing with upslopes around the greens, to ensure precise and predictable shots.

(13:39) Effective Short Game Techniques

This chapter delves into the nuances of controlling hand and wrist movements in various activities, such as tossing a tennis or golf ball, throwing a dart, or shaking hands. We explore the concept of maintaining a balance between being too loose and too stiff, emphasizing the importance of the "Goldilocks zone"—a middle ground where movements are neither too rigid nor too floppy. By examining how this principle applies to golf, particularly in shots like the "firm-handed scrape" or "bump and run," we discuss how to achieve a stable and balanced setup. This approach helps to avoid common pitfalls like thin and fat shots, resulting in more consistent, crisp contact. The importance of prioritizing balance, club length, and ball position is also highlighted as key factors for successful execution.

(23:57) Mastering Golf Short Game Techniques

This chapter focuses on the techniques required to execute precise short game shots around the greens, especially from challenging lies like bunkers or slopes. We explore the critical concepts of establishing a stable base by planting the downhill leg firmly and matching the shoulder line to the slope. Two primary shot techniques are discussed: the firm-handed scrape and the hinge and thump. The hinge and thump shot involves hinging the wrists to get the club vertical on the takeaway and then unhinging to thump the ground at the lowest point of the swing, typically near the front hip joint. This technique allows the ball to pop up softly, making it ideal for high, soft shots like lobs or flops. We emphasize the importance of ensuring the club gets below the ball, whether in grass or sand, to achieve the desired shot outcome.

(34:12) Enhancing Putting Skills for Lower Scores

This chapter is all about improving your golf score by focusing on two lifesaver shots—the firm-wristed scrape shot and the hinge and thump shot—and honing your putting skills beyond just stroke technique. We emphasize the importance of speed control, advocating for putts that stop just past the hole to avoid negative feedback from missed putts. By practicing putting to the fringe, golfers can develop better distance control without the discouragement of missed holes. We also explore the importance of aiming and consistent putting mechanics, suggesting drills like hitting the flagstick from two feet away to ensure straight putts. Finally, we discuss effective green reading techniques, highlighting the importance of keeping your eyes level to accurately assess the tilt of the green.

(42:55) Improving Green Reading Techniques

This chapter emphasizes the importance of holistic green reading in golf, particularly using the Aimpoint method. We explore the necessity of assessing the entire terrain between the ball and the hole, not just the immediate ground. By reading with your feet and feeling the slope through various parts of your body—legs, hips, torso, and overall body lean—you can gain a better understanding of the green. We address common resistance to this method and explain how defending ineffective green-reading techniques can hinder improvement. For those seeking to lower their golf scores, adopting this approach is crucial. A reference to a previous detailed episode on this topic is also mentioned for further learning.