tuition & instruction
Issue 4:
Your Coach in your Pocket Series...
Your Coach in Your Pocket, Andre Louw
Short Game
(Any shot around the green)
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ost people include putting into the “short game” category, however putting is a game within the game its self. This we will cover in the next issue. Short game in this article refers to the shots around the green. MYTH: “Short game is the most important; if your short game is good you will score well” TRUTH: The better your ball striking is the less important short game becomes. You are probably wondering how I can say that the better your ball striking the less important short game becomes. What I have discovered using strokes gained stats to analyse a players true performance is that how short game has a different importance level to different golfers. For you to determine your true strengths and weaknesses you need to monitor your strokes gained stats before spending hours around the green. Check out www.golfstatscoach.com for more info. Tiger Woods only had one short game shot in his final round of the 2019 Masters, so
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for him the short game was definitely not what made him win. Now the mid to high handicapped player is faced with more short game shots in a round due to either, distance limitations, poor ball striking or is someone that is very new to the game. The key is to place your attention in the areas that will gain you shots and not just generalise. This being said though, if you have below average to poor skill in the short game department, no matter your skill level, it is worth your while to at least put in the effort to learn to hit a basic chip shot and a basic bunker shot. Now let’s look at the factors that have an influence on the short game: 1. Strike 2. Club path and face angle 3. Angle of attack and loft of the club 4. Club head speed A good shot is a combination of all these factors working together and also depends on the type of shot you want to play. I will cover the basic bunker and chip shot.
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July | August 2020
