THE SHORT GAME
Pitching, Chipping and Bunkers
Tour professionals average between 11 and 13 greens in regulation per round – 15 to 20 handicappers about a third of that. This translates to more shots around the green. Further, the Pro’s will select to chip around 80% of the time, and pitch where obstacles and green slope dictate – amateurs choose the more difficult pitch shot almost exclusively. As bad as the three-putt, so is the two-chip/pitch, a very ignored statistic.
The objective should be to keep the game as simple as possible by following a strategy that helps to reduce the possibility of those unnecessary mishaps around the green.
The short game set-up is unlike that of the full swing. And the set-up for the chip, the pitch and the bunker shot has subtle differences. Learning the fundamentals and set-up routines for each will help with club and shot selection, and will lead to increased confidence and consistency.
Improved putting and short game skills, is without a doubt the fastest way to lower scores.