| After mastering the concept of the tee shot, the next | | | | to let the club do the work for you: don't think you |
| step as a golf instruction beginner is to move on to the | | | | have to assist the ball through the air. |
| short game and what are known as approach shots. | | | | Another approach shot is known as the chip shot. |
| For most people, these shots will be increasingly more | | | | You'll need to use a chip shot once you're within about |
| difficult because they require more skill & patience than | | | | 30 yards from the green, usually after a fairway drive |
| a simple tee shot. | | | | or tee shot. The idea is for this shot to have a much |
| There are a variety of approach shots, all of which | | | | shorter trajectory, so you will need to use a less lofted |
| are used in different situations depending on where | | | | club. Proper weight distribution is paramount to getting |
| your initial shot lands on the course. However, your | | | | off a decent chip shot. If you're a right handed golfer, |
| intention with these shots is always to land on the | | | | you want to put the majority of your weight on the left |
| green. | | | | side and hold this position through the duration of your |
| The pitch shot is an approach shot that is played from | | | | shot. |
| farther away than the other shots. Using a wedge, the | | | | There are generally two kinds of chip shots that we |
| ideal pitch shot is the perfect combination of enough | | | | want to concern ourselves with. The first one is what's |
| swing momentum to carry your shot through, but not | | | | known as the bump-and-run shot, and the second is a |
| enough to send it sailing over the green. Trajectory will | | | | flop shot. The Bump And Run is usually taken with an |
| be low to average depending on how far you are | | | | 8, 7 or 6 iron club and with the clubface hooded. That |
| from the cup and you want to make sure the ball | | | | way your shot will have have less loft. You also want |
| doesn't roll too far. | | | | to have just enough power in your backswing to |
| You must start off with a slightly open stance, | | | | follow through. The flop shot is used when you want |
| positioning your right foot directly across from the ball. | | | | to get over an obstacle like a rough patch or a sand |
| When following through on a pitch shot, always make | | | | trap, so you're going to want to have a much higher |
| sure to keep your backswing as short as you possibly | | | | trajectory in order to push the ball over. Open up your |
| can. Failure to keep your backswing in check will | | | | stance and follow through as far under the ball as |
| usually cause you to instinctively put the brakes on | | | | possible to try and pop it up, and you'll keep your ball |
| your shot while accelerating, which is a definite no-no. | | | | away from the danger zones with a good position for |
| You want to have enough confidence in your wedge | | | | a subsequent shot. |