| Without doubt we have all hear the expression in | | | | driving range putting area until you can place the ball |
| golfing "Drive for show and putt for dough. Nothing | | | | within easy putting distance of your target most of the |
| could be truer. In golf as in life - all shots in the end | | | | time. |
| count the same. A lost putt counts the same as the | | | | Pitching for about an hour at a time, it should not take |
| long drive. | | | | long before you should be able to place most of your |
| How many times have you made a good long drive | | | | practice shots to within a six foot circle. Even though |
| off the tee, another second shot just short of the | | | | the grass surface near the circle may not be exactly |
| green , and then for some reason the pitch to the | | | | the same as a putting green, easy adjustments can be |
| green is either too short or too long ?. In the end you | | | | made in your stroke to compensate. |
| may well have ended up taking three putts to put the | | | | All in all for all of your efforts to practice your short |
| ball unto the cup. | | | | game you will improve your pitch and run shots greatly. |
| Four shots have been made from the pitch shot to | | | | Chip shots can also be practiced in this manner. When |
| putting the ball in the cup, which are twice as many as | | | | you place your ball within a six foot circle you will have |
| it took to get from the tee to the near edge of the | | | | only a three foot putt or even less to the golf cup. |
| green. For a par four hole this means a double bogey. | | | | The full hit backspin or the cut shots are more difficult, |
| Have too many of these and your golfing score is | | | | and perhaps should be tried at the practice range of |
| more than ruined. | | | | the golf course. You may well damage your own lawn. |
| Contrary to this, if you can learn to pitch and chip the | | | | These are valuable shots in hitting over trees, out of |
| ball reasonably close to the flag stick, you stand a | | | | heavy rough or sand, or to pitch over a trap where |
| good change of dropping the golf ball for a par score. | | | | there is little room for the ball to run on the green to |
| On the shorter par four holes and most of the par five | | | | the cup. |
| holes, a well placed pitch shot, close to the flag stick, | | | | Playing out of sand traps is a harrowing experience |
| affords the golfing player an opportunity to birdie the | | | | for most high handicap golfers, and is the place in the |
| hole. | | | | golfing game where more shots are wasted than any |
| One of the most certain ways to improve pitching | | | | other place on the golf course, except perhaps the |
| ability is to practice the shot from various distances to | | | | putting green. Even though these trap shots are more |
| the target. From such practice it is soon possible to | | | | difficult for the average player than some others , they |
| learn the range for each club used, and get the idea as | | | | can be learn, when one develops the proper |
| to the length of the backswing necessary for the | | | | coordination of mind m muscles and nerves which |
| needed distance. | | | | control perfect timing. |
| The best first step is to always learn from the Pros. | | | | Finally, all the excellence of good pitch shots, chips and |
| Why waste much time and effort afterwards | | | | sand play will all be of little consequence if one cannot |
| unlearning bad habits picked up along the way. Proper | | | | putt the ball into the cup with reasonable regularity. |
| form and technique in putting is everything. Next | | | | With proper initial professional instruction and a little |
| practice the stroke in your own backyard or on the | | | | regular practice anyone can learn to put well. |