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