Playing approach shots is what can make or break your round of golf. Landing the ball on the green in regulation makes a huge difference and getting the ball close to the hole from the fairway produces birdie chance and promotes confidence.
On a par-3 you are aiming to get the ball on the green with your first shot, on par-4’s you want to get it on the green on your second shot and on a par-5 you should get the ball the on the green on your third shot.
For many beginner and amateur golfers, missing the green on the approach shot often means coming up short or getting the line wrong. Therefore, it is consistency which is the problem and finding a good consistency in your approach play will allow you to find the green regularly.
The best place to start when improving your approach play is knowing exactly how far you can hit each iron from 5 through to the wedge. Having this knowledge means you can judge which club to use depending on the distance of the shot. If you are struggling with your approach play, always aim for the middle of the green.
When playing approach shots, think about the strength and direction of the wind. If the wind is blowing away from your strongly, the ball will travel further in the air and this means you should choose less club to play the shot.
If the green is uphill, you may want to play the shot with more club. Always think about the circumstances surrounding the approach shot.
Do not be tempted to use a club if the target distance is at the absolute maximum you can generate with the club. Swinging the club harder will not help in making the distance so perhaps choose more club and swing nice and easy instead.
If playing conditions are in your favour, you may wish to attack the hole and put some spin on the ball to stop it close. This is a tricky shot to master but you can practice using a small bucket.
Place the bucket the length of the bottom of your wedge grip to the end of the club head behind you. When you swing, unless you employ a steep and aggressive swing path, the club will hit the bucket.
Coming down on the back of the ball and taking a good divot is key to this shot and using the bucket will force you into swinging the club in a way which encourages this to happen. Place the ball slightly back in your stance and have your weight 60/40 on your front leg. The hands should be forward when playing this shot and the top of the club pointing towards your front hip.
Always practice this shot on grass where possible as this will see the best results. You could even invest in golf balls which encourage spin and look for those which are covered in a soft urethane compound.
Recent Comments