Playing shots from around the edge of the green is possibly one of the least exciting on the golf course.
Perhaps you may have hit a long drive and this has seen your ball land close to the edge of the green on a par-4 or your second shot on a par-5 has come close to the green. This can add to the excitement of playing a shot from this distance but the reality, especially for beginner golfers, is you will be on the edge of the green due to a missed approach shot.
This can lead to disinterest in the next shot, which is a common mistake and one which needs to be avoided. Playing shots from the edge of the green is very important and you could save shots by using the tips below.
If you watch professional golf, you will see many players using a variety of clubs around the green and it can be tempting to follow suit as this adds a bit of variety to the game. However, if you are serious about saving shots around the green it is better to focus on using only one club, at least for the time being.
As a beginner golfer, you do not have the same amount of time as a professional to dedicate to your game. You may have limited practice time, in which case, use the time to try and perfect your chipping with one club.
Start with the sand wedge and practice using this club. You will find that the better you become using it, the bigger the variety of shots you will be able to play. You will also feel confident when pulling the club out of the bag around the green.
When playing a shot from the edge of the green, the main goal should always be the same and that is to get the ball on the green. Regardless of the surface you are playing from and the overall ease/difficultly of the shot, getting the ball on the green should be the one aspect which overrides any other.
Finally, unless you pull off a miracle shot and the ball drops into the hole, you are going to need to make a putt.
Think about where you want to leave the ball to make your putt as easy as possible. You are trying to get the ball as close to the hole as you can and if the green is flat it does not matter a great deal if the ball finishes either side of the hole.
However, if the green has a slope, you want to try and leave your ball in a position to make an uphill putt. A slightly longer uphill putt is often better than a shorter downhill putt because you play the shot with conviction and not worry about the ball travelling too far beyond the hole if you miss.
Saving shots around the green can make a huge difference to your final scorecard.
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