Hitting the ball short is often referred to in golf as ‘under-clubbing’ and this happens when the ball lands short of the intended target. You should know the distance you can hit the ball with each club but it is still possible to select a club for a shot which sees the ball land short of the green.
There a few things that can lead to under-clubbing and today we will take a look at some of them in the hope it will prevent you from hitting the ball short in the future.
One of the most common forms of under-clubbing is when there is a difference in height between your current ball position and the green. This usually happens when the green is in a higher position than the ball and you will find this on both the tee and the fairway. It is common on mountain courses but also courses where significant mounding has taken place.
Always think about the level of the green in comparison to the ball and the flight of the ball with the club you intend to use. As the green is in a high position, the ball will not travel in the air for as long as it would if the green was on the same level as you. This will result in the ball landing short of the normal distance it would travel.
To compensate for the height of the green, you will need to make an adjustment, either with your swing or the club you are using. For beginner golfers, the easiest approach is to select the next club to give you more distance. If you need to change your club, consider not only the distance you would normally hit the ball with this club but also the trajectory of the ball.
Another factor which can lead to hitting the ball short is the wind. It is easy to forget to consider the wind on every shot you play but you must because failing to do so could see your ball drop short. In most cases, a strong headwind will cost a full club’s distance and therefore, if you were planning on using a 6-iron, you should move to a 5-iron.
Another weather element which is often neglected when considering shot distance is the temperature. If the temperature is cold, the ball will not travel as far in the air than it would if it was hot. Club up when the weather is very cold because if you don’t, you could be in for a very long round due to the distance lost with each shot.
Finally, the ground on which you are playing could lead to a shorter shot than anticipated. If you are in deep rough for example, the ball will not travel as far as it would on the fairway with the same club. The clubhead will be slowed by the grass so try positioning the ball back in your stance and accept you will not be able to hit the ball the same distance as you would off the fairway.
Recent Comments