Yes, you can hit like Tiger
Sorry, not with the driver. I am talking about your chipping and
pitching. Recently I sat for some time on the back lawn of the
banquet facility at Santa Teresa golf course. Right below the back
lawn at the banquet facility is the second green.
Yes, you can hit like Tiger
Sorry, not with the driver. I am talking about your chipping and pitching. Recently I sat for some time on the back lawn of the banquet facility at Santa Teresa golf course. Right below the back lawn at the banquet facility is the second green.
The second hole is a somewhat short par five so most people were fairly close to the green on their third or fourth shot. Out of the 28 golfers I watched hit into the green, 27 came up short and most of those well short. Actually the only person who wasn’t short was Robie Kramer, the golf shop manager at Santa Teresa. He sculled it over the green, almost into the very shop he manages.
When you are watching a golf tournament, see how many chips or pitches the pros hit that are short of the hole. You may see some short pitches. That is the nature of a pitch, but not a chip. Remember the old saying, “Never up never in.” Most of the people I watched that were close to the green pitched the ball high in the air and when it hit the ground, it rolled about three to four feet and stopped, never close to the hole. When you have a putt for birdie, a thirty footer isn’t what you want. Getting the ball up to the hole is much easier to do when the ball rolls on the ground than when it is in the air.
The next time you are 10 to 15 yards off the green don’t automatically take out your pitching wedge. Try your 9 iron. If you have a lot of green to work with try your 8. Keep in mind that because the ball is played in the back of your stance with this shot, your 9 iron will have the loft of your 9 and so on. You will hit the ball with a descending blow with little follow through. You really can hit as far as Tiger. Play well.
Have any golf related questions? From rules to club fitting you can call me at 408-846-4531 or e-mail me at sk*****@ea**********.com. If you would like to read some of my past tips, you can do so at www.pinnaclenews.com. And don’t forget, if you’re not having fun playing golf call your local PGA or instructor, we will help. Golf is more fun when you’re improving. Don’t be afraid to be good.
