Interaction of 3 Short Game Components

Interaction of 3 Short Game Components

Interaction of 3 Short Game Components

 

 

Short game components

Sometimes thinking about the different areas of our game holistically and not getting into too much detail is going to a useful way of improving the way we play golf, however I also think there are times where we need to understand our games in terms of smaller components to get a better understanding of what specific areas we need to work on and how they relate to other components.

Although some of what follows is just as applicable to the full game I often think of the short game as a blend of 3 controllable components.

Judgement is the first component we go through when playing golf but in my experience is often overlooked and certainly never practised to the extent of the other 2 elements. So in chipping the lie of the ball and topography basically determine our limitations of the chip. In putting, reading the green is the only way we can become effective with technique and feel. Bottom line here is don’t underestimate this component, make sure your shot routine allows for this process to give you a good base to build your short game proficiency.

Technique is the first component you would work on in the building or developing process and is often (mistakenly in my opinion) thought of as the most important or the only component that determines short game competency, all 3 elements have their place of influence. Although techniques can be looked at in detail the general point I want to make here is that a large part of that technique is predicated by our set up. So for example in putting if we are aiming right of our intended start line at address then our technique must have a compensation in it to adjust the face alignment. So a large part of your technique can be made efficient by working on your set up.

Feel can be thought of as the part that helps to join the dots up in the whole process of short game shots. The term feel can of course just refer to the sense of touch but in this context I want it to mean something much broader and relate to the use of a number of skill sets, especially our rhythm that interacts with the control of the speed of our body movements and club. These skills can only be honed in the random nature of practice and the variation of different environments or pressures. Hitting ball after ball from the same place will have a considerably less positive effect on this area although may be useful in helping develop the technique.

These controllable components although I have described them separately blend into and interact with each other. So you can only set up to a putt well (technique) if you know what line you want to hit it on (judgement). Your landing zone for a lofted chip (feel) may be influenced by setting up with the ball too far back in the stance (technique). However it may be that only recognising which of these components that needs some attention allows us to benefit from the competence we may have in the other areas.

 

Paul Thompson has been the Fellow PGA Professional at Powerscourt Golf Club in Wicklow since 1995. In addition to providing coaching on-site he also is a coach with The Golfing Union of Ireland. Appointments with Paul can be booked via Powerscourt Golf Club Reception: Tel (01) 204 6033 or the Golf Shop Tel (01) 204 6031. Read more about lessons from Paul Thompson by visiting the Powerscourt Golf Club Website.

 

 

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