A High Lofted Shot, the Pitch Shot travels farther in the air than on the ground.

ADDRESS

• Full swing Grip
• Square to slightly open stance (heels 6-8 inches apart)
• Ball position is 1 to 2 inches inside the left heel
• Hands are positioned in mid-body

BACKSWING

• Arms swing while wrist hinge
• Left arm and shaft form an “L”
• Shaft is on plane by pointing at the target line or slightly inside the target line

IMPACT

• Arms swing while maintaining wrist angle body, turns thru
• Hands stay ahead of the clubhead, shaft is leaning forward at impact (ball then turf)
• Flat left wrist, bent right

FINISH

• Arms swing while “L” is formed
• Body faces the target at finish
• Shaft is on plane by pointing at the target line or slightly inside the target line

General Guidelines: A great rule of thumb is to spend 75% of all your range practice time on the short game (shoot lower scores by improving the short game first).

• 25% Putting
• 25% Short Game
• 25% Wedges
• 25% Long Game (1/2 on tee ball club (driver, 3wd. Hybrid, etc.)

Club Selection: 6-Iron through Pitching Wedge (match club to shot & lie) 6-Iron for long roll, 8-Iron for Medium Roll, Pitching Wedge for Short Roll. Usually played from just off the green but a great escape shot when you have to keep it low and just punch it out a short distance.

Check out this sample with a driver for a straight shot….

Here’s How
After picking a target , a club and a shot make a practice swing and then begin this 3 step system to consistently give yourself the best opportunity for success.

STEP 1
After taking your grip, I want you to step in and set the inside of your right foot even with the back of the ball. Now bow building your posture and finding balance on the middle of your right foot and aim the clubface to the target. The left arm hangs extended with the left wrist relatively flat.

STEP 2
Now set your left foot so the ball position is off the left heel (driver ball position).

STEP 3
Step the right foot to the right to make the stance shoulder width. Your set up should be balanced and athletic. For a straight ball the clubface should be aimed at the target with your body parallel left.

So Remember:
Give yourself the best opportunity to hit great shots and shoot lower scores by performing your pre-shot routine before every shot…

Following is a list of some productive thoughts for the course.  Pick the two or three that you feel are the most relevant to your game and focus on these throughout your round.  This will help you stay focused on the process of playing the game instead of worrying about the impending results.  Have fun and enjoy your day! Dr Mo

• There are only 3 types of shots – Quality shots, acceptable misses, and poor shots. Focus on hitting quality shots and just see how many of these you can hit throughout the day.
• Tell yourself what a putt IS in terms of 1 – distance, 2 – slope, and 3 – break (i.e. 20-foot downhill, left-to-right putt) not what it’s FOR in terms of score (i.e. 20-foot downhill, left-to-right putt for birdie). Describe the putt physically, not emotionally.
• After a missed or poor shot, say out loud an Immediate Positive Reaction (Give me a good lie, Get a good bounce, etc.). This helps you stay future focused, not past focused.
• If you take practice swings, make them realistic. Do not make practice swings that are too hard or that are a continuous motion – they are not productive for the upcoming shot. Each practice swing should have a definite beginning and end and have a similar tempo for the shot being played.
• You will find what you wait on. Wait on good things to happen (making a long putt, holing out, chipping in, etc.), not poor ones (duck hook, 3-putt, etc.).
• On the golf course you can change your tempo (slow down), but do not change your golf swing or your swing-thought. Only change these on the range. The closest you can come to changing your golf swing on the course is to change the shot you are hitting (if you normally play a draw and you can’t improve it by tweaking your tempo, hit a fade or a punch-shot).
• Use a physical boundary (edge of the green, putting your club back in your bag, etc.) to help you stay mentally composed. You are allowed to be upset/frustrated before you have reached the boundary, but once you do, stop, take a few deep breaths, remind yourself golf is still a game, and then proceed. This will help you limit one poor shot from carrying over to another.
• Your vision should always “match” the shot. For full shots, your vision should be at the target or beyond (tree in the distance). For partial shots, your vision should be at the target or before (i.e. a landing area). Since everything goes through your eyes and into your mind, and your mind tells your body what to do, how you process the golf course visually has a direct impact on how well your body performs.
• Put simply, if you can’t aim, you can’t score. Therefore, getting properly aligned to your target should be the first consideration once you walk up to the ball. To get properly aligned, first align the club as it is behind the ball to your target. Then separately align your feet to the clubhead. Trying to align both the club and your feet at the same time promotes a comfortable set-up but in most cases poor aim.
• If you feel like you are moving your head or “peeking” over short-game shots, see where the ball “was” (after the club contacts the ball). This will allow you to focus on a visual aspect of playing instead of a mechanical one. Great vision promotes playing while mechanics often promotes over-thinking.
• Always think of where you want to hit your ball (which is specific) versus where you don’t want to hit it (which is too general). Thinking of where you don’t want to hit it (water on the left) leaves open the option to hit it to an equally bad location on the “opposite” side (severe bunkers on the right).

Left Hand

Let’s start with a square clubface and place the left hand so the HEEL PAD is on top of the grip. (A good check is to hold the club in the air with the heel pad and the index finger only). The left thumb should be to the RIGHT of the CENTER of the shaft (1:00). The “V” formed by the left thumb and hand should point BETWEEN the RIGHT EAR and RIGHT SHOULDER. You should be able to see the first TWO KNUCKLES of your left hand with NO GAP between the left thumb and side of palm.

Right Hand

Now take the pocket or LIFELINE of the right hand and place it on the SIDE of LEFT THUMB. The left thumb fits in this pocket and matches your hands palm to palm. TRIGGER the RIGHT INDEX FINGER and place it down the back of the grip again with NO GAP between the right thumb and side of palm.

So Remember: Hold don’t squeeze the club and have secure fingers, flexible wrist and relaxed arms.

The Situation
Here I am in a fairway bunker on the par 5, 15th hole of Seaside. I have a high lip in front of me and I am too far away to reach the green. Here’s my plan… I am going to lay up with my 7 iron to an easy angle to the flag and one of my favorite approach yardages.

Here’s How
After picking a club that will easily get you out and over the lip, use this 4 step system to consistently hit clean fairway bunker shots.
STEP 1
The 1st thing I want you to do is to GRIP DOWN ON THE CLUB (this shortens the lever and makes it easier to hit the ball before the sand).
STEP 2
Next position the GOLF BALL in the center of your stance to slightly RIGHT OF CENTER (this encourages a downward strike on the ball).
STEP 3
Now WEDGE your RIGHT FOOT IN for stability and a consistent low point of your swing past the ball (this creates stability so you have something to turn against).
STEP 4
The last set up change is to DROP the LEFT FOOT BACK and dig in especially toward the toes so you can start with your weight left, stay left and finish on your left side (this adjustment fosters a downward blow and keeps the weight on your left side)

Now it’s easy…
Make a ¾ BACKSWING and Swing at a speed to stay in BALANCE.

Partial shots from a tight lie….now what?

When you find yourself with a partial shot from a tight lie, “TAKE THE LOW ROAD” whenever possible. Any time the situation allows, the smart player will usually prefers the low shot, keeping the ball on the ground all or most of the way versus the high shot. The high shot from a tight lie takes alot of confidence, great touch and nerves of steel. If you don’t have all three of these characteristics on a daily basis …..read on….

When your golf ball ends up around the green on a tightly mowed surface or a hardpan lie approach the shot as many of the tour players do, play the “Texas Wedge”(putting from well off the green). The key to playing the “Texas Wedge” is having soft arms and making a longer backswing and follow through to add additional power to match the length of the shot. The longer smoother stroke will give the additional force needed for this long putt. Inconsistency and mis-hits occur when the stroke gets too short and tight forcing the hands and wrist to take over to produce the extra effort.
If sprinkler heads or irregularities are in the way or going up a high slope, use the same stroke and try a 3 wood or hybrid to carry the obstacle and still get plenty of roll. SO REMEMBER…From Tight Lies around the Green make a long and smooth stroke and whenever possible “TAKE THE LOW ROAD”.