Dave Pelz: “Studying the game”

An endless array of shot lengths, lies, trajectories and stopping distances can make your short game confusing. You can simplify all of this, however, by using the next month to practice what I call a “reference” swing. With any wedge, take your hands back to just below hip height using a full wrist hinge and finish all the way through like normal. That’s it. Learn no more, but practice this swing enough to be able to repeat it consistently, with the same backswing length at the same rhythm and with the same follow-through.

After about 30 days, your wedge shot patterns will begin to repeat. Photo by Leonard Kamsler

The trick is to perfect this reference swing with each of your wedges. As you do you’ll learn how high and far each wedge flies your shots, and how quickly each stops upon landing. After about 30 days, your wedge shot patterns will begin to repeat, and you’ll develop a feel for what to expect from each wedge shot for the rest of your career.

By using the reference-swing concept with each wedge you carry (and I recommend you carry four), reference-distance shots will become a strength of your short game. Learn another length backswing to add four more well-controlled shots to your arsenal. Read the rest of this entry »

The problem

You just never feel confident that you’ve determined the proper line for any putt.

To make sure you read fast, breaking putts like this one correctly, visualize the ball tracking backward from behind the hole first, then use the AimLine to accurately "see" the start line and break. Photo by Leonard Kamsler

The solution

After studying the dynamics of reading greens and how putts break for the better part of three decades, I’ve developed a simple and uncomplicated method that will help you improve in both areas. Here’s how it works: Read the rest of this entry »

I teach three fundamentals for setting up to blast shots from sand.

Photo by Leonard Kamsler

The first is to play the ball opposite the instep of your left foot. This forward position allows your wedge to enter the sand behind the ball as it travels along its natural swing arc.

The second is to grip your wedge with its clubface wide open — rotated clockwise 45 degrees — so the flange “bounces” off the sand.

Lastly, aim a little left of your target to compensate for the open clubface, otherwise you’ll miss to the right. Read the rest of this entry »

Keep it in the fairway at all costs, because when you have to play from rough your scores will suffer. Photo by Leonard Kamsler

This Month

How to hang tough on long par 4s, take advantage of par 5s and transfer your smooth range swing to the course. Read the rest of this entry »

Photo by Leonard Kamsler

Dear Dave,
I recall seeing a table in GOLF Magazine that showed chipping ratios, carry to roll, as detailed below:
Carry:Roll

Do you agree with these ratios? — Steve

Read the rest of this entry »