Short Game | Staying Connected
Many players struggle with short chip shots, especially off-tight lies. They tend to hit it fat, thin, or other variations of poor shots, and I find it because their arms and body become disconnected.
Some players get nervous when they have a short pitch shot and have too long a backswing and decelerate through impact. The body tends to slow down, causing the wrists to break down at impact.
When I’m working on a client short game, I like to use a resistance band, especially to improve the connection between arms and body. I place a resistance band around a player’s shoulders and through their hands.?
This drill forces players to engage their whole body. It keeps the arms in front of the chest and moving with the upper body. I feel this is essential for a player to stay centered and rotate properly when doing this drill.?
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If you are struggling with your short game and want to try this drill using the resistance band, start by completing a few practice strokes without a club and get the feeling of moving everything back together and through. Once you become familiar with this feeling, take a club and complete some practice swings again, feeling the same muscle groups working together.?
Some amateurs obsess over keeping their legs entirely still during a chip shot, but a player’s legs should move during the shot, just not laterally! The resistance band helps keep everything in sync, a player’s arms, club, and upper body moving together. Finally, introduce a ball and start to hit some shots using the resistance band.
Another tip for playing off tight lies is to increase grip pressure; increasing the grip pressure can reduce the amount of wrist action. It is important to note that you don’t want to eliminate wrist action but rather reduce it. When I increase my grip pressure, it engages my arms and chest muscles, making it easier for everything to stay together and move through.?
If you have any questions regarding short game or broader instruction questions, please don't hesitate to drop me a message!
General Manager at Bally's Golf Links at Ferry Point / PGA Master Professional / Sirius XM PGA Tour Radio Host
2 年Great article!
CHAIRMAN/MANAGING DIRECTOR at LUXE GOLF CHINA, LLC
2 年Kevin knows ...and this shows..great piece..
Assistant Golf Professional and Custom Fit Specialist
2 年Some really cool points here! It really show that staying connected will produce better results! Nice work ??
Doctor of Physical Therapy/Orthopedic Path; Geriatric Certified Specialist GCS; Certified Wound Specialist CWS (Ret)
2 年Worked on my set up yesterday as I kept lining up way right even though it felt straight. I also tend to stand too close or too far, so appreciate your tip on how to improve that part of the set up!