It is often necessary to make a part swing to play a short shot which is too long (or trouble affected) for the chip and run and hot but too short for a full swing with the shortest club. Golfers often struggle with such awkward in-between shots but this is purely because they don’t practise them!

There are basically two choices of short shot when the chip and run is deemed inappropriate, both of which have much more flight than roll to achieve extra distance and/or carry trouble.

THE PITCH SHOT

This is the standard close-in, flighted shot which is played when the chip and run is inappropriate either because the distance is too long, the ground is too rough, lush or overgrown or there is a hazard in the way.

A typical pitch might be played from 40 yards over a bunker with pin 10–15 yards behind. The ball needs to be flighted firstly to carry the trouble and secondly to allow it to stop fairly quickly on landing.

CLUB SELECTION

Any of pitching wedge, sand wedge or lob wedge depending on distance and stopping room.

- Practice is required to learn how the ball behaves with the different clubs.

SET-UP

• Narrow the stance a little.
• Open the feet/body alignment a little if this is preferred.
• Position the ball somewhere between the inside of the left heel and the inside of the right heel depending upon how much loft is required on the shot.
• The nearer the right heel (further back) the lower the trajectory and the greater the roll on landing. An easier position to play from.
• The nearer the left heel (further forward) the higher the trajectory and the shorter the roll on landing. A more awkward position to play from.
• Position the hands opposite the inside of the left thigh.
• For shots with higher trajectory and flight (ball further forward) position the weight evenly on right and left legs.
• For shots with lower trajectory and flight (ball further back) position a little more weight on the left leg than the right.
• Position the hands a little lower down the grip to improve feel and control.

SWING

- Swing the club back to waist height allowing the wrists to hinge slightly, but without consciously encouraging this.
- In the downswing and through swing the left hand and arm should lead and the wrists should not be allowed their normal freedom to unhinge through impact. This ensures the clubface remains pointing at the target whilst the body turns onto the left side.
- The feeling should be of a restricted through swing.
- The tempo and rhythm should be steady and smooth throughout.

TIPS

• Never attempt to lift the ball into the air, the loft on the club will do that automatically.
• Practice varying club and ball position in order to gain an understanding of different trajectories, flights and reactions upon landing. This is a certain way to reduce scores.
• Focus particularly carefully on the practice swing before the shot and make it as accurate a rehearsal as possible for the real thing. Think of visualising a landing spot for the ball and gearing the swing to it.
• Practising the strike by sweeping the clubhead along the turf.
• Rehearsing the backswing length and downswing speed to build a mental picture of the swing.
• Watch on TV how the pro’s approach these shots, and take such care yourself.

THE LOB SHOT

This is a close-in, flighted shot which is played to achieve a steep trajectory, a high ball flight and little roll on landing. It is played with the most lofted club in the golfer’s bag, a sand wedge or a specialist lob wedge. I call this ‘the last resort shot’ because the degree of difficulty is high. The lob shot can be played with a normal, square face at impact, or with an open face. Opening the face increases the height of the shot but also increases the difficulty, so it should not be attempted unless it is vital. See illustrations.

( i ) Normal Lob
Setup

• Narrow the stance a little.
• Position the ball well forward in the stance – opposite the left big toe.
• The hands are automatically positioned behind the ball, which adds loft to the club.
• Position the weight 60% on the right leg and 40% on the left leg.
• Align the feet/body parallel to the target line.
• Hands are positioned oppositee the left thigh, level with the ball.
• Position the body weight 70% towards the left leg.

Swing

• Make a normal backswing to a height, which is appropriate for the shot, but make no conscious effort to hinge the wrists.
• Accelerate steadily into the downswing sliding the clubhead smoothly under the ball whilst maintaining the acceleration.
• Lead the shot with the left hand and arm restricting the wrist action at impact and on the trough swing.
• This ensures the clubface remains pointing skywards with its normal loft lifting the ball high.
• The through swing should feel restricted.

( ii ) Extra High Lob
Setup

• Setup as for the normal lob but make the following adjustments.
• Open (flatten) the clubface by rotating the grip clockwise in the hands (don’t move the hands with it) before assuming the normal grip.
• Open the stance to bring the clubface back from its right of target alignment to an on target alignment by shuffling the left foot back and right foot forward making sure the knees hips and shoulders follow.
• The body is then aligned left of target.
• Position the ball forwards opposite the left foot.
• Position the body weight 70% towards the left leg

Swing

• Swing in sympathy with the left of target body alignment (not along the target line) following the same routine as for the normal lob/pitch shot.
• Slide the clubface under the ball making sure it is pointing ‘skywards’ through impact.

Tips

• Remember: the lob shot is difficult so the extra high lob shot is even more difficult, if it is possible to moderate the difficulty then do so.
• If you often play open faced sand wedge shots, then why not buy a lob wedge and thereby have to open the face less frequently.
• As a lob wedge has more loft already, you would not have to open the face any more.
• Lob wedges take months to master, so much practice is required.
• Use your lob wedge only when you have to.