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The top pros make it look easy, don't they? The ability to play aggressive shots around the green, and stop it close to the pin, is a skill we would all like to have. Well the good news is, with the right golf tips and plenty of practice drills, this is an achievable target for all amateur golfers.
In the video and article below, PGA Tour coach and short game specialist James Ridyard discusses the theory behind how to spin the golf ball and shares the three areas you need to consider the next time you play a shot around the green...
1. Environment
When considering the environment for producing high quality spin shots around the green, you need to focus on a few key areas. The first is ensuring you are playing with the best wedges, that are in good condition with clean grooves.
The second is the golf ball you are using, ensuring it is soft enough to actually spin, and the third is the one that, unfortunately, you cannot control - the lie.
The final aspect is the landing area on the green you are hitting into. If the green is above you, the ball will arrive flatter and kick forwards more. This will also impact the spin, as will any downhill slopes which will make it harder to stop the ball quickly.
Your lie is out of your control, but you still need to consider it when playing shots around the green
2. Technique
You should be aiming to contact the ball with the lower grooves on your wedge, as hitting it too high on the clubface will make it difficult to get the ball to spin. You should also increase your spin loft, which is the relationship between the loft you deliver through impact and your attack angle. With a driver, this angle is very close together, but as you move towards your wedges this increases with the loft of the club.
As the loft increases, so does the spin you can put on the golf ball. Even when taking your most lofted wedge, you should open the face slightly to maximise loft.
Spin loft is the relationship between dynamic loft and your attack angle
3. Quality Of Contact
In order to achieve a high quality of contact, it’s important to deliver the club with some degree of shaft lean, but by opening the face, we can still deliver a nice amount of loft through impact. The ball position should be just under the left side of your chest, with a wide, shallow swing.
From this position, swing through the ball while maintaining the loft on the club and cut across it slightly to help the ball stop more quickly.
James Ridyard demonstrating how to open the clubface and apply shaft lean with a wedge
If you factor in these considerations when practicing, and preparing to hit shots with your wedges, you will find your control over the golf ball around the greens will improve in no time.
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