Peter Finch
Most of us will be able to recall a time where we have desperately needed our short game to save the day on the golf course, but for many this crucial area of the game consistently lets them down.
Even the 20 best short game tips will tell you that you need a varied and creative skillset around the green in order to shoot lower scores, but now we have some stats to prove it.
According to the latest data, the success rate of amateur golfers attempting to get up and down from 25-50 yards halves when compared to shot measuring from 0-25 yards - likely due to common mistakes around the greens.
That's problematic for golfers, considering how often we are faced with short game shots from outside 25 yards, but fortunately Top 50 Coach Peter Finch is here to save your game by sharing two essential techniques that every amateur needs to know...
How To Play Two Shots That Will Save Your Short Game
Let's start with the aforementioned Shot Scope data, which sadly paints a bleak picture for the prospects of amateur golfers across the board.
A scratch golfer get up and down from inside 25 yards around 63% of the time, but that figure plummets to around 32% for shots between 25-50 yards.
A 10-handicapper, as referenced in the video below, sees success from the closer range around 47% of the time, but has just a 20% chance of getting down in two from outside 25 yards.
A 20-handicapper, as expected, struggles most of the trio. While a 41% chance of getting up and down from inside 25 yards is not to be sniffed at, a measly 14% chance from 25-50 yards is a sobering reminder about the importance of building a solid short game.
Fortunately, Top 50 Coach Peter Finch is here to help all amateur golfers do just that - especially high-handicap golfers that are burning shots around the green.
Through the use of two simple techniques, Peter Finch explains how to play a couple of very different shots that will immediately strengthen your performances around the green.
Peter Finch is one of the most recognisable PGA professionals in the world, delivering online free lessons to golfers across the globe with a combined social following of almost one million people.
In his coaching career, Peter Finch has supported golfers of all abilities to play better golf and shoot lower scores.
Shot 1: Low Chip And Run
For the low chip and run shot in the video above, I decided to use a pitching wedge - so I would advise you do the same from a similar position.
At address, keep your stance width relatively narrow and ensure the ball position is towards your toes of your trail foot.
In terms of weight distribution, you will need to favour your lead side by transferring a little onto your lead foot.
In the shot, the shoulders move back and through in a rocking motion with very little wrist hinge. Instead, you will need to power this shot with your chest.
With the ball position towards the back of your stance, the hands forward and your weight favouring the lead side, the ball will naturally come out lower and skip up towards the pin.
For the lower flighted chip shot, ensure the ball position is back on the trail foot and the hands/weight are forward towards the lead side
Shot 2: High-Flighted Lob
The key differences between this shot and the chip and run outlined above are the ball position and club selection.
For a more aerial approach, move the ball position more towards the centre of your stance and take a lob wedge in favour of a pitching wedge.
The weight remains on the lead side and the chest still powers the shot - remember we want to limit that wrist hinge.
What you'll notice in the video above is that the ball flight has drastically changed, now travelling much higher with a softer landing on the green and a more abrupt stop thanks to spin on the golf ball.
Notice the lack of wrist hinge that Peter Finch demonstrates in the backswing for the two chip shots
What's The Best Drill For Pitch Shots In Golf?
This is the favorite pitching drill of PGA Master Pro and short game guru Dan Grieve - so you know it's a good one.
It's called the tee peg drill and it's one you can all practice at your local course.
Place a tee peg in the ground, with a golf ball on top, around the same height as you would for hitting a driver.
Take a 54 or 56 degree wedge and hove the club at the bottom of the ball. Don't overthink it, just use your instincts to clip the ball rather than hitting down and taking a divot.
The goal is simple - can you hit the golf ball without moving the tee? Disturbing it a little is fine, but you really want to avoid breaking it. This will help your ball to spin on the green, giving you control... which is what we all want in our short game.
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