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| This
first picture is the spot picked out to land this ball
to release to the hole. |
Shortgame
- The Eyes Have It.
(With the help of my son Trey Wilkins.)
Spot pitching or chipping is critical to having a terrific
feel around the greens. I think great shortgame players
understand the release factor of the golf ball once it lands
on the green. The release factor is dictated by the height
or launch of the golf ball off the desired golf club. The
lie of the golf ball, amount of green to the hole, coupled
with speed and slope of the green weigh into the formula.
Do you think Tiger had the perfect spot on the green picked
out at the 16th hole at Augusta? Do you think he had the
perfect release factor? (If you didn't see it, the answer
is 'Yes'!)
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| The
second picture is Trey's eyes focused on the spot to
land the ball. |
I think
that a great shortgame comes through the eyes finding a
spot on the green. With the eyes committed to the spot,
it allows for the proper length of backswing. If the eyes
are focused on the flagstick rather than the spot, backswings
get to long and have to slow down thru impact to land the
ball on the spot. Meaning, if I ask a player to toss a ball
underhanded to a spot, the brain will figure out how far
back to take the arm and the speed needed toss the ball
to that spot. However, if I ask a player to toss a ball
underhanded to a spot while looking 20 feet past the spot
at the flagstick, the brain will never figure it out.
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| The
third picture is the proper length of backswing needed
to land the ball on the spot. |
Shortgame is distance
control versus direction. Most players will not hit it 10
feet left of the hole or 10 feet right of the hole. But they
will hit it 10 feet long or 10 feet short of the hole.
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| The
fourth picture is a backswing that appears to long to
land the ball on the spot, it is due to the eyes focused
on the flagstick rather than the spot. |
1. Go out
and get curious, that if you can launch the ball the same
height and land it on a spot everytime, your distance control
will be amazing.
2. Use your eyes to focus on a spot. Your
eyes will tell the hands and arms how far back to swing
the club.
3. Practice lower trajectory shots first
in order to recognize the release factor.
4. Remember it is easier to land it on a
spot closer to you than accross the green.
5.
Consider that your technque is actually great if the eyes
are more involved.
As Mr.
Penick would say; “Go to dinner with good putters”!
Great Golf, Neil Wilkins |
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