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Golf Short Game Tips To Help You Lower Your Handicap

Mastering the short game can be the fastest way to shooting lower scores consistently. The short game is what you need to rely on in order to get out of trouble when your long game is struggling. The truth is that even the best players in the world do not always hit their drives in the fairway or their approach shots on the green. It is their short game that allows them to still get up and down in order to maintain a good score.

The short game is also critical in order to shoot very low scores. Wedge shots from inside 150 yards are important in order to setup short putts for birdie inside 20 feet. There are no shortcuts in learning the short game and consistent practice is a critical component. Here are some tips to help you on certain areas of the short game.

Bunker shots:

Learning how to hit bunker shots effectively is very important in order to be able to play better golf. Even the best players in the world know that every now and then they will end up in the bunker and that they must be prepared for it. When setting up for a bunker shots make sure you have an open stance which means your feet should point to the left of the target if you are a right handed player.

Aim for a spot about 6 to 8 inches behind the ball and hit this area with the intention of having a cushion of sand lifting the ball out of the bunker rather than direct contact with the club. Also make sure to follow through and accelerate through the shot instead of slowing down. Remember to always picture making every bunker shot instead of aiming for some 3 foot circle. This way you reduce your margin for error and will on average hit your bunker shots closer even on your misses.

Chipping:

Chipping is also a very important aspect of the short game as it will allow you to get out of trouble. When chipping use an open stance and have the ball in the middle or slightly behind the middle of your stance. It is also important to not break your wrists through the chip so maintain a straight line between the club and the left hand through the chip.

Flop Shots:

Flop shots are important because they can help you to get the ball close even if you do not have much green to work with since the ball will stop much faster as it will have much more back spin. Use an open stance and place the ball more towards your left feet. Also make sure you are using at least a 60 degree club and open the face to get maximum loft. This kind of shot is difficult so give yourself enough time to practice and learn this shot.

Putting:

Putting is a critical aspect of the game of golf and the most important key to great putting is confidence. Always believe you will make the putt and banish all doubts and fears of missing. Also it is important to stay focused on the target while you are putting instead of thinking about putting mechanics. Follow some of these tips to help you improve your short game and shoot lower golf scores. The key to shooting lower scores lies in mastering every aspect of your game. Click here to learn more secrets to shooting lower scores.