The Bump and Run Shot

If you have a chip shot with no rough or hazards in your path consider the bump and run shot. The quicker the golf ball is rolling the more control you have with the outcome. This shot was 20 yards uphill to a back left flag.


Club of choice was the 8 iron.

Stance slightly open to target and half shoulder width apart. Club face square to target line.

Ball position middle of my stance.

Take a couple of practice swing to determine the length of back swing required to hit the shot considering roll out. I also look at the area where the golf ball is going to land as I view the shot becomes a putt when it starts rolling. You can make some of these if executed correctly and with a little luck.

If grip pressure stays the same length of back swing determines how far the golf ball will travel.

Weight to your left side at address (right for left handed players). Shaft leans towards target.

Brush the grass and please follow through keeping the club face square to your target line leading with the back of your left hand (right hand for left handed players.

This shot took forever to roll out.

For more information on this shot or any others contact Mark at graingergolf@rocketmail.com
Have a great time playing the worlds best game.

Curving a Golf Ball Around a Tree

If your stuck behind trees you have a couple of options. Hit it back in play and trust your wedge game and putting or the more adventurous shot, going around the trees and hitting the golf shot down the fairway or on the green. If you choose the second you can escape this way. This shot was 140 yards. My club of choice was a 9 iron as that is a good distance for me and if the golf ball lands short of the green it will release towards the green or near by leaving a short pitch or chip shot.

Grip the golf club as you normally would for any golf shot.

Ball position in the middle of my stance. If I wanted to hook the golf ball more I may move the golf ball back a little in my stance. Moving the golf ball back is easier to hit with a short iron if required. Also it's easier to apply curvature to a golf ball with a lofted golf club.

I choose a line I want the golf ball to start on and set the golf club on that line. My line was right of the trees in front of me and towards the trap front right of the green.

I set my body line closed to the golf ball starting line which is to the right as you will see in the video. The club face is now closed but pointed at the golf ball starting line.

From this point I swing along my body line and hit the golf shot.

The golf ball starts right of the trees and hooks back to the green. This shot I hit on the green and was putting for birdie.

This is a risk / reward shot so decide if you want to take the shot on. You also have to determine what you will gain or loose from playing the shot. The next time your playing a few holes try this a few times before attempting the shot in a game. If you have any questions or require help with this shot or your game email Mark at graingergolf@rocketmail.com

Enjoy the greatest game we play.

The Cut Pitch

This is a very useful shot if your short sided with very little green to work with out of green side rough.
 I shot video in real time and you will notice the golf ball spin slightly to the right when it hits the green.

Club of choice is your most lofted. Mine being a 60 degree wedge.

I grip down for more control and feel during the pitch shot.

I play the golf ball towards the front of my stance and I'm open to the target.

My wedge is open at address aiming down the target line.

I pick a spot where I want the golf ball to land on the green taking a few practice swings to measure back swing length required to hit the pitch shot. If grip pressure stays the same, length of back swing determines how far the shot will travel.

I take the golf club away slightly outside and swing inside cutting across the golf ball at impact.

I have the feeling the club face is sliding under the golf ball.

The shot is vertical quickly and lands soft when it hits the green.

Occasionally you can make a few of these which like all short game shots help your score at the end of the day. Very few golfers practice the short game but if you look at the players that win golf tournaments on tour, they all have an above average short game. The percentage of practice for the average player should be 70% short game and 30% long game. If you have any questions about this great game or you require help with this shot or any others please contact Mark at graingergolf@rocketmail.com
Have a great week.

Hitting From an Uphill Lie

Occasionally  during a round of golf you have to hit a shot from an uphill lie. Here's an easy way to hit the shot. This golf shot was 135 yards and I required a 9 iron.

I choose one more club than I would normally hit for the yardage in calm conditions.
Shots from an uphill lie will also fly higher.

I play the golf shot further forward in my stance.

I align my shoulders on a similar angle to that of the slope.

I want to be comfortable at set up with more weight on my right side at address
(left side for left handed players).

I align slightly right of target as most of these shots will be hit will a slight pull.

Complete your back swing so the club will shallow on the downswing.

Reaching impact I concentrate on swinging the golf club up the slope and balancing as best I can.

Core strength is important hitting this golf shot. Good tempo is always a plus and helpful. If you need assistance with this shot or your game contact Mark at graingergolf@rocketmail.com
I'll show you how much fun the game will become.

Tempo in the Golf Swing

If you watch the worlds best players they all have good tempo. I believe tempo is created with lighter grip pressure and balance at the address position. Grip the club on the tighter side and you will most likely swing the golf club in quick tempo. Combine this with an unbalanced setup and you have a recipe for tempo which will hurt the golf swing. Lighter grip pressure and a solid balanced set up allows you to swing the golf club in good tempo and finish in good balance. I shot video with a driver and an 8 iron in real time to show accurate swing tempo. Usually I shoot at 240FPS for most videos.

A Few Key Points:

Grip pressure on the lighter side at address.
Weight evenly distributed on the balls of my feet.
I now have a good beginning to start the golf swing and keep good tempo and balance during the golf shot.
I now focus on swinging the golf club back turning in to my right side ( left side for left handed players)
After I've made a good turn in to my right side I have a means to turn back to the golf ball and finish the swing keeping good tempo and balance.
If I'm out of balance my swing tempo will possibly increase during the swing producing mishits and unwanted golf shots which effect your ability to keep the golf ball in play and ultimately score.
Hitting all golf shots I attempt to keep the same tempo and let the length of golf club speed up the golf swing. You will see when viewing the 8 iron video followed by driver video.

A great drill to use to find good tempo is during your back swing say the word practice
and during the down swing say the word swing. I wrote about this several years ago and the bottom link takes you to the GolfOnline website for viewing. Remember swing in smooth tempo for better ball striking. One last thought, if playing in the wind try to swing the club slower. Wind causes most golfers to speed up and swing in a quicker tempo. If you require help with tempo and any part of your game contact Mark at graingergolf@rocketmail.com
Golf is truly the greatest game we play. Enjoy   http://www.golfonline.co.uk/golf-news/general-golf-news/talk-to-yourself-expert-tells-hasty-swingers-nd-18773239.html

The 5 Foot Chip Shot Out Of Deep Rough

Everyone has done this during play. You hit your approach shot and missed the green on either side. The shot you hit is long and the golf ball settles down in the rough. Your also short sided to a front pin with a downhill chip shot. Usually to get to this point you've hit too much club or perhaps your approach was hit thin. Now I have a tough golf shot. Here's how to escape and save par.

Club of choice your most lofted. My club was the 60 degree wedge.
Play the golf ball slightly back of centre in your stance.
Stance is not quite shoulder width apart on the inside of my feet. I want my base to be very stable to hit this shot. Place a little extra weight on your front foot and leave it during the shot.
I take a few practice swings measuring how much back swing I need to chip the golf ball 5 feet. Because the shot is downhill and severe I need to use the fringe to help me control how far the golf ball will roll after hitting the ground.
Hinge your wrists a little on the back swing. This gives you a steeper angle of attack hitting the chip shot, also allowing you to hit the golf ball first and not the grass surrounding the golf ball.
When you hit the chip shot keep a firm left wrist ( right wrist for left handed players ) and a short follow through keeping the face of the golf club square to the target line. The golf ball rolls up the face of the club and lands soft. Your escape is complete.
For more information hitting this golf shot email graingergolf@rocketmail.com
Enjoy golf to the fullest.

 

 

40 Yard Fairway Shot

Most golfers have a great deal of trouble with this golf shot. Most attempt to hit a sand or lob wedge and end by hitting the golf shot thin over the green or fat with the golf ball not moving more than 20 yards.
This golf shot was to a front flag and my goal was to hit the golf shot 10 feet or less. My first shot you will see on the front of the green was hit with a lob wedge. I hit it well but it came up short. These shots are scoring shots and reflect more on the score card than the great drives everyone likes to hit. This shot also sets up for the 1 putt which builds confidence in putting saving golf shots that add up at the end of the day. So far everything all I've written is positive about the golf shot so given the opportunity I want to practice these shots a great deal. I can hit a poor drive and have a chance on the hole I'm playing due to these types of shots. Here's how.


Club of choice is my 56 degree sand wedge.
My grip is very light.
I play the golf shot from the middle of my stance.
I set up very square to the target.
I bend slightly more from my waist feeling as though my chest is covering the golf ball a bit.
During the golf shot I keep this bend as you will see.
Notice at impact I hit the golf ball first clipping the shot. Small divot which is a good sign as the golf ball rolls up the face producing a slight grabbing motion the golf ball will have when hitting the green. Not a great deal of spin but enough for good distance control. Better than the lob wedge ( see results ).
My back swing is very short a little more than half. I feel as though this is a long low pitch shot.
After impact I cut my follow through keeping the face of the club square to the target line turning through a little and hold the finish ( much better result ).
For help with this shot or any others please contact Mark at graingergolf@rocketmail.com
Enjoy your next game with better scoring shots.