The Secret To Golf success
Tips on Putting, Chipping, and Pitching with ease from a local LPGA Teaching
Professional and Short Game expert
Provided by Sue Weiger, The Kent Chase Golf Academy at The Raven Golf Club

Knowing when to putt, chip or pitch are the keys to shaving strokes off your
score, says Sue Wieger, LPGA Class A Teaching Professional, The Kent Chase
Golf Academy @ The Raven Golf Club- South Mountain. Ms. Wieger has taught
and coached golf for thirteen years, creating golf instruction for both
individuals and groups. "No matter what age, ability, or physical stature, I
believe everyone can enjoy the game of golf," says Wieger.
Understanding your short game skill sets is crucial to making good decisions
on the golf course. Short Game skill sets are made up of three basic skills:
Putting, Chipping and Pitching. Understanding your skill sets will allow you
to drop your scores because you are making better decisions based on those
skill sets. For example, If you are a better putter than pitcher, then
hopefully you are trying to place your shots so that you can putt more often
than hitting short pitch shots. If you are missing greens you will be forced
to chip and pitch. If pitching is not your strong skill set, then scores
will be higher. 

Basic understanding first comes by evaluating your skill sets. The best way
to evaluate your skill sets is to test yourself with putting, chipping and
pitching. Test your self with putting by starting 2-3 feet from the hole and
make 10 putts in a row from that distance. Once you are confident with that
distance, grow your comfort zone by making longer putts. For example, let us
say you can make 100% putts from within 3 feet. Next take a string and place
the string in 3foot diameter around the hole. This is your comfort zone.
Next hit 10 putts inside this comfort zone from 20 feet, 30 feet, and 40
feet away.

If you can not make these 10 putts in a row, then you will know that is the
distance you are not comfortable and you will not want these types of putts
on the golf course.

Next test your chipping ability, by chipping into your comfort zone (3-6
feet). Hit 10 chips into your comfort zone. If you can not, take chipping
lesson and work on getting the ball close the comfort zone. The goal is to
make the 10 chips inside your comfort zone and make all one putts from
inside your comfort zone.

Next test is the pitching evaluation. Again using your putting comfort zone
and string around the diameter of the hole, pitch 10 golf balls from 5-10
feet from off the green into your comfort zone. If you cannot make 10 in a
row, take a pitching lesson and then practice your techniques so that all
pitches are reaching your putting comfort zone.

Q &A
Q. How do you know how to play a ball if its inside fifty yards of the pin?
A. If possible keep the ball low by either chipping or putting the ball.
Putting and chipping allows player a better feel because the ball is rolling
and most players can control distance on the ground much better than shots
in the air can.

Q. What if you can't putt the ball?  
A. If you can not putt the ball, then
chip. When a ball is in the air a minimum amount of time and rolls most of
the distance to the hole, you can count on a better result.
Shots around the green sometimes do not allow golfers to putt the ball,
because the grass is too tall, or terrain doesn't warrant a favorable putt.
Chipping allows the ball to fly over the collar or taller grass, land safely
on the green usually with minimum length of stroke, and roll towards the
hole.

Q. What if the lies of the ball or conditions prevent you from putting or
chipping?  
A. Pitch if you must. Pitching is once of the most difficult
shots in golfer.  Pitching is defined as when the ball travels in the air
most of the way to the hole with minimum roll. A player must judge the
distance control for the swing to control the total flight of the ball,
select the proper club based on the lie of the ball, then execute the proper
angle of approach and swing technique to obtain. Many variables are involved
in pitching. Most golfers struggle judging flight distance on lofted clubs.
Many times the swing length and carry confuses players often causing the
ball to carry too far or too short. Most golfers do not practice this skill
set. I have asked many golfers how far does your pitching wedge go on a half
swing or three quarter swing, most can not answer the question. How can a
golfer expect to land the ball fifty yards from the green and expect a low
score from there if they can not pitch. Again, pitching can be difficult if
you do not have the skill set to take it to the golf course. Take a short
game lesson and you will be surprised on how much you will enjoy the ball
flying to the target.

On the golf course,
"REMEMBER PUTT IF YOU CAN, CHIP IF YOU CANšT PUTT AND PITCH ONLY IF YOU HAVE
TO."

For more information about Sue Weiger, call (602) 243-0931.