Short Game
Provided by Jeff Ritter, Director ASU Karsten Golf Academy

Great short game play is all about finding the perfect trajectory and roll
ratios necessary to get your ball to finish close to the hole.  As a
teacher, I often find that most amateurs are not doing this very well. The
main reason is that they simply can't picture what kind of shot they should
be playing. As a result, they simply pick a club and swing away hoping for
the best.  

If this sounds like you, then here is a great tip to help get you tuned in
to what you should be trying to do around the green.

1. Scatter some balls around a practice green creating a variety of
different shots and distances to the pin.
2. Begin underhand tossing balls to the flag.  Find the best height and
landing spot on the green that gives you the most consistent result.
3. Now pick a club that you feel will best duplicate the flight of your
toss.  A low running toss might call for a chip with a less lofted club like
a 7 or 8 iron whereas a high lofted toss would require a pitch with a more
lofted club such as a sand or lob wedge.
After a little practice you'll be surprised how much this will help with
your decision making around the greens.  Take the same attitude to the golf
course now visualizing the height and roll your shots will need for success!

Are You Ready to Play?
Provided by Kathy Murphy, 2001 LPGA National Teacher of the Year, ASU
Karsten Golf Course

Golf is a game that provides us with physical and mental excitement!!  Being
prepared to play will have a significant effect on the amount of
satisfaction and fun that you experience.
The first step is to choose a goal for the day; this will direct your mental
energy.  A few minutes on the putting green can give you the opportunity to
feel solid impact with the ball and develop your tempo. Using a pre-shot
routine will train your brain for the creative process. While standing
behind your ball, see and feel your golf ball rolling on a path and falling
into the hole.  Walk to the ball and take your position; take one last look
at the hole and send the ball on its way.
Creating golf shots (one ball at a time with a specific target) is a means
of preparing for golf performance. See yourself swinging to a balanced
finish; see the ball flying to your target; walk in to the ball prepared for
the best!

Moment of impact
Provided by Matt Trimble, Teaching Professional, ASU Karsten Golf Course

The moment of impact is an area that many amateur golfers don't understand
or practice. This is to say that when questioning a new client I rarely get
much feedback with regards to this important area. When I ask "What do you
think you should look like... feel like... during the hit?" The common
response is "I need to keep my head down and get under the ball".  When
asking them to stage the impact area for me they don't know where to start.
Notice in picture [1] that my left leg (the leg closest to the target) is
posting up. My knee is moving backwards as my leg straightens. My right knee
is moving toward the target as my right foot is releasing from the ground.
When moving your legs in this manner you will realize that your hips are
turning toward the target. And your weight should be shifting onto the
outside of your left foot. Notice that my head is back (or still) while my
hands and arms have swung ahead of the ball. The hands must pass the ball in
order to allow a crisp hit. The ball is hit first and the divot made second
on the target side of the ball.

Staging impact is a great tool for practice. In fact "impact bags" are a
useful teaching aid if you know what to do with them. However, because
impact is not a static position we should look further into what is
happening through the shot and simulate the dynamic feel of post impact.
Notice in picture [2] that my head is rotating toward the target. My legs
and hips are continuing to rotate. Finally, notice that my forearms and
hands have rotated over. This is what is needed to square the club face
through the hitting area. (provided that you are making divots on the target
side of the golf ball)

For more information about the ASU Karsten Golf Academy or to contact any of
these Golf Teaching Professionals, call (480) 921-8070