THREE-QUARTER & HALF SHOTS

Invariably you will get into a position where you cannot make a full swing because you are too close to your target. This section will give you some ideas and a few methods for executing these shorter shots.

Half Shot 

We begin with the half shot. Since we are not going to make a full swing, we will be changing our address position slightly. The reason for this is, the new address position will actually help us execute these shorter shots more effectively.

First, we narrow our stance so our feet fit inside the drip line of our shoulders. We make sure our front toe is turned out at least one-quarter and the front foot is pulled back from 2 to 4 inches off the alignment line, thus creating an open stance. The weight is forward about 60%. This is important because we want to help eliminate taking the club back low and on an inside path.

The proper ball position is the center of the stance perpendicular to the front heel, with the head over the ball. Since the left foot is drawn back in the open stance position the ball will seem to be off the front foot, it is still centered, so do not be fooled. 

The backswing is now made by swinging the club with the hands and arms making a slight shoulder turn until the hands are about waist high. The wrists are fully cocked creating a 90-degree angle. The hands are opposite your back hip (waist high) and the clubhead and shaft point to sky. The sensation is that you are picking the club up.

From this position, simply make a slight turn (rotation) with the front hip as you start pulling the club down with the hands and arms. Wait until the front hand is slightly past the ball. At that point you hit with the back hand striking the ball on a downward blow. 

You want to finish with both arms straight and out in front with the toe of the club pointing up and the hands no higher than the waist. The front thumb will be on top the shaft and you will notice that your weight is on your front foot. The back heel finishes about 1 to 3 inches off the ground. Lastly, check that your hands are opposite your belt buckle.

Three-Quarter Shot

With the three-quarter shot we simply take the club back like the half shot only farther to about shoulder height. We still create the same 90-degree angle with the hands and club. We unload and finish the same as the half shot. The obvious purpose here is to create a little more power from the backswing. A good thought is that your backswing is your power and the follow through your control.

 If you spend the time practicing these two shots you will soon see that your distance and accuracy become exceptionally consistent; this is what you need for low scores.

Filling The Distance Void

Taking this another step, we realize there are shots in between the two shots you have just learned. In the beginning, we believe you should not try to learn other positions to fill this void. Now that you have control and accuracy simply begin using the loft provided by the different clubs to gain the added distance.

For example, if the distance you need to hit the ball called for the half-shot swing, but using your wedge would leave you ten feet short, simply use the half swing with the 9 or 8 iron. These irons have less loft and will make the ball travel farther. 

Remember this, you must continue to mastering the half and three-quarter shots to maintain your accuracy, then learn to use the different lofted clubs to make up the differences in distance.

Cut Shot

When you have become comfortable and satisfied with your half and three-quarter shots you are ready to learn a simple cut shot. The cut shot will be used around the greens for those delicate shots requiring a lot of height; it is also used out of the greenside bunkers. 

The changes with the cut shot compared to the half shot are really quite simple. Instead of finishing with the front thumb on top of the club and the toe of the club pointing in the air, you finish with the front palm pointing down to the ground and the clubface pointing to the sky. The hands are now opposite the front hip and the clubhead opposite the back hip. 

The swing path changes are as follows: Instead of swinging the club along the target line you swing the clubhead along a line parallel to your feet (foot line). You will notice this gives the sensation of cutting across the target line ... thus the Cut Shot. Remember to let your hands finish opposite your front hip and the clubhead opposite the back hip.

The keys for the "Cut-Shot" are: 

1.  Finish with front palm down.
2.  Finish with clubface facing the sky.
3.  Swing along your foot line not target line.
4.  Hands finish opposite your front hip and the clubhead opposite the back, both are inside the target line.

Pitch Shot 

As with the other shots you have learned, there is a method and sequence to follow in order to develop an effective pitch shot. This shot is generally used when you are between about 10 feet off the green and a maximum of 30 feet. When adding the wrist action becomes necessary to get the ball on the green, you are too far out to use this shot. 

Visualize an elephant's head and the trunk hanging down. This is how your arms and shoulders work together to execute this shot. Keeping the Y  position at address, simply rock the shoulders and arms, keeping the hands quiet (no wrist cock), much like and elephant would swing his trunk from side to side. 

As in the other short shots, be sure to keep the front hand ahead of the clubface through impact. The ultimate feeling is a dead-hand shot with the clubface rotating slightly open and closed due to the shoulder swing. 

For consistency, try to land the ball 3 to 4 feet on the green every time. Keep this distance the same as you practice.  As pin placements vary, use different lofted clubs to get the ball to roll the necessary distance to the hole. 

The reason we will be trying to land the ball 3 to 4 feet onto the green, is because this part of the green is mowed at least twice and sometimes more than the rest, thus producing the most consistent ground conditions. Greens are usually mowed around the edge first, next back and forth in two different directions, then around the edge again for a final shaping.   Thus the first 6 feet has been rolled on twice a much as the rest of the green making for more compaction and a harder, more consistent surface.

There is nothing more discouraging than executing a shot correctly only to have the ball hit a hard or soft spot on the green and end up 10 feet from the hole, all due to ground conditions and not your execution.