First Question Around the Green - Can I Putt This Shot?

I want to point out the rule of thumb around the green when you get up to a shot. The lie of the ball is going to dictate what I am going to do but the first thing I want to think about is can I putt this ball. If I can putt it then I am going to putt it. If I can not putt it for whatever reason, either I think the grass is too thick and it is going to slow the ball down or change the ball’s direction, I might have a sprinkler head in front of me, if that is the case I can not putt it anymore so what I am going to have to do is chip the ball. All I am going to do is putt the ball with a lofted club.

• I will put the club right down behind the ball, feet pretty close together, get the hands in the middle of my body and I am going to just try to putt the ball.
• Bump it on the green and let it roll like a putt the rest of the way to the hole.

How to Hit a Pitch Shot

Now the farther away I get from the green I can no longer do that. We are going to have to get into pitching territory. A pitching shot is once again nothing more than the proper technique and I am going to have Luke demonstrate what we are going to do here. Go ahead and take a practice swing Luke. I am going to ask him to put the club down behind the ball, heel, toe and sole flat on the ground, put his feet together, spread his feet out. He is going to open his stance and put the ball in the middle of his stance. When he swings at this ball he is going to think nothing more than back and forth and brush the grass. That is what you call a pitch shot.

The Three Options Around the Green

Now remember, when you are around the green you basically have three options. Putt the ball if you can putt it, if you can not putt it then you chip it and if you can not chip it then you pitch it. Use the proper technique and your golf scores are going to start to come down.