Accelerate

This is the easiest instruction to share. Should golfers accelerate on short game shots? No!

Years ago I wrote Pro Pointers for Golf Magazine. Often, as writers, we would mention that deceleration was a killer to any golf shot. That was, and is, positively true.

In short game, meaning, putts, chips and pitches, we do not seek to accelerate the club, merely look for maintaining or NOT SLOWING the club. Usually I see that the backswing is way too big for the desired shot distance. When it's too long, you MUST slow down, stop or else hit it too far; disaster in all cases! Good short game players seek to keep an even pace and an even distance between backswing height and height of swing finish. Don't get me wrong: of course the club does gain speed, (it is not in truth, a pendulum), but we do not need to make it faster, only feel that it is a one speed move. By maintaining speed and matching swing heights you have a good chance of hitting the shot the distance you desire. We always need proper technique, but remaining even in both parts is a big help toward distance and shot control.

Picture the best players on Tour and their evenly paced short game action. Follow their example and see the positive results.

Don't be one of those short game players who makes a pretty, smooth and technically correct practice stroke, then when it's time to hit the ball abruptly stops the club at impact!