Are you addressing the ball correctly?

November 2010

The Long and the Short of It  with Rae Hast and Sally Little

"It is important to understand the differences between the short and long game."

The short game requires technique rather than strength and can account for up to 60 percent of your golf score. Effectively, this means that golfers of both sexes and all skill levels can improve their scores dramatically by concentrating on this part of the game. In the first of a series of shortgame tips, former SA Amateur champion

and Ladies European Tour winner Rae Hast explains some of the fundamentals of the short game from her illustrated book, Short & Sharp – Skills to Sharpen your Game, with the help of Compleat Golfer’s special playing editor, Sally Little.

It is important to understand the differences between the short and long game. You cannot strike a ball well on any shot if you arrive at impact with your shoulders and hips parallel to the target. Whereas full swings require the hips to open and get out of the way, short shots are different as they require the left shoulder to get out of the way so that the chest can turn to face the target.

The long game address position has the shoulders, feet and hips parallel to the target line. Through impact, notice how the hips clear, which allows the club to travel down the target line. The shoulders have remained parallel to the target but the right shoulder has dropped below the left.

In the short game address position of the club is aimed at the target, but the shoulders, feet and hips are 30 degrees open to it. Many golfers tend to aim to the right so it is important to check this alignment. The open stance allows for an easier turn as seen on the right.

Through impact the right foot is still grounded, the legs stay more quiet and the chest rotates, although more on a level plane than with the longer shot.

For this and more shortgame tips, tune to Compleat Golfer's The Long and the Short of It series in their monthly publication. www.compleatgolfer.co.za

To purchase your copy of Short & Sharp, Skills to Sharpen Your Game - click here.